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Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
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Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  'nstitut  canadien  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


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Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couvorture  restaur^e  et/ou  pelliculde 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


r  ~|    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Re\\6  avec  d'autres  documents 


r~71    Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 


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La  reliure  serr^e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 

distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intdrieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
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II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutdes 
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Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag^es 

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Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pelliculdes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
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The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
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La  bibliothdque  des  Archives 
publiques  du  Canada 

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whichever  applies. 


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LIVES 


OK  TIIR 


CATHOLIC  HEROES 


AND 


IIEROINl'S  OF  AMHRICA. 


HV 


JOHN  O'KANE  MURRAY,  B.S.,  M.A.,  M.D., 


Autlior   .if    llie     "PoI'lM.AR    UlSKiRV  or     IIIK    CAHInl.lC    ClH'KCM    IV    IMF.     UmikU 

blAI  KS,"  "  I'KilSK  AN'K  I'OKI  KV  >i|-  I  K  1,1.  \  V  11,"  "  1.1  II  I. K   l.'^'l-S  Ml'    IIIK  (jRhAI" 

bAlMS,"    "  l.KSSdSS    IS-    IaCI  ISM     1 .1  I  KK  AirKK,"   nml    "CaIHOLIC 

LDUCAIIUN     in     lllK     UMIKU    SlAIKii," 


"  I.ivc    )f  i»rrit  men  all  remind  tn 
Wc  cm  lijiii.e  uiir  livos  ^ulllilllu." 

"  Tlirre  is  nn  sort  of  litcrnliirc  wiiich  has  affoideil  ma  more  plennure  than  biogra- 
phies ami  memoirs."— /i/.f//i'/>  /InilJ. 

/lumo  aiiin ;  hiinuml  nihil  a  WM  allmiuim  pukt. 


NEW  YORK: 
JAMES  SHEEHY,Pum.isin:ri,33  MURRAY  ST. 

BALTIMOUE:    71    \V.    Fayette    Kt.     WASIIINOfON:    fil3  7th  St. 
I'UlLADELrillA:  30  N.  Oxn  St.    BOSrON:  47  IUnovek  St. 

1882 


S    8,     O  9*4 

•       ?     •  6      *,* 

0  •  •     »  >     •       ! 


COPTBIGHT 


iiy 


JAMES  SHEEHY, 
1879. 


.*•  ••••  •  •  • 

•  ••••        »         ta 


•  ••.    .•• 


•  •       •      •  .«       » 
•  •     ••      ••     #"•     f* 


< .  •  ■    •   .  t  •  •  ,*  •   •••..*       ' ,  •     • 


TO 


REVEREND  F.  WM.GOCKELN,  S.  J. 


President  of  St.  John's  College, 

FORDHAM,  NEW  YORK, 
THIS  VOLUME  Ts  DEDICATED 

.WITH  DEEP  RESPECT  Ain>  EVERY  KIND  WI.H, 
BY  HIS  GRATEFUL  FRIEND  AND  PUPn, 


John  O'Kane  MuRRAy. 


PREFACE. 


It  ia  now  three  hundred  and  eighty-seven  years  since  Columbus 
first  (Stepped  on  the  shores  of  the  New  World,  lie  was  the  pioneer 
of  a  long  line  of  Catholic  Heroes  and  Heroines,  some  of  whom  I 
have  attempted  to  sketch  in  the  present  volume.  It  would,  indeed, 
bu  easy  to  add  to  my  list.  But  the  names  I  give  are  representative. 
I  have  aimed  to  be  just  in  selecting.  I  have  chiefly  sought  tho^o 
whose  lives  exhibit  great  virtue,  heroism,  and  lofty  achievements. 

Nor  are  the  names  chosen  in  any  8]>iiit  of  narrowness  either  as 
lo  nationality  or  profession.  Of  the  twenty-four  famous  personages 
given,  four  were  Americans,  ten  were  French,  three  were  Spanish, 
tltrue  were  Irish,  one  was  a  Belgian,  one  a  Russian,  one  an  Italian, 
and  one  a  native  of  England. 

Two  were  Archbishops,  two  Bishops,  five  Missionaries,  one  a 
Parish  Priest,  one  an  Admiral,  two  Generals,  one  a  Commodore, 
four  Religious  Ladies,  four  Explorers,  one  a  Lady  who  belonged  to 
no  IJeligious  Society,  and  one  a  Lawyer  and  Statesman — thus 
making  in  all  ten  ecclesiastics,  four  religious,  and  ten  lay  persons. 

I  hope  the  work,  in  spite  of  many  short-comings,  will  be  found 
to  combine  variety,  interest,  and  instruction.  The  Catholic  dis- 
coverers, explorers,  and  missionaries  of  America  were  men  unsur- 
passed in  all  that  constitutes  heroic  greatness.  The  perusal  of  their 
lives  cannot  fail  to  elevate  the  mind,  and  give  a  healthy  stimulus  to 
deeds  of  virtue. 

"Where'er  a  noMe  deocl  is  wioiieht, 
Where'iT  is  spokon  n  nnblc  thought, 
Oiir  hearts  in  ghid  surprise 
To  hifjhor  levels  rise  " 

In  all  my  statements,  1  have  labored  to  be  accurate.  I  have  made 
it  a  point  to  consult  the  best  autliorities  available,  and  of  these  I 
have  not  hesitated  to  make  a  free  use.  My  chief  sources  of  infor- 
mation are  indicated  in  the  foot-notes  at  thebesinninsr  of  ea.(h  Life. 

I  take  great  pleasure  in  acknowledging  my  special  iudebte  liiesi 

*5T  \  -^^ 


vt 


rREFACE, 


to  the  works  of  Francis  ParKinan.  His  writings  abound  in  exquisite 
scenes  ami  touching  narriitivcs,  presenled  in  a  style  at  once  sur|)ass- 
ingly  graphtc,  picturesque,  and  beautiful.  'I'liis,  together  with  the 
fact  that  Mr.  Parkman  does  not  belong  to  our  Faith,  makes  his 
testimony  doubly  valuable,  as  an  eloquent  and  impartial  authority. 

For  kind  courtesies  rendered  during  the  preparation  of  this 
volume,  I  return  my  warm  thanks  \.o  Mr.  Francis  Parkman,  IJoston; 
Rev.  Father  Walther  H.  Hill,  S.  J.,  of  the  St.  Louis  University;  Messrs. 
J.  B.  Lippincott  &  Co.,  Philadelphia  ;  Messrs.  G.  P.  Putnam's  Sons, 
New  York;  Mr.  Lawrence  Kehoe ,  New  York;  Mr,  James  Sheehy, 
New  York;  Rev.  Maurice  Hickey,  Brooklyn,  L.  L;  Rev.  Mother 
St.  George,  of  the  Ursuline  Convent,  Quebec;  Rev.  Sister  St. 
Josephine,  Villa  Maria,  Montreal;  Rev.  Mother  Leahy  of  the 
Hotel  Dieu,  Kingston,  Canada;  and  Peter  Jerome  Curren,  A.  M., 
M.  D.,   Flatbush,  L.   \. 

With  these  brief  remarks,  I  venture  to  introduce  the  "Lives 
of  the  Catholic  Heroes  and  Heroines  of  America,"  to  the  reading 
public.  John  o'Kane  Murray. 

Brooklyn,  L.  /.,  July  4lh,   1879. 


CONTENTS. 


Dcdicatloa ..8 

Preface 6 


CHRISTOPHER  COLUMBUS. 
CHAPTER  I. 

FROU  INFANCY  TO  MANHOOD. 

The  p;.rc>nt9  and  birth  of  Jolumbus— School-days— Early  life  and  adyc:!* 
tures— Appearance,  mauDcrs  and  character— Marriage.        .       .       . 

CHAPTER  H. 

THE  STilUGGLKS  OP  GENIU3. 

Co'umhiis  and  Alphonso  V.  —The  growth  of  a  grrat  idea— Basin  of 
Columbus'  theory — Dr.  Toscanelli  and  Columbus — His  dittlculties— 
Visits  his  native  city  and  his  Father — Portugal  treats  him  meanly — Dentb 
of  his  wife,  DoRa  Felippix — Directs  his  ftcps  to  Spiiin— FtitLer  Perez  and 
Doctor  llerniuulez — The  Convent  of  La  Rabida — Columbus  nt  the 
Spanish  ('ourt — F.itlier  de  Taliivara— Second  mnrriiige  of  Columbus — Hi* 
letter  to  Kins  Furdinund— Interview  with  the  Spanish  Sovereigns- The 
Junta  of  Saliimunca— His  Dominican  Friends — The  Moorish  War- 
Ferdinand  nnd  Isabella — He  never  despairs  of  success — T^  e  full  of 
Granndn— He  is  about  to  leave  Spain— The  turn  of  Fortune — Isabella  be- 
comes his  patron — The  terms  of  agreement— Final  preparations     . 

CHAPTER  HI. 


n 


K 


THE  PATH  THAT  LED  TO  A  NEW  WORLD. 

Obstacles  in  the  way  of  preparation — Great  services  of  Father  Perns— 
The  Pinzons — The  three  vessels — Religious  preparations— Scenes  nl  the 
departure — "The  Se^1  the  sea  I  the  open  sea!" — Terror  produced  bv 
a  volcano — Fears,  dangers,  and  adventures  of  the  voyage — A  New 
World  found — Ceremony  of  taking  possession — The  natives — Cuba  and 
Hayti—Romnntie  incidents— Shipwreck^The  erection  of  the  fortress  of 
La  Navidad — Adieu  to  America Al 


vm 


CONTENTS. 


TAaa 


CHAPTER  IV. 

HOMKWAKD  BOUND. 

A  trinnt-T!ic  (Iri^t  bloodslicd— Sloims  on  the  wilil  wavcj— Religions 
vows— Till' cii^t—LiiuiJ — Au  upstiiil  GovfiiKir — "  Iloiut',  sweet  lioiuel" 
— iiuuiuo  liouurc'd — l'rcpurutii)ns  lor  u  secoud  voyiiije.        .         .        .84 

CiiAITER  V. 

■^TT?  TnT.\T.S,  ATiVKVTrRES,  AND  HEBOISM  IX  THE  SECOND  VOYAGE. 

Isiw  (^lliciuis  nud  tlio  final  prepnrntions — A  sinpulnr  mistiike — A  powerful 
iiiciiiynf  r(iliiml)u.s — On  llic  («•<  iin  npnin — Advditine  in  Giindaloupe— 
-ii  llispaiiioiiioiueinori- — A  sad  tale  of  La  Navidud — Tlie  progress  of  af- 
!.iir9  in  HispaiiioJa— Tlic  City  of  Isnhella — Tiie  Koyal  Plain — Revolution 
of  Inzy  insolence— DUHciil lies  wiili  FiitlierRoVI— Exploration  and  Advi  n- 
ii;r's— Sickness  of  (^olunilius— Character  of  Don  Bartholomew-Villainy 
of  M.irciirito  Ojeda  and  Caonalm— BattU  of  200  against  lUO.OOO— 
Ottiumuy— Diaz  uiid  his  dusky  bride— TL<;  Admiral  sails  for  Spain.         .    98 

CHAPTER  VI. 

A  YEAR  IN  SPAIN. 

Oolninbiisfts  a  monk — Activity  of  his  enemies — Oilier  difficnltips — James 
Ferrer — The  Admiral  draws  up  his  will — Delays,  aud  preparations  for 
anotbcr  voyage. 133 

CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  TIIinD  AND  FOmTII  VOYAGES  TO  AMBUICA. 

CJohinibiis  punishing  insolence — Crossing  the  stormy  ocean  in  the  name  of 
the  Holy  Trinity — Toiichfs  tlii'  mainland  of  America — At  Hispaniola 
again— (fuelling  Inmhles — The  din  of  cahimiij- — Buhadilla  and  his  mis- 
sion—Columbus  sent  home  in  chains — Great  Schemes — A  fourth  voyniie 
planned— (loinii  to  the  relief  of  a  fort-  Columbus  insulted  figain  at  llis- 
piiniola — .\wful  fate  of  a  fleet  containing  his  enemy — Searoh  for  an 
iuiagiiiiirystrait — Sidling  along  the  coast  of  Central  America — Bat  tie  with 
n  water  spout — A  vision — Aground  on  Jamaica— Mendez  and  his  adven- 
tures— ^lutiny  of  Poniis — The  threatened  famine— An  historical  eclipse 
of    the    moon — A    sinirular  visit — A  fierce    conflict — Relief    comes — 


Columbus  reaches  Spain. 


139 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


THE  SETTING  SPN  OF  A  OT.oniorS  T.IFK. 

loverly  and  old  age  assail  Columbus— Dentil  of  Isabella  theCnthnlic — Ex- 
irncls  fron  the  Adminirs  letter— The  death  bed  of  a  hero— Conllrming 
h"?  will— Tiic  la-f  moments  of  Afuerica's  Discoverer — liis  many  lombs — 
His  character — Miracles.  188 


CONTENTS.  i^ 

ALONZO  DE  OJfiDA. 
CHAPTER  I. 

THE  YOUNG  CAVAMKR,  Vt.V9 

YiTjtii  of  Ojeda— Spain  in  the  fifteenth  CL-ntiiry— A  locklcs"?  font— Des- 
cription of  our  hem— A  famous  imiiiiiui:— Adventure  in  Guti<l;iluupu 
— p:xpioring  Hispiiniolii— Siege  of  Foit  St.  Tininiiis— Tiikiiij;  Caouiibo 
prisoner— Battle  of  the  Uo^al  Plain— Ojeila  ruluins  to  Spain.       .        .  179 

CHAPTER  II. 

ACROSS  THE  ATLANTIC  AND  BACK. 

Ojeda  as  a  navigator — XnK'riiro  Vospucri — Expcdil ion  to  South  America 
— A  battle  witli  the  (;:uinil»,ils — Explores  the  const  of  South  America 
— Makes  trouble  at  Hispaniola — Rciurns  to  Spain.        ....  189 

CHAPTER   III. 

STIRRIXO  SCENES   ANP  ADVENTURfS 

Another  expedition  to  South  Anu'iicn-  Trying  to  fnurd  n  colony  nnd 
wh.it  came  of  it— Ojeda  appointed  Governor  of  New  Andalusia — Two 
fleets — .lolin  de  la  Cosa — An  aspirini;;  lawyer — The  two  rival  ( lovcrnors — 
Agiiin  on  the  coast  of  South  America — Battles  and  poisoned  arrows- 
Death  of  the  brave  do  la  Cosa— Miraculous  escape  of  OjCda.        .        .  191 

CHAPTER   IV. 

CLOrnS  GATHER  IN  THE  SKY  OF  LIFE. 

The  Colony  of  San  Sebastian — Adventures — Ojeda  wounded — Voyapo 
and  shipwreck — A  fearful  march  through  boij  nnd  forest — The  picture 
of  the  Holy  Virgin — Ojeda's  oratory — Anecdote — The  end  of  a  slirrinir 
life        . 203 


VASCO  NUStEZ  de  BALBOA. 
CHAPTER  I. 

EARLY  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES. 

Birth — Voj'aie  to  America — Halboa  ns  a  furnicr — As  an  adventurer— 
Ijiwycr  Enciso — An  unexpected  meetinsr — A  disaster — Ballioa  rises  to 
prominence — Nicuesa  and  his  f:>tc — Ba'tioa  at  tlie  heiid  nf  affairs — IIo 
visits  a  K'"''"' <:aci(iue — Hears  of  ine  Pacitle  Ocean — Conversions — 
I'reparations — A  f,i>''.ou3  dog  called  Leoncico.  ....    309 

CHAPTER  H. 

Twy,  DISCOVERY  OF  THE  PACIFIC  OCF.AN. 

FiiKd  preparations— The  march  beirins — DiiTlcuUics — V  Bitttc — The  (Ir^t 
view  of  the  Pacific  Ocean — Address  and  Thaiik-.triving — A  Cross  in  the 
wilderness— Takes  possussioa  of  the  I'acitic — The  r-  .rci  back.        .    223 


C  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  III. 

BLASTED  HOPES  AND  THE  IIEKOIC  END.  p^o* 

Accounts  of  the  discovery  sent  to  Spain— A  new  governor— The  situation 
nt  Dariin— Sickness— Bad  trcntnieul  of  the  Indiaiis— BiiHioa  rniws  liis 
voice— Is  appointed  Lieutenant-Governor — Prepiuaiions  to  go  to 
Peru— Carrying  sliips  across  the  mountnins— New  difhculiits  nud 
dangers— Tlietirst  EuropL-au  vessels  on  the  Pacitlc— Four  ships  coniplet- 
cd  mid  all  ready— Uaii)oa  suddenly  arrested— His  trial  and  unjust 
coudemuaiiou — lie  meets  dealh  like  a  true  hero 


228 


HERNANDO  CORTifiS. 
CHAPTER  I. 

THE  TOCTTII  OP  THE  CONQUEROR  OF  ME-VIICO. 

Birth  and  Parentage  of  Cortes — Early  years — Sails  for  ihc  New  "World- 
First  year  in  America — Is  appointed  to  coniniaiid  an  expedition  to 
Mexico — Velasquei  and  Cortes — DifUculties  and  dual  preparations —Ap- 
pearance and  manners  of  Cortes — Departuie  of  the  fleet.       .        .         .237 

CHAPTER  n. 

TIEOINNING  OF  THE  ROAD  THAT  LED  TO  AN  UNKNOWN  ESfPIRE. 

Redeems  a  lioly  and  useful  captive — A  rude  reception — The  first  hatilc  with 
the  Indians — The  second — PJantitig  tlie  Faith — Palm  Sunday  iu  a  wild 
land — Away  for  Mexico — New  visitors  and  methods  of  interpretations 
— Dona^^r.irina — Monfoy.uma,  the  IMexican  Emperor — An  interview  and 
its  results— Indian  painters — Astonishment  of  the  Mexicans.         .         .  248 

CHAPTER  in. 

CORTES  OUTWITS  MONTEZUMA. 

The  Spanish  Genend  and  the  Mexican  officials — Great  presents  to  Cortc": — 
The  wishes  of  Zilqutezuma — Demand  of  Cortes — Ilia  firmness — Ilis  hopes.  233 

CHAPTER  IV. 

GLANCKS  AT  THE  MEXICAN  EMPIRE  AND  THE  SPANISH  CAMP, 

Exte-nt  of  tlio  ^Mexican  Empire — A  warlike  people — The  powerful  and 
haughty  ^lontezuma — His  timidity  in  a  great  crisis — A  strange  traditinu 
—Hopes  and  fears  of  the  Spaniards — Great  changes — The  little  town  of 
the  True  Cross — A  strange  election — Arehellion  in  the  camp — New  light 
In  regard  to  the  Mexican  Empire — New  subjects  for  Epaiu— Destruc- 
tion of    the  fleet — The  work  of  conversion        .  ...  2C8 

CHAPTER  V. 

THE  MEMORABLE  MARCH  TO  MEXICO. 

The  little  army  moves — Travelling  on  a  rough  road — Adventures  on  the 
confines  of  Tloscala— A  battle — Another  battle,  iu  which  there  was  ao 


mm 


COXTEXTS. 


XI 


alternative  butdoath  or  victory  — Peace— Tlascala  becomes  subject  to 
Spain  — At  Ciiolii  a,  and  wluii  bapiuned  there — Tiie  first  siglit  of  the 
city  of  Mexico — Grand  reception  of  the  Spaniards  by  Montezuma     .   265 

CHAPTER   Vr. 

THE    STORY    Ot'    THK    CONQUKST    BRIEFLY    TOLD. 

Views  and  interviews— Visit  to  ihe  Great  Teniple  — Cortds  in  a  dangerous 
and  delicate  position — A  bold  step,  how  it  wns  exi'cuted- Oiher  pro- 
jects—Montevuma  becomes  a  vassal  of  the  Spanish  sovereigns — He 
invites  Cortes  to  return  home — A  new  enemy,  and  how  Cortt's  disposed 
of  him — Unwelcomeintelligence. — The  revolt  against  the  Spaniards- 
War  in  the  i  ity  of  Mexico — Desperate  fightinij:  and  fearful  scenes — 
Desuh  of  Montezuma — The  "sorrowful  night"  and  retreat  of  the  Span- 
iards— On  the  road  to  Tlascala — A  greatbattle- Amongst  friends  again 
—  Cortes  resolves  to  take  Mexico— Glances  at  the  historicsiege — Fall  of 
the  great  Capital — Thanksgiving— A  nev.-  empire  for  Sdain  274 

CHAPTER  VH. 

AFTER  CAREER  OF  THE  CONQUEROR  OF  MEXICO. 

Is  appointed  Governor  of  Mexico — The  new  cnp'tal — The  conversion  of 
the  Ind  ans — Arrival  of  twelve  Franciscan  Missionaries — Activity  of 
Cortds — Desperate  journey  to  Honduras — Calnmnv — Cortes  goes  to 
Sj)ain — His  reception — Honors— Return  to  Mexico — New  difficulties 
and  enterprises — Discovesy  of  California — To  Spain  once  more — The 
call  of  death— His  pious  and — Character  of  Cortes.        .         .         •     300 


ST.   ROSE  OF  LIMA. 
CHAITER  I. 

THE    CHILDHOOD    OF    AMERICA'S    FIRST   SAINT. 

Brith  of  St.  Rose — How  she  got  the  name  of  Rose — Takes  St.  Catharine 
ofSienna  as  her  model  —  Her  vow  at  five  vears  of  age—  Her  heroic  oljedi- 
ence  —  Her  spirit  of  penance  —  Rose's  devotion  to  her  father  and 
mother.  ..........         311 

CHAPTER  II. 

GLANCES    AT   VIRTUE    IN    ACTION. 

Matrimonial  annovances — Rose  becomes  a  m'mher  of  the  Third  Order  of 
St.  Dominic—  Her  humility — Her  charity  and  great  .self-control — Her 
wonderful  purity  -  Her  fists — How  shcchastized  herself — Hersingular 
bed — The  honor  paid  to  her  even  by  irrational  creatures.        .        .     315 

CHAPTER  III. 

ALONO   THE    STRAUiHT    AND    NARROW    WAV. 

Rose's  spirit  of  prayer — Her  deep  insi^dit  into  the  mysteries  of  religions— A 


Xii 


V(h\Ti:MS. 


tormiMilcr  ..t  humo— PtMHconlinn  SIckni'sM-  The  Siiliil'!*  diMrily— llii 
r(iu;i  Uiiio  in  (J»i4-  Slic  Ii'miii^  oI  llir  day  of  In  r  tli'iilli  liy  lovvliillun— 
Hit  lUNl  .sulTi'rlii>;s~-Tlio  oixl.  .  .         ,  ....     UUO 

cii.xrrKH  IV. 

I  MlltACI.KS  ANI>  <'AN(»M/.ATIOI«r. 

lC>c:>ml»ati(>n  of  oiu>  luiiiclii'il  iniil  ciirlily  inirsoiiM— A  vIhIi  Io  llic  HiiIiiI'h 
liimli  \Vl»;it  Ik  iiliysuiiin  snw  I'lic  virions  of  u  piiMis  lady  SmnciH 
ciiincricd  Two  |i.i  miiis  ruisi  d  In  )ilV  All  inciindilo  ill  in  cured  --A 
ji'itM'  t  ri|i|>li'  luali'd  («f  Uis  iidliniiticH--- A  cliild  ciiii'd  nf  ii  Icjiiosy—  I'liu- 
t)ui/.uliiiii  III  M.  Kosu. Ui)7 


SAMl'KI,  DK  ("IIAMIM..\1N. 
("ll.MTKIJ  I. 

<iiANi"Ks  AT  ciiamimain's  kakiv  <ai{i:i:k. 

Birtl)  nnd  ivuvnis  -Karly  yiius  lltiny  IV.  and  ('liMni|iliiii.  \'ivit  (n  llio 
Wi'sl  Indies-- DisciiviTy  uf  Cimadii  Tlie  ('uniniiiiidei'  di'  ('llu^l(•s — 
I'litiinpluin's  llrsi  visit  ti>  ("miiidii-  Di"  Monls  and  iiis  .sclivincs  Aeadiu 
— Visit  to  tlif  Hiiy  of  Kiiiidy  ("liiinipliiin's  lulmrs-  Knliu  i  Aulny  lost  in 
the  \V(ii>ds-  St.  (rnix  'I'lie  I'easI  of  Maim — Winter  Mtinn-  '1  lie  (list 
gulden  in  North  Ameiiea— Kljjiil  with  jMiishaehUMlls  liidiui;i—-'l 'le 
"  iJrdtc  do   Hun  riiiipN. "  .  ........  llfi 

(IIAPTKIt  If. 

TIti:  t'lMNft-:  Ol'  I'lUN'Kl'HS   IN   (•ANAt>A. 

(''h;>inpl.'iin's  love  of  advcntiire— lie  fi>nnds  tli'e  city  of  lliieliee--lfo\v  lio 
.sti:in!;led  a  eonspiiMoy  — S|>endinir  Ilie  winter  al  (.iiitlici-  A  woliil 
seene  of  destitution-The  tlurons  and  Aiironiiiiins — 'I'he  lrc>(|iiois-- 
l>i>eoveiy  of  l.;ike  I'liainjdiiiii— A  li.ittlo  with  the  Iroiiuois  -lloniewiud 
bound 841 

rHAlTKH  HI. 

now   A   fATIlWAY    !(■   CIIIVA   WAS   NOr  l.-(>fM). 

Chninjil:iin".'»  Visit  t'>  KiMnee-Ixelimis  to  Canada — The  iilliick  on  an  Iro- 
iiuois fortress— Meets  two  hundred  indian.s — Death  of  Henry  IV. — 
M:irriai:e  of  (.^liMinplnin-  His  uneeasinir  toil  and  ai  livily  -The  impostor 
Hu  Visrnon  and  tlie  voyaue  up  llie  Ottawa — Coiniiur  (h)\vn  tlie  streiini — 
Ai^'omiuiu  fear  of  llie  lioiiuois— At  tho  lliauiiii-ri!  Falls— In 
Fnuioe.  5J'17 

CHAPTER  TV. 

nia.ir.ioN-  in  tiii:  wii.nKRNKSs, 
Chan'plain  as  a  missionary— Tho  first  priests  in  Ciinadu— Mass  at  Quehco 


CONTKMK 


xiii 


-  n(';''ii"''<R '>f  •'">  ('iinntlliiti  nilhMl(iiiM--I''iilli(  r  DolliPini  -  rnllicr  \.v 
Ciiiun  V<>vi^;(i  l<i  tliti  llninii  (>iiiiili,>  -  (  liitiiip  itiri  iij;iiiii  on  lli«' Wi.r- 
pMlli  I'liii  lliii'dii  iiiilioii  -  Tint  iiiNi  MitHM  III  rpi)'  r  (  iiiiiiilii  'I'lii'  iimii  li 
for  llir  litiiil  III'  till  li<ii|uiiiN  '  A  i'lrliiiT  III  I'liilv  wiiirnt'i''  'ri)«!  ii'iiiiti  Id 

(jlllllllll    -  Wllllrl'ill^    111111)11^   IJK!     KikVll^lh       Hlllllf  III   lltl'llllH    III.     i^mlll'l  — 

Ullici  liiipoiliiiil  uvi  iKM— MuiI-uikmIu  (;iiuiii|ilitiiiciiiiiuu  lu  (jiicliec.         .  !i((0 

ClIAITKIt  V. 

TIIIC  DKATII  Ul'  t'llAKiri.AIM. 

(Irowtli  of  llio  cdloiiy— Hi'IIkIiimm  (IIhcoiiI— QiicImc  tiiUm  lij'  the  I'.nglihli — 
'I'll"  IVilin,!^  ill  l''iuiici'  'I'lii'  liilly  ciirrj^y  of  ( 'liiiiii|ilii'ii  ( 'niiinlii  ickIhh  iI 
III  l''iuiir*<  CIlUlliplulll  lii'i'iillli'il  Unvri'lliir  111^  ililliiciin' nvir  llirSiiV- 
a;<;i'ii  — Oiiwiiiil  pni^^ri'Hs  of  \\u>.  (•oliiny--  A  collf/;!'  ul,  Qim^Iici-— (JliiiU'C  ul 
('liniii|iluiirH  dully  lilt'- His  dnuli,  on  (  liiihiiiiun  Dny,  ICi-IIU  Cliitr- 
uclcr    .............  u72 


1.' 


VniKIl  ISAAC  JOCJUKS,  iS.J. 
(  IIAITKII    I. 


TIIK  YOUTH  OK  A  (lltlCAT  MIHHIONAHV. 

JojIiKiH*  Milli  nnil  fanilly— IIIh  iiioiIkt— Kdiiculion— nccfiincH  u  .TiMiil — 
Oidiiiatioii  -Hi'i'lis  u  foreign  iiiinHioii  -  Ih  hchI  Hi  (,'iiiiiidu  -LcitiM'  lo  IiIh 
Ins  miillirr  -AiidIIiit  Iclli-r  -  Im  kciiI  lo  IIm;  lliiiiiii  llli^Hll)ll  |.'ch<tii|ilion 
ol'  llir  liiiiiiiMy-llis  iiiisMiiiimiy  loilft— DilUciillii.'N  of  llir.  iiii/«Hi(/iiui'ieH — 
111!!  Join lU'y  lo  llio 'roliiicco  >ialioii       .......  u'.U 

CIIAlTKIl    II. 

A  CA.ITIVK  A.MO.\(i  Till!  MOHAWKS. 

Tlic  Cross  pliintPil  in  Micliiuiin-  The  Ilmoii  niiHsion— KiiIIht  Jovmics  on  hm 
wny  to  liiiil)i'<v-lH  liikin  on  IIk;  return  voyiiK''  liy  Hic;  .Moliawkn— 
SulTcrintfx  iinil  Mdvcnliircs  (\n  IIm-  way  from  lliu  Hi.  I.awiciKi'  lo  iIm; 
land  of  il>i'  Moliiiwks— liiiUn  (Jcor;:!'  -UkviiIiIiiu'  loriiiicN— 'ilic  diiilli  of 
(Jonpil— The  nmrtyr-mivsionary'H  life  iimoiig  (he  mvagcs— His  Chcape 
uiid  urrivul  in  IS'uw  Anihterduin 888 

CIIAPTKRIII. 

Tin;  r.r.oRiouH  knd. 

Now  York  City  two  oontnrii'H  nn<l  n  ludf  npo— Two  ruiliolics— A  jiioiis 
Irisliniun— Fiillicr  .loirncs  iM  -.vn'rlvid  on  llic  i:iit,'lisli  conM-Land.M  in 
Franronn  Clirislmas  Day— PiiIIm  tii- incidents— At  ilii;  ColliRc  ol  iSiiints 
—The  uiition  lionors  him  ns  u  saiiil  and  innrlyr-  Keiurns  to  Canada— 
Apiin  umonL'  lin;  .Moliiiwks— Itctiirns  lo  (inehuc— Comes  back  as  un 
aposllc— The  glorious  death  of  Fathur  Jogucs       .         .  •         •  309 


hi 

•  ! 


aiv 


COIfTENTS. 

FATHER  JOHN  DE  BRifiBEUF,  S.J. 
CHAPTER  I. 

TIItRTY-SIX  EVENTFUL  YEARS. 


Tkan 


Tlie  Pioneer  Jesuits  of  North  America — Jolin  de  Breheuf — His  birth — Ilis 
ianiily — Enters  the  Society  of  Jesus — His  huiuilily — Goes  to  Cauada — 
Ilfirdsliips— Is  sent  on  tlie  Huron  Mission — Among  the  red  men — All 
ttioiic— Uis  recall  to  Quebec — Returns  to  France 405 

CHAPTER  H. 

AMONG  THE  IIURONS, 

A  glinipsp — A  council  and  what  came  of  it — The  eventful  journey  to  the 
Huron  coiuilry — ludian  geography — The  house  for  the  Jesuits,  and  its 
Mondrous  furniture — Anecdotes — Liihorsof  the  missionaries — The  good 
stied  falling  on  rocks — The  thousnnd-and  one  obstacles — Heroism — De 
lirebeuf's  visit  to  the  savages  of  the  Neutral  Nation     ....  410 

CHAPTER  HI. 

TIIE  BLESSING  OF  SUCCESS  AND  THE  HEROIC  ENO. 

The  greit  harvest  of  souls— Piety  of  the  Indians— Father  do  Be  Brebeufs 
appearance  some  time  before  his  death— Ilis  virtues — The  Iroquois  inva- 
sion—Assault on  the  village  of  St.  Louis— A  noble  Indian  chief— Do 
Biebeuf  taken  prisoner— Appalling  tortures— The  sublime  end— His 
greatness 423 


FATHER  ANDREW  WHITE,  S.J. 
CHAPTER  I. 

THE  EARLY  LIFE  OF  A  YOUNG  PRIEST  IN  THE  SEVENTEENTH  CENTUR"*. 

Date  of  White's  birth— The  England  of  three  centuries  ago— Persecution 
nnd  robbery— Little  known  of  White's  early  years— His  liome  education 
— "Popery"  a  low  word  and  a  nickname— Young  Wliile  at  Douay — 
Peturns  home  a  priest— England  as  a  priest-hunter— Father  White's 
banisliment— Enters  the  Society  of  Jesus— Labors,  as  a  professor  in 
various  Universities — Ilis  great  learning 481 

CHAPTER  n. 

THE   VOYAGE   TO    MARYLAND. 

The  new  Catholic  Colony— The  "  Ark"  and  the  "  Dove"  sail  from  the 
Isle  of  Wight— The  "Pclatio  Itineris  in  Marylandiam,"  note—"  The 
eca.  the  sea,  the  open  sea"— Fear  of  the  Turks— A  violent  storm— Tha 
"  Dove"  thought  to  have  perished— A  dreadful  tempest  and  Father 
White's  prnyer— Sunshine  on  the  sea— A  providential  incident— Ths 
Flyinc  Fish— The  Isle  of  Barbadoes— Deliverance  from  a  new  danger- 
Cabbage  180  feet  high— The  so«p  tree— The  pine-apple— Mataliua  and 


CONTENTS. 

its  Tild  mcn-»Tlie  "  Carbunca"— Montscrrat  and  its  "Exiles  of  Erin" 
— Courtesy  nt  St.  Cliristopbei's — A  Sulphurous  mountain — The  locust 
tree — Nuariug  the  end 

CHAPTER  III. 


PAOI 


435 


THE  PROWNIXO    LABORS   AND    ADVENTURES    OP    A    GLORIOrS   CAREBR. 

Reception  of  tlie  Catholic  Pilirrlms  in  Virginia— Chesnpenltc  Buy— Tlie 
Potonmc— Armed  Natives — Taking  possession  of  ^larylund — A  cross  in 
the  wilderness — First  interview  with  an  Indian  Chief — Father  Allham 
preaches— St.  Mary's — Appearance,  manners,  habits,  weapons,  and 
religion  of  the  Maryland  Indians — Soil  and  animals  of  tlie  country — 
Mission  labors — DifHculties— Conversions — Religion  reigns  among  the 
C'o'onists- Buying  off  Catholic  Slaves — Father  White  at  Kittama- 
quindi — Whai.  a  red  king  was — The  Apostle  of  Maryland  converts 
Chilomacon— Ceremony  of  the  chief's  baptism — Illness  of  Father 
White — A  Famine — A  singular  incident — Punishment  of  a  backslider — 
JL  Xew  Englander  and  his  bigotry — Indian  tribes  converted  along  th« 
Potomac — An  Indian  war — Huw  the  Jesuits  made  a  missionary 
journey — A  miracle — The  clouds  of  misfortune  gather — End  of  Father 
White's  labors — Is  sent  to  England — His  last  years — Death  and  charac- 
ter         446 


MOTHER  MARY  OF  THE  INCARNATION. 
CHAPTER  I. 

A   TliAK-AND' SMILE    CHAPTER    OP   LIFE. 

Mary's  parents  and  education — Marriage — Her  married  life  not  happy- 
Death  of  her  husband — Proplielic  words — Becomes  an  Ursuline  mm — 
Her  business  talents — A  mysterious  dream — Madame  de  la  Peltrie — Tbo 
singular  recognition — Embarking  for  Canada — On  the  ocean — Up  the 
St.  Lawrence — Reception  at  Quebec. 473 

CHAPTER  II. 

MOTHER    MART   OP   THE    INCARNATIOX   AND    HER   rCPII.S. 
Lenrning  the  Indian  languages— The  little  convent  and  academj-— Small- 
pox—Convent  life— Difficulties— The  Indian  trirl  as  a  convent  punjl — 
Some  examples — Teresa,  the  Huron  girl— Her  letter  to  Moth'T  Mary  on 
parting  from  her  convent  home— Some  short  and  sharp  rtflectioa*.         .  488 

CHAPTER  III. 

A    HOLY    HKROINE    TO    THE    LA.ST   GASP. 

A  new  convent  erected— Pupils— Letters  of  ^Mother  Jlnry- Wlint  a  pan  of 
coals  did — The  fire  fiend- Mother  Mary  surrounded  by  flames — Her  es- 
ettpe— Another  convent  raised  ud— The  educational  programme  of  the 
tmie— Mother  Mary  and  her  novica*— The  illustrious  woman's  accom- 
plishments—Her  death .     .  481 


rA«a 


acvi  COyTENTS. 

MISS  JANE  MANCE. 
I     CHAPTER  I. 

EARLY   YEARS    OF    OUR    HEROIXK. 
Bivtli  nnd  family— Her  singulnr  childliooil— Her  cliarminjr  piety— A  rv 
niiirkable    vocation — Her    conffs.soi's    opposition — The  Duclicss    ile 
Bullion— De  la  Dauversiore— Finally   deteimiues   to  go  to  Montreal.  405 

CHAPTER  n. 

THE   TOWK    OF    MARY. 

Montreal— Dauvcrsii^rc— The  Abbe  Olier— A  vision— TlicslTiffiilar  interview 
between  Olier  and  Dativersic^re — A  great  desiirn  ussimu'.s  ylsnpc — The 
inoniorablu  ceremony  at  Notre  Dame  Catlicdrnl— Glnnce  at  the  plan — 
Maisonneuve— Miss  Mance  sails  in  the  exi)edilion  for  Canada — At  Quc- 
bi;c— Up  the  St.  Lawrence— Arrival  at  Hie  site  of  ]\Iontr('.l— The  land- 
ing—The rtrst  altar— Mass— Father  Viraont's  address— The  birth-night 
of  Montreal 40S 

CHAPTER  HI. 

THE    riONEER    HEROINE    OF    MONTREAL. 

The  first  hospital  at  Montreal— Ville  Marie's  Giiard— Miss  Mance's  seven- 
teen years'  work— Olier's  rfniark— Plenty  of  lioppital  work— The  fidl 
on  the  ice — Loss  of  licr  arm— Voyauc  to  France  in  company  with  Mar- 
paritc  Bnnrsi  is— The  miraoulons  cure— Madame  de  Hullion — Depar- 
ture of  three  Hospital  Nuns  for  Canada — The  severe  voyage — At  Mon- 
treal— Sufferings  of  the  nuns— The  Iroquois — A  pen  picture —  A  beauti- 
ful death 504 


FATHER  JAMES  MARQUETTE,  S.J. 
CHAPTER  I. 

A  mother's  teaching  anp  its  results. 
Bird) — Parents — Family — Early  education — Enters  the  Society  of  Jesus— 
T^ands  in  Canada — The  voyage  to  Lake  Superior — The  Fiist  Cliurcli  at 
Snult  Stc.  Marie — Hears  of  the  Mississippi  for  the  first  time — Various 
events — The  arrival  of  Jolliet 511 

CHAPTER  H. 

how   the    MISSISSIPPI    AVAS    DISCOVERED. 

Thf  final- preparations — First  part  of  the  pathway — .Toy  at  entering  the 
Mississippi— The  eventful  voyage  down  the  mighty  stream — Halting  at 
the  Arkansas — The  return 518 

CHAPITER  m. 

THE   SrnLIME   END   OP   A   BEAUTIPUL   LIFE. 
Father  Marquette  battling  with  disease— A  new  mission— The  journey 


CONTENTS. 


xvii 

PAua 


along  Lake  Michigan— At  the  site  of  Cliictigo— Among  the  Kaskaskias 
— liuiiiru  of  tho  dist'usu — Ou  the  way  to  Aliickiuuw — 'I'hu  last  days  of 
the  great  niissiouaiy — The  beautiful  euil — His  faihe  aud  character  •  028' 

ROBERT  CAVELIER  DE  LA  SALLE. 
CHAPTER  I. 

YOUTIfFUL    GENIUS    AND   VAST   DESIGNS. 

Birth,  family,  and  education  of  La  Salic — Goes  to  Canada — Settles  nc»r 
Montreal— IIdw  litlle  was  known  of  North  America  then — Vaslschemes 
of  La  Salle— Discovers  the  Ohio— At  Fort  Froutemic— Developing 
thougiits— rrivileges  granted  by  the  King  of  France— A  Glimpse  at 
Fort  Frontenac 535 

CHAPTER  H. 

TRAVELLIXG   THE   THORNY     ROAD    OP   DISCOVERY,    PERIL,  ADVENTURE. 

Great  preparations— Paddling  up  .the  St.  Lawrence — The  first  written  de- 
scription of  Niagara— Shipbuilding — Launch  of  the  '•  Griflln" — The 
first  voyage  up  the  Lakes— Fort  Crevecceur — A  dreadful  journey  of  over 
1,200  miles— Nothing  but  disaster — Returning  to  Illinois — A  ghastly 
•cene — More  forest  roving,  and  pushing  through  the  snows  of  Indiana 
—At  Fort  Jliami— A  council — Final  preparations  for  the  discovery  of 
the  mouth  of   the  Mississippi .        .541 

CHAPTER  in. 

THE   MOUTH    OP   THE    MISSISSIPPI    DISCOVERED. 

'  *e  expedition  down  the  Father  of  Waters — "  the  sea  !  The  sea  !  the  open 
sea  !" — Taking  formal  possession  of  the  Mississippi  Valley  for  Franco 
— Attempts  at  colonization — DifHculties — Wanderings — The  last  tragic 
journey  towards  the  north — Traitors  in  the  camp — Father  Douay's  ac- 
count of  La  Salle's  assassination — His  character  as  depicted  by  several 
distinguished  writers 554 


VENERABLE  MARGARITE  BOURGEOIS. 
CHAPTER  I. 

BRIGHT    YOUNG   YEARS. 

Her  birth,  and  parents— A  wise,  promising  little  girl-Death  of  lior 
mother— Is  placed  over  her  father's  household— The  vision  at  the 
church  of  Notre  Dame-A  change  of  life 563 

CHAPTER  II. 

A   NEW   AND    HEROIC    CAREER. 
Father  Jandret— Lofty  virtue— Purity  of  mind  and  heart— The  vow— 
Margarite  wishes  fo  ho  a  Nun— Is  refused  admittance— A  new  Order— 
A  loss  that  Is  a  gain— Her  father's  death— Protects  Innocence— A  dream 


\\\ 


xviu 


COMTENTH. 


Ym 


—Gov.  De  Maisonneure— Dlfllcultioa  come  and  vanish— The  heroine 
got's  to  C'uuuda 560 

CHAPTER  III. 

CANADIAN    LIFE    TWO    CKNTURIES    AGO. 

Sister  Tlourgeoia  uriivon  in  Canada — A  howling  wildtrnesK— Extreme  cli- 
ninle— Diu  Si.  Lawrcneo — "  Lo  !  the  poor  Jndian"— llow  tiie  red  ni;m 
lived,  moved,  and  had  his  heing — (,'auadian  towns  of  the  seventeenth 
ceniury— M(jmreal  a  dreary  forest— Mass  in  a  tent— Sister  liourgeois 
teaclies  the  iiille  Indian  girls— Makes  herself  all  to  all,  that  she  might 
gain  all  lo  Christ— A  new  idea— The  voyage  to  France— Its  success— 
The  ship  "  St.  Audrii"— Again  in  Ville-Marie 575 

CHAPTER  IV. 

TIIK  FIItST  RKI.IGIOUS  ORDER  FOUNDED  IN  AMERICA, 

An  historic  stable — Margarilc  Bourgeois  founds  the  Sisters  of  the  Congre- 
gation de  Niiire  Dame — Her  second  trip  to  Europe — Founds  a  Chapel 
in  lionitr  of  llu;  Most  Blessed  Virgin — Labors  and  growth  of  her  commu- 
nity— Its  two  chief  objects — Dress  of  the  Sisters — Qualities  which  a  Sis- 
ter should  possess — Tliey  receive  their  rule  from  Bishop  St.  Valier — 
The    convent    destroyed — Four    years    of    menial    agony — Peace    o' 

soul nsi 

CHAPTER  V. 

THE    SUNSET   OF   A   BEAUTIFUL   LIFE. 

The  virtues  of  Mother  Bourgeois— Her  Chnritj' — Gives  away  her  bed — In- 
stitutes missions  for  women — Schools  for  country  children — Walks  180 
miles  in  winter — Her  humility— Poverty  of  spirit — Miraculous  favors 
— The  last  sublime  act  of  life— Ilcr  death— her  character.         .        .  587 


LOUIS  JOSEPH  DE  MONTCALM. 
CHAPTER  I. 

A  FRENCH  PHILOSOPHER  ON  FRANCE  TN  AMERICA. 

The  family,  youth,  education,  and  early  career  of  Montcalm— The  dread- 
ful rlmrno  at  the  pass  of  Exille.s— A  glance  at  the  Map— State  of  affairs 
in  Canada  at  the  time  of  Montcalm's  arrival .596 

CHAPTER  IL 

MONTCALM  IN  AMERICA. 
At  Qunhec- The  chief  Sfmngholds— The  Indians  as  "allies- Montcalm 
grcati  V  loved  by  the  dusky  chiefs  and  warriors— At  Fort  Fiontenac— The 
storming  of  Oswego— The  capture  of  Fort  "Williain  Ilenry—Famine- 
Tlicbtittle  of  Ticoiideroga— Great  foresight  of  Montcalm— The  battle  of 
thePlninoof  Abrnliam  at  Quebec- Wolff's  vicfory-Montcalm  mortally 
•wounded— His  last  hours— His  death— His  personal  appearance         .  COS 


CONTENTS.  xix 

COMMODORE  JOHN  BARRY. 
CHAPTER  I. 

nATTI.ING  FOR  FKEKDOM  ON  THE  OCEAX. 
Biirry's  birthplnce  in  Ireland— His  love  of  the  oceiui— Ikconii's  ft  sailor— 
.Aleuts  Wiisliinuton— Tiie  Revolution— IJarry'H  bold,  •■nterprising  spirit— 
Ivjuippiug  a  fleet- The  "  Stars  and  Stripes"  lioisted— '"'lie  llrst  Capture 
— Fii^lilingon  the  Delaware- Lord  Howe  tries  to  trihe  '-arry- Harry's 
nolile  answer— Fighting  with  little  boats  and  gaining  ••  brilliunt  vic- 


rxai 


tory 


CHAPTER  II. 

WAIlRINtt    STILL    ON    THE    OCEAX. 
Barry  receives  comuinnd  of  the  "  Raleigh"— A  contest  with  two  British 
ships— Takes  command  of  the  frigatq  "  Alliance"- Another  sharp  con- 
test—The  Commodore  badly  wounded— Encounter  with  a  British  squad- 
ron-Barry's memorable  reply,  when  hailed  by  the  squudrou. 

CHAPTER  III. 


015 


021 


FAITHFUL   TO   THE    END. 

Difllcnlties  In  creating  our  first  navy — Achievements  of  the  navy — Barry 
continues  at  the  head  of  the  service— The  frigate  '•  United  States"  chas- 
tising I  he  French— Barry's  devotion  to  his  country— His  death— Appear- 
«ncc  and  character  <i29 


3I0ST  REVEREXD  JOHX  CARROLL,  D.D.,  LL.D. 
CHAPTER  L 

FIRST   YEARS    OP   OUR   FIRST    ARCIIRISIIOP. 

Birth — Parei.ts — Ancestors — Education    and   the    Penal  Laws— Bohemia 
Manor — Young  Carroll  sent  to  Europe — Enters  the  Society  of  Jesus— , 
Is  ordained- Suppression  of  the    Society— Sketch  in  a  note — Father 
Carroll  goes  to  England 035 

CHAPTER  IL 

DURING   THE    REVOLUTION. 

Endand  and  her  colonies— Father  Carroll  sails  for  America — "Home, 
sweet  home" — Changes — Resides  with  his  mother  at  Rock  Crcck—Con- 
uiess  invites  Father  Cam  ..  to  go  to  Canada— The  journey — Result  of 
llut  mission — Franklin  and  Father  Carroll — Homeward- Praying  for 
the  cause  of  freedom- Controversy  with  AVharton  ....  040 

CHAPTER  III. 

FATHER  CARROLL  AND  OUR  EAT.LY  rHURCH. 

State  of  ecclesiastical  jurisdiction  before  the  Revolution- What  the  clergy 
of  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania  did — ^Father  Carroll  appointed  Prefect 


CONTENTS. 


!         1 

I 


m 


m'\ 


ApoBtolic— Dr.  Frnnklin— Wnsliington  nt  Mnss— Dr.  CnrroU's  labors 
—Appointed  llrst  Bishop  of  Uallimore— Stalisllcs  of  Cutlioiicity.         .  647 

CHAPTER  IV. 

PLANTING  THE  CROSS. 
The  Chiircli  of  the  United  States  nnd  its  early  troubles— Bishop  Carroll  di- 
ri'(;tin>;  tin-  pioneers  of  th^  J'^iitli— Geor^retown  Colletie  founded— Tlio 
first  Synod  of  Bullimore — Vinitinij  Boston— Priests  from  Fninee — "Ex- 
iles of  Erin" — Balliniorc  becomes  iv  metropolitan  see— Four  new  Bibb- 
ops — 'I'Le  death  of  Archbisliop  Carroll fl83 


MOTHER  ELIZA13ETII  ANN  SETON. 
CHAPTER  I. 

EARLY    YKAR8    OP   OUK    IIKROINE. 

Birth—  Parents— Edueat ion— Relipion— Personal  appearance- Slarriflge— 
Spirit  of  piety— As  a  mother- Death  of  Dr.  Bay  ley       .         .        .         .609 

CHAPTER  II. 

TUB    VOYAGE   TO    ITALY. 

Mr.  Seton's  health  declines — A  sea  voya,?n  proposed — The  voyage — At  Leg- 
horn—Pen  picitures—"  Po(Jr  Willinm"— Death  of  Mr.  Selon— llow  she 
was  most  kindly  treated  by  the  Messrs.  Filicchi— At  mass— Scraps  from 
letters 666 

CHAPTER  III. 

SEEKING   THE   TRUTH. 

Mrs.  Seton  returns  to  America— ^Ir.  A.  Filicchi — Rev.  J.  H.  Hobart — 
^rental  Ajiony — Father  dc  Chevenis — Light  at  last — Mrs.  Seton  enters 
the  Church  of  Ages— Is  baptized  in  old  St.  Peter's— Her  first  confession 
and  commuuion. 679 

CHAPTER  IV. 

ON   THE   WAY    OF    CHRISTIAN   PERFECTION. 

Peace — Father  Che%'erus — Filicchi— Mrs.  Seton  opens  a  boarding-house — 
Is  contlmird  by  Bishop  Carroll — Another  Convert — Persecutions — Rev. 
W.  Y.  Dubourg  and  his  plans— Mrs.  Seton  goes  to  Baltimore— Liberal- 
ity of  the  FiJicciii  brothers— Mr.  Cooper— The  "Sisters  of  St.  Joseph" 
—At  Eramittsburg— St  Joseph's  Valley 690 

CHAPTER  V. 

THE    NEW   RELIGIOUS    SOCIETY. 

Bules  Rdopted— Mother  Seton's  daughter  Anna— Her  many  vitiues— Her 
death — A  Mother's  tears— The  growing  community — Mptber  Seton  as  a 
teacher— Her  eldest  son— Mr.  P.  Filicchi's  deatd.        .....  701 


I   ■v\ 


IP 


OONTENTa. 


xxi 


CHAPTER  VI. 

CROSS    AND   i;KO\VN.  rMM 

Dt'iith  of  Mother  Scion's  youngest  iliuiglittr— Father  IkutC — "Luther  in 
Luther" — Mother  Heton's  Leullli  becouiis  feehh; — Her  imtieiice— Her 
lust  uiouieuts— Her  holy  deuth— Her  eharucler— The  reitults  of  her  loiL  71* 


CUAHLES  CARROLL  OF  CARROLLTON. 
CHAPTER  I. 

A    GREAT    man's   KAUI.Y    YEARS. 

The  Carroll  family— Birth  and  Education  of  Charles  Carroll  of  CarroIIton 
— His  uctive  opposition  to  Lntlish  tyranny— Murriiige — Ai-  n  Popular 
udvorate— His  keen  foresight  iu  regard  to  the  revolution— liepeul  of  the 
laws  agaiul  Catholics. 729 

CHAPTER  H. 

TUB   VISIT    TO   CANADA. 

Consfrcss  appoints  three  commissioners  to  visit  Canada— Instructions — The 
eonunissioiiers  leave  New  York  on  tlieir  way  toCanaila— Extracts  from 
Carroll's  "Journal" — Up  the  Hudson— At  Albany— Visiting  ilie  Falla 
on  the  Mohawk— Moore's  "  Lines" — At  Montreal — Exumiuing  the  con- 


dition of  all'airs — Ou  the  way  Lome — Failure  of  the  ujiubiou. 

CHAPTER  HI. 


734 


GLAXCES   AT   AX    ILLUSTRIOUS   CAREER. 

Patriotic  laborsiu  Maryland— Signing  the  immortal  Declaration— Glimpses 
of  Mr.  C.irroir.s  public  life— His  thanieur  as  a  public  man — As  a 
Catholic— "The  year  of  Jubilee"— Receiving  the  united  homage  of  the 
country- Hisdealh — A  picture  of  the  closing  scene— His  favorite  liooks 
— His  opiuion  of  religion     .        .         .        * 741 


RIGHT  REVEREND  SIMON  GABRIEL  BRUT^. 
CHAPTER  T. 

A  -WISE  YOUTH  IX  WIT.n  TIMES. 
Birlh  and  family— Death  of  Mr.  Brute— A  pood  mothcr—'Recolleotions  of 
a  pioua  Confessor— The  first  prayer-book— First  Communion— Young 
Brute  as  a  student— His  widornnpeof  studies — The  study  of  medicine — 
(Jiadualos  with  Hie  highest  honors — Enters  the  seminary — Is  raised  to 
the  priesthood— Becomes  Professor— Goes  to  America.         .  .  748 

CHAPTER  n. 

A    RRFAT   TEACHER   TX   THE   XEW   •VTORLT>. 

Father  Brut6  at  Bnltimorc— At  Emmittsburg— Note  on  Mt.  St.  Mar3r'9 


I 


I    »1 
I    I 


II     H 


xxii 


coxTEyrs. 


7A0B 


College — Trying  to  ioarn  Eni^lish — Ills  zeal  and  labors — Mother  Scion 
— A.  short  trip  to  France — His  labors  and  example  in  Ihu  seminary  at 
Ihemuuutaiu — J ohuliu^jhcs  and  Father  Brute — Letters.         .        .         .  752 

CHAPTER  III. 

TOILIXG   IX   TllK   WKSTKRN    WILPERXE8S. 

Documents  from  Uoiue — A  retreat — Is  consecrated  Bishop  of  Vincenucs — 
deception  iu  his  new  bee— Everything  to  create — Glance  at  Lis  labors 
and  virtues— His  dcalli  and  character. 759 


FATHER  DEMETRIUS  AUGUSTINE  GALLITZIN. 
CHAPTER  I. 

A  i'rixce's  voutii. 

Birth  and  Parents— Educaliuu—JIother  and  Bon— Young  Gallilzin  Ijccnnies 
a  (.'alholic— A  penpicluie— Denielrius  prepares  to  travel  in  America — 
Incidents  before  departing— On  the  bright,  blue  sea 705 

CHAI'TER   II. 

THE    YOfXG   PRINCE-rRIEST. 

Firi»t  days  in  America — New  and  higher  thoughts — In  the  seminary — Or- 
(iaini'd  to  the  Prii  slhf)od— Father  Gallilzin  is  tint  on  a  singular  niisi^ion 
to  Virginia— iSlrango  events — Adam  Livingston  and  his  troubles — AVhat 
fdliowcd — A  niysterioiis  voice— Captain  McGuire — Galiitzin  founds  a 
Catholic  colony 770 

CHAPTER   III. 

AN  APOSTLE  AT  WORK. 
State  of  Father  Galitzin's  rol(!ny— The  pastor's  toils— Loretto— The  Prin'^e 
'  and  his  sister— Laboring  lute  and  early  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord—A 
rrie«t  of  on1,-r  and  discipline-As  a  preacher-"  Every  one  kneels  here' 
-FalluT  Gallil/ni  and  his  rebuke  to  a  Protestant  lady  in  church- He:' 
coiiversmn  afterwnrds-Many  conversions-Father  Galitizin  as  a 
T^-,iter-lIis  hosi)itality— .\  forest  scene-Death  of  the  great  missionary  ^^^ 
— Anecdotes 


);. 


RIGHT  R^^.VEREND  JOHN  ENGLAND,  D.D. 
CHAPTER  I. 

THE   SCnOOT,-nOY    liEroMES   A   BISHOP. 
Early  years—"  The  little  Papist"— Leaves  law  for  theology— A  patriot  priest 
—Is  appointed  to  the  parish  ct' Bandon— His  difficulties— Appointment 
to  the  sue  of  Charleston— Items  from  the  Bishop's  diary       .        .        .'^83 


PAoa 


IT  Seloa 
liuuiy  ut 


ccnncs— 
is  labors 

.  759 


rziN. 


1  becomcB 
mcrica — 


703 


larj'— Or- 
r  iiiissiou 
[■s— "What 
I'ouiids  a 


770 


e  Prince 

,orct — A 

ilslii'i-e" 

b-Her 

,    11 :.    a 


7Tf 


it  priest 
linttnoiit 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  II. 


xxm 


AX   miSII   APOfJTI.E   IX   AMERICA.  pAOl 

State  of  the  now  diocese — An  apostolic  toiler— The  Bishop  "  haTcfooted" 
Dr  Englauirs  visit  to  Savannah — At  Augusta — Visits  Locust  Qrovo 
— Mrs.  Thomson — His  first  open-air  sermon — At  Warrington — Columbia 
— A  course  of  lectures  at  Cnarleslon — A  new  Catechism — The  "Book 
bociety" — A  suggestive  quotation  in  relation  to  Wilmington.       .         .  787 

CHAPTER  III. 

GLANCES   AX   AX    IlEUOIC   LIFE. 

Dr.  Encrland'.s  great  Fame  and  worth — His  love  for  the  United  States — The 
founder  of  the  Calliolio  press  in  this  Ue|)ublic. — llo'ivhe  travelled — The 
power  of  Father  O'Neill'.s  llute — Preaching  on  a  stump  by  the  way- 
side— A  pen  picture — How  the  Great  Bishop  punished  a  conceited,  ill- 
bred  preacher 791 

CHAPTER   IV. 

LAST    YEARS    OP    "  THE    NOBLEST    ROMAX    01^"    THEM    ALL." 

Bishop  England  and  his  classical  school — Eigotry — Ilis  eil'orts  against 
duelling — Pruacliing  in  the  hall  of  the  House  of  Representatives — 
His  extensive  intluence — His  solicitude  for  all — His  boundless  zeal — 
Dr.  England  and  the  minister — "  Boys,  the  Bishop's  stripped  to  his 
shirt:" — His  care  of  the  negroes— His  lieroism  during  the  plague — His 
last  '.ays — Scenes  at  his  death-bed — Glances  at  his  character.         .         .  792 


783 


MOST  REVEREND  JOHN  HUGHES,  D.D. 
CHAPTER  I. 

A  YOUXG  CATHOLIC  IIEUO. 

Birth — Parents— Education— Kneeling  behind  a  hay-rick — Emigrates  to 
tiie  I'uilcd  States — The  future  Archbishop  toiling  as  a  dav  laborer— 
His  college  career — Is  ordained— His  labors  in  the  vineyard  of  llic  Lord 
—His  patriotisnr— The  Hughes  and  Breckcnridgc;  c(intr()ver.sy— An 
anecdote  about  the  appointment  to  the  see  of  Cincinnati.     .         .         .  807 

CHAPTER  II. 

THE  YOUXG  IllsnOP  OK  XEW  YORK. 

Dr.  Huglies  becomes  Bishop  of  New  York— Scene  .^t  his  consecration — 
Stormy  times — Lay-trusteeism— Bishop  Hughes  .sails  for  Europe— Es- 
tablishment of  St.  .John's  College,  at  Fordluiin— Sketch  of  the  college 
(note)— The  public  school  system— Battle  of  Bishop  Hughes— His  grc't 
intluence  over  his  flock SU 

CHAPTER  III. 

BATTLIXO  TVITII  KXOAV.VOTIMNGISM. 

Friends  in  Philadelphia— Sympathy  in  Nevr  York— The  Catholics— Dr. 


XXIV 


CONTENTS. 


PAQB 


li     1^ 


l^l:li| 


W 


i 

i  I 


Hughes  and  the  Mayor — The  Bishop's  memorable  letter  to  3Iayor 
Harper — Immense  debt  of  the  churches — Consecration  of  Dr.iSIcCloskey 
Division  of  tlie  diocese — Catholic  cliaplains  in  the  army — The  sisters  of 
Ciiarily — Pr(!achiiiij  before  Congress — Progress  of  Catholic  Education 
— Patriotism 831 

CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  FinST  ARCIimSHOP  OF  NEW  TOUK. 

Kew  York  raised  to  the  rank  of  a  metropolitan  see — The  Immaculate  Con- 
ception— Failing  health — St.  Patrick's  Cathedral — The  Archbishop's 
energy — The  Archl)ishop  and  Pius  IX. — The  civil  war — llis  mission  to 
Europe — Some  of  his  last  acts — The  moutnful  cud — His  greatness 
summed  up 830 


FATHER  PETER  JOIIX  DE  SMET,  S.J. 
CHAPTER  I. 

THE  YOUNG  MISSIONARY. 

Birth  and  education — Goes  to  America  and  joins  the  Society  of  Jesus — 
Helps  to  build  a  university — Among  the  Indians — The  Flathead  mission 
founded — Back  to  St.  Louis — The  dilliculties  of  the  Indian  missionary 
— A  system  of  missions  planned — How  Father  De  Smut  raised  money 
to  help  on  the  work  of  God 835 

CHAPTER  11. 

TUK   GREAT  BLACK-GOWN  AS    CHAPLAIN    OF  THE  UNITED   STATES  ARMY 
SENT  AGAINST  TUB  MORMONS. 

Our  Government  recognizing  Father  T)e  Smct's  great  influence  over  the 
Indians— LcUer  of  De  Smet — The  Morn\ons — Appointed  chaplain  in 
United  States  Army — Pen  pictures — The  ))ufTalo — Scenes  of  death — A 
caravan  ou  the  plains— Submission  of  the  ^lormons 843 

CHAPTER  HI. 

NEW  SIGHTS  AND  SCENES. 

At  the  Isthmus  of  Panama— San  Francisco— For  Vancouver — The  great 
blackgown  among  the  Indians — Kenewing  a  treaty  of  peace — Forest 
scenes — Father  Point's  crosses — Listening  to  bears  and  wolves  at  night.  858 

CHAP'I^ER  IV. 

THE  SUNSET  OF  LIFE. 

The  Catholic  Faith  and  the  Indian— The  Skal/.i  tribe — Their  virtues— Their 
country — The  tobacco  plain — The  Flatbow  river — Agriculture — Hon- 
est v — Anerdote  of  an  old  chief — A  young  warrior  and  his  bride — A 
little  Indian  clnnvli— The  missionary  and  the  Inilians— Old  Chief 
Michael — Ihniors  to  Father  De  Sniet  on  his  last  visit  to  Eui  ,ipe — A  snd 
ftpcident— De.'ith  of  Fiither  De  Smet— The  magnitude  of  his  work— "  Ad 
majorem  Dei  gloriam."        .        .         .        ^ 809 


mm^ 


Christopher  Columbus, 

THE     , 
DISCOVERER  OP  AMERICA  AND  THE  GREATEST  OF  ADMIRALS." 


"The  Western  World  and  dauntless  Chief  I  sing, 
Who  steered  his  course  with  bold  adventurous  wing, 
Through  unfrequented  seas  from  Palos'  shore. 
Where  pilot  guided  ne'er  his  helm  before." — Moore's  Columbiad, 

"  lie  -who  does  not  helieve  in  the  supernatural,  cannot  comprehend  Co- 
lumbus.— Count  de  Lorgues. 

"  Aujourd'hul  la  graude  figure  de  Christophe  Colomb  s'elovo  au-dcssus  do 
tons  Ics  deeouvreurs  anciens  et  modernes;  il  se  distinirue  d'entre  I'ux  tons  par 
la  profondeur  Ae  sou  genie,  par  la  beaute  de  son  caraetiire,  par  la  f  rauehi.^e  do 
sa  foi  ct  dc  sa  picte,  et  par  la  couronnc  du  malheur,  dont  riu^jratc  Espagne  luj 
ceignit  le  front."— -<diic'  Ferland. 


ltes  army 


CHi\PTEIl  I. 

FROM  INFANCY  TO   MANHOOD. 

Tlie  "parents  and  hirtli  of  Columhus — School-days — Early 
life  and  adventures — Appearance^  manners  and  char- 
acter— Marriage. 

A  little  less  than  four  centuries  and  a  half  af;:o,  there 
lived,  in  a  neat  house, in  the  suburbs  of  the  famous  city  of 
Genoa,"  two  virtuous  young  persons,  who,  in  the  designs  of 
Crod,  were  to  be  the  parents  of  one  of  the  most  illustrious 

'Chief  uuthoritios  U8cd:  Count  dc  I,ort;iU's,  "TJfe  of  Christoplicr  rolumhiiH."  trauslatprt  by 
Dr.  liurry;  Do  Lorttiii'.",  "  I/AnibassiKlcur  di'  Dicii  i*  lo  I'liiic  I'ic  IX."  Do  Lor^iiOH,  "  Safiin  Contro 
Cliristiiphc  C'olointi,  oi\  In  pn'ttndiu'  ohiite  du  ScrvUci'ir  dc  Dicii:"  livlii;;.  "  r.ircand  Voyiifjcs 
()ml^i^itoIllll'r  C'olumbii.i;  "  KatluT  Kiiit;ht,  S.  J.,  "  Life  of  ClirislDpticr  ('(iliinilniH;  "  Sir  ArtluK 
lli'lps,  "  Lifo  of  C'liristoplicr  ColnuibuK;  "  I.amartinc,  "  Vic  dc  Cliri.'^ldplic  (.'oloiiili;  "  Holiprtsoi^ 
"  Ili-^tory  of  America;  "  Prcscott,  "  History  of  Ferdinand  and  lHal>clla." 
*"  Tlieuce  I  am,"  tlie  Discoverer  of  America  wrote  in  hii*  w  ill,  "uud  there  was  I  born." 


18 


cnnisToniER  columbus. 


men  in  all  liistory.  Dominic  Colombo'  and  Snsanna  Fon- 
tanai'ossa  loved  each  other,  the  Church  had  ])laced  the  holy 
seal  of  her  benediction  on  their  tender  affection,  and  now 
they  Avere  companions  for  life. 

Dominic,  though  not  rich,  was  in  respectable  circum- 
stances; and  he  was  not  ignorant  that  he  belonged  to  a  fam- 
il\^  once  wealthy  and  noble.'  A  small  f(n'tune  inherited  by 
liis  young  wife,  somewhat  increased  his  worldh'  store.  Still, 
Ills  income  was  slender,  and  to  make  up  for  this  he  carried  on 
the  business  of  woolconibing.  He  had  a  x^hice  for  weaviug 
clothes,  in  A\hich  he  employed  a  workman  and  an  ai>prentice. 

In  the  year  1435,  a  little  stranger  came  into  the  Avorld  in  the 
quiet  subui'ban  residence  of  Dominic  Colombo.  The  bright 
babe,  in  due  time,  was  taken  to  the  church  of  St.  Stephen,  and 
the  silvery  waters  of  Ba])tif':im  rolled  upon  its  innocent  head. 
The  name  given  was  Christopher."  We  wonder  if  the  good 
Benedictine  Father,  as  he  performed  tlie  sacred  ceremony, 
thought  of  this  very  suggestive  name ;  or  if  any  gleam  of 
light  was  shed  on  the  glorious  and  eventful  future  in  store 
iov  the  little  Cluistian !  But  in  vain  does  our  curiosity 
question  the  past.  The  gloom  of  ages  surrounds  the  cia- 
dle  of  Christopher  Columbus.  The  details  of  his  early  life, 
which  have  come  down  to  us,  are  indeed  sadly  meagre. 

"Seateil  I  see  the  two  again, 
But  not  alono;  thcj'  entertain 

A  litlle  angel  unaware, 
Witb  face  as  round  as  iu  the  moon; 

A  royal  guest  with  tl'ixen  hair, 

"Who.  throned  upon  his  lofty  chair. 
Drums  on  the  table  with  his  spoon. 

Then  drops  it  careless  on  the  floor 

To  grasp  at  things  unseen  before."'' 


'  This  ts  tlio  Ilalinn  form  of  tho  nmiiP.  Coliinibiis  laliiiizi'rt  his  Tinmo  in  \\U  IcttfTs  accordiiitf 
to  tlu'  nsiine  of  llio  time,  wlioii  LaUii  wan  tlic  lanKiiasjc  of  learned  con-osponrlence.— yrcjrtr/. 

''  In  rcLTard  In  tlic  ancestor''  of  Cohnnlins.  Irvint;'''  arconnt  in  exceediiiirly  vauMie,  and  leaves  lis 
to  waiid.er  i:i  the  mazes  nf  coiijeetare.  De  l,uri;iics  says;  "It  [^nr/din  that  tlie  ancestors  (,( 
Cohinilins  lieloiiired  to  Uie  nolilliiy."  Hat  on  tins  point,  wo  feel  very  iillle  interested.  The  tnn^ 
irrealness  of  Coltiinhiis  -as  of  all  really  crcit  men— arose  from  his  own  achievenn'nts.  not  those  of 
his  ancestors.  He  stands  on  his  own  merits,  lie  shines  l.y  no  horrowed  liulit.  His  son,  Fer- 
nando, who  wrote  the  life  of  his  illusirioiis  fatlier,  liad  a  true  tiiristliin  foelinK  on  this  subject. 
"1  .ini  of  oiiiiiion,"  sa\s  lie,  "  that  I  should  derivu  letj  dignity  from  any  nobility  of  ancestry  thjw 
from  beini;  tiie  son  of  such  a  father." 

•  C/irixlo]i/itr  sifinilles  the  Chrixf -I/fart^-;  Columbus,  a  (l6Vt, 

•Longfellow,  "The  Uanging  of  the  Crano." 


I 


Li  n 


mmm 


cnmsTOPiiER  COL  UMB  us. 


w 


ma  Fon- 
the  holy 
and  now 

circnm- 
lo  a  fani- 
irited  by 
e.  St-ili, 
irried  on 

weaving 
prentice. 
I'ld  in  tho 
le  brig'lit 
)hen,  and 
iwt  head, 
the  good 
?remony, 
gleam  of 

in  store 
curiosity 

the  cra- 
arly  life, 

re. 


I;s  necoriliiig 
\nin'j, 

llul  ll'tlVCS  IH 

liiKTslors  of 
ll.  The  tnid 
liiDt  llioseof 
is  iioii,  Kcr- 
lliis  subject, 
licciitry  tlUM 


Years  rolled  on.  Christopher  grew  up  to  boyhood,  the 
hope  and  pride  of  his  i)arents,  The  brightness  of  his  eldest 
son — he  had  now  more  than  one' — did  not  escape  the  keen 
eye  of  Dominic  Colombo.  lie  remarked,  among  other  qual- 
ities, that  the  lad  loved  the  sea,  and  was  very  fond  (jf  study- 
ing geography,  lie  saw  his  course  as  became  a  wise  father. 
He  resolved  to  sec(md  the  genius  of  his  son.  And  at  the 
risk  of  pinching  himself  and  his  fanuly,  he  sent  Christoi)her 
in  his  tenth  year  to  the  University  of  Pavia,  where  the  boy 
studied  Latin,"  geometry,  geography,  astronomy  and  navi- 
gation. Ilis  collegiate  career,  however,  was  short.  In  his 
twelfth  year  the  young  student  was  obliged  to  return  home 
to  assist  his  father. 

The  wide  knowledge  and  deep  scientific  attainments  which 
Columbus  i)ossessed  in  after  life  "  .e  the  result  of  experi- 
ence and  long  and  careful  self-instruction.  Men  of  strong 
genius  derive  an  advantage  from  having  thus,  at  tho  very 
outset,  to  contend  with  poverty  and  privations.  They  learn 
to  depend  upon  themselves,  to  improve  every  casual  advan- 
tage, and  to  effect  great  ends  by  small  means.  Such  a  man 
was  Columbus.  His  own  energy  and  inventior^  su])plied 
every  deliciency,  and  in  all  his  undertakings,  the  scantiness 
of  his  means  enhanced  the  grandeur  of  his  achievements. 

For  the  next  two  years,  it  seems,  Christopher  Avorked  at 
his  father  s  business.  But,  no  d()ub<",  he  felt  that  this  was 
not  the  path  of  life  which  Providerc^e  and  his  own  inclina- 
tions pointed  out.     The  sea  was  his  destined  field  of  acticm. 

*'More  frequently  than  not,"  says  Father  Knight,  S.  J., 
''(lod  leads  men  by  the  path  of  their  own  natural  character 
even  to  the  sublimest  apostolate." 

At  fourteen  years  of  age,  Columbus  became  a  sailor.  In 
tlKJse  days  life  on  the  sea  was  fall  of  ]ieril  and  a(henture. 
Commerce  and  war  went  hand  in  hand.  Pirat(\s  and  free- 
booters were  in  abundance.  The  Christian  mariners,  in 
many  parts  of  the  Mediterranean,  were  always  armed  to  the 
teeth,  and  ready  for  an  encounter  with  Mahometan  corsairs. 

'  Christopher  Columbus  was  the  eldest  of  n  fumily  of  nvc— four  sons  and  one  daughter. 
•Latin  waa  the  only  language  in  which iclence  was  tuuglit  at  tliat  time.— /ToiVrf ,*(»». 


)i      ! 


li       i 


20 


CIIUISTOPUER  COLUMBUS. 


m   ;i 


\m 


Such  was  the  rugged  school  in  which  tlie  future  admiral  was 
first  broken  into  discipline.  Nor  was  tlie  teacher  less  rugged 
•tliau  the  school.  He  was  a  relative  named  Colombo,  a  liardy 
old  captain  of  the  seas,  bold  and  adventurous,  ready  to  fight 
iu  any  cause,  and  to  take  up  a  quarrel  whenever  it  might 
lawfully  be  found. 

Many  were  the  deeds  of  daring  performed  by  Christopher 
Columbus,  both  under  this  stern,  old  admiral,  or  with  a  no 
less  bold  and  lighting  nephew,  known  as  Colombo  the 
younger. 

AVhile  on  a  cruise  with  the  latter,  an  event  occurred  which 
gave  a  new  direction  to  the  career  of  our  hero.  On  the  Por- 
tuguese coast,  near  cape  St.  Vincent,  a  number  of  rich 
Venetian  merchantmen  were  attacked  by  Colombo's  squad- 
ron. Long  and  fierce  Avas  the  encounter.  The  fight  had 
lasted  nearly  all  day,  the  combatants  were  nearly  exhausted, 
and  the  evening  was  casting  its  shades  over  the  nn'ghty  deep, 
when  the  privateer  commanded  by  Christopher  Columbus, 
grappled  a  large  Venetian  vessel,  which  after  a  hand-to-hand 
struggle,  caught  fire,  and  both  were  soon  enveloped  in 
flames.  Friends  and  foes  alike  sought  safety  in  the  sea. 
Seizing  a  floating  oar,  the  future  discoverer  of  America, 
boldly  struck  for  land,  some  six  miles  distant.  He  reached 
it  after  a  desperate  struggle  for  life.  His  first  impulse  was 
to  thank  Heaven. 

It  pleased  God — wrote  his  son  Ferdinand  many  years  after- 
wards— to  preserve  him  for  greater  things. 

Columbus  now  found  himself  on  the  strange  coast  of  Por- 
tugal, a  penniless  wanderer.  He  directed  his  steps  towards 
Lisbon,  made  the  accpiaintance  of  several  fellow-countryraei? 
there,  and  was,  above  all,  happy  in  finding  his  brother,  Bar- 
tholomew, To  his  eldest  brother,  Bartholomew  was  ever 
devotedly  attached,  and  he  received  him  with  the  greatest 
affection. 

Portugal,  at  this  time,  took  the  lead  in  discovery  and 
TTsantiuie  enterprise.     This  was  due  to  the  bright  genius  and 

'"Utific  attainments  of  Prince  Henry,  a  fearless  knight,  a 
!..U;  Catholic,  and  the  most  eminent  navigator  before  Co- 


,Mll' 


CIIRISTOPUER  COLUMBUS. 


21 


miral  was 

ss  rugged 

),  a  hardy 

y  to  fight 

it  might 

iristopher 
with  a  no 
jnibo  the 

red  which 
L  the  Por- 
:'  of  rich 
•'s  squad- 
light  had 
xliausted, 
hty  deep, 
!ohinibus, 
d-to-hand 
:?loped  in 
the  sea. 
America, 
3  reached 
pulse  was 

ars  af  ter- 

t  of  Por- 
towards 
ntrymeff 
ler,  Bar- 
was  ever 
greatest 

ery  and 
lius  and 
night,  a 
fore  Co- 


lumbus. Encouraged  by  the  Holy  See,  Henry  made  several 
expeditions  along  the  African  coast,  seeking  by  Mater  a  path 
to  the  East  Indies. 

The  Pope  granted  a  plenary  indulgence  to  all,  who  taking 
part  in  those  voyages,  should  perish  in  fulfilling  the  condi- 
tions of  the  indulgence.  In  truth,  the  spirit  of  discovery 
was  connected  with  zeal,  for  religi(m,  which,  in  that  Catholic 
age,  was  a  princii)le  of  such  activity,  as  to  influence  the  con- 
duct of  nations. 

Under  the  hospitable  roof  of  his  brother,  Columbus  made 
his  abode  in  the  capital  of  Portugal,  and  supported  himself 
by  drawing  maps  and  charts.'  He  not  only  provided  for  his 
own  immediate  wants,  but  by  economy  and  the  self-denial 
which  his  lilial  tenderness  imposed  upon  him,  he  was  ena- 
bled to  sweeten  the  old  age  of  his  father,  to  whom  fortune 
had  not  been  favorable.  "He  always  took  care,"  writes  the 
historian  Oviedo,   "to  provide  for  the  wants  of  his  father." 

Let  us  glance  at  the  appearance,  manners,  and  habits 
of  Columbus,  who  had  now  reached  the  full  vigor  of  phys- 
ical and  intellectual  manhood,  having  completed  his  thirty- 
third  year.  Ilis  biographers  are  minute;  and  their  picture 
is  both  interesting  and  instructive.  In  person,  Columbus 
was  tall,  well-formed,  and  commanding.  About  his  whole 
figure  there  was  something  elevated.  His  appearance  was 
impressive.  His  face  was  a  pure  oval  upon  which  nature 
had  stamjied  a  loolv  of  unusual  grace,  strength,  and  beauty. 
The  breadth  of  his  mind  was  clearly  indicated  in  his  intel- 
lectual brow  and  large  forejiead.  His  nose  was  aquiline,  and 
his  finely  chiseled  lij)s  expressed  the  magnanimity  of  his 
heart.  All  his  senses  were  remarkably  acute.  His  eyes, 
grey,  keen,  arid  strong,  kindled  in  moments  of  enthusiasm, 
and  lit  up  his  manly  countenance.  A  dimpled  cliin,  a  few 
freckles,  a  ruddy  complexion,  and  hair  white  as  snow  since 
his  thirtieth  year — such  is  a  rough  pen  picture  of  that  won- 
derful man  of  destiny. 

'  The  construrfion  of  a  correct  map  or  chart,  in  thoi»n  rlayp,  rcqnirfd  a  degree  of  knowledge 
and  experience,  i^ufllcient  to  cntille  the  posaessor  to  distincUou.— /rit/ij'. 


1 


22 


CHJilSTOPIIER  COL UMBUH. 


il'l 


i       ^1 


Tlioiigli  simply  rind,  lie  could  pass  nowhere  without  hoing 
noticed.  His  Vfuy  look  su.ii'gvsted  an  air  of  modest  distinc- 
tion. ]?e('o''e  kings  and  grandees  he  aT-,peared  v»-itli  as  much 
ease  and  grace  as  if  he  had  been  born  in  a  palace. 

He  bad  no  other  finery  of  dress  than  cleanliness.  In  this, 
however,  lie  was  ex(piisite.  To  the  absence  of  stains  or  rents, 
or  negligence  in  his  clothing — which  he  knew  how  to  pre- 
serve a  long  time — he  endeavored  to  join  whiteness,  and 
often  fineness  of  linen,  always  slightly  perfumed.  For 
him  sweet  scents  had  ever  an  unfailing  attraction. 

Nature  had  gifted  him  with  an  elegant  taste.  He  admired 
with  tenderness  the  works  of  the  Almighty,  andscuight  with 
eagerness  for  Howers,  birds,  and  the  productions  of  the  sea. 

Though  a  mariner  from  boyhood,  the  lofty  character  of 
Columbus,  I'aised  him  above  the  vices  of  the  seaman.  Swear- 
ing and  indecent  songs  he  abhorred.  He  drank  but  little 
wine.  He  disliked  gimies  of  chance.  He  despised  effeminate 
pleasures.  "With  no  inclination  for  the  pleasures  of  the  table 
he  preserved  on  land  the  frugal  habits  of  shipboard.  He 
prefeired  vegetable  food.  Water  sweetened  with  candy  sugar 
and  some  drops  of  orange-flower,  was  his  favorite  drink. 

His  punctuality  and  habits  of  order  were  also  remarlval)le. 
He  knew  the  value  of  time.  His  sense  of  duty — his  ener- 
getic nature,  and  weil-balaiu'ed  character  prevented  him  from 
l)utting  off  till  to-morrow  what  could  be  d(me  today. 
Never  was  lie  seen  acting  at  random,  or  outside  of  the  dic- 
tates of  duty  or  of  good  sense. 

ilis  goodtiess  of  heart  made  hira  most  affectionate  to  his 
relatives  and  friends,  and  affable  to  those  about  him,  show- 
ing his  inlVriors  the  kindness  of  superiority  graced  with  an 
urbanity  wliich  is  not  learned  on  shipboard.  His  simple  and 
flowing  language  harmonized  with  his  richness  of  thought, 
Tlie  ease  of  his  elocution,  the  graphic  turn  of  his  images,  his 
expnv^sions,  often  hardy,  but  always  happy,  rendered  his 
conversation  attractive.  He  was,  in  short,  one  to  be  loved  by 
those  near  him.  Of  a  singularly  resolute  and  enduring 
nature,  lie  was  likonvise  rapt  in  his  own  designs,  having  a 
ringing  forever  in  his  ears  of  bold  and  gigantic  projects. 


cnnisToniER  columbus. 


23 


n<3  was  naturally  hasty  and  inclined  to  anger.  But  tliis  im- 
pulse never  injured  any  one  save  himself.  Reflection — not 
less  sudden  than  the  transport — enabled  him  to  master  his 
feelings.  It  would  appear  that  this  extreme  irritability  of 
temper  was  given  him  as  a  test,  an  occasicm  to  strive  against 
himself;  to  subline  his  natural  inclination,  to  overcome  this 
internal  obstacle  before  surmounting  exterior  ones.  Trials 
designed  to  produce  the  greatest  imi)atience  were  the  lot  of 
him  who  was  to  be  a  model  of  i)atience  itself,  in  order  to  ac- 
complish his  ever-enduring  work. 

The  virtues  which  Columbus  had  learned  to  practice  at 
home  did  not  desert  him  on  the  ocean.  If  he  was  always  a 
g(>iirleman,  neither  did  he  ever  forget  that  he  was  a  Catholic. 
In  his  bright  and  thoiigiitful  mind,  God  and  Religion  held 
the  iirst  place.  "Throughout  his  life,"  writes  Irving,  "he 
M'as  noted  for  a  strict  attention  to  the  offices  of  religion;  nor 
did  his  piety  consist  in  mere  forms,  but  partook  of  that  lofty 
and  solemn  enthusiasm  with  which  his  whole  character  was 
stnmgly  tinctured." 

From  tlie  day  of  his  arrival  in  Lisbon,  Columbus  Avas  a 
regular  attendant  at  morning  ^lass  in  the  Cliurch  of  All 
Saints,  Ju.it  adjoining  a  convent  of  nuns.  His  piety  and  tiio 
distiiu'tion  of  his  manners  were  remarked  even  thi'ough  the 
gniting  of  the  cloister.  Among  the  boarders  at  this  relig- 
ious institution  was  a  noble  young  lady  named  Doha  Felippa 
de  Perestrello.  Al)out  Columbus  there  Avas  a  mysterious 
and  indescribable  something,  that  won  her  affection,  and 
tender  curiosity  invented  the  means  of  making  his  ac(pmin- 
tance.  This  pure  and  romantic  attachment  ended  in  mar- 
riage. But  neither  was  wealthy.  Miss  de  Perestrello' s  real 
riches  were  her  virtue,  beauty  and  accomplishments.  She 
u;is  the  daughter  of  an  eminent  Italian  navigator'  in  the  ser- 
vice of  Portugal,  who  died  governor  of  Porto  Santo,  but 


'  This  was  Don  Bartholomew  do  Perestrello.  For  dL^tlnfcuishcd  services,  the  famoiis  Prince 
lli'iiry  created  him  Ciovenior  of  the  i'laiid  of  Porto  Santo,  and  Ijestowed  upon  liini  lar^e  estates 
liirre,  whieli  niinecl  ratlier  than  enrielieil  lilm.  Tlie  rahliits  were  so  niimeroii!!  tliat  they  literally 
Hid  him  out,  ))layiii:,'  tlie  iiiiscliiff  with  llie  iiroUucts  of  the  soil.  The  wife  of  Columbus  iulierited 
u  ijorlioii  of  those  uiii)roiliicti\c  estates. 


21 


CIIIlISTOriJER  COL  r.VBUS. 


who,  l)y  !in  iiTili.'i]ipy  reverse  of  fortune,  was  roTii])e11e(l  to 
]  ave  his  family  witii  little  save  the  nieniory  ol  an  honoicd 
name.  In  his  yoiin<j;'  bride,  however,  Columl)us  found  a  cul- 
tured and  devoted  companion  who  lovingly  symi)athized 
with  all  his  plan*. 


CHAPTER    II. 

THE  8TKUGGLE9   OF  GKNIU9. 

OoIvmIvs  and  Alplumfio  V.  —  Thc  (irmdJi  of  a  great  idea, — 
Basis  of  Columhus'  theory— Dr.  ToHrancUi  and  (Julutn- 
hiis—Uts  dijfuralth's — V/.s/'ts  k/.s  iiatiiu',  cltij  and,  his 
Father — Portutjal  treats  him  lueaidt/ — Ihath  of  7iis 
wife,  DoFm  Felippa — Direets  his  steps  to  >Spain, — Father 
Perez  and  Doctor  Hernandez — The  Content  of  Jm  lia- 
hida — Columhus  at  the  Spanish  (hurt — Father  de  7\ila- 
Tiara — Second  marriage  of  i^ot ambus — His  letter  to  King 
Ferdinand — Interview  with  the  Spanish  Soecreigns — 
The  Junta  of  Salamanca— I/is  Dominican  Friends — 
The  Moorish  War — Ferdinand  and  IsaJjella — He  nemr 
despairs  of  success — The f  (01  if  Cranada — He  is  about 
to  leaw  Spain. —  The  turn  of  Fortune— 'J.stdidla  becomes 
his  patron — The  terms  of  agreement — Final  prepara- 
tions. 

Coluiubiis,  after  liis  inarrin<^e,  was  invited  to  reside  in  tlie 
house  of  his  motlier-in-law,  who  apijears  to  have  been  a  lady 
of  no  ordinary  Dietv  and  distinction.  To  mun  liis  daily 
bread,  however,  he  continued  to  work  at  his  charts  and 
manuscripts.  But  he  was  now,  more  than  ever  })efore, 
br()U<;ht  within  the  sphere  of  discovery.  His  alliance  with  an 
honorable  fanuly  procured  him  access  to  the  highest  quarters. 
It  introduced  him  to  the  distinguished  men  of  the  Court, 
and  the  most  noted  scholars  of  Portugal. 

An  incident  attests  this  beyond  doubt.  King  Alphonsus 
v.,  though  not  engaged  in  maritime  expeditions,  still  from 
tradition  and  instinct,  interested  himself  about  naval  affairs, 
and  cheerfully  admitted  the  foi'eign  pilot  into  his  i)resence. 
He.  was  delighted  with  the  conversation  of  Columbus,  who 

25 


m 


„  m 


I     IH 


36 


riiuisToriiEit  <  01. 1  win  rs. 


often  spoke  to  liim  of  llio  natural  sciences  and  niaiiliiiie  ad 
vciitiiics.  One  day,  at  the  end  of  the  conversation  on  the 
nsual  topic  of  discoiii'sc,  an<l  lu'iliaps  to  confii'in  tlio  (Jenocse 
in  his  ideas,  tlio  J'ortu^uesc  ndcr  showed  iiiin  some  iccds  of 
an  enormous  size,  uidinown  to  any  climati'  of  Muroix'.  A 
stdiiH  liad  (liiven  tliein  on  the  shon*  of  the  Azores  wliere 
tliey  weie  picketl  u]).  'J'his  fact,  tliouyh  trilliu^^  is  sug- 
gestive. 

In  tlieir  friendly  cliattin,i;i;s,  his  mother-in-law,  struck  Avith 
Lis  desire  to  dis<'over  uiilsnown  countries,  recounted  the  life 
of  her  husband  to  (Jolunilais.  I'erestiello's  notes  and  jour- 
nals s]h»  also  conlideil  to  him.  From  the  observations  they 
contained,  Columbus  soon  drew  a  new  sn])j)oit  for  his  <>iad- 
nally  niaturiuii;  j)r()ject  of  exploiin*^  (he  eai'th,  and  esjx'cially, 
of  i)enetiatin<;  the  great  and  unknown  ocean  which  stretclusd 
away  to  the  west.  Towards  this  grand  achievement  tended 
all  ids  studies,  voyages,  and  researches.  Among  other 
things,  he  examined  tiie  ya'ogress  of  the  3'ortuguese  on 
the  coast  of  Ciuinea,  and  the  route  tlu^y  followed  to  anive 
thert\  Some  time  after,  lie  embarked  with  his  wife  for  her 
stei'ile  possessions  in  Porto  Santo,'  where  he  remained  f or  u 
short  period.  It  was  theiv  that  iJames,  his  iirst  son,  was 
born. 

"I  liav(>  been  f-eeking  ont  the  secrets  of  nature  for  forty 
years,"  wrote  Cobnnbus  at  a  later  pei-iod  of  life,  "and 
wherever  shij)  lias  sailed  tliere  have  I  voyaged."  He  had 
doubtless  early  conceived  the  plan  of  examining  the  whole 
world.  About  the  foui'th  year  of  his  sojourn  in  Portugal — 
1474 — it  was  already  developed  in  liii;  <'und.  This  extraor- 
dinary man  was  never  inconsistant  vatti  i.iniself.  In  the  ex- 
amination of  his  life  we  find  him  a^w-'iys  the  same.  That 
which  he  was  in  advanced  age,  h(»  .v*)!:;  in  his  youth. 

He  Avas  ever  a  man  of  i)rompt  action  and  ready  Avit,  keenly 
alive  to  tell  what  was  passing  around  him,  self-possessed  in 

'  Pdrlo  Siiifo  w  one  of  tlii'  Miidoim  ixliinfls.  Its  IrncHi  t«i  cl'jlit  inilcn,  bi'tnillli  llirro  iiiilfn^ 
ami  in  is|\;ilr<  iio|iiiliilioii  wiis  COnn.  Tt  \va«  (INi'nvcrcd  in  1I!S  hv  iIk'  I'mtii^riK'^i'.  nml  il  ''lill  Iw- 
loni:^  to  IliMt  iiiiliim.  It  was  nnmi'd  I'ortii  Siintn— or  llic  Holy  Port-  ln'caiisc  tlic  (liscovcrcr!! 
liupi)ily  cscaiK'd  oliipwruck  by  rfucliiiig  it.    Tliis  w;is  tlio  Jinl  of  tlio  Madeira  j^'ioiii)  dbcovcrfd. 


I" 

ii!!!»T 


ci/nfs'ior/fh'i:  coi.LMins. 


97 


(Ljiiircr.  nnd  ftu'tih;  in  resources;  \)\\{  lie  was  not  the  loss  on 
that  !ic<'oiint  ii  f;r«'iit  reader,  a  great  .student,  and  a  dreatner 
of  sj»l('n(lid  dreams. 

lie  was  possessed  of  all  tlie  r()siiio<ri'a]ilii('al  knowledge  of 
liis  rime,  and  was  well  versed  in  all  the  IkjoUs  wliieh  \ver« 
til  'M  regarded  Jis  oracular  in  their  stateniejits  about  the  lini- 
ifs  of  the  habitable  globe.  He  ha<l  iioi'ol  over  the  gluw- 
itig  piiges  of  Mai'co  Polo  till  the  niagnilicent  vision  of 
('/i)(fN;/o'  i\nd  (V////^///"— founded  upon  the  a<!tual  wctnders 
of  (Miinr.  Jind  Japan — had  fastened  ui)()n  his  soul;  and  ln^ 
Ml  ver  (loul)t(>d  that  the  (irand  Khan  was  sucli  as  he  had  been 
(Icjticted.  and  only  waiteii  the  siinunons  of  the  Catholic  sov- 
ereign to  bt^  baptized  with  all  his  iieople. 

'riie  continuous  curi'ent  of  Poitiiguese  discoveries  under 
Piince  Henry  and  otliers  liad  excitect  the  mind  of  Europe, 
and  must  have  luid  no  little  intluence  on  Columbus,  living, 
as  he  was,  in  tlie  midst  of  them.  This  may  be  said  without 
in  any  way  detracting  from  liis  une(}iuilled  nn^'its  as  a  great 
discoverer.  In  real  life  j)i->(»[)le  do  not  spring  from  shadows 
U)  something  substantial,  as  peojjle  in  sick  dreams.  A 
great  invention  or  discoveiy  is  often  like  a  daring  leap,  but 
it  is  from  land  to  land — not  from  nothing  to  something. 

Fei'uando  Columbus  divides  into  three  classes  the  ground 
on  which  his  fatlier's  theory  was  based:  namely.  Treasons 
fi'oin  nature,  the  authority  of  wi'iters,  and  tlie  testimony  of 
sailors.  He  l>elieved  the  world  to  be  a  sjdiere.  He  under- 
vstimated  its  size.  He  over-estimattnl  the  size  of  the  Asiatic 
coiiiiuent.  The  further  that  continent  extended  to  the  east- 
wai<l,  the  nearer  it  came  round  towards  Spain.  And  this,  in 
a  greater  or  less  degree,  had  been  the  oiiinion  of  the  ancient 
g('()gi'a[)hers.  Both  Aristotle  and  Seneca  thought  that  a  ship 
niiglit  sail  "in  a  few  days''  fiom  Cadiz  to  India.  Strabo, 
too.  believed  that  i'.  might  be  iiossible  to  navigate  on  the 
same  parallel  of  latitude,  due  west  from  the  coast  of  Africa 


'  f'iimnr/o  is  the  name  i;Ivpn  to  a  ninrvclloiiH  iKliiiid  ricscribod  in  tlio  "  Voyii^oK"  nf  Marco  I'olo 
:lic  f;iini);is  Vonilian  IravcliT.  It  is  ri'iiii'K'iilcil  as  Ij  int'  in  tlif  (.■aslL-rii  suas  soiiii.'  l.VJO  miles  fioir 
liiiiii,  and  of  its  beauty  and  wi'altli  many  stories  are  related. 

'  Catitay  in  simply  an  old  uume  for  Cliinu.    It  owes  itt'  origin,  it  is  said,  to  Marco  Polo. 


IF 


23 


CIIRISTOPIIER  COL  I'M  BUS. 


or  Spain  to  tliat  of  India.  TIio  arrounts  ^iven  by  ]\rarco 
Polo'  and  Sir  John  Mandt'ville'  of  tlieir  explorations 
toward  China  coniirnied  the  exaggerated  idea  of  the  extent 
of  Eastern  Asia. 

Bnt  of  all  the  works  of  learned  men,  tliat  which,  accord- 
ing to  Fernando  Colnnibns,  had  most  weight  A\ith  his 
father,  was  the  "Cosmograi)hia"  of  Cardinal  Aliaco.  It  is 
!'  singular  work.  Learned  arguments  are  interspersed  with 
the  most  wonderful  fables  of  ]ion-])odied  men  and  dog-faced 
women;  grave  and  often  veiy  sound  disquisitions  on  the 
earth's  surface  are  mixed  \\\\  with  the  wildest  stories  of  mon- 
sters and  salamanders,  of  giants  and  i)igmies.  It  is  heie 
that  we  find  the  original,  of  our  niodern  romantic  acquaint- 
ance, the  sea-serpent,  described  as  ])eing  "of  huge  size,  so 
tliat  he  kills  and  devours  large  stags,  and  is  able  to  cross 
the  ocean."  ' 

It  is,  indeed,  a  curious  snl)ject  for  meditation  that  the  con- 
jecture of  land  in  the  west  grew  out  of  a  series  of  mistaken 
notions.  Because  Columbus  believed  the  earth  to  be  of 
smaller  circumference  than  it  really  is,  and  because  he  be- 
lieved that  the  land  covered  a  lai'ger  area  than  the  water, 
therefore  he  believed  that  the  eastern  exti'enuty  of  Asia 
could  be  si)eedily  reached  by  sailing  west.     He  did  not  at 


'  }[(i)vn  Polo.  II  native  of  Voiiico,  in  Uic  tliirlocnili  conlr.ry,  wns  tlio  Uiii;;  of  travclciv  in  Ms  diiy. 
Hi;  bi'loiiircil  to  a  nnlili'  family,  nnd  acconlini.'  to  tlw  ciistoin  of  his  ((iinitn-,  cnpiL'i'il  carivin 
trade.  His  ardi  nt  mind  soiifrlit  sonio  new  sidicre  of  conimcroiiil  activity,  'lliis  prompted  liim 
t'l  (ravel  into  uidiiiowti  coiinlrii's.  He  coiiliiiiied  his  waiideriiiL's  in  Asia  for  iijiwards  of  tweiily- 
i^ix  years:  and  wlien  ho  eiime  liome  wrote  Ids  •'Travels,"  u  book  that  astonished  all  Kurope,  and 
vas  afterwards  a  j;reat  favorite  ..ilh  Coliiml)ns, 

^SirJoliri  MdiuliiUk  wiixim  En'^'lishmiin  and  a  learned  physician  of  the  fourteenth  rentnry. 
About  IHty  yeart  after  Marco  Polo's  time.  Ai.nrleville  set  onl  on  hi.s  wanderinsis.  He  vislifd 
Turkev.  Armenia.  E,i:ypl.  Syria,  Persia,  rhal.ira.  Tarlary.  and  the  Indies.  Diit  his  fj-reat  delivdit 
was  liie  Holy  Land,  where  he  remained  for  a  long  time  carefully  e.xamininf;  every  trace  connected 
with  the  'listory  of  our  Blessed  Redeemer.  He  returned  to  KliL'land  after  an  absi'iiee  of  tliirly- 
foiir  yea;  -  lisbook  of  "Travels"  istrenerally  considered  the  earliest  monnnn'nl  of  En^dish  pro.^^c. 
li'it  there  .   is  also  a  I.alln  edition.    IrvlnL's.iyr-  iliis  work  had  fireat  unthorily  with  CohimbiiH. 

Marco  Polo  anil  Sir  John  Mandeville  were  both  pions  Catholics, 

Tardinal  IVIer  de  Aliaco.  Archbishop  of  C'anibray,  was  born  in  1310,  and  died  a'lout  Hi"), 
He  was  the  anilior  .it  many  works,  and  one  of  lie'  most  learned  and  scii'iilille  men  of  his  day. 

While  niakin^r  .esearclies  in  Seville  in  the  liibliolheca  t'oiiimbiiia— the  libra'  •;iven  h\  Ei  r- 
nando  ("oliiin'r!:-  to  the  Cathi'ilriil  of  that  cil>  -the  liislorian,  Washin^'toii  Irvini;,  uiseovered  Iho 
very  copy  of  (  iirdiiial  Aliaco's  work  used  by  the  illiislrions  discoverer  nf  America.  Its  mar;;iii» 
Ai'u  covered  w  lli  notes  by  Columbus,  "written  iu  u  very  small  but  neat  and  distinct  hand." 


CHIiLSTOniER  COL  UMBUS. 


29 


tliat  time  conieniplate  tlie  possibility  of  an  intervening  eon- 
tinint;  and  it  was  tlie  false  idea  that  only  about  one-third 
of  the  t'iiriinil'ei'ence  of  the  eaitli  remained  untraversed 
wliifli  induced  him  to  plun.u'e  boldly  into  the  great  ocean. 
He  sought  Asia,  but  he  found  America. 

In  l-lT-i  we  find  Columbus  in  cori'espondence  Avitli  Dr. 
Paul  Toscanelli,  a,  learneil  physician  of  Florence,  who  was  a 
kind  of  grand  referee  to  the  explorers  and  cosnu)graphe]"S 
ol:'  his  time,  and  was  highly  esteemed  at  Konie.  A  letter 
from  the  Florentine  philosopher  to  Columbus,  dated  .liiiu^ 
L'.Vh,  1474,  is  extant,  in  Avliich  he  shows  lively  interest  in 
tlie  ])i()i)osal  of  Columbus  to  sail  westward,  and  gives  him 
much  singular  information,  witli  amusing  assurance,  jtist  as 
if  he  were  speaking  of  known  trutlu^,  and  takes  notice  of 
his  ardent  desire  to  spread  the  knowledge  of  the  trnlh.  To 
Toscanelli,  on  the  whole,  much  credit  is  due  for  the  encour- 
ageiiuMit  he  gave  that  colossal  enterprise  which  led  to  the 
discovery  of  a  new  woi'ld.' 

l^ut  that  the  notices  oi  Avestern  land  were  not  such  as  to 
have  much  weight  with  other  nu'U  is  sufficiently  provt  d  by 
the  difficulty  which  Colundius  had  in  contending  with  ad- 
verse geographers  and  men  of  science  in  g(Uieral,  of  wlumi 
he  says,  he  never  was  able  to  convince  any  one.  After  a 
new  world  had  bet^n  discovered,  many  scattered  indications 
were  ^'//c;^  found  to  have  loreshown  it.  "■'When  he  piom- 
ist'd  a  new  hcmis])here."''  wrote  A'oltaire,  *'p(M»])le  main- 
tained that  it  could  not  exist;  and  wl'im  he  had  discoveied 
it,  that  it  had  been  known  a  long  time  1 " 

Wln'ii  tin*  gi'eat  resolve,  however,  was  once  taken  by 
Ctihnubus  to  reduce  speculation  to  practice  by  an  actual 
voyage,  never  more  was  it  laid  asid(\ 

This  was  the  real  ]ioint  <d'  dei'.artu.re  in  the  disco-ii'iy  of 
America,  not  that  other  nH)ment  when  Fei'dinand  and  Isa- 
bella .utfned  the  conditions  couferi'inu'  the  Mce-Kovaltv  of 


'  Thin  fnmoup  Catliollc  phyMoian  iiln)  vvnx  n  n'np  with  his  Ipttc-r,  in  which  wuh  tnicpci  n  ronto 
to  Inillii  iicr(>?^s  till'  Atliiiilic.  This  ni.ip.  liy  wli'uh  Coliimlins  snilid  oi\  his  first  voyiiiji'  of  discDv- 
iTv,  I.vs  C'iic:is  wiys,  lie  h.'i(t  ill  liU  p(is>r-i.|iiii  at  tlir  time  (if  wiIiItil'  his  liNlDry.  It  Ik  t'n'iillv  to 
Im'  ri"_Ti'llc(l  Hint  s(i  liilrivslliiK  ii  ciciciinicnl  sliiiuid  be  idst.  It  may  ytt  cxi^l  iiiiui:,^  .u.- cinijlie 
lumljiT  of  till'  .spiiiiisli  iircliiM's.— 7/  ( liKj. 


1  i  i  ' 


'■ii 


30 


ciiRiSTornrcR  col umbus. 


till'  Indies  on  liiiii  and  liis  lieirs,  nor  yet  flin  moment  wlien 
lit'  set  sail  with  an  nnwillin*^  crew  ol'  ('ons('rii)t  sailors  ironi 
Palos.  Tlie  idea  never  went  i'roni  liis  mind;  it  only  gained 
streni'-th  1'roni  rebnil's  and  delavs,  cold  answers  and  cruel 
evasions.  AVe  see  the  giandeur  ot"  mind  of  Columbus  best 
in  tliose  clijlitcen  years  ol"  weary  waiting  and  ho^jing  against 
]io])e,  when  heaven  and  earlii  seemed  to  conspii'o  against 
him,  when  opinions  were  divided  about  him,  and  some  con- 
sidered him  a  dangerous  lunatic,  and  some  more  than  hall'  a 
liereric,  and  even  his  well-wishers  i'or  the  most  pait  thought 
that  he  indulged  in  much  unj)rolita})le  dreaming,  while  all 
the  time  he  saw  and  !e't  the  vigoi'ous  years  of  his  maidiood 
waning  fast,  and  death  pei'haps  a])|)roaching  to  carry  him 
uway  witli  his  nnghty  purpose  unt'ullilled. 

JJut  with  the  (houghts  of  Columbus  tlu're  ever  minghMl  a 
d(>ep  I'eligious  sentiment,  giving  tliem  a  tinge  of  sublimity. 
lie  looked  upon  himself  as  standing  in  tlu^  lunid  of  Heaven, 
chosen  from  among  men  for  the  accomplishment  of  a  high 
purj)ose.  He  read,  as  it  seems,  his  contemplated  discovery 
foretold  in  the  Holy  Hook,  and  shadowed  forth  darkly  in 
tlie  prophecies,  whei'ein  it  was  declared  that  the  ends  of  the 
earth  shoidd  be  brought  togethei',  and  all  nations  and 
tongues  and  languages,  united  under  the  bannei"  of  the  He- 
deemer:  and,  i)erhaps,  something  within  him  tdso  whispennl 
that  he  would  nt)t  die  till  he  had  carried  the  knowledge  of 
God  aci'oss  the  great  and  gloomy  waters. 

The  h)ng  and  painful  i)reparat()ry  elTorts  of  Colund)us  to 
interest  Kurope  in  his  nnghty  enterprise  would,  at  this  day, 
fseem  almost  incredible.  To  lind  a  continent  he  besought 
kings  and  nations  for  a,  shij)  or  two.  and  they  refused  him. 
AVitli  true  patriotism  he  made  his  lirst  a[)plication  to  thi> 
sen-it<>  of  his  native  (Tenoa.  It  was  refused.  The  idea  was 
too  new  to  be  grasped  by  the  senators  of  the  "City  by  the 
sea  ;"  and  they  ])leaded  the  poverty  of  their  exche(],uer.  and 
evtMi  denied  Columbus  the  ] (raise  of  originality.  It  was 
written,they  said,  in  the  archives  of  their  city  that  two  no- 
ble captains,  two  hundred  yeais  before,  hud  sailed  for  the 
west,  and  never  were  heard  of  again. 


l^"| 


lent  when 
ilorts  IVoiii 
ily  fi,';iinc(l 
jind  ('iiiel 
tubus  best 
ng  Ji^^-iiinst 
I'e  n,i2,'iiin.st 
some  con- 
»:ni  lijiir  ii 

•t  tllOUjti'llt 
while  illl 
nianliood 

:'uiry  him 


)»»' 


:.'j^f* 


niin^-l(Ml  a 
iiibliinity. 
L'  Ilciivcn, 
ol;  a  liigh 
(li,s('()\ery 
darkly  in 
ids  <jL'  llio 
[ions  jirid 
f  tlie  lie- 

wledgo  of 


.i>H    -  -l- 


i.f 


iimbu.s  to 

this  diiy, 

besoiiglit 

iscd  liiin. 

)ii  to  the 

idea  was 

y  by  I  lie 

Itier,  and 

It   was 

t  two  no- 

I  for  the 


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CIimSTOPHER  COL  UMDUS. 


31 


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Our  hero  turned  to  Yenke.  A  polite  refusal  was  liis  only 
answer. 

From  Venice  lie  paid  a  visit  to  liis  fatlier  at  Savona  in 
1470,  and  from  liis  own  slender  means  did  his  best  to  help 
tlic  old  man,  then  seventy  yeais  of  age,  and  weighed  down 
\)\  acciimulnted  misfortunes. 

Ho  next  directed  his  steps  to  Lisbon.  Portugal  was  at 
tliat  time  under  John  II.,  an  active  and  enterprising  prince; 
and  wlien  \"asco  de  Gama,  the  famous  Portuguese  naviga- 
tor was  on  the  point  of  aiscovering  the  sea  route  to  India  by 
rounding  the  Cai)e  of  Good  Hope,  Columbus,  c<mvinced  that 
he  could  iind  a  wider  and  more  direct  path  by  going  straight 
forward  towards  the  west,  obtained  after  a  tedious  ajiplica- 
lion,  an  audience  of  the  king,  in  order  to  unfold,  once  more, 
his  projects  of  discovery,  and  solicit  the  means  of  carrying 
tlx^iu  out  for  the  advantage  of  the  state.' 

.lolin  listened  with  interest.  Struck  with  the  boldness  of 
the  scheme,  he  referred  it  to  a  junto  of  men  of  scit  nee.  It 
was  treated  by  them  with  contenipt,  as  extravag.nnt  and 
visionary.  The  king,  however,  Avas  not  satislied  with  their 
decision.  He  desired  the  opinion  of  his  privy-counselors, 
among  whom  were  some  of  the  most  learned  men  of  the 
kingdom.  Their  opinion  Avas  ecjually  unfavorable  with  that 
of  the  junto.  Certain  of  the  counsellors,  however,  seeing 
that  the  king  still  retained  an  iiu'lination  for  the  entei'prise, 
(leviseil  a  phin  by  wliicli  it  miglit  be  seci'etly  put  to  the  test, 
without  publicly  conuniliing  the  dignity  of  the  crown,  in 
what  they  considered  a  nu.'re  fantasy.  Procuring  from  Col- 
nnd)us  a  detailed  plan  of  his  proposed  voyage,  and  the 
charts  by  which  he  intended  to  shape  his  course,  the}'  pri- 
vately dispat(!hed  a  caravel,  or  small  vessel,  to  pursue  the 
desiunated  route. 


'  I{i'fl<'ilii)ii'i  iipun  llip  niidTtainty,  thi'  d:mi:cr,  and  Icdidtisiu'H"  of  tlml  roiirsc  wliidi  Jlic  Pdrtii- 
pucM'  \v(ic|mr»iiiiii.'.  iiiiliiriilly  led  i:<iliiinl>ii.'<  lo  ronsidiT  ^vll(■llu■rn^'hl)l•|^.■■  mid  imircdiici  i  |nissai;ii 
to  lilt'  V.i\^\  Iiidirs  iiiLdit  not  lir  f(iiin<l  out.  After  rrvoh  iiii:  loiii;  and  hcnoiisiy  i'Miv  (■irciiiii^laiice 
EU^;^^•^l('d  liy  liis  siiiu'iicir  kii()wlc-di;i!  in  the  theory,  lu*  wi'll  ««  praetico  (if  iiavipitioii;  after  eoni- 
liarins;  altiMdively  the  ciliservations  of  niodeni  iiilotH  with  the  hints  and  eonjeetnres  (if  n.irient 
liiUli(ii>,  he  at  la.-t  cdneluded,  (hat  liy  saiiiiij;  directly  tiiuards  the  >,ve~t,  arro>t<  the  AlliiiKic  ocean, 
r.cw  coiinlricK,  uhicli  pruliahly  formed  t,  liart  of  the  great  continent  of  India,  tnuist  infallibly  ho 
discovered.— Vi'dit/'/iOrt. 


33 


CIIIIISTOPIIER  COLUMBUS. 


Tlie  caravel  took  its  departure  from  the  Cape  de  Yerde 
islands,  and.  stood  westward  i'or  several  days.  Tlie  weatlicr 
grew  stormy;  the  pilots,  having  no  zeal  to  stimulate  them, 
and  seeing  notliing  but  a  waste  of  wild  tumbling  waves  still 
extending  before  them,  lost  all  courage,  and  returned  to 
Lisbon,  ridiculing  the  i)roject  as  extravagant  and  irrational. 
J^ut  it  was  not  an  enterprise  to  be  carried  out  successfully 
by  men  who  had  only  stolen  the  idea  of  it.  It  required  the 
dauntless  spirit  of  a  true  hero  to  triumph  over  the  terrors  of 
the  Atlantic  and  cut  his  way  to  a  new  hemisphere! 

When  Columbus  learned  the  base  attempt  that  had  been 
made  to  defraud  1'im  of  his  enteri)i'ise,  he  renounced  all 
further  negctiaf  ith  the  crown  of  Portugal.     And  as  if 

to  add  to  his  In  this  time,  death  snatched  away  his 

dear  Dona  Felippa,  his  love  and  his  consolation.  She  was 
that  sweet  and  lobh^  companion  whose  snules,  like  rays  of 
sunlight,  had  illunnu.d  iiis  poo^'  home,  lit  up  liis  lonely 
])ath,  and  encouraged  all  his  grand  enterprises;  but  now  she 
was  no  more  in  this  woi'ld.  "Columbus,"  writes  the  Count 
de  Lorgues,  "remained  silent  and  looked  up  to  Heaven." 

The  death  of  his  wife  dissolved  the  last  tie  that  bound  hiiu 
to  Portugal.  Taking  his  little  son,  James,  by  the  hand,  he 
shook  tIk!  very  dust  from  his  feet,  jind  turned  liis  back  upon 
a  counti'v  which  had  treated  him  with  such  meanness  and 
little  faith.     This  was  at  the  close  of  the  year  1484. 

He  sailed  at  once  for  Genoa,  and  solicitously  pressed  his 
olfer  for  the  second  time  upon  the  Government  of  his  native 
city,  but  the  fleet  of  the  Republic  was  required  for  home 
service  and  not  a.  vessel  could  be  spared.  It  was  at  this 
time  he  took  the  little  James  to  see  his  grandfather. 

Columbns  now  cast  liis  eyes  around  the  European 
thrones.  The  Christian  spirit  of  Spain  and  her  jiowc^r  on 
sea  seemed  to  hold  out  ho])e  of  tlu^  help  he  sought.'^  His 
arrival  in  Spain  is  scarcely  less  niysteri(ms  than  his  first 


'  As  lie  hnd  iilroaily  oxpcricnri.d  the  iinriTtaiii  Issiip  of  appllciitioii  to  kiiien  anil  ministers,  ho 
fiioU  llic  iini'Miiticm  of  si'iidi  'i;  into  l^iiirl.iMil  lils  lirolliiT  liarllioloMicw.  to  wtioni  lie  liiul  fully  coin- 
niiuiii-iili'ci  111-:  ideas,  in  order  that  lie  iniL'lit  iieizollale.  at  llie  saini'  lime,  witli  Henry  VII.,  wli3 
was  reimled  one  of  llie  most  sa;,'atigiis  as  well  as  oiiflleiit  prince-s  in  ]i,aTO\M.—ltoUltfOh. 


CHRISTOPHER  COL  IWB  US. 


33 


e  Verdu 
weatlier 
:e  tlioni, 
ives  still 
nied  to 
rational, 
^essfiilly 
lired  the 
errors  of 

uuT  been 
need  all 
Uid  as  it! 
iway  his 
She  was 
rays  of 
s  lonely 
now  she 
le  Count 
:iven." 
undhiiii 
md,  he 
V  upon 
ss  and 

■ssed  his 

native 

)r  home 

at  this 

irojtean 
)\\er  on 
His 
lis  lirst 


iiii<t('rs.  till 
(1  fuily  coin- 
y  VII.,  wlij 
til. 


landing  in  Portugal.  He  is  first  lieard  of  as  a  wanderer  ask- 
ing for  a  little  bread  at  the  gate  of  the  Franciscan  Convent 
of  La  Rabida,  close  to  the  small  sea-port  town  of  Palos,  in 
Andalusia.  •He  had  his  dear  little  boy  Avitli  him,  and  was 
on  his  way  to  Huelva  to  see  a  sister-indaw,  with  whom,  in 
spite  of  her  poverty,  he  no  doubt,  wished  to  leave  the  child. 

Father  John  Perez,  the  Guardian  of  the  Convent,  found 
his  friend.  Dr.  Garcia  Hernandez,  the  physician  of  the 
house,  in  conversation  with  the  stranger  on  the  porcli.  Some 
good  angel  had  certainly  guided  Columbus  to  La  Kabida, 
for  Father  Perez  was  no  ordinary-  man.  There  was  scarcely 
another  in  Spain  so  well  jire^tared  by  nature  and  study  to 
appreciate  the  great  tlioughts  of  that  singular  mendicant. 

Father  Perez  had  been  the  confessor  of  Qu^en  Isabella, 
but  a  Court  life  was  less  to  his  liking  than  n^irement  and 
study.  His  love  for  mathematics  and  cosmography  was 
onlv  the  handmaid  of  his  zeal  for  souls.  He  longed  for  the 
discovery  of  new  lands,  in  order  that  Christ  might  be 
]ireached  to  nu)re  men,  and  with  him,  as  with  Columbus  at 
I'orto  Santo,  the  place  of  his  al)ode  was  well  suited  to  feed 
his  restless  imagination  and  his  Christian  hojjcs.  He  had 
built  a  kind  of  observatory  on  the  roof  of  his  monastery, 
and  he  spent  much  of  his  s])are  time  in  cont('m])lnting  (he 
stars  by  night  and  the  sea  by  day.  Did  that  wide  and  ghxmiy 
ocean  really  bound  the  world,  or  had  it  a  further  shore  with 
I'aces  of  men  to  be  evangelized^  There  was  inlinite  room 
for  speculation  where  all  was  conjecture.  Some  cosmog- 
rai)hers  thought  that  it  could  be  sailed  across  in  three 
years,  and  some  thought  it  was  of  indelinite  extent.  Father 
Perez  had  reached  the  advanced  stage  of  venturinu-  to  doubt 
the  imi)racticability  of  a  voyage  across,  when  Cohnubus  aj)- 
jx'iU'ed  at  his  convent  gate,  and  soon  the  doubt  of  an  alleged 
impossibility  gave  place  to  the  ardent  desire  of  an  actual 
accomplishment. 

From  the  first  the  Father  Guardian  was  a  good  friend. 
He  made  Colundnis  live  at  his  convent  till  a  favorable  oji- 
])()i'tunity  should  ])resent  itself  for  laying  his  ])lans  bel'oi-e 
Ferdinand  and  Isabella;  unel  we  cannot  doul)t  that  it  was  at 


I  |i 

l!     ill 


il 


II 


84 


CliniSTOVIIER  COL UMBUS. 


this  jieriod  of  his  life  that  the  future  great  discoverer  ac- 
quired that  astonishing  acquaintance  witli  tlieology  and  \\ui 
Fatlu'is  of  tlie  Churcli  wiiicli  must  liave  seenu)(J  to  tlie  bisli- 
ops  and  doctors  of  tlie  Junta  of  Salanian(!a  a  curious  result 
of  a  sailor's  education.  There  is  no  record  however,  of  his 
conventual  life,  for  most  unfortunately  the  archives  of  La 
Kabida  jjcrished  utterly  in  some  revolution  of  th(^  piusent 
C(^ntury,  the  library  being  pillaged  and  the  manuscripts  de- 
stroyed, and  the  convent  itself  was  linally  abandoned  on  tlie 
suppression  of  religious  houses  in  1834;  but  it  is  no  unfair 
surmise  that  he  spent  his  time  in  religious  iJi'^^pfii'ition  for 
his  gr<>at  work.' 

Father  Perez  had  an  infhu^ntial  friend  at  Court,,  a  Ilier- 
onymite.  Father  Ferdinand  de  T;davera,  Piior  of  Our  Lady 
of  Prado  at  \'alladolid,  Confessor  to  the  King  and  Queen,  a 
priest  of  leai-ning  and  virtue;  and  he  felt  that  in  recom- 
nuMiding  Columbus  to  the  intercession  of  such  a  num,  he 
was  almost  ensuring  the  successfnl  issue  of  his  ai)plication. 
But  the  learning  of  tlui  Prior  of  ^rado  was  not  in  the  cos- 
riu)graphical  line,  and  he  was  at  all  times  unwilling  to  i)ush 
his  right  of  patronage. 

The  letter  of  Father  Perez,  it  seems,  only  served  to  show 
that  he  himself  had  too  readily  assented  to  the  dreams  of 
this  unknown  enthusiast,  and  Talavera  had  no  mind  to 
assist  the  delusion,  He  listened  with  i)erfect  i)oliteness  to 
the  explanations  of  Columbus,  but  he  did  not  intend  at 
that  time, more  particulaj'ly,  when  the  attention  of  the  sov- 
ereigns Avas  concentrated  on  the  Mocu'ish  war,  to  allow  any 
idl(;  dreams  to  molest  their  sacred  ears.  C(^lumbus  Avas 
hi'lpless,  and  had  to  fall  back  npon  c;rligraphy  and  map- 
making  for  his  su]ipoit.  This  was  at  Coi'dova,  where  the 
sovereigns,  always  in  movement,  happened  then  to  be. 

It  was  during  this  painfid  suspense  that  Columl)us  mar- 
ried a  young  lady  of  rank.  Dofia  ]]eatrix  Euri(pu'Z,  who 
became  the  mother  of  his  son,  and  future  biographer, 
Fernaiuh). 


'  Tlip  Diiki'  of  MonlpiMisicr  in  1S."H  uiKlcrtonk  tlip  rc.«toralioii  of  tlio  iiioniiPtPryiuid  the  chiircU. 
The  cell  of  tho  Father  Guardiiui  was  i-'spuciully  caroJ  ior.— Father  Kuiijhl,  S.  J. 


I  w 


^ 


CinUSTOPIIER  COL  UMB  US. 


3-) 


Ithu  church, 


'  Sli(>  wns,"  writes  DeLor^ues,  "of  lu.ii'h  descent.  Tier 
])ii;!i  I'tir  siii'iuissL'd  lier  fortune,  ti'ud  her  beauty,  her  Lii'tli. 
She  \vas  named  Beatrix.  Tliis  name  so  much  loved  by 
Dante,  seemed  to  have  been  made  for  an  Italian.  Bona 
I'x'aiiix  Euri(iue/.  l)eloni>-ed  to  the  noble  house  of  Arana, 
one  of  the  most  ancient  families  of  Cordovo,  in  which  virtue 
was  transmitted  by  right  of  biith,  and  which,  notwithstand- 
iii-'  its  little  opulence,  enjoyed  that  respectability  which 
riches  alone  can  never  confer." 

This  young  lady  would  not  have  been  willing  to  marry 
a  jioor  man  and  a  foreigner,  who  to  less  generous  souls 
apiteared  no  better  than  a  needy  adventurer  or  an  eccen- 
tiic  visionary,  unless  she  had  received  from  Heaven  un- 
nsu;d  power  of  discerning  real  merit;  and  she  would  never 
have  carried  into  elVcct  tlic  marriage  with  Columbus  in  the 
face  of  all  the  oi»position  and  ridicule  which  she  could  not 
fail  to  encounter  from  her  kinsmen  of  the  iiovverful  Arana 
family,  unless  she  had  been  endowed  Avith  that  lofty  spirit 
and  strong  will,  which  are  unknown  to  cold  and  feeble  na- 
tures. Poverty  and  anxiety  could  never  vulgarize  Col- 
umbus, and  a  noble,  kind-hearted,  and  somewhat  romantic 
giii  Tuight  easily  find  him  worth  loving. 

His  marriage  did  not  change  his  plans.  When  he  found 
tluit  Talavera  was  a  hindi'ance,  not  a  helj),  he  wrote  with  his 
own  hand  a  characteristic  letter  to  the  king. 

"Most  Skuexe  Pkixce: 

I  have  bi^en  engaged  in  navigation  from  my  youth. 
For  nearly  forty  yeais  have  I  voyaged  on  the  seas.  T  have 
visited  nearly  all  the  kn(twn  quarters  of  the  world,  and  have 
conversed  with  a  gr(>at  numlxn-  of  learned  men — with  eccles- 
iastics, seculars,  Latins,  Greeks,  and  persons  of  all  kinds  of 
n  ligion.  I  have  ac(pni'ed  some  knowledge  of  navigation, 
astroiu)my.  and  geometiy;  and  am  sufficiently  exi)ei't  in  de- 
signing the  chart  of  the  earth,  to  place  the  cities,  rivers,  and 
mountains  in  their  correct  situations.  To  the  study  of  works 
on  cosmography,  history  and  philosophy,  I  have  also  aj)- 
plied  myself.     At  present,  I  feel  strongly  urged  to  undertake 


'!  Ill 


II 


Im 


86 


CI  IN  IS  TO  PIIER  COL  UMB  US. 


tlie  (liscovt'i'v  of  the  Tndii^s;  mid  I  conm  to  voiir  lliulmcss 
to  su])pli('ate  you  to  favor  my  eiit(M'i)iise.  That  thos(Mvlu) 
Ileal'  it  will  turn  it  into  ridicuhs  T  doubt  not;  but  il"  your 
Jliji'hnoss  Avill  give  me  the  means  of  executing  it,  let  the 
obstachvs  be  what  they  niay.  I  hope  to  be  able  to  make  it 
.succeed.'" 

In  this  style,  fuin.  manly,  ccmcise,  and  straightforward — 
a  style  in  whi(^li  facts  take  the  jilace  of  words — we  see  sliin- 
ing  forth  the  solid  mind  of  Christopher  Columbus. 

Of  this  letter  no  notice  Avas  taken.  He  succeeded,  how- 
ever, irt  making  the  acquaintan(.'e  of  Antoiuo  (ierahlini,  for- 
merly Pa])al  Xuncio,  who  at  the  Queen's  re(piest  had  re- 
turned to  Spain  to  be  tutor  to  her  eldest  daughter,  and  was 
by  him  introduced  to  the  great  Cardinal  Mendoza,  Urand 
Cliancellor  of  Castile. 

Tlie^  Iveen  eye  of  Mendoza  recognized  at  once  the  extraor- 
dinary meiit  of  Columbus,  and  he  felt  it  a  duty  to  obtain  for 
liim  an  audience. 

Notwithstanding  the  jioorness  of  his  dress,  and  his  foreign 
accent,  Columbus  appeai'ed  before  the  sovereigns  of  S})ain, 
without  hesitation  or  awkwardness.  The  native  dignity  of 
his  air  and  tlie  grace  of  his  deportment,  together  with  the 
noble  familiarity  of  his  language,  won  their,  attention,  lie 
spoke  with  the  conlidence  of  one  who  brings  his  masters 
more  than  they  can  give  him  in  return.  "In  thinking  what 
I  was,"  he  wrote  at  a  later  period,  "  I  Avas  overwhelmed  with 
hunnlity;  but  in  renieml)ering  what  I  brought,  I  found  my- 
self equal  to  crowned  heads.  I  was  no  longer  myself,  but 
the  instrument  of  God,  chosen  and  marked  out  to  accom- 
plish a.  vast  design.'' 

lie  spoke  to  them  of  "serving  our  Lord,  spreading  the 
knowledge  of  Ilis  name  and  the  light  of  faith  among  niany 
nations."'  lie  had  held  out  temporal  motives  to  tempt 
Cenoa  and  Venice,  promising  to  lead  their  merchants  by  a 
shorter  path  to  the  spice-gi'oves  of  the  eastei'u  world.  Per- 
haps he  thought  that  Isabella  was  less  mercenary,  or  ])er- 
liaps  his  stay  with  the  Franciscans  had  made  him  more 
unworldly.     Now,  the  service  of   God  evidently  held  the 


CIiniSTOPIfEn  COLUMBUS. 


m 


fiist  i)larf»  in  his  esteem,  and  tliat  is  a  point  too  lightly 
passed  over  by  most  writers  on  (Jjohinibus.  Isabella  seems 
from  that  moment  to  have  ent'  tained  an  enthusiastic  es- 
teem for  Columbus,     ^lie  was  his  :.it'nd  foi'  life. 

Ferdinand,  with  his  usual  eaution,  eoiumissioned  'I'alavera 
to  call  a  council  of  learned  men  to  exaunue  into  the  case. 
The  court  was  then  at  Salamanca,  a  place  of  g.eat  learning-. 
To  the  council  were  summoned  all  the  men  of  science  of  tlie 
University  of  Salamanca,'  pi'ofc'ssoi's  i)resent  and  past.  They 
met  in  tlie  Donnnican  Convent  of  St.  Steithen.'  Father  John 
Pt'i'ez,  uidiaj)i)ily,  was  not  one  of  the  board,  and  the  chief 
cosmographer  of  Si)ain,  James  Ferrer,  the  learned  lai)idary 
of  Buigos,  was  absent  in  the  East. 

Talavera  was  not  quite  the  president  Colund)us  Avonld 
liave  chosen,  and  all  came  disposed  to  judge  harshly  of  a 
man  who. in  his  pride,  jireferred  his  own  ('onclusions  to  the 
united  learning  of  mankind.  As  every  body  knows,  nu\ny 
silly  objections  were  made.  Texts  from  Scripture  and  the 
Fathers  were  quoted  to  disi)rove  the  roundness  of  the  earth, 
arid  the  existence  of  m<^n  with  their  feet  above  their  heads. 
Some  thought,  with  Seneca,tliat  the  ocean  might  turn  out  to 
beinlinite;  some  Avere  inclined  to  judge  by  appearance,  and 
deemed  it  possible  to  descend  the  western  slope,  but  hope- 
less r(j  clind)  up  the  hill  of  waters  on  the  Aoyage  back.  In 
short,  too  many  of  the  leai-ned  commissioners  showed  a 
gi'eat  deal  of  childish  confusion  of  thought  upon  subjects 
which  had  formed  no  part  of  their  studies.  As  his  son  Fer- 
nando drily  remarks,  "The  more  powerful  the  Admii'aFs 
reasons  Avere,  the  less  they  understood  them  through  their 
ignorance;  for  when  a  man  grows  old  upon  ill  i)rinciples  in 
mathematics,  he  cannot  ccmceive  the  true  cause  of  the  false 
notions  imprinted  in  his  mind.'" 

Cobnubus  Avas  likewise  a  little  hampered  in  his  answers 
liv  his  resolve  not  to  be  too  minute  in  relating  his  plans 
iitr  fear  of  exposing  himself  a  second  time  to  the  perlid- 


'  At  tliat  titm',  neiirly  S.OOO  stmlcntt?  had  their  iianu'e  rogbtoivd  on  the  books  of  the  I'uiver.-ity 

c;'  S;il;j|lKllu;il. 

•  11  was  in  NovumbiT,  li30. 


!•''! 


I  111!  ^ 


\\V. 


!■-  11 


!1       i 


88 


CmUSTOPIlER  COL UMllVS. 


ioiis  trt'atini'ut  lie  ]i;icl  cNiPcricuccMl  from  Kiiii;  .lolm  uf 
P(»i'tii;,fiil;  but  he  disphiyt'd  iiiiirvclloiis  cnKlitioii  of  :iii 
uiU'X[)('('t<'(l  Iviiul,  mid  seemed  to  liiive  the  writiiigH  of 
tlie  i)lii!o.s()plier.s  iiiid  Fallieis  of  the  Cliurcli  at  ready 
coimiiaiid. 

His  sense  of  the  prandtMir  and  (he:  sacredness  of  the  cause 
f  )!•  wliich  lie  i)leaded,  increased  the  native  di<;nity  of  Ins  de- 
meanor; and,  wlien  from  teclmical  replies  lie  jiassed  to  the 
exixisition  and  eliiciilation  of  the  ;^'reat  thoii,L;'lit  which  ])o.s- 
sessed  his  soul,  he  rose  at  once  to  (he  full  suhliniity  of  (he 
theme,  and  in  words  to  wliicli  stroni^  conviction,  based  upon 
human  study  and  comph^ed  by  supernatural  faifh,  "iiive 
force  and  beauty,  he  tried  to  sliow  that  his  ju'oposal  was  in 
liarmony  with  the  mind  of  the  Chiii'ch,  and  lie  claimed  for 
it  the  sanction  of  prophecy.  His  elo(pieiice  and  leai'uing 
took  his  jiuly'es  by  sui'prise,  but  he  (piite  failed  to  convince 
the  j-'reater  ])ait  of  them;  for  it  was  not'to  be  expecti'd  that 
a  lifelong;  ])rejndice  of  learni^d  men  would  yield  to  a  few 
sensible  and  well-dirtM'ted  words. 

The  Dominican  Fathers,  in  whose  house  the  conferences 
were  lield,  wen»  almost  alone  in  their  favorable  jud^i^ment  of 
his  cause;  and  they  also,  thounh  the  examination  lasted  long, 
generously  entertained  him  all  the  time,  and  even  paid  the 
e?vpt  rises  of  his  journey.  Father  Diego  de  Deza,  (),  P., 
their  iirst  Professor  of  Theoh)gy,  Avas  completely  convinced 
by  the  I'easoning  of  Columbus,  and  gained  over  the  leading 
men  of  the  Uuivei'sity.  But  the  majoi'itj'  voted  the  project 
chimerical,  while  the  rest  thought  it  scarcely  ])iactical,  and 
the  council  l)roke  up  with  no  vei-y  definite  declaration  at 
the  time.  Before  the  council  dispersed  the  Court  had  left 
ISalamanca. 

One  consequence,  at  all  events,  was  tlie  increased  consid- 
eration for  a  man  who  had  given  so  much  trf)uble.  lie  was 
regarded  henceforth  as  an  im])()rtant  person.  Several  times 
lie  was  summoned  to  court,  his  expenses  being  paid.  This 
is  seen  in  the  accounts  of  the  royal  treasurer.  At  the  date 
of  May  nth,  1487,  we  read:  ''Pay  Christopher  Columbus,  a 
foreigner,  three  thousand  maravides,  for  things  done  in  the 


cirnisToi'ifEn  col umhus. 


39 


s('rvi('«»  (iT  nicTr  lliiilnu'sscs.'"'  On  lli(>  tliiid  of  .TiiiH'  follow- 
iiiu',  \v(*  find  tlitit  an  (.qiuil  suiu  wiis  puid  liiiii  by  tlio  tioas- 
iiicr  (TOiizalt'H, 

I'nr  iiotliiii<^  further  was  done.     For  Oilunibus  it  was  an 

jiroi)ilioiis  tinic.  j-'ar  from  drcaininu;  of  tln^  coniiiicst  of 
.sdMic  ])roblt'niati('  I'c.iiions  beyond  iiid\.now!i  seas,  l-'ei-diiiand 
and  Isabella  were  engrossed  in  r< 'covering  fln-ir  own  dondn- 
ioiis  fi'oin  the  Moors,  These  victorions  Mnssnlinen,  after  a 
long  and  prosperous  possession,  belield  theniselvfs  stri[)i)ed, 
one  by  one,  of  the  towns  and  provinces  they  had  ai>])r(»pri- 
ated  as  tlieir  own.  Tn  si)iteof  theii- exploits  they  were  eveiy- 
wlieit'  defeated,  and  were  now  compelled  to  occiqiy  themonn- 
lains  and  valleys  around  Gi-anada,  th«?  Capital  and  wonder 
of  their  empire.  Ferdinand  and  Isabella  emi)loyed  all  their 
jtowers,  all  tlieir  ell'orts,  and  the  resources  of  their  united 
Idngdoins  to  wrest  from  the  ^Moors  the  citadel  of  Si)ain. 

I'lvited  by  a  inari'iage  of  policy  Mhi(di  love  liad  sealed,  and 
■  liich  was  radiant  with  a  common  glory,  the  one  had  bntught 

■  Ivingdom  of  Ai'iagon,  the  other  that  of  Castile  as  a  niar- 
, '  l)ortion  to  this  imion  of  crowns.  But  althongli  the 
King  and  Queen,  had  blended  their  separate  ])rovi;ir(s  into 
one  country,  they  yet  preserved  a  distinct  and  indei)endent 
dominion  over  their  laM'editary  kingdoms.  They  had  each 
a  council  and  ministers  for  the  separate  interests  of  their 
ancient  jjcrsonal  subjects.  These  councils  wei'e  only  uinttMl 
in  one  common  governnnrnt  Avlien  patriotic  interests  com- 
nidu  to  the  two  Kingdoms  and  the  two' sovereigns  were  at 
slake. 

Ferdinand,  a  little  older  than  Isabella,  was  an  able  politi- 
cian and  an  accomplished  soldier.  Before  that  age  when 
by  expei'ience  man  learns  to  know  men,  he  liad  already  di- 
viiie<l  them.  Ilis  greatest  fault  was  a  certain  coldness  which 
sprung  from  mistrust,  and  which  closed  his  heart  to  enthus- 
insin  and  magnanimity. 

Ilis  rt)yal  companion,  however,  more  truly  deserves  our  at- 
tention and  our  admiration.     Of  all  the  illustrious  women  of 


•  The  title  at  that  time  given  to  the  sovereigns  of  Spain. 


r;!!:   ,'■■ 


K 


Si         I 


1!>W!\^ 


40 


CIIRTSTO  riTEn  COL  UMB  US. 


history,  Tsal)olla  alone  is  lionored  witli  the  beantifn]  titlo 
of  The  ('(ilholir  ill  consideration  of  her  greatness  and  illu.-;- 
trious  piety.  In  the  annals  of  the  past,  hers  is  one  of  the 
brightest  names. 

In  person  she  was  of  the  middle  lieight,  and  Avell  })ropor- 
tioned.  ^lie  had  a  elear,  iVesh  ('oni])lexi(m,  with  light  blie 
eyes  and  anbnrn  hair — a  style  of  beauty  exceedingly  rare  in 
Spain.  Her  featnres  were  legular  and  nnconinionly  beauti- 
ful. Tlie  illusion  which  attaches  to  rank,  more  especially 
when  united  with  engaging  mannei's,  might  lead  us  to  sus- 
l>ect  some  exaggeration  in  the  pjaises  so  lilxn-ally  lavished 
on  her.  But  they  would  seem  to  be  in  a  great  measure  jus- 
tilied  by  the  portiaits  that  r(nnain  of  her,  which  condnne  a 
faultless  symmetry  of  fearuies  with  singular  sweetness  and 
intelligence  of  expression.' 

Her  mtinners  Avere  most  gracious  and  pleasing.  They 
Avere  marked  by  natui'al  dignity  aiul  modest  reserve,  tem- 
pered by  an  aifabiliry  which  flowed  from  the  kindness  of  her 
disposition.  She  was  the  last  person  to  be  api)roached  with 
f.udue familiarity;  yet  the  respect  which  she  im])osed  was 
mingled  with  the  strongest  feelings  of  devotion  and  love. 
She  showed  great  tact  in  accoiumodating  herself  to  the  pecu- 
liar situation  and  chara<'ter  of  those  around  her.  She  ap- 
peared in  arms  at  the  h<\id  of  lipr  troops,  and  shi'uidv  from 
none  of  the  hardships  of  wai'.  During  the  reforms  intro- 
duced into  flic  religious  houses,  she  visited  the  nunneries  in 
person,  taking  her  needle-work  with  her,  and  parsing  tin? 
day  in  the  society  of  the  inmates.   In  short,  she  gained  an  as- 


'  Coiitriiiiiorary  aiiilior-i  liavc  \n-vn  cmliii-i.i^iic  in  llnir  (Icsfriplion  of  Isnlicllii.  Inil  x'xww  liiii 
Bnnc'lioni'd  llicir  ciiln:,'!!-.  slir  i.s  (iiu'  of  llir  piirol  .-iiid  iiuir^t  bcaiilil'i:!  cliaraclcTii  in  ilu'  |i:i^os  of 
history.— //ci/i;/. 

Mi'lliiiilis  1  cMii  still  SIM'  111  1-  bciiiiiifiil  niiiji'stir  facp— with  lirond  brow,  mid  clciir  lioncsf  Inviiir; 
eyi — lis  it  loolvs  down  upon  ilir  ludiolilcr  t'niiii  one  of  tin'  cliiiprls  in  tlic  ('Mtlirdial  of  (iranada:  a 
coiinfcnani'O  too  cxiircssivc  and  individual  to  lir  wliat,  painters  givu  as  lliat  of  nn  angi-l,  and  yet 
till'  next  tliiii!,'  to  it.— N//'  Arthur  //•//>■■••. 

Isaliella  was  the  liviiiL'  personitiration  of  the  cliivilroiis  p'nius  of  licr  (iino  and  of  lier  nation. 
No  lady  on  llie  tlirone  joined  a  imnv  sincere  fiillli  to  a  most  consiiniinale  prndeiiee,  or  siione 
there  willi  a  more  nnalTeeled  loyalty.  .\  kind  of  lienedietimi  iippeaied  maidfestly  to  iittenil  her 
projects  as  wll  ll^  her  act<.  Slie  could  always  do  «  hen  ^lie  w  illed  and  she  always  willed  when  she 
eoiiM  do.  Siiccc'ss  crouned  all  her  nndertakliiL's.  While  siirroiindint:  herself  for  her  service 
with  persons  of  the  iilLrhesi  capacity  and  of  sincere  (U'votedness.  (iod  willed  that  tile  wisdom  ot 
liur  counsels  should  still  snrjiass  that  of  her  counsellors.— C'o(/;(<  de  Lorguea, 


CIIRTSTOPIIER  COLUMBUS. 


41 


[fill  title 
nd  illu.s- 
c  of  tho 

I  propor- 
ght  1)1' le 
y  rare  in 
y  beauti- 
specially 
s  to  sus-  . 
luvislied 
isure  jiis- 
onibiue  a 
:ness  and 


irr.  They 
n'VP,  teni- 
ess  of  ber 
clied  witli 
u)sed  was 
and  love, 
the  pecn- 

She  ap- 

unk  from 

ins  intro- 

liinei'ies  in 

siii.i;  tlio 
ledanas- 


li.  tiMl  tiiii"  hM 
liii  llic  p.i^i'sof 

Ir  honi'st  loviii:; 
I  of  (irnniulir.  ;i 
I  anL;cl,  ar.d  yi-t 

I  of  lior  imliim. 
hciK'i',  or  slidiic 
|y  1o  11! tend  luT 
ImIUmIwIu'II  !-1io 
Ifor  luT  ^-crvki' 
1  till.'  wisdom  ot 


cpndenry  over  her  turbulent  subjects  which  no  king  of  Spain 
coiild  ever  l)oast. 

h^iie  spoke  the  Castilian  language  witli  elegance  and  cor- 
rectness. She  had  an  'asy  i)liancy  of  discourse,  which  though 
genei'iilly  of  a  serious  complexion,  was  occasionally  seasoned 
with  auieeable  sallies,  some  of  wliicli  have  i)asse(l  inio 
])iov(']bs.  She  was  most  temperate  in  her  diet  seldom  or 
iifvei'  lasting  wine;  and  so  frugal  in  her  tabhi  (hat  llie  daily 
expenses  for  hei'self  and  family  did  not  exceed  the  modeiate 
sum  of  forty  dncats.  She  was  equalh'  simple  and  economi- 
ciil  in  her  ajjparel.  On  all  jtublic  occasions,  imhM^d.  she  dis- 
jilayed  a  royal  magiulicence;  but  she  had  no  relish  for  it  in 
])riviite.  and  she  freely  gave  away  her  clothes  and  jewels  as 
]iifs(>iils  to  her  friends.  Xaturally  of  a  sedate,  though 
chcei'ful  temper,  she  had  little  taste  for  the  frivtdous  amuse- 
ments which  makeup  so  nuich  of  a  court  life;  and,  if  sheen- 
ciiui'auvd  thepreseiice  of  minstrels  nid  musicians  in  her  pal- 
ace, ir  was  ro  weaii  her  young  nobility  from  the  coarser  and 
J.'ss  intellect ual  pleasures  to  which  they  were  addict(Hl. 

Among  her  moral  qualities,  the  most  conspicuous,  jier- 
ha])s,  was  hei-  magnanimity.  Sln^  l)etrayed  notiiing  little  or 
st'llish  in  thought:  or  action.  Her  schemes  were  vast,  and 
executed  in  the  same  noble  si)irir,  in  which  they  weiv  con- 
ceived. She  never  employed  doubtfid  agents  or  sinister 
nieasui'es,  but  the  most  direct  and  o])en  policy.  She  scoi-ned 
to  avail  hei's(^lf  of  advantages  olVered  by  the  perlidy  of 
(tthci's.  AVhei'e  she  had  once  given  her  c(>iilidence,  site 
fiave  li(M'  li(\irty  and  steady  support,and  she  was  scruimlous 
to  I'l'ileem  any  ])ledge  she  liad  made  to  those  who  ventnied 
ill  her  caust>,  however  un])o])ular.  She  sustained  Cardinal 
Xiineues  in  all  his  obnoxious,  but  salutary  rel'orms.  She 
secondiMl  Columbus  in  the  ]irosecution  of  his  arduous  enter- 


l.n.- 


;ini 


I  shielded  him  from  the  calumnv  of  his  enemies. 


She  was  incai)al)le  of  liarboring  any  petty  distrust,  or  latent 
tnalice;  and  although  sttn'U  in  the  ex(^cution  and  exaction  of 
Itiiblic  justice*,  she  made  the  most  geiuMous  allowance,  and 
even  sometimes  advances,  to  those  who  had  personally  in- 

jllivd  he]'. 


!iil; 


42 


cirmsTOPiiEii  COL  umb  us. 


But  the  principle,  Aviiich  gave  a  peenlinr  coloring  to  every 
feature  of  Isabella  s  mind,  Avas  piety.  It  shone  fortli  I'rom 
tli(^  veiy  depths  of  her  soul  \Tith  a  lieavenly  radiance,  wliicli 
iiluminated  her  wlioh?  character.  Fortunati'ly.  her  earliest 
years  had  been  passed  in  the  rugged  school  of  adversity,  un- 
der the  eye  of  a  mother,  avjio  Inqilanted  in  lier  serious  mind 
such  strong  principles  of  religion  as  nothing  in  after  life  luul 
power  to  shake.  At  an  early  age,  in  the  Hover  of  youth 
and  beauty,  slie  was  introduced  to  her  brotlu^r's  coui't;  but 
its  blandishments,  so  dazzling  to  a  young  imagination,  had 
no  1)0 wer  over  hers;  for  she  was  surrounded  by  a  moral  at- 
mosphere of  purity, 

Drhiiij^  far  ofTcach  tiling  of  siu  and  guilt.' 

But  to  come  });ick  to  Colinnbus.  He  still  felt  that  confi- 
dence in  success  which  is  at  once  the  illusion  and  the  star 
of  genius. 

Following  tho  Court  as  it  moved  abont  for  the  better  pros- 
ecution of  the  war,  he  must  htive  watched  with  aching  hetirt 
the  h)ng  round  of  festivities,  which  greeted  at  Seville,  lirst 
the  c:ii)ture  of  Baza,  and  then  the  marriage  of  the  young  Isa- 
bella of  Spain  with  Don  Alonza,  heir  pri^sumptive  to  the 
Crowii  of  roitugal.  (.'olund)us  knew  thtit  there  would  be 
no  piMce  till  Istibelhi  the  Ctitholic  had  tiranada  in  her  htinds, 
and  that  the  recommencement  of  the  war,  would  mean  an  in- 
detinite  postponement  of  his  cause,  so  he  pressed  at  once  for 
the  formtd  rc[)ly  of  the  Junta  of  Salamiinca.  The  Prior  of 
Prado,  iip[)i)int<'d  in  the  inti'rvtd,  B)isho])  of  Avila,  was  in- 
structed to  riiiiiish  it,  and  it  was  to  the  effect  that  "the])roj- 
eet  rested  on  ti  false  basis,  sinc(»  th(>  tiuthor  of  it  asserted  tis 
a  truth  whiit  was  an  impossibility,''  Even  tifter  this  an- 
swer, Is:d)ella  would  not  dismiss  the  case,  and  Talavera  was 
instructed  to  say,  that  as  soon  as  the  war  was  over,  there 
shouhl  be  a  fresh  discussion. 

Colum1)us,  by  this  time,  was  well  innred  to  delay, scoffs, 
and  ridicide;  but  the  (Jday  now  seemed  likely  to  be  endless, 
and  still  he  conld  not  leave  Ctitholic  Si)tiin  without  one  more 

•  I'rescott. 


CmUSTOPIIEll  COL  I  'MB  US, 


43 


t  that  confi- 
Liid  tlio  star 


Jt'lny,sf'<)n's, 

1)1'  endless, 

lit  one  more 


'fT'irf.     Spain  was  even  now  fightint^  the  infidel,  and  Spain 


(IfS: 


■rv( 


<1  to  1)6  the  Patron  of  the  Cross. 


!!'  the  KiiiL!,"  and  Qikmmi  were  too  busy  with  the  eampaiirn, 

li-;r  were  ol  her  Spainards  of  almost  I'eg'al  ]>o\\'er  and  wealth, 

oiild  ht  out  his  little  arnuvment.     lie  applied  to  the 

l>iik('  of  Medina  Sidonia,  hut  he  also  was  busy  with  the  war. 

lie  ; 111  lied  to  the  Duke  of  ^Medina  Cell,  and  this  .u'reat  noble- 

111, ill  consented  to  furnish  him  with  all  thinu's  needful,  but 


will)    ( 


:ir 


111' 


last  moment  he  l)eth()im'ht  liim  that  such  an  entc 


1  • 


jiiisi'  sea 


[(.   u- 


ive 


reely  belonged  to  a  subject,  and  he  asked  the  Queen 
her  sanction.  She  returned  a  ijracious  answer,  but 
beLi'uvd  him  to  leave  the  exp(>dition  to  the  Crown,  ami  she 
suiiiiiioni'd  Columbus  and  told  him  that  he  really  must  wait 
til!  rlu,'  ch)se  of  the  war,  and  he  should  tiien  receive  full  sat- 
action.  But  the  end  of  the  war  was  an  event  of  the  un- 
laiu  fufui'e,  and  Columbus  felt  that  his  time  was  "'rowin^:, 


isi 
cc 


ith  every  wasted  year,  more  i)re('ious. 

lie  made  up  his  mind  to  ^'o  at  once  to  the  Kin^'  of  France, 
who  had  written  an  fMicourauiuu,-  lettei-.  I'ut  he  went  hjst  lo 
L:v  IJabida,  to  tak(?  James  from  th.e  care  of  h'athei'  Pei'e/  aiul 
li  ;i>c  him  with  littl(^  Fei-nando,  in  his  wife's  hands,  at  Coi-- 
(!>\a.  We  may  imagine  the  grief  of  the  good  [''i^anciscan,  to 
sec  ills  friend,  after  so  many  years  of  ]»atient  hope,  return 
aver  nnheard.     U(>  called  in  the  learned  villaut^ 


v.iih  his  pi' 

(lorror,  (Jarcia  ITernaiide/,  and  they  ])Ut  Columltiis  steadily 


1  'iro'ii. 
liens. 


:h  his  ])roofs.  with  the  objections  to  them  and  sol 


u- 


like  iinother  .fimta  of  Salamanca.     The  monk  and  the 
jiliysician  wei'e  both   completely  convinced.     Father  Pei'e/ 
lV!r  tliat  it  was  time  for  })rom])t  action.     As  the  former  con 
fr-i^'irof  the  (^)iie<'n,  he  felt  that  he  could  s])eak  and  be  lis 


telle!  i 


to,  and  so  he  wrote  a,  letter  to  Isabella;  but  he  ^\as  de- 


toiiiined  that  it  should  be  placed  without  delay  in  her  royal 
liaiids,  and  they  sent  it  accordingly  by  the  hands  of  Sebas- 
tian liodriguez,  an  experienced  sailor  and  a  trusty  envoy, 
li  foiinil  th(>  (Jiieen  at  Santa  Fe. 

In  a  fortnight  Rodriguez  returned  with  an  invitation  to 
tli<'  l-'ianciscan  Father  and  a  message  of  encouragement  to 
(Juhunbus.     The  poor  monk  had  no  mule  of  his  own  to  sad- 


41 


CHRIS  TOPHER  COL  UMB  US. 


'H 


(lit',  ns  our  Irving  supposed,  so  Columbus  lind  to  1)0]tow 
one  for  liiin.  He  obtained  the  e;ir  of  the  Queen,  and  liis 
pleading  uas  irresistible.  Columbus  was  summoned  (o 
Court:  anew,  but  now  fate  was  hanging  over  Ihe  famous  cil y 
of  (Iratiiida,  and  all  things  Jiuman  might  Avait  a  few  (hiys  to 
watch  the  death  agony  of  n  war  that  had  lasted  for  eight 
linndicd  years,  lie  arrived  just  in  time  to  witness  the  mctn- 
orable  suri'ender  of  that  Capital  to  the  Spanish  arms.  On 
tlie  2nd  of  January  141)2,  he  beheld  P)oa])dil,  the  last  of  tli<' 
jVIoorish  Kings,  sally  forth  Irom  Alhaiid)]'a,  and  yield  up 
the  keys  ol'  that  favorite  seat  of  Moslem  jiowei';  while  Ferdi- 
nand aii<l  Isabella,  with  all  the  chivalry  and  magnilicence  (if 
Spain,  moved  forward  in  i)roud  and  solemn  ])ro('ession,  to 
receive  this  token  of  submission.  The  air  icsounded  with 
shouts  of  joy,  songs  of  tiiunii)h,  and  hymns  of  thanksgiving. 
The  Cross  had  linally  triumithed  ovei'  the  Crescent,  and  the 
] lower  of  the  Arabian  Proi)het  was  forever  destroyed  in  the 
bi-autil'iil  ])lains  and  valleys  of  Andalusia. 

J)uring  this  bi-iiliant  and  ti'iumjiliant  scene,  remarks  an 
elegant  Spanisli  writer,  "a  man,  oliscureand  lint  little  kii<i\vn, 
fono\v(.'d  tlie  Court.  Confounded  in  thiM'rowd  of  imiioitun- 
ate  a]i]ilicauts.  and  feeding  his  imagination,  in  tli(>  coiiieis 
of  a)itechaml)ers,  witli  tiie  ])oni[>ous  ])i'(iject  of  discovering  a 
world,  he  was  melancholy  and  (h'jected  in  rhe  midst  of  the 
g(MieraI  rejoicing,  and  beheld  with  indilFei'ence,  almost  with 
contemjit.  ihe  conclusion  of  a  conquest  which  swelled  all 
])osoms  witli  jubilee,  and  seemed  to  have  rtniched  the  utmost 
liounds  of  desii'e.     'J'hat  man  was  Christoiiher  Cohnnbus.'' 

In  the  nndst  of  tlie  rejoicings,  Isabella  kept  hi-i' promise, 
and  sent  +"or  Columbus.  She  iiad  full  faith  in  him.  She  acv 
cepted  his  project,  but  the  terms  had  to  be  agreed  npon  and 
it  so  happened  that  the  Bishop  of  Avila  was  ai)pointed  to 
arrange  them.  Years  of  waiting  liad  not  changed  the  ex- 
alted vi(nvs  of  (Jolnmbus.  To  Tala vera  s  narrow  nnnd,  the 
])rice  was  too  high  to  pay.  "A  beggar,"  said  he,  "nuide 
conditions  like  a  king  to  monarchs."  The  Queen,  against 
luM- better  judgment,  wasevenjiersuaded  to  tell  (jobnnbus  that 
liis  demands  were  too  laru'o,  and  he  took  his  departure.  Spain 


■I 
% 

M 


I 
I 

i 

i 

i 

f 


•.*"'  <\ 


CIirdSTOPIIER  COLUMBUS. 


45 


to  borrow 
n,  and  liis 
moneil  1o 
niioiis  city 
>\v  (lays  lo 
1  for  ci^ht 
s  thciiK'iti- 
iirins.  Oil 
last  of  tli(^ 
I  yield  up 
liilt!  Fcrdi- 
li licence  of 
);'essi(»ll,  to 
inded  with 
inksi!,ivin,i;-. 
nt,  and  the 
jyed  in  the 

•em arks  an 
ittle  known, 
inii>o)tiiu- 
lie  cornel s 
coverinu'  a 
idst  of  the 
Iniost  with 
-;\v(>iled  all 
the  ntinost 

llMd)US."' 

r  jmnnise, 

.     She  ao- 

\\\M)\\  and 

j)ointed  to 

'd  tlie  ex- 

iinnd,  tlie 

jlie,  "made 

n.  against 

lunbusthat 

ire.  Si)aiu 


Avonld  not  pay  the  price,  and  the  price  coiikl  not  be  altered  ! 

But  Columbus  was  ineoniparably  greater  than  any  nion- 
nrch  of  his  age,  and  what  were  bis  conditions  i  As  became 
li'in,  they  were  not  insignificant.  He  asked  to  ))e  made  an 
Admiral  at  once,to  be  api)ointed  A'iceroy  of  the  countries  he 
sliould  discover,  and  to  have  an  eiglith  of  all  tlie  ])rolits  of 
the  e.\i)e(lition.  The  best  way  of  accounting  for  the  (^xteiit 
of  these  demands  and  his  perseverance,  in  making  them — • 
even  to  the  risk,  of  total  failure — is  that  the  discovery  of  the 
Indies  was  but  a  stej)  in  his  mind  to  what  seemed  to  him  a 
far  grander  undertaking;  namely,  raising  a  large  army  and 
liKiking  another  crusade  for  the  recovery  of  the  Holy  Land 
from  the  dvuninion  of  the  inlidel  Turk.  If  we  would  not  en- 
tiicly  misunderstand  Columbus,  we  must  constantly  j-eniem- 
ber  the  h)J'f>/  molircs  tli.it  guided  his  life's  labors.  To  him 
the  great  things  of  this  world  were  very  trilling.  His  j)ierc- 
iiig  glance  analyzed  them,  and  stri])[ied  them  of  all  illu- 
sion. He  looked  beyond  the  stars.  Cod,  Heaven,  Keligioii 
—these  were  the  supei'natural  ideas  that  tilled  that  capa- 
cious intellect,  I'aising  it  far  above  the  low  plain  of  common 
thoughts,  thus  imparting  an  iron  resolution  to  a  will  naturally 
strong,  and  giving  marvellous  elevation  to  a  character  natiir- 
aliy  grand  and  fearless.  The  discovinvr  of  America  was,  in- 
deed, a  true  Catholic  son  of  the  old  Crusaders — pious  and 
tiitli!isiastic  as  Peter  the  Hermit,  bold  as  the  Comr  d<'  Lion, 
]);itie!it  and  dauntless  as  Godfrey  de  Bouillon,  and  a  jiar- 
tid\er  in  the  holy  wisd(un  of  St.  Louis  and  St.  Bernard. 

('oluni])us  now  mounted  his  nude  and  rode  from  Santa  Fo 
in  the  direction  of  (.'ordova,  fully  c(-uvinced,  at  last,  that 
clijlifi'en  good  years  of  life  liad  Ixh'u  spent  to  no  purpose, 
;iiid  that  he  would  have  to  begin  all  overagain  at  some  other 
C'oiii't,  the  thankless  task  of  suing  for  the  loan  of  three  litth; 
shi])s  and  a  handful  of  men  ;  for  this  was  really  all  that  he 
li;id  asked  the  Sjianish  sovereigns  to  pay  him  in  advance. 
The  hauiihtv  demands  ^vhicll  the  Bishop  of  Avila  could  not 
ludok  depended  up(m  the  success  of  a  desi'.'ii  wlTudi,  if  it 
were  ever  realized,  would  make  Ferdinand  iind  Isabella  the 
debtors  of  their  long- suffering  petitioner  beyond  all   their 


I  I  :i 


40 


CinUSTOPIIBR  COL  UMBUS. 


])r)\vor  to  pny  him  back.  A  vic('-royiiUy  to  liiin  nnd  liis  lieirs 
ill  llie  event  ol'  <^Teat  discoveries,  would  not  be  deemed  iiii 
excessive  recompense,  and  in  the  event  of  sli<j,ht  success  or 
i'ailure  woidd  not  i)ress  lieavily  upon  the  donors. 

If  lie  was  liuman,  Cobimbus  must  liave  included  in  f)ne 
p;i'and  sweeping;  condemnation  Court  and  coui'tiei's,  leanu'd 
men  and  seltisii  ])oliti('ians  ;  and  even  Lsabeihi  could  scarctdy 
]iope  to  escape  censure.  His  feelings  as  he  rode  away 
would  be  woi'th  tlie  analysis,  but  he  kept  them  to  himself, 
and  conjecture  unsu]»])orted  by  woi'd  or  sign  is  \o  little  i)ur- 
])ose.  A  man  oL'  his  dee]),  earnest  temperament  would  neetl 
all  his  (,'hristian  philosopiiy  to  l)ear  u})  against  such  a  dis- 
a]»pointnient.  lint  lie  never  lost  luith  in  his  caus<',  for  he 
Jch  t  liat  the  cause  was  Clod's,  in  Whose  hands  are  the  hearts 
of  rulei's.  and  the  destinies  of  nations. 

Fortunately  for  Isal)ella,  the  JMshop  of  Avila  was  not 
the  oidy  counsellfH"  at  hand.  Luis  de  St.  Angel,  Eeceiver 
of  Ecclesiasrical  l^evcnues,  and  Alonzo  dc  Quintanilla, 
( ■(mii)troller-(?eneral  of  Finance,  at  whose  liouse  Columlnis 
had  been  staying,  were  full  of  grief.  St.  Angel  J'ushedinto 
the  presence  of  tlie  Queen,  and  in  the  fervor  of  his  zeal  for 
Christendom  and  Spain  he  even  reproached  her  for  the  nn- 
Avorthy  part  she  was  ])laying  under  evil  dictation.  Isabella 
rliauk<'d  him  for  his  frankness.  Alon/.o  de  Quintaniba  sup- 
])oi'ied  the  remonsti'ance.  Father  .lohn  Perez  was  in  the 
(^u<'en"s  chapel  close  by  on  his  knees  before  the  Jjlessed 
Sacrameiil',  praying  with  all  his  heart  and  S(ud  that  God, 
for  the  Five  Sacred  Wounds  of  Jesus,  would  vouchsafe  to 
guide  her  decision. 

Her  ey(>s  were  openiMl.  Thethouglit  of  the  vast  interests 
at  stake  tlarted  into  her  mind  with  the  force  of  an  inspira- 
tion, and  her  ]'(>solve  was  i'oniKMl.  No]io\ver  on  earthcould 
change  it  then,  not  even  her  husband's  unwillingness  to 
move  in  the  matter;  for  she  was  a,  sovereign  in  her  own 
riglit,  and  as  such,  and  for  her  own  crou-n  of  (.'astile,  she 
undertook  the  enterprise,  and  as  the  war  had  drained  the 
royal  coffers  of  Castile,  she  was  ready  to  i)ledge  her  jewels  to 
raise  the  funds  required.     ''I  undertake  it,"  exclaimed  this 


m*^ 


CIIBTSTOniER  COL  UMB  US. 


47 


I  his  lieirs 
eemed  an 
niccess  or 

led  in  one 
■s,  leaiiKMl 
d  sciircely 
[•ode  a^vn^l' 
()  liiinsoir, 

little  pur- 
rould  need 
uicli  a  dis- 
ii.s(^  for  lie 

the  hearts 

la  was  not 
1,  Keceiver 
Jiiintanilla, 
Columbus 
rnshed  into 
Ills  zeal  for 
or  the  iin- 
.     Isabella 
anilla  sup- 
was  in  the 
he  Jjlessed 
that  CoH, 
uchsafo  to 

1st  interests 

I  an  inspira- 

rarth  could 

lin,u;ness  t.) 

In  her  own 

Jastile,  she 

[rained  the 

M'  ie^Yels  to 

lainied  this 


robh^  and  ^^enerons  hnly,  "for  my  own  crown,  of  Castile,  and 
1  will  pledge  my  jewels  to  raise  the- necessary  funds!"  This 
was  tlie  brightest  moment  in  the  life  of  Isabella.  It  stanii>ed 
lifi'  i'(>no\vn  forever  as  the  patroness  of  the  discovery  of  the 
,^(■\v  AN'oi'ld. 

Tilt;  money,  however,  was  a  very  small  consideration  at 
that  stage  of  the  proceedings.  Fer<linand  of  Aragon  agreed 
to  lend  to  Isabella  of  Castile  the  sum  required,  and  in  due 
time  was  careful  to  exact  repayment.  An  ofiicer  was  sent  in 
haste  to  overtake  Columl)us.  AVhen  he  came  u])  with  hiiy 
gt  ihe  l)i'idge  of  Pinos,  two  leagues  from  Granada,  liis  iirst 
sumiiioiis  failed  to  induce  the  fugitive  to  retrace  liis  steps; 
hut  as  soon  as  Coluni])iis  heard  of  Isabella's  noble  declai'a- 
tion,  he  turned  his  mule,  and  hastened  back  to  tiante  Fe. 
And  well  he  might. 

This  illustrious  Catholic  Queen  had  set  aside  the  verdict 
of  the  Junta,  representing  as  it  did  the  learning  of  Siiain; 
fche  had  rejected  the  advice  of  her  confessor,  to  which  she 
iisiuilly  showed  a  ready  deferencf^;  she  had  acted  against  the 
opinion  of  Ferdinand,  whose  wishes  at  other  times  had  for 
licr  the  force  of  laws.  Surely  she  deserved  that  her  royal 
word,  once  giviMi,  should  be  trusted.  Good  Father  Perez, 
now  that  liis  prayer  had  been  so  fully  heard,  fancied  his 
woik  was  done,  and  hurried  back  to  his  convent  oL'  La  IJa- 
hida;  but  it  was  only  as  the  event  shoAved,  to  make  himself 
scarcely  less  useful  to  Columl)US  by  his  business-like  co-op- 
eration at  Palos  than  by  his  valual)le  prayers  at  Saute  F6. 

Columbus  Avas  now  almost  another  man.  lie  was  high  in 
favor.  Indeed,  tho  Que(Mi  gave  him  so  wai'iu  a  welcome 
that  it  was  evident  she  wished  to  make  amends  for  all  i)asfc 
neglect.  Ko  nioi'e  time  was  taken  up  in  liaggllng  about 
terms.  All  that  had  been  asked  for  was  conceded  without  a 
Wind,  and  Isabella,  with  delicate  thoughtt'ulness,  gracpfully 
added  to  the  more  f(U'nial  grant  a  personal  favor  which  must; 
liave  been  jiartictdarly  grateful  to  a  sensitive  and  Avounded 
ispiiit,  appointing  Don  James"  one  of  the  jiages  of  honor  to 

>  Coliiiubus'  cldi'at  Hon. 


lip! 

'  '  ''• 

,1     '    :  ' 

:         , 

w 

:i  1 
1 

1  i 
'1     , 

i      i 

1  'i 

liiiil 


48 


CIIRISTOPIIJ'JR  COLUMBUS. 


Princo  Jolin,  a  (listiiu-tioa  coveted  for  their  sons  by  the 
lii;i'liest  gniiulees  ot  Spiiiii. 

Tlio  t(3niLs  of  agreement  were,  with  all  convenient  dispatch, 
drawn  up  by  the  Queen's  secretary,  and  Ferdinand  affixed 
his  signature  conjointly,  according  to  the  Articles  of  Mar- 
riage, but  he  took  no  fuilher  interest  in  the  matter,  and 
Isabella  sjngly  was  tlie  life  and  suul  of  the  whole  enteiprise. 
It  was  to  the  following  effect : — 

The  favors  which  Clu'istoi)her  Columbus  has  asked  from 
tlie  Iving  and  (ine(?n  of  Spain,  in  recompense  of  the  discover- 
ies which  he  has  made  in  the  ocean  seas,  and  as  recouipeiise 
for  th(f  voyages,  whicli  he  is  about  to  undertake  are  the 
following — 

1.  He  wishes  to  be  made  admii'al  of  the  seas  and  countries 
which  he  is  about  to  discover.  He  desires  to  lu)l(l  the  dig- 
nity dui-ing  his  life,  and  that  it  should  descend  to  his  lieirs. 

Tills  rcqxcHt  l.s'  (jrcuded  by  the  Kin;/  and  Queen. 

2.  Christopher  Colum])us  wishes  to  be  made  viceroy  of  all 
the  countries  and  islands. 

Granted  hij  the  Kukj  and  Queen. 

3.  He  wislies  to  have  a  share,  amounting  to  a  tenth  part, 
of  the  profits  of  all  merchandise — be  it  pearls,  jewels,  or 
any  other  thinu's — that  niav  Ix;  found,  u'ained,  bought,  or 
exported  from  the  countries  which  he  is  to  discover. 

Granted  hi/  the  King  and  Queen. 

4.  lie  wishes,  in  his  quality  of  admiral,  to  be  made  sole 
judg<!  of  all  mercantile  matters  that  may  be  the  occasion  of 
dispute  in  the  countries  which  he  is  to  discover-. 

Granted  Juj  tlie  Kim/  and  Queen,  on  the  condition,  Juno- 
ever,  that  this  Jurisdiction  should  tjelong  to  the  office  of 
admiral,  as  held  hi/  Don^  E'liriquez  and,  other  admirals. 

5.  Cliristopher  Columbus  Avishes  to  have  the  right  to  con- 
tril)ute  the  eighth  part  of  the  expenses  of:  all  ships,  which 
traflic  in  the  new  countries,  and  in  return  to  earn  the  eighth 
})art  of  th(^  jirofits. 

Granted  tnj  t/ic  King  and-  Queen. 
SSanta  Fk,  ill  the  Vogu  of  Giauiula,  April  ITtli,  1493. 


CinUSTOPIIER  COL  UMBUS. 


49 


TJiis  !),<j:roemf'nt  was  written  by  Alinazan,  and  si.^ncd  by 
the  .sccivtaiy,  (Jolona. 

One  ol'  tlie  ^reat  ()l)j«^pts  held  out  by  Cohimbus  in  liis  nn- 
dntakiims,  was  tlie  propag'ation  of  tlie  Catholic  faith.  11(3 
('x[)<'('ri'(l  lo  find  bai-bar')ii.s  and  inrah'!  nations  in  the  nn- 
kiidwii  ]):n'ts  of  the  east,  and  to  visit  the  teiTitories  of  the 
(Jiand  Khan,  Avliose  conversion  had  in  former  times  been  an 
ulijcci  of  pio'.is  nussions.  'Die  Spanisli  sovereiu'iis  concurred 
Avith  liim  in  tiiese  ideas,  and,  when  he  afterwards  (l(>i)artedon 
his  voyage,  they  actually  gave  him  letters  addressed  to  tlu; 
Gi'and  Khan  of  Tartary. 

J.salx'Ua  without  dehiy,  issned  lierordln's  for  the  necessary 
arranuenients.  It  happened  that  the  little  seapoi't  t)f  Palos, 
wliicli  Colunibns  knew  so  well,  had  been  for  some  miscon- 
duct coudciuned  to  furnish  to  the  (Jrown  one  year's  service 
of  two  caravels,  ai'in^d  and  nninned.  Advantage  was  taken 
of  this  existing  obligation,  arul  the  caravels  were  now  re- 
quired to  ])e  in  readiness  in  ten  days,  and  to  be  jdaced  at 
tile  disposal  of  Columbus.  Tins  might  be  a  saving  of  actual 
expenses  but  it  was  tin  nnwise  econoiuy,  for  it  gave  to  what, 
at  the  l)est,  wonld  have  lieen  a  suliicieiitly  un])o[iular  coni- 
missit)n,  the  character  of  a  penal  conscription,  and  tiiis  ujMin 
uu  (iccasion  when  volnnteers  were  most  desirable,  and  forcid 
men  were  snre  to  prove  dangerous  and  possibly  altogether 
niuaauageable.' 

The  royal  mandate  was  read  to  the  natives  of  Palos  in  the 
('lunch  of  St.  Ge(  rge  by  the  notary  public,  on  the  I'ecpiisi- 
tiou  of  Columbus,  who  was  accom])anied  as  a  matter  of 
ceiuse,  by  the  Fi'aiu'iscan  (Juardian. Father  Perez.  I'lu^  au- 
thorities signitied  their  submission;  but  seamen  had  wills  of 
their  own,  and  when  they  knew  the  natui'e  of  the  service 
for  which  thev  were  ordered  to  hold  themselves  in  readiness, 
they  showed  extreme  rei)ngnance  to  give  in  their  names. 
Not  even  a  royal  order,  ov  the  promise  of  immunity  fi'oni  le- 
gal prosecntion  and  of  four  montiis  pay  at  a  higher  rate 


'  "Tlio  ship  of  roliiiiiliiis,"  siiys  Hfl))s,  wii-^,  tliorcforc,  n  rcfiiijo  for  crimiiiMl-i  aiul  riiiinway 
(Iclilor.",  II  ('live  of  Adiillam  for  llic  ilist'onlciitcd  ami  llio  (li'^pirato.  To  Imvu  lo  dual  with  sucU 
■i.  cuiiiiimiiily  was  not  one  of  tliu  least  of  t'sUaiibus'  diltkiiUica." 


f 


fiO 


cirnrsTOPifER  col umijus. 


Ilinn  iisnnl,  to  ho  nindc  in  ndvanoo  nl  tlio  fimo  of  (Mubiulsa- 
lioii,  ('(iiihl  induce  lucu  to  oirnr  tlicnisidvcs  for  so  mad  a  Acn- 
tiii'c  as  a  \oya,ii;e  due  west  into  the  vast  and  <;lo()ni\-  ocean. 
They  valued  their  lives,  and  tliey  did  not  wisli  to  be  sent  oil" 
on  a  i'dol's  ei'i'and,  or  a^ree  to  make  up  a-  forlorn  liope  for 
nn\b(tdy"s  nskint^'.  Nor  were  these  timid  laiidbuien,  but 
buid  uiid  liuruy  ii^ailuia. 


CTT AFTER  TTT. 

THE   PATH   THAT  LKD  To   A   2iK\Y    WOULD. 

Olj.i/rtrJcs  in  the  loay  of  'preparal'ion — Great  sormccB  of 
Father  Perez — The  Pinzoiia — The  three  i^esscls — ItelUj- 
ions  2)rei);i  rat  ions — See/wa  at  the  depart  a  re — "The  sea! 
the  sea!  I  lie  open  sea!^'  —  Terror  j  trod  a  red  hij  a,  toI- 
cmio — Fears,  dangers^  and,  adt^enfures  of  tJte  roi/iaie 
— .1  Xew  Wortft  /(anal — Cereinoii;/  of  talciitf/  posses- 
sio/t—The  italices — (Uiba  and  Jfai/fi — lionanttic  inci- 
dents— ^hiptKreek — The  ereetioii  of  the  fortress  of  Lit 
Kanidad—iiditni  to  America. 

Often  liave  ^'il't-iMl  pens  recounted  the  story  oC  tl.is  celo- 
liratt'd  voya^t! — the  most  celebrated  in  the  histoiy  of  discov- 
ery. But  never  can  it  become  threadbare,  never  can  it  cease 
t((  ])ossess  a  thiilling-  interest  for  all,  who  can  aditiii'e  the 
lici'oic,  for  all,  who  love  tlie  good,  the  beautiful,  the 
Bublinie. 

It  is, in  truth,  snfr,2:estive  to  think  that  the  little  poi't  of 
Palos,  in  Andalusia,  was  assigned  to  Columbus,  as  the  liead- 
(Uiiirters  of  oi-ganizatlon  iV)r  the  expedition,"  and  the  point 
(if  departure  for  liis  scpuulrou.  There  he  lirst  found  a  true 
friend  in  Spain.  The  idea  discussed  in  the  monastery  of 
L;i  Kabida,  near  Palf>s,  l)y  Father  Jolm  Perez  and  Dr. 
(Ini'cia  Hernandez,  when  they  first  talked  with  Columbus, 
WHS  thus  br(»u,<;-ht  houK^  to  them  once  moi'e ;  and  tla^  leai'ued 
Fiimciscan  himself  was  goin^u,'  to  ^avside  over  all  the  prepar- 
atons,  and  see  fiom  his  own  hermitage,  the  first  sail  of  his 
friend,  spread  towards  tliat  unknown  world,  which  they  had 
nhvady  contemplated  together,  with  the  keen,  bright  eye  of 
fiiilh  and  genius. 

In  spite  of  the  kindness  and  authority  of  Isabella,  many 
luiforeseen  obstacles  threw  themselves  in  the  way  of  success. 
51 


53 


cinusToriiKii  co/.cM/irs. 


'i\j 


Hi'"' 


iiii>^ 


The  vci-y  l)i"4iiiiiiii;;'\v;i.sui»-liill  woi'k.  'I'lu'  lirst  ninclimiiitioii 
was  (»ii  lilt'  -iiM  of  May,  14ltJ.  On  tlit'  I'otli  ol"  .hint'  iii(»ro 
]t('ri'iiipti)i-v  oi'diM's  \V('i'«^  i.ssiicl,  ciiipDUci'iiit;"  the  mau'istrates 
oil  I li(M'(»ast  ol"  Aii'laliisia- to  pi'cs.s  into  the  scivicr  at  their 
(iisciclioii,  any  S|)aiiisii  siii[ts  with  lh<'ii'  crews,  .lolm  1)(^ 
I'efKilosa  was  sent  to  elit'oi'ce  IJie  execlll  iou  wit  h  ]iains  and 
]>enailies."  and  actin'.;'  ii[)ou  his  ordei's,  he  at  once  seized  a 
vessi'l  named  rlie  Piiih(,  j'»int  properly  of  two  citizens  ol' 
Palos,  wlio  ;4-i\e  themselves  up  I'or  h»stand  cursed  the  (Jen- 
()e.s(>  adventurer.  It  was  no  easy  matter  to  Ht  out  the  Piiihi. 
.Materials  w(>re  not  t'orihcoiniiiu' ;  ship-carpenteis  were  o[)- 
]iorlune|y  inilisposed  :  every  ohslaele,  wiiich  iiiu'eiiuity  could 


(levi 


se   was   thiown   in    iCiialosa  s  wav 


He  did  not  make 


hai)py  pro,^'ress.     'i'lu'ce  slii^is  were  wanted,  and  as  yet  h 
]iad  l)Ut  one. 


If  it  had  not   Iteen   for   the  acti\(>  lielp  of  that  iir; 


anc 


I 


firmest  friend,  the  Father  (Juardian  of  La  Kabida,  Colum- 
l»us  miu'iit  have  seen  iiis  cherished  jtroject  fall  throiiLth 
iiiially,  not  for  want  of  lelteis  patent,  hwK  for  icaiit  of  nn  n. 
A  Franciscan  by  his  vocation  is  at  lionie  anio)i,<i'  the  poor. 
Father  Perez,  sometimes  witli  and  semeiimes  Avithont  his 
friend,  nia<le  his  rounds  auKUin'  the  townspeople  (d'  I'alos. 
l)oih  his  position  and  his  pt-rsonal  (  hai'acter  made  him  wel- 
come and  ,uav6  Inm  intliience.  He  maintained  the  feasibility 
of  tluj  voya.ii,'(^  and  made  lit;]it  of  ima.u'inary  terjors;  nor 
did  he  fail,  ])riest  as  he  was  and  sjiealvinu'  to  Catholics,  to 
insinuat(^  molivesof  a  loftier  kind  than  mere  thirst  for  dis- 
(U)very  or  (h'slie  of  prollt.  lh>  Avas  del'endin.u'  liis  own  i)ro- 
i'ound  convictions  all  the  time,  lie  was  thinkin.u'  also  of 
souls  to  be  saved,  far  away  beyond  tliat  mysterious  ocean, 
which  barred  them  from  th(>  li/^'ht  of  tlu^  (Jospel.  If  he 
could  not  cominunicale  to  lesser  souls  tlie  noble  contideiice 
he  felt  lumself,  at  least,  he  did  much  to  Aveaken  ]  I'ejiidice 
and  soften  down  hostility;  and  when  glorious  success  had 
crowned  that  westward  voyage,  his  energetic  ell'orts  were 
gratefully  remembered. 

Ont;  service,  rendered  by  Father  Perez  in  Palos,  was  the 
introduction  of  Columbus  to  Martin  Alonzo  Pinzon.     The 


CUUISTOPIIER  COL  UMll  US. 


,');} 


j(ii'i'tin,2;  would  nssiircvlly  hwxo  fjikcn  plnn^  in  any  rnso,  hiit 
we  iiiMV  rcnsoiiiiltly  (loiibt,  in  tlic  iii'st  ]il;i('t',  wlit'tiicr  tlui 
]*iii/t>ii  riiMiily  would  Ikivc  ('ut<'rt'd  so  wurudy  into  the  views 
of  (Jolund»us.  iuid  in  the  second  ]>hice,  wlielhei-  they  avouM 
Ikivc  lieeU  id>le  to  ovei'coMie  the  rehictauce  ol'  uuedueuled 
sail()rs,  if  i-'ather  J'erez  had  no!  bi'ou.niit  his  scieulilic  lepu- 
tMtioUiiud  ins  local  iioiiuliii'ily  to  the  uid  of  tlie  slriiii^!,'ei'. 
J'efitdosii,  witli  ins  royal  wai'i'ant  to  inipouud  sld|)s  and  iiu- 
iih>rs,  would  soDU  liave  ni-ule  Colund)us  an  o!)iect  of 


ess  s 


1"' 

acneial   execration.     'I'lie  Pinzcnis  iid.uht    have   shared   tlio 

('(initnon  iVelin^',  oi-.unLihr  have  liad  litth'  jjower  to  alhiy  it. 

It  is  not  necessai-y  to  deteiiinne  the  exact  valnc^  of  the  J''i'aii- 

ciscan's  intervention,   l»ut  tliere  can  lie  no  (htubt,  tliat  he 


once  aLiain  ni; 


ide  liiins;-'lf  very  usefid  at  a  critic 


uionieiit. 


The  thi'ce  brothers  Pin/on,  all  e.xpei'ienced  niariuei's,  lived 
in  the  best  house  at  Palos.  Martin  Alonzoi  tin;  ehh'st,  had 
lately  returned  i'rcuu  IJonu'  with  seeiuiniily  souk'  fresli  infor- 
iiiation.  which  i)i'edisi)osed  him  to  favor  the  idea  of  Colinn- 
biis.  lie  lu'in^ht  a  uia])  eiven  him  by  one  of  Innocent  A'lll.'s 
jihrarians,  ui)on  which  an  unname(l  land  was  mai'ked  in  th'> 
i'ar  west.     Whether  it  b(^  tlia't  (••(une  of  the  uiauv  iloatinu' 


id 


cas.  s 


uch 


coliceplloli    m 


had  already  arrived  at  some  deliiuteness  of 
the  bi'ain   of  Father  .lohii  Perez,  had   taken 


sli 


iipe  ;dso  in  the  ndnd  of  the  Pop(.'"s  librarian:  oi',  ])y  a  still 


luei'e  simple  hyi)othesis, 


that  Dr.  Paul  ToscaiU'lli,  w  ho 


w; 


a,  fi'ctpient  visitor  in  Home,  had  mentioned  the  speculations 
(if  Columbus  to  the  librarian  or  his  friends,  and  that  ihenui]) 
v,as  consti'ucted  from  the  ideas  so  comnumicated,  it  is  in 
iuiy  case  easy  to  account  for  thi;  existence  of  such  a  map  at 
that  time.' 


Al 


(  azo 


P 


inzon 


entered  heartilv  into  the  sclKMue, 


and  ajii'eed  tu  accouipanj'  Cohnnbu.s,  and  to  i)rovide  a  jine 
iitrle  car:- '-el' named  the  Xina,  with  laleen-sails,  belouuiu'j; 


'  niiinl)(iliil  siu'iTs  lit  the  idea  thiif  nny  such  map  ever  existed,  nnd  even  neenscs  Piiizon  »iid 
;iilms  of  liuvin^  concocted  the  story  to  deceive  the  simple  sailors.  This  is  riiliciiloiis.  It  ii  a 
that  tlie  iiia|i  (^xlstiMJ;  nnd  cert.'iiiily  the  ill-iiiilnred  sneers  of  a  irri'at  man  ciiiinot  disprove 


,irt.    TlKise  wht 


id  IliinihoUU  on  Coliinilnis  will  do  well  to  reineinlier  llial  Ilie  knowlecl;: 


and  iiifalliliility  of  llie  (iermuti  ■  naiit  are  liy  no  means  equal  to  his  liifroiry  and  doL'niatism. 


» A  kind  of  liiilit.  niiiiid.  a; 


Id-fashioned  ship,  villi  a 


■ipm 


re  |)oop.  riL'-:ed  like  n  imHi 


Slid  not  much  above  a  hundred  lous  iu  burden— formerly  used  by  the  Sspaniar;!';-  and  ruriu 
Vi'iese.-  MVfcy<V. 


MP  'if; 


inh 


ht 


I      ^'1 


n4 


CUIUS  TOPJIER  COL  UMB  VS. 


to  Viiicont  Yuuez,  Piiizon — flie  y()un<i;('.st  of  the  thrive 
brothers— wlio  made  himself  famous  in  the  sequel,  as  tlie 
(liscovci'iM-  oT  Yucatan,  and  as  riie  hrst  of  the  Spanisli  cap- 
tains who  crossed  the  equinoctial  line.  Columbus  had  en- 
ga.u'ed  to  furnisli  an  ein'litli  ])art  of  tlie  ex|)enses,  and  the 
brothf^'s  Pin/on  enabled  him  to  fidfil  his  eni;'ai;'('ment. 

Public  oi)inion  now  bi'uan  to  change.  For  the  dcMnand 
made  on  ib  Palosoifeivd  as  a  second  vessel  a  carack'  named 
the  (ii(I!('i/(i^  lai'ge,  heavy,  and  very  solid.  She  lia.d  four 
masts,  was  decked  throughout,  and  lun-  long  b.oat  is  said  to 
have  been  thirty  feet  in  length.  Although  unsuitt'd  for  the 
service  assigned  lici',  neither  Columbus,  nov  his  counselioi', 
Father  Perez,  dai'ed  to  refuse  her,  b'aring  to  atld  t<j  delay 
abvady  too  greatly  e\'tend<'d.  Papidly  she  was  ecjuipped. 
Columbus  even  chose  her  for  the  erection  of  his  pavilion  as  ad- 
luii'al,  but  he  lirst.  chang(Ml  her  name.  Phicing  the  ship  nn- 
der  the  pr«jte('tion  of  the  liumaculate  A'irgin,  he  had  her 
blessed  and  called  tli<^  Sa/tla  Jfan'a.'' 

Thii;;  tlu^  e\l)e(litioi\  consisted  of  three  vessels — the  ^((iitd 
Jfcric,  the  7'////.7.  and  the  jV/'na — each  having  a  good  ar- 
niamiMit  and  provisions  for  a  y'ear. 

IMie  KiijiUt  MiU'id  cai'ried  sixty-six  ])ersons.  Among 
these,  in  onh'r  of  rank,  were  C/irisfap/icr  CoJinnhtis  as 
com!naii'!;'r-in-chi('t'  and  u'rand  Adnnral  of   the  Ocean;   his 


nei)hew 


marriauv.   the   IIoii.    J(tt//rs   de   Ar(f 


tin. 


Pet 


vr 


(iiif/'ii'rrr:,   the  kinu's  veoiuan  of  tlie  stoi'es; 


nixl 


I'l'ic  Sail- 


c/ier,  controller  of  llic  ai'MKimciit;    llodcrh-  <U'  1' 


v.s'ro/VY 


A>,  th(3 


notary  royal;   Ih  rmiiul  dc  T<ipia,  the  histoi'iogra)iher  ;>f  the 


exp(Mlilion;  jjoriK 


<h'.   7 


orro. 


a  conv(>rted  Jew,  who  knc 


w 


Latin,  (ireek,  Ilel)rew,  Ara'iic,  <.'oi)lia,  and  Arminian,  as  in- 
terpr(!ter  of  the  e.vpeiliiion;  Cfr.y//7/rt,  a  goldsmillv  from  Se- 
ville,as  lluMiiilcial  nietallui'gist;  />/'.  Aloiizo  and  Dr.  Jikiii, 
composed  the  board  of  heairh.  ThiM'e  w<'re  also  Sv'vei'al  pi- 
hits,  aiUi.  among  the  crew  was  an  L  .shman  named  WiUiain 


I  A  liiriie  fliip  of  hurdcii,  siioli  ii»  tlic  I'orliiL,'MiSf  foniicrly  used  in  trading'  to  the  \\a.A  Iii- 
CLWi^.—  Wiljsier. 

■  li  y  Horfliy  of  iintico  thiU  tlio  chief  V'-'sel  of  tlu  ,:mall  s(iua(lrou  by  w!.ii.li  Coluiubiis  dis* 
eovcii'd  AiiKTlcii,  was  aamtU  tlie  UoUj  Muiy. 


CinUSTOPIIKR  COL  UMliUS. 


n.) 


Jlicc.     Of  those  on  board  the  S(nil(t  Maria,  none  wore  from 

Ptil<.>. 

i^ha■rin  Alonzo  Pinzou,  with  liis  brother  Francis  ]\Iartiii 
Piiizon,  for  a  lieutenant,  had  command  of  the  Vlndi,  wliich 
iiiinil)('re(l  thirty  on  board,  all  fj'oin  the  neiiih]H)rhood  ot; 
J'alos,  except  one,  and  that  on<!  tlie  ill-fated  Hoderie  de 
Tiiaiia.  ]'^ven  Dr.  (xarcia  Hernandez,  in  s])ite  ol'  liis  close 
intitnacy  with  Father  Perez,  sailed  as  sui_u('()n  in  the  Piiif(t, 
not  ill  the  l<u)ila,  Maria,  so  that  thei-e  was  evidently  an  ar- 
raiii;einent  in  virtue  of  which  tjie  men  of  the  expedition 
V. ere  divided  into  thost?  from  l*alos  and  ^foiiuer  and  those 
:'.,,;m  other  jilaces,  Columbus  commanding  the  latter  division 
and  ihe  two  brothers  Pinzon  the  former. 

The  Xia",  commanded  by  Vincent  Yafiez  Pinzon.  cani<  d 
the  remainder  oC  the  Palos  contin,u'ent,  twenty-four  souls. 

It  cannot  be  dou])ted  that  in  iinishinii- his  I'eview  of  the 
(H|uipag(>,  Columbus,  as  was  his  custom,  made  an  address, 
and  that  yieldin.ii;  to  the  emotions  oi'  liis  heart,  he  spol^e  to 
Ills  hardy  hearers  oj"  Uod,  into  whose  hands  tliey  were  about 
toconunit  their  souls,  and  the  fate  of  the  exiiediliou. 

Fear  and  danuer  turned  their  heaits  to  Jleaven.  Kaeh 
confessed  his  sins,  aiid  (ilaained  absolution.  With  (';»lnni- 
bus  at  their  head,  the  crews  mai'duMl  in  ])ioc(>s.sioH  to  the 
ri'.e,nastery  of  La  Kabida,  to  implore  the  di\iue  assistance, 
cjud  to  put  themselves  nnder  the  special  ])iotecfion  of  the 
^!(i,<t  Pdessed  A'ir.uin.  Mass  was  said,  and  from  the  hands  of 
F;iiher  Prrez  they  all  received  IJoly  Communion — true  bread 
of  Saints  and  heroes. 

I'el'ore  dc'ivartinsi',  Colnmbns  took  his  son  James  fiom  the 
convent  of  La  l^abida.  and  sent  him  nnder  convoy  to  his 
wile  {'('atrix,  at  (^)rdova,  haviiiij;  hiinseil'  called  there  ou  his 
wiiv  from  8anta  Fe.     llavinu'  thus  c;irefi: 


;ii 


was  deari  st  to  him  in  this  woi 


'rireiully  provided  loi'  all 
Id.  the  Admiral  shut  u}) 
e  had  ]>re\i- 


iu  his  "ceb"  to  wait  foi' a  good  east  wind.  If 
oiisly  sp.iit  the  chief  ])art  of  Ids  time  in  the  I'lancisean 
]ii(>ua -.ery,  ]ea^ing  the  Jesser  details  of  anangement  to  the 
Pinzons,  who  were  in  every  way  com])etent  to  undertake  the 
direction,  and  who  had  too  large  a  stake  in  the  enterprise  to 


1  ■  ''■:! . 

1 , 

.     .[  .    ii  ■; 

i 
i 

iilijii 

ni    I 


:!     i     ! 


: 


iiiiiii 


'!'.l! 


50 


CIIRISTOrilEU  COL UMB US. 


be  suspected  of  ]ie;;li,a:ence.  Everything  "was  ready,  the  hn^- 
gtige  on  board,  and  the  sii>;nal  ihi.u;  flying.  No  one  was  al- 
lowed to  stcj)  ashoi'e  except  tlu;  Aditiir;d  ])iiiis(>lf,  and  Jie 
"was  to  l>e  siiMinioncd  ;is  soon  as  tlie  lirst  breeze  shonhl  begin 
to  bh)\v.  lie  was  at  >liis  period  a  member  ot*  tlu?  Third  Or- 
der of  St.  Fi'ancis,  and  it  is  probable  tliat  he  had  (mly  a  shoit 
time  j)revioiisly  b<'(Mi  enrolled,  lie  attended  choir.  His  fa- 
vorite lioolv  AViis  tlie  (ios])el  of  S;.  John.  AVe  ni:iy  well  im- 
agine tli;it  liis  own  meditations  would  have  Had,  at  such  u 
time,  a  tinae  of  sublimity. 

"'riic  niorniiiir  is  1irc;il<iii!f  on  T\-ilos  biiy, 
On  ils  tciwii,  ;uiil  wiiai'f,  Miiil  nmiparts  irt-py, 
On  three  !i:irks  ;ii  llieir  nuxn-intr-;  UimI  n'.illanlly  ride, 
AVilh  llie  liiwers  of  t':islile  on  llieir  Hags  of  pride;." 

Tt  was  about  thr(M'  o'clock  in  tlie  morning  on  Friday,  the 
J3rd  of  August,  141J3.  (Jolumbus  was  awakened  by  the  rust- 
ling of  rlie  tidl  pines,  whose  toiis  were  agitated  ])y  the  bind 
])ree/,e;  and  at  once  the  keeu,  practised  ear  of  the  veteran 
mariner  ]'ecogniz(^d  the  expected  favoraWe  wind.  (^)uitting 
iii.-icell.  he  quietly  rapped  at  the  door  of  the  Falhei'  (rw.w 
dian.  The  Brother  Sacristan  was  soon  up,  and  tlie  candl(\s 
lit,  prepai'atory  to  the  eelebrntion  of  Holy  Mn--'-.  On  bonrd 
•the  caravels,  the  watch-guards  might,  through  the  stately 
I'ine-ti'ees,  see  the  high  window-panes  of  La  liabida  shine  at 
that  unusual  hour.  While  the  community  was  jieacefully 
.slumbering,  Oolumbus.  with  gentle  step,  entered  the  chaiiel 
of  Our  Lady.  For  him  it  was  a  morning  of  joy  and  (li'e[) 
Kolemuily.  Father  Perez,  robed  in  his  sacerdotal  ^'c-stuients, 
ascc-uded  the  steps  of  the  altar,  and  olTered  np  the  august 
Sac'riiice  for  an  intention,  perhai)s  nntil  then,  nnlieard  of 
since  the  institution  of  the  I'lessed  Fuchai'ist.  At  the  time 
of  Holy  ('ommuni(ni,  Columbus  received  thel^readof  angels 
by  way  of  f/fffio/^//. 

Thanksgiving  ovei-.  the  Admii'al  and  the  priest  noiselessly 
jiassed  out  of  the  c<)nvent,  and,  al)sorbed  in  thought  and 
sileiu'e,  wend(>(l  rln'ir  way,  ])erhaps,  down  the  declivity  that 
leads  to  Palos.  The  last  stars  still  gliltere(l  in  the  sky,  and 
the  first  I'aiut  glimmerings  of  dawn  began  to  aii])ear  in  the 


CHRISTOPHER  COL  UMB  US. 


67 


K,  tlio  bag- 
lue  was  al- 
If,  and  he 
on  Id  hii^m 
Third  Or- 
al v  a  short 
r."    Ilisfa- 

ly  well  iui- 

[.  a  I  such  II 


Priday.  the 
>y  the  rust- 
t)y  the  land 
the  veteran 
I.     (Juitling 
ill'.er  (riiai' 
the  candU^s 
On  board 
the  stately 
i(hi  shine  at 
pciicei'ully 
the  chapel 
[\-  and  deep 
vestments, 
]i(>    angust 
uiih.eard  of 
\t  the  time 
id  of  angels 

noiselessly 
liought  and 
Iclivity  ll':tt 
li(>  sky.  ami 

i)(>ar  in  the 


onst.  Together  they  arrived  at  the  town;  and  without  delay 
the  cutter  of  the  H(Uita  Maria  was  'seen  apiu'oaching  the 
f;lioro  to  receive  the  Admiral.  The  inmates  ol!  the  neighbor- 
iiiL'-  houses  were  UAvakened  by  the  shrill  voices  of  the  i)ilots 
and  bnatsAvains.  In  a  moment  doors  and  windows  flew  open. 
"Tlievgol"  "They  go!"  resounded  from  lu)use  to  house, 
^roth(>rs  and  sisteis,  Avives  and  children  huri'ied  to  the  quay 
vith  mingled  sighs  and  S(»bs  and  tears.  Friends  and  rela- 
tions threw  themsflves  into  the  barks  to  bid  a  sad  adieu— 
iv/rhaps,  the  last  forever!  It  Avas  a  touching  scene.  Coluni- 
liiis  pressed  tlie  leather  Guardian  to  his  heart,  bid  a  silent 
f;U'e\vell,  and,  with  tears  in  his  great  eyes,  stepped  into  the 
waiting  cntter.  On  reaching  the  ^anta  Maria,  he  was  i"e- 
ceived  v.ith  all  the  honors  due  to  an  Admiral  of  Castile.  He 
ascended  the  poop,  and  took  a  careful  glance  at  the  anange- 
nients.  Tlie  sign  was  given,  the  boats  hoisted  abo;n<l,  and 
the  anchors  drawn  up  to  the  prows.  Columbus  waved  a 
final  adieu  to  his  friend, Father  Perez,  and  the  crowd  on  the 
^l!ore,  took  liis  place  on  the  quarter-deck,  and  with  a  loud 
\(iic('  (jidtn'ed  the  sails  to  be  unfurled  in  the  name  of  Jesus 
Christ.     Kvery  eye  in  Palos  gazed  anxiously  (»n  the  white 

uhhedt-Mii;  to  sea.  an( 


I  pi 


ipidly 


caiivnss.  as  tlie  litrie  squad 
s!H'(l  on  iis  dangerous  joiii'uey. 

('iihiiiil)iis  wiis  now  fairly  alioat.  The  great  w(uls.  was 
really  ( ommenced.  Eighteen  years  of  weary  toil,  and  sulVer- 
iiig,  and  watching,  and  widting  had  ];assed  away,  tlie  white 
lun'rs  of  liftv-seveu  winters  crowned  his  manlv,  and  vener- 
{ible  head,  and  now 

"\yilli  Uio  world  all  bi'foic  liim. 


Atul  pr 


roviUt'iuu  Ills  uuult 


li 


lie  began  anew  to  battle  with  man  and  tempest,  on  the  broal 
\y\<\^\\\  of  the  unknown  and  mysterious  Atlantic.  Ills  choir? 
Masniade.  iind  his  (Juide  did  not  fail  liim.'  After  oi'dei'in^:, 
the  sails  to  be  unfurled,  this  greatest  of  Adnnrals  entered  his 
cabin,  and  with  pen  in  liand,  opened  tlie  Joui'unl  of  his  soy- 


'  Tho  fnllowinir  R'ntonoc  Slims  up  (i  Rrciit  truth  in  rrlntioii  to  tho  Dlnonvcrcr  of  Anicvica— ii 

tniih  1(111  (ifd'M  rorroilcn  hy  his  tHi):;riiiitii'rn:  ••  Tlin  Hiiiii'rioi'ify  of  roliinibii-^,  of  liis  p^iihi'-,  aiiciof 
lii.-i;ia!iUi.ur,  was  uwing  lo  liis  nliijivusjUiUi.—Couiil  tie  Lvnjues. 


j    * 

■•1 

i; 

Mi 
■1 

58 


OniilSTOPIIER  COLUMBUS. 


age 


Tlie  first  words  he  wrote  were:     ^^ In  nomine  Domini 
nosfri  Jiisu  Ohri.sf/.''^' 

Of  tlie  one  liundred  and  twenty  men  on  the  tlure  vesseis 
tliere  was  but  o/ic  calm  brow,  o/te  lieart  that  knew  not  fear, 
OIK',  mind  "constant  as  the  northern  star.''  'I'lioiiJih  no 
Jon.uer  ycnng,  this  extraordinary  man  was  convinced  that 
liis  life  yet  lav  before  liini,  and  felt  witliin  liimsclf  thq 
yoiitli  of  hope  and  an  immortal  future.  But  li'"  was  well 
aware  that  even  then  little  was  needed  to  ruin  evervthin<;;. 
If  his  nu^n  refused  to  sail  forward,  Avhat  could  he  do(  \\\ 
nianj'"  breasts  the  old  reluctance  had  been  only  smothered, 
not  jiroperly  quenched,  and  the  smouldering  lire  of  disaf- 
fection might  burst  iuto  flames  at  the  slightest  provocation. 
On  ]\[onday  the  Pinta  ran  up  a  signal  of  distress.  Tlie 
rudder  was  disabUnl.  The  same  thing  had  occurred  before 
in  the  course  of  the  preparations,  and  it  was  chnirly  a  trick 
of  the  (jwners — who  wei'e  on  board— to  force  a  retiii'u. 
Tlipy  were  ready  to  saci'ilice  a  part  to  save  the  whole. 
Martin  Alonzo  Pinzon  patched  up  the  rudder  tfunporai'ily, 
liiid  Coluiul)us  steered  for  the  Ciinaries.  lie  tried  for  thivo 
we^ks  to  ])ick  up  another  vessel,  l)ut  failing,  had  to  content 
himseir  with  rtilitting  the  Finia.  Tlie  jSIFki  was  fresh 
rigged  with  scpuire  sails.  Danger  followed  danger.  Three 
Poi-fuguese  caravels  were  in  waiting  at  Fcrro  to  stop  further 
progress;  but  Columbus  would  delay  no  longer,  and,  on  the 
Otli  of  September,  he  set  sail  and  boldly  struck  out  to  sea 
without  meeting  any  of  his  ,sup))osed  enemies. 

After  leaving  the  Canaries,  the  hearts  of  the  sailors  Avere 
stricken  with  teri'or  at  the  sight  of  the  volcano  of  TencrillV, 
an  ei'uplion  from  which  was  jusl^  then  filling  the  non  and  sky 


'  I'nlinppily  tills  liistorle  Journal  is  lost.  There  remains  hut  nn  nhstrRct  of  it  made  by  Bishop 
Las  Casus. 

The  f,'ni)(l  CNIiop  luiil  inil  ii  iinctic-i!  tciniiirann'nt  like  Coliiinbiis.  :i:id  rnulil  not  in  flie  le.'iJl  iiii- 
prei'iati'  IliLrlit-*  of  fancy,  so  iiiulcr  I'le  idea  that  if  was  doinL'  (rood  Hervie<',  insieail  ol'  multiply  in? 
copies  of  tlie  iloiinial  of  Coliiniliits  and  seeiirin'.'  the  safi'  tran^inisxion  of  an  oi-iL'liial  worii  of  in- 
rah'!ihil)li'  valniMie  delie'lied  tlie  hard  facts  from  llie  aceonipanyiiii;  eoniinenlary.  and  a  sort  of 
loix-liook  is  the  result.  Hard  facts  to  hini  were  precious  stones,  and  I'otnnienis  e\cn  liy  f'olnmliiM 
Wer<'  tinsel  settiiiir.  Tlie  Journal  I'.as  iieri-heil,  and  only  the  eoinpendiinii  remains.  The  iiri'ani- 
hie  of  the  Journal,  however,  is  cNtai.t;  and  from  it  may  be  guessed  w hut  u treasure  lia.s  been  losli 
t'nUier  Kiilr//ii,  S.  .1. 

This  iireunihlu  cau  be  found  in  Irving.    Vol.  I.  Hook  HI, 


ciiiusroriiER  col  umbus. 


m 


ne  Domini 

are  v(^ssei.s 
V.  not  l"e:ir, 
rhough  no 
riiu'cd  that 
linisolf  the 
le  was  well 
everything, 
he  doi     In 

smothered, 
re  ot  disaf- 
;n'ovocation. 
stress.  The 
irred  hefore 
nirly  a  triok 
e  a    return. 

the  ■\vhoh''. 
ttMiiporarily, 
icd  ior  three 

"  to  content 

was    fresh 

anger.  Three 

to;)  I'lirthei' 

nd,  on  the 

•I  ont  to  sea 

;iih)rs  Avere 

i'  TenerilTe, 

s(\i  iind  sky 

It  miuU'  by  liMio? 

nnl  li\  IIh'  lea"!  !il>- 
ml  ol'  niiiUipl>iiiS 
iiriL'iiiiil  vvorU  111'  in- 
■iil.'iry,  iind  ii  •■^i"''  "' 
s  even  liy  ColiuiilHH 
imiMs.  The  liri:ira- 
•iiMiro  li.is  bcuii  losl- 


with  a  hirid  ghire.  They  tlinnght  tliey  Ixdield  in  this  the 
thiiiiiiig  sword  of  tlie  Angelic  (^nard  Svho  drove  tlie  iirst 
HI! II  Old  of  Paradise,  Avaving  before  the  sons  of  men  to 
\v,,m;  rheni  from  the  entrance  (d'  tliese  foi'bidden  seas  and 
^!)ores.    (Jolnmbns  went  from  shi[)  to  sliiji,  in  order  to  dis])el 


se 


general  panic,  and  to  exphiin  scientifically  to  those 
liiiiiiile  men,  the  physictd  laws  wliich  govern  this  seemingly 
awful  phenomenon.  Bnt  when  the  peak  of  Teneriffe  disap- 
jieared  beneath  the  horizon,  the  mariners  bemoaned  its  loss 
wl'Ax  a  degree  of  sorrow  ecpial  to  their  former  fear.  lA.r 
tliHin  it  was  the  last  sea-maric,  the  last  l)eacon  of  the  old 
wdi  1(1 :  and  in  losing  sight  of  it  they  seemed  to  have  lost  the 
vt-ry  traces  of  their  nnite  across  a  now  immeasnrable  si»ac(>. 
They  felt  as  if  detaclied  from  tins  earth  altogether,  and  as  sail- 
ing throngh  the  ether  of  the  ])lan(^t.  A  gen(>i'al  ])rostration  of 
t^iiul  and  body  seized  npon  Iheni,  and  they  wei'e  as  spectivs 
who  had  lost  their  very  tombs !  Once  more  the  Admiral  gath- 
t'lvd  them  arf)nnd  him  and  tried,  in  words  soft  and  eloipient, 
trHiifiise  into  their  souls  some  of  his  lii'e  and  energy. 

I'lir  the  distance:  alone  Avas  enough  to  tei-rify  the  crewa. 
Ill  oi'iler  to  keej)  them  in  ignoram-e  of  the  extent  sailed  ovei', 
('nhiuibus  Avas  accustomed  eveiy  night  in  calculating  the 
(|;iy"s  progress  to  subtract  a  pait  of  the  distance,  thus  kfep- 
iiig  two  reckonings — the  eonuM't  one  for  liis  own  pi'ivate  use, 
the  other  to  satisfy  the  (Mupuries  of  liis  oUion's  and  seamen, 
Th.'  f-equel  shoAved  the  AV(nldly  wisdom  of  tlie  contrivance. 

When  tln^  s(piadi'on  liad  sailecl  about  tw)  huudi'e(|  l(\'igues 
wi'st  of  Tenerili'e,  a  new  and  most  singular  phenomenon  began 
to  puzzle  the  Adnnral.'    Gladly  Avoidd  he  have  concealed  it 


'  <y.\  till'  |:!tli  nf  Srptombcr  tlio  ciniiii*  ol'  enliiiiihiis  riKliiriHl  n  riidc  sliix-k.  Uis  atlciilivc  cvn 
niJlirc-*  llu'  I'iirlicst  hiixn  of  iii;icti''ti('  vrtriatinn.  I:  'va-*  llic  rf/-.>.Miini',  since  tlic  (•cimiiiiiiiccmiiotkI; 
of  lii.-iory  tliilt  lilt'  like  ob«iTviitioii  was  iiiailc.  'I'lic  Ailmii'al  n-iiiai-la-d.  at  iiii;liirall.  tlia^  tho 
nii'.i.'iaiii' iici'dlc,  ill  pliipo  of  pointiiis;  to  the  norlli  star  bi'cami^  diivcti'd  to  thi' iionliui'^t;  and 
tli:it  early  tile  next  day  the  variation  was  greater.— /jit'  /.o/r/KCv. 

Seme  writerp  on  seienri'  hold  thai  niaiiiietie  variation  was  known  bi'forc  the  lime  of  Cnliiint  lis. 
In  ^iijiport  of  this  they  refer  to  the  Latin  leller  of  Peler  Adsiy;er,  written  in  Kli!).  anil  cniilaineil  m 
n  vnluine  of  Mss.  in  the  lilirary  of  the  rni\er-ily  of  :,eyden.  It  is  Inie  that  in  this  leller  Ailsi^er 
lli^lilll■Ily  refers  to  the  variation  of  tlie  needle;  but  it  is  yet  im  open  cjueslion  whither  the  1(  tier 
itself  isanthentie. 

The  early  history  of  the  eoinpass  is  shrovvded  in  oliseiirity.  If  seems  that  the  atlmelive  iiowcr 
of  llii.' load.-toiic  over  .small  pieces  of  jrim  was  known   from  reniute  antinnity.    It  is  eleurly  re- 


't! 


60 


CIiniSTOPIIER  COL UMBUS. 


1  ,(::  ,;,  - 


ill" 


fiDiii  :ill  his  ('()ni])nuions.  Tlii.s  was  the  ran'al/'on  oC  tlie 
iieodle  (»!'  the  oonipass — his  hist  and  liitherfo  Inl'alliMe  }^\i'nU', 
— wliicli  now  seemed  to  fail  him  on  tlie  horders  of  an  uii- 
]\no\vn  heniisj)liere.  For  a  few  days  lie  carried  in  his  own 
mind,  tliis  secret,  and  terrible  misiiiviu.u';  but  the  i)ii()ts  who 
visited  the  l)innacle  as  anxious] v  as  himself,  soon  noticed 
tliese  singular  variations.  Sharing  fully  in  his  astonishment, 
but  less  determined  to  brave  nature  herself  in  the  prosecurioii 
of  theirciilerprise,  tlicyconcluded  tliat  on  tlie  btncler  of  illim- 
itable! space,  even  the  ehMutMits  theiiiselvi's  were  no  longer 
governed  by  invarialile  laws.  Pale  ami  terrilied  they  gavo 
utterance  to  their  dou))ts,  and  resigned  their  ships  to  ilic 
rieicy  o'l  the  winds  and  waves,  as  thenceforth  their  only 
gu:(hvs.  All  the  sailors  were  tilled  with  consternation  on 
jMTceiving  the  panit!  which  had  si.'ized  the  pilots.  Columl)i;.s 
■ — who  had  vainly  endeavored  to  satisfy  his  own  ndnd  on  the 
Knisoii  of  a  ])henomen<ni'  which  may  be  ranked  among  the 
mysteries  of  science — now  had  recourse  to  that  rich  and 
lively  imagination  with  which  as  an  internal  compass,  llea\(ii  ^ 
had  gifted  him.  He  invented  for  these  untutored  nnnds  a 
hasty  exi)iana!ion.  lie  told  them  that  the  direction  of  tlie 
neeille  was  not  to  the  i)ole  stai;  but  to  some  lixed  and  invisi- 
lile  ]i()int.  The  variation,  therefore,  was  not  causcnl  by  any 
fallacy  in  The  compass,  but  by  the  movement  of  tlu!  north 
star  itself,  which,  like  oilier  heavenly  l)odi(vs,  he  said,  had 
its  changes  and  I'evolutions,  and  (^'ery  day  desci'ibed  a  cir- 
cle around  tlu^  ])rde.  The  high  opinion  the  sailors  end'i- 
tained  of  Columl)us  as  a,  i)rolV)und  astronomer  gave  weight 
to  ivis  theorv,  and  their  alarm  subsided. 

The  change  of  the  constellation  also  helped  to  alarm  them. 
All  things  were  strange— a  new  earth  and  a  new  sky  and 


fi'rrod  to  by  Homer  and  Aristotlo.  St.  Aniriistine  mi'iitioni"  a  Ptatnp  fiispcndcd  in  the  nlr  in  a  torn- 
])\r  lit  Alcxnnilriii.  Hut  it  is  ct'rtain  that  this  great  invention  was  linnwn  in  llie  twelflli  ciiiiiiry, 
Bliiiiil  the  vear  ll.")i1.  Tnis  is  praved  iiy  notiees  of  it  in  vaiions  aiilhnrs  particnlarly  in  an  iili 
I'rcni'ii  poem  calK'il  Tji  llilil,'  dinjitl.  Canllnal  I)e  Vifri.wlio  wrote  alioiit  llicyear  I'Jlin,  nn'iiiiinn  -^ 
i\»'  nia;.'M'.'lie  iieeille  in  his  hi-ifnry  of  Jenisah'in.  It  is  ueiierally  stateil,  liowever.  tlial  an  lialiaii. 
linnied  Flavio  CJioja,  wiio  lived  ni  the  tldrleenlh  eenlnry,  was  llie  inventor  of  the  niariiui- 
compass. 

I  On  tlie  history  of  the  compass  and  the  lln-ories  of  niairnelieistn.  pee  Art.  "Magnetism"  in 
J'ii''liii,:ii,irl'rt  llri/'innh:a,  Vol.  XiV.,  Art.  "  Terrestrial  niaynetisni,"  Appleton's  America  Cydo- 
IKC/ia,  Vol.  XI.  • 


M 


ciinrsTOPiiER  CO  l  umb  us. 


Gl 


inn  of  tlio 
lihle  ;i;ui(lt! 
of  an  uii- 
in  his  own 
pilots  who 
)C)n  r.olicvd 
onishir.ent, 
[)iusefiiri(Hi 
Aerol"  illiin- 

;}     no    loHU'Cl' 

I  tln\v  sa:iv:' 
hips  to  til." 
their  only 
ernatiitn   (Hi 
Colunil'U-^ 
iniiid  on  I'm' 
anion.u;  tln' 
;it    ricli   :i!l(l 
lass,  Heaven 
iivd  raiiids  :i 
'(■lion  ci'  rlu; 
1  and  iu\  isi- 
is(mI  by  any 
)['  tlie  noiili 
le  said,  li.-nl 
ri'ibi'd  a  <ir- 
\ilors   eiili'V- 
|0;ave  weight 

lalarni  thein, 
>w  sl\y  aiul 


now  laws  of  nafnre.  Colimihns,  however,  seemed  to  hnow  no 
IVar,  or  oiilv  to  Tear  the  tears  of  his  eoiti})aiiions.  A  nia,i:uit'- 
icciit  meteor  tilled  hiiu  with  admiration,  but  the  crews,  with 
tciToi'.  His  tnis*.  was  not  in  eom))ass  or  constellations,  but 
In  the  ^nndiiiii'  hand  ol'  God  and  in  a  Star  of  the  Sea  siiinin.i>- 
from  a  hiuli'-r  heaven  than  tiie  eyes  of  the  body  ('ouI<(  icacli. 
'I'hc  standai'd  of  tiie  Cross  was  thxiting  overh(>ad  to  discon- 
ccii  the  s])i!'its  of  darkness  and  to  rectify  all  nialiuiiant  in- 
llnciiccs  of  the  elemen's,  and  evci'y  evening'  tlic  sound  of  liiii 
;<ii}n-  Rcfiiitii  and  the  Ace  Maris  Stclht  sanctified  those  vast 
sdlitudf^s  wh(M-(»  n<'V(^r  from  creation's  dawn  the  voice  of  man 
had  sounded  iniiil  \\\v\\ — 

TIk'v  were  the  fir.^t  tliut  ever  burst 
luti)  tiiiit  silent  sen. 

Tht>  Acbniral  shut  himself  up  at  stated  times  ev(M'y  day, 
to  make  his  meditation  and  recite  his  oihce,  like  a  Francis- 
can, llo  was  pretty  nearly  all  tlie  remainder  of  .the  day 
and  ni.u'ht  at  his  station  on  the  ])oop,  keeping  watch,  'i'he 
vvciihi'r  was  charnnnu',  tlie  trade  wind  steady,  and  the 
;  Miiiii'css  ra])id.     Ihit  the  hearts  of  the  wanderers  sank  within 


I  in  tin'  iiir  in  a  li'ni- 
llu'  twi'lfili  ociitmy, 
lvticiil;irl.v  in  an  <il<t 
I  year  lv.'Oil,  mi'iiliiiiu 
I'vcr.  that  anlialiun, 
l)r  of  Uic  inariiuT'i 

i-t.  "Maccnotisni"  i« 
Ln'a  Aiiiaica  Ci/do- 


tllcai. 

I  ti'iTor- 
tli.'ir  ( 


('Ulll 


Thi^  fair  wind  began  to  be  the  chief  of  all  their  ocean 

•eeze  gaily  to 

loom,  for  if  the  wind  ])I('W  always  from  the  east  they 

inn-cr  sail  back! 

,Mivady.  towards  the  end  of  Septend)er,  the  ci'ews  were 

hil'c  Ibi'  mutiny.    Argument  had  been  exhausted  ;  anthoi'iiy 

[was  little  regarded.     No  etFort  was  made  to  disguise  the 

'^■pcnei'id  discontent.  Ihit  ('oluinl)us  held  on  his  course.  Tlu^ 
lAviiid  shifted  to  the  west,  to  the  immenst^  I'elief  of  all.  Xext 
|d.iy,  a  calm  ensu(>d.  Then  light  breezes  cam(^  and  ^\■ent. 
As  the  caravels  inlvanced  slowly  they  encounlei'ed  great 
Inuisx's  of  sea-weed,  for  tltey  had  ari'ived  at  the  .}/<//■  cA' 
\i<.iri/'ii:\o,  where,  over  an  extent  of  surface  which  Ihnubohlt 


I'cliires,  to  be  more  than  seven  times  the  area  of  l'"')aii 


vo 


ic  iicca 


n  plain  is  thickly  covered  with  lloating  verdure,  an( 


I 


mict lines  resend)h's  a  vast  nndulating  meadow.     At  liist 
the  greater  abundance  of  sea-weed  was  noticed  with  deliuht, 


•  WWl 


63 


CHllISrOPIIFAl  COL  UMBUS. 


mum- 


:    I 


m  Mi 


Jis  11  si^'ii  tliat  tlio  laud  was  nof  I'ar  away.  Tlion  great  fears 
began  to  be  felt  lest,  ])ei'('lianc'(^,  ilie  only  laiul  might  be 
found  to  b((  those  hidden  ledges  anil  <U'owned  islands,  of 
whieh  many  feai'l'nl  tales  were  told.  Serious  alarm  reigned 
in  tlie  minds  ol'  the  crews.  Thev  believed  thev  had  iiot  to 
t.hose  endless  swamps  of  tht;  ocean,  which  were  said,  to  serve 
as  boundaries  to  the  world,  and  as  tom1)S  for  the  curiosity 
of  tliosc,  v.iio  dared  to  enter  them.  'J'he  crowds  of  i)lanis 
growing  in  inliiuhMiuinbejs,  presented  the  aspect  of  an  un- 
bounded marsh,  which  the  Almighty  Creator  had  placed  as 
a  lindt  in  the  ocean,  in  order  to  stop  the  temerity  of  niau- 
kind. 

Tlie  most  rearl(.\ss  turned  pale.     It  seemed,  as  if,  these  in, 
descril)nl>le  latiliides  had  been  marked,  as  the  last  limit  of 
navigation,  and  tluit  this  small  herliuge,  beconung  more  ftnd 
nuu'e  dense  a7id   matted,  the  caiavels  would  soon  be  coiii- 
])l('t('ly  in  its  ))ounds,  and  return  would  be  impossible.    ]\riglit 
llit-y  nor  also  become  the  prey  of  sea-monsters,  hidden  under  • 
tiiat  verdure  '.  Might  not  famine  soon  stare  (hem  in  the  face, 
as  during  the  conflict  of  their  prows  with  the  heritage,  tlieir 
Hea  stores  would  become  exhausted,  little  by  little  i  Tims 
(j.iiestiouiMl  the  sailors,  their  heads  being  freely  haunted  with 
frightful  visions,  the  natural  consequences  of  stories  luniid 
in  other  days,  around  the  lireside,  during  the  long  wat(diiiigs 
of  winter.     They  had  heard  of  the  sid>marine  giant,  of  the 
north,    vf  the  terrible  Kralcen  who  with  one  arm  eml)raco(l 
tlu^  \Vi.it(^  Sea,  while  with  the  other  he  grasped  the  German 
Ocean  1  ^'or  did  they  forg(^t  the  nameless  monsters,  that  ear 
seamen  and  dragged  ships  into  whirlpcxdsl  l^ven  the  gigantic 
roe  of  the  Arabians,  might  some  day  siiddeidy  pounce  down 
on   them  from  the  air.     It  was  represented  as  moving  on 
iiniHiMise  wings  in   those  distant   latitudes;   and  the  story 
Avent,  that  it('ould  seize  with  its  bill,  not  oidy  a  man  or  a 
bark,  but  even   a  large  ship  with  all  its  equippnge.     This 
dreadful  bird  was  said  to  soar,  with  its  vast  burdens  np  to 
the  clouds,  and  from  that  dizzy  lieight  amused  itself  by 
tearing  and  breaking  them  to  jueces,  and  letting  them  foil— j 
men,  and  masts,  and  planks — into  the  hideous  waves  of  the  j 


t'"  -\ 


CnrJSTOPIILR  COLUMBUS. 


C3 


rp-lnfiniy  and  boundless  ocean  I  Xow,  at  last,  tliey  had  readied 
ilw  iihiff'  of  flu'ii'  doom.  Xo  brcatli  was  in  the  air,  no  n[h 
111)'  marked  the  grueii  s(-a,  wliicli  .stretched  away  without 
limit— a  level  plain  on  every  side.  They  felt  that  they  had 
liroiiiiht  their  fate  upon  themselves,  and  had  themselves  to 
liiank.  Had  they  not  really  known  all  the  time  that  such 
a  VDva^e  was  rhe  extreme  of  madness  '. 

l''i)iiiinately,  the  surface  did  not  long  remain  snu)oth: 
t'-iv;it  billows  i-ose  and  fell,  and  the  i)liantom  of  i)er])etual 
t^ta^'iiation  vanished,  as  the  phantom  of  i)erpetual  east  wind 
liad  done.  On  the  2^)lh  ol"  Ht^ptember,  t^he  PinUi  beini;-  close 
to  the  Simla  Maria,  .Martin  Alonzo  Pin/on,  deceived  by  a 
cloud  upon  tlie  hori/xm,  cried  out,  "Land!  land!  I  claim 
the  i)rize."  All  his  crew  were  shoutin,^  with  joy;  tlu;  men 
of  the  i\7y7«  ran  up  the  rig,L!,ing  for  a  better  view,  and  con- 
liriiicd  the  announcement.  Columbus  fell  on  his  knees,  and 
iiuuu"d  the  Ulo m  in  c.vcclsis.  Whenthc^  nnstake  was  dis- 
covered,the  revulsion  of  feeling  was  terrible.  Signs  of  land 
f()i'  rlic  next  few  days  kept  a  glimnu'ring  hojie  alive;  but 
the  distance  which  severed  them  from  the  world  of  human 
])eiims— .ISO  leagues  they  were  told,'  but  really  707,  as  C'o- 
huiiliiiswt'll  Icnew — seemed  to  shut  out  all  chances  of  return. 

Xor  must  it  be  imagined  that  these  mariners  were  without 
stent  hearts;  but  what  a  daring  tlung  it  was  to  xilunge, 
down-hill,  as  it  were,  into 

"A  world  of  wiivpfs,  !x  sea  willioiit  a  shore, 
Trackless,  ami  vast,  and  wiki," 

mocked  day  after  day  with  signs  of  land  that  neared  not.- 
They  had  left  at  home  all  that  is  dearest  to  man  heie  below, 
niid  dill  not  bring  out  any  great  idea  to  uidiold  litem,  and 
had  (lone  enough  to  make  them  imp(n'tant  men  in  llieir 
towns,  and  to  furnish  ample  talk  for  the  eveiungs  of  their 
lives. 

Srill  we  iind  Columbus,  as  late  as  the  3d  of  October,  say- 
ittu'  "thiit  he  did  not  choose  to  stop  beating  about  last  week 


'  "Oil  t!ii'  lh>l  ol'  OcroljiT.  at  (hiyln.MU,  writes  tlif  e(imit<K'  Lmv'iies.  Un' liciitoniint  (if  srrvifo, 
I  «itli  an  iicci'iit  of  ti-rroi-  wliicli  tir  i  onlil  not  coiitiol,  dci'hnx'd  tliiit  ilii'v  liail  iimilc  SIX  leuiiiici 
tvslHiiid  liotu  llii:  Iblaiid  uf  i'dlo.     Tliis  limirc  uael  tliu  crow.--  iiuu  the  glvatust  ik'jcctiou." 


i 


IF 


I 


li 


i 

01 


CJiniSTO  PUER  COL  UMB  US. 


(liu'iii.u-  those  days  that  they  luid  sudi  sii^nis  of  liiiid,  .'lUhon^'h 
lio  hud  knowledgii  of  their  being  ('crtain  i.sliiud.s  in  that 
nci^lilioi-l'r. )()(],  Ix'cau.so  h(;  Avould  not  .suiTcr  any  (h'tontion, 
sincu  Jiis  object  was  to  go  to  the  Indies;  and  if  he  shoidd 
atop  on  the  way  it  woidd  .sliow  a  want  of  mind.*' 

During  all  this  long  voyage  the  Admiral  held  coinniiinion 
only  witli  his  own  thoughts,  the  stars,  and  lieaven,  under 
wh()S(3  protection  he  felt  himself  to  l)e.  Alnuist  wilhout 
slei'p,  he  s[)ent  his  days  in  his  cabin,  taking  note  of  tiie  de- 
grees, the  latitudes  and  distance  he  reclamed  lie  had  i)assed, 
in  characters,  no  one  but  himself  could  deciphei-;  and  sjient 
his  nights  on  deck,  beside  the  pilot?;,  studying  the  stars  and 
th(^  a])))earance  of  the  sea.  He  was  almost  utltM'ly  alon(\ 
Like  Moses  of  old,  leading  (lod's  peo])l(?  through  the  desert, 
his  pensive  gravity  imi)ressed  his  companicms  with  a  min- 
gled respect,  distrust  and  fear,  Avliich  held  them  aloof  from 
him.  And  tlius  liv(Kl  the  discoverer  of  Americ;)  in  th.it  state 
of  solitude  and  separation  wdnch  is  freipuMitly  the  i'ate  of 
men  superior  to  their  fellows  in  object,  grasp  of  mind,  and 
grandeur  of  idea. 

"Tlu!  sea  is  always  line,"  wrote  C(danibus  in  liis  Jonrnal; 
"b{>  infinite  thanksgivfMi  to  God."  But  he  was  now  fated  to 
need  all  his  strength  and  i)resence  of  mind.  'J'lie  hour  of 
trial  and  fearful  test  was  at  hand.  The  illuHion  of  land  seen 
but  nevei'  found,  and  th(>  iron  purpose  of  Cohnnbus  in  jjur- 
suing  his  way  Avithout  turning  either  to  the  right  or  the 
left,  exasperated  the  ofIi(;ers  who  couns(<lle(i  a  different 
c<jurse.  Murmurings  were  clumged  into  hatred.  The  crews 
daily  grew  more  and  more  sullen — a  mark  of  th(>  greatest 
discouragement.  Unknown  to  the  officers,  the  sailois  wonld 
gather  in  grou[)S  of  three  or  four  to  console  one  another. 
These  meetings  grew  more  frequent.  I)iscont(Mit  became 
general.  Soon  no  pains  Avero  taken  to  disgiuse  tiieii-  pent-np 
feelings  of  fear  and  wrath.  As  Spaniards  ihey  naturally  de- 
tested this  eccentric  foreir/xcr,  wiio  had  madly  resolved,  they 
said,  to  iind  what  oidy  existed  in  his  over-heated  ime.gina- 
tioii.  In  Older  to  be  able  to  sj)eak  ill  of  him — evtm  in  his, 
very  presence — they  gave  him  the  nicknames  of  '•braggarV 


1 
1 

f 

;i 

'  ^  ': 

t'.iiii.H 

„         £..: 

CIIPISTOPHEIi  COL  I'M  BUS. 


li.'5 


altliousli 
s  in  that 
letentioii, 

iiuiuiiuion 
en,  1111(1'  r 
t  \vilh<tut 

\(l  passed, 
ami  siit'iit 
■  [stars  and 
i'1y  al(ni<\ 
he  desort, 
til  II  miii- 
\1()()["  i'ronx 
that  state 
III'  i'ate  of 
luiiid,  and 

s  Jonnial; 
>\v  I'aicd  to 
;(>  iioiir  of 
laud  seen 
IS  hi  pnr- 
il   or  th(! 
dilVrreiit 
riic  crews 
^•reatest 
lis  ^v(^uld 
another. 
It   became 
ir  pent-np 
'.irally  de- 
lved, they 
I  rmagina- 
:en  in  his, 
raggdrV 


and  '' Innnhii'j."'  The  old  sailors  whisixTed  to  one  another 
that  he  was  a  fool.  All  agreed  that  tv»  piisli  on  further  way 
to  K<'  f"  certain  destrnction. 

Was  it  ri.sxht,  they  said,  that  o\w  liiindred  and  twenty  men 

most  of  them  (''astilians— should  in'rish  throuu'h  the  wlnins 

(if  this  dreaniinu;  (xenoese  i  Never!  1J(!  niiist  be  told  to  turn 
liack  to  Spain;  and  in  case  of  Ills  refusal — why  lieave  him  in- 
to the  sea  which  he  so  mnch  admired.  This  I'iuoious  cours(> 
was  niiavoidable.  Necessity  knew  no  law.  'i'lien,  it  would 
he  easy  on  their  return  to  imblish  that  he  fell  of  accident 
into  the  ocean,  wliih;  observin,*^  the  stai's.  'I'lien;  was  even  a 
secret  atp'oeiiient  l)etween  the  crews  of  tlu;  three  car;;vels. 
This  conspiracy  had  almost  evcMy  sailor  as  an  accomplice, 
while  it  had  no1)ody  as  chief. 

The  captains'  of  the  Piiila  and  JSlua  were  not  i,u'i;orant  of 
the  ]»lot  which  was  liatching  a^^ainst  the  Admiral,  but  their 
superior  intelligence  prevented  tlieni  from  particip;Uin^-  in 
the  h'ars  of  the  ccnnnion  seamen.  They  carefully  abstained, 
liowevei-,  from  sayinij;  a  word.  But,  it  ajjpears,  that  many 
times,  in  their  communications  with  Columbus,  the  three 
Pinzniis  by  their  lofty  airs  and  ]ian,<rhty  in'oceedin,'4s  made 
liini  s{n'ely  feel  their  strength,  and  his  (jwn  unluij'py  iso- 
lation. 

The  evening' of  the  lOth  of  October — two  days  be!'or(^  Co- 
lumbus doubted  the  size  of  the  world's  map — saw  the  crews 
ill  a  states  of  open  revolt.  Their  feelings,  so  long  dammed 
np.  now  burst  forth  like  the  roar  of  a  cataract.  Each  night, 
according  to  the  Adinii'al's  orders,  the  three  vessels  drew 
quite  close  to  each  other;  and,  in  tln^  present  instance,  no 
sooner  had  they  drawn  near  tlian  the  Pinzons  b)llowed  l)y 
their  men,  all  ai'med,  jumped  on  th(>  dt'ck  of  Columbus' 
ship,  and  with  I'ury  in  their  looks,  and  steel  in  their  hands 
luiidly  summoned  him  at  once  to  turn  the  prows  of  the  cara- 
vels to  Castile.  His  own  crew  and  ])ilors — even  the  crown 
oilicers  and  his  wife's  nephew — liad  joined  in  the  revolt,  lie 
was  **  alone  against  all !  "  He  had  exhausted  words;  b(\sides 
terror-stricken  men  neither  hear  nor  reasoii.     Yet  this  gicat 


'  The  I'iiizoua. 


66 


r:in  /s  TO  I  >fr/:ii  col  umu  i  's. 


iiijui,  oqnal  to  (n'ciy  (>llI('l•^•Bn('y,  ciiliiKHlthe  fury  of  (liosore- 
iM'llioiis  s[)i)'its;  but  far  IVom  yii'ldiMn-  to  flieii-  (Icniiuuls  lii> 
boldly  (Icrliircd  in  a  loiic  of  aullioiit\'  wliicli  oidy  a  licro  of 
iron  resolution  can  assiiiiicjliat  llifir  coiuiflaints  were  in  vain 
— that  lii^  had  .started  to  .^o  to  tlic  Indies — and  that;  licit lici' 
man  noi'  devil  could  turn  him  from  his  cour.su  until,  wirh  tli  • 
iissistanci!  of  Heaven,  Iib  would  reacli  tlio  sliore-s  he  cou^lit. 
"Wondei'ful  to  relate  this  sur.u'in.u'  mass  of  enraped  Sjiji!- 
iai'ds  hecani!"  suddenly  liuslied  before  ii  lone  man — a  I'oi'- 
eiuiier  whom*  they  detested!  Pliiloso[>liy  cannc^t  ox[)lain 
such  a  i»henoni"non.  It  stands  alone  in  histoiy.  'J'iie  linger 
of  (xod  was  there.' 

Several  writers  ,ti,()to  the  trouble  of  slatini;  that  Columbus, 
whiMi  threatened  by  his  crews,  i^ronnsed  to  I'eturn  if  he  did 
m>t  Hud  land  in  f/tree  days.  This  is  n  liction.  'J'lie  keen 
ami  learned  Count  do  Lorg'ues,  after  carefully  examijiin.i;' the 
whole  matter,  declares  that  the  assei'tions  abtuit  the  Ihree- 
days  [ironuse,  "are  destitute  of  any  foulidaiiou.'' 

Ii'viu'.i,"  also  writes:  "Thero  is  no  authority  I'or  such  an 
ass(M'ti(in."' 

I'^oin  the  dawn  of  the  next  morning?,  the  supernatural  aid 
which  sustained  him  a,iiainst  such  an  outburst  of  wi'atii,  be- 
canio  manifest.  ThoUgh  the  breezes  were  s(ji't  and  balmy, 
yet  the  sea  swelled,  and  the  speed  of  the  caravels  increased. 
Numlxirs  of  petrels  were  seen.  A  reed,  a  <i're(^n  buliiish.  a 
small  jilank,  a  branch  oi'u  .tree  bearing  some  red  J'ruit,  ami  ii 
stick  which  a])])eare(l  to  bi;  carved  with  a  knife,  were  observed 
on  dill'erent  occasions  duriiiii'  the  da  v.  Such  signs  sustained 
the  drooping  hopes  of  the  sailors. 

The  sun  went  down  ilaming  into   tlu^  vast  and  solitary 
ocean.     Naught  but  the  hoi'i/.on  on  its  pure  azure  wej'e  \mi- 
sented  to  the  (?ye.     N'o  vapor  indicated  that  land  was  near 
but  siuldeidy— as  if  by  insi)ii'ation — Columbus  changed  hi 
course  somewhat,  and  (U'dered  the  helmsman  to  steer  dur 
west.     As  the  caravels  came  together,  all  Joined,  according 

'  Writing  of  this  event  sovcrnl  months  nftonvards  Columbiis  paid  that  when  his  crews  "  were 
nil  resiilvi'd  with  one  aceiinl  to  ri'turn,  and  liad  revolti^d  ai,'aiii<t  liim,  setlini^  a(  na\!u'lil  Ids  lliri'iit- 
eniiiL;s,  ilio  etciiial  God  giivu  him  liie  htrengili  and  couruye  ho  uuuded,  and  sustained  him  uloue 
at'ains^t  all." 


iitftj. 


CIIUISTOPIIKR  COL  UMIi  VS. 


67 


»f  tliosorp- 
•iiKiluls  lie 
)■  ;i  liiu'o  (if 
ere  ill  vniii 
lat  iK'illK'i' 
il,  witli  th  ■ 
li(!  ^()^,^llt. 
ip;r(l  Sj);ii- 
i;iii— a  r«  tr- 
ot expliiiu 
The  linger 

11  it'  lie  did 
The  k«".'!i 

iiuiiiin,^  til' 
the  three- 

jr  su(di  an 

intnral  aid 
Avrnth,  )>('- 

iiid  bid  my, 

,  increased, 
liidiiisli,  a 

'ruit,  and  :i 
e  (ibsfi'vcil 
sustained 

id  sfdiiary 
\vciv  1  ire- 
was  near 

lan.iAed  lii 
steer   du'' 
aceordiiig 

hi«  crews  "  wers 
Kiiiulit  his  tluviit- 
iiim.ll  Uim  iilouo 


to  cnsloni,  in  sinuiiiu;  llie  ^^idre  Ri'f/i)i((,  at  the  eoni'liisiuii  ot! 
^vllil•h  the  AdiniiiJ  ii.aih'  them  a  tpiudiiii.u-  dis<Miir-e.  lie 
-iml^e  of  the  iiiHrcy  of  that  <;'o()d  God  wild  had  eiialiieil  tlicm 


t(i  rcncii  sens  in'Vcr  cut  liy  keel  het'ore.  lie  asKcil  1  litni  lo 
raise  tiieir  heails  in  ^I'atif mh',  and  vaiKiuish  iheir  IVars.  Ini' 
tliat  thi'  ridlillnieiir  ol"  iheii-  Ji  >])es  was  near  at  liiiiid.  'J'iiat 
verv  night,  he  said,  wmdd  see  tiie  end  of  tlieir  nieiiioiahle 
Advage.  lie  liiially  icentiiiiiended  ail  to  walcli  aiMl  I'l.iy  as 
tlieir  eyes  would  behold  land  bel'oi'c  inoiiiiiig.  He  ordered 
the  j)ih»ts  to  lessen  sail  after  midnight,  and  |ii'(iiiiised,  be- 
dside's the  (in(en"s  laemiuiii,  to  give  a  velvet  doiiiilet  lo  the 
(H'lson  who  would  lirst  announee  land.  Columbus  then  le- 
turned  to  his  cabin.  W'iiiit  passed  there  in  the  se>'ret  of  his 
heart  has  not  bi'eu  given  to  history. 

The  greatest  animation  prevailed  fiiroiighout  tin'  shi])s; 
not  an  eye  was  closed  that  night..  About  ten  o'clock,  the 
Aflniiral  mounted  the  poop.  Scarcely  had  he  got  there, 
when  his  <'agle  glance  seemed  to  discern  a  light  glimnieiing 
in  tlie  tlistance.  Fearing  that  his  eag(M'  hopes  might  decei\e 
him  he  called  to  (me  of  his  oflicers  named  Peter  (Jutierrez, 
and  deniiinded  whether  he  saw  a  light  in  that  direction; 
the  liitter  replied  ill  the  aiiirmativ(.',  CNdunibie^,  yet  doubt- 
J'nl  whether  it  inisilit  not  be  some  delusion  of  the  raucv, 
called  llod(.'ric  Sanch(>z  of  Segovia,  ami  made  the  same  in- 
(piiry.  By  the  tinu^  howev(^r,  tin?  latter  had  ascended  the 
rounddiouse,  the  light  had  disappeared. 

They  saw  it  once  or  twice  afterwards  in  sudden  and  pass- 
ing gleams,  as  if  it  were  a  toi'ch  in  the  l)ark  of  a  iisherman, 
rising  and  sinking  Avitli  the  waves  ;  or  in  the  hands  of  some 
person  on  shore,  borne  up  and  down  as  lie  walked  from 
lioiise  to  house.  iSo  traiicient  and  uncertain  were  these 
gl(.'anis.  that  few  attached  any  importance  to  tlumi.  Colum- 
bus, liowev(^r,  considered  them  as  certain  signs  of  land,  and, 
moreover,  that  the  land  was  inhabited. 

After  midnight  they  proceeded  cantionsly,  the  Vlnfa, 
l)eing  considerably  in  advance.  Every  eye  was  straining 
tiirough  the  gloom — (n-ery  heart  throbbing.  What  must 
have  be'eu  the  feelings  of  the  great  and  good  man,  \\'hose 


MM'J!» 


,68 


ciinisropiiER  COL iwrnrs. 


Jiiiiid  Jiad  Kc]io]ii".d.  wliose  siri'j^lr  ■'.vill  Iiiid  for., passed,  so 
subliiiK!  ii,  deocri!  Bet'oro  lihu  wrapped  in  (I:ii1\ikss,  Jay 
a  world  awaitinii*  discovery  of  the  lii'lit  of  moniint::!  His 
name  was  now  the  ]ierita,Li,(;  of  fani(\  ISO  liistory  of  iiian- 
kiud  <'()uld  i)as.s  liiiii  i)y  iniiioliced,  Urtd  was  to  be  ^Lclovilied. 
The  lUfMuoj-y  of  that  night  woidd  live  till  the  end  oi  time. 

At  two  A.  .\r.,  liy  lh(>  clock  of  the  ,'<iiiita  JFcrid,  a  ilas'li 
came  from  the  Piiitd,  follou'eil  l>y  a  lourl  r('{)ort — the  sin'ual 
gun.  It  Aras  no  fa'se  alarm  this  time  R()([(n'i(!  de  Triaua  a 
sailor  on  the  Pinln,  had  siulded  land,  ('olvimlms,  at  the 
sninid  of  the  iruii  i'ell  on  Ills  knees  and  chanrcd  !lie  T<', 
D(nim,  his  men  rcsjjonded  wilh  full  hearts.  Then  tln^y  Avent 
wild  wit'i  joy.  Th(>  Admiral  ordered  the  sails  to  he  furled, 
and  the  ships  to  be  put  in  a  state  c''  defence,  foi-  it  was  im- 
possible to  say  what  tlie  next  daylight  might  reveal.  His 
oflicei's  ctma^  ci'owding  round  lo  ntl'ei-  liieii'  congratulii<^io',is 
and  their  genuine  reverence.  Now  they  no  longer  blanied 
Ids  obstinacy,  or  s])()ke  of  liis  infatuation. 

It  was  Fri(hiy,'  the  l:>th  of  October,  l-V.)-?.  At  dawn  there 
was  seen  issiung  froai  the  misrs,  a  Howcry  land  whos(?  gi'oves, 
colorcil  by  t!ie  lirsl  gi)l<h^n  rays  of  lie-  nioiaiiag  sun,  e\lialed 
an  iinkuowu  fragrance,  and  presented  saiiiiug  scenes  to  the 
eye.  In  advancing,  the  men  saw  befoie  tliem  an  island  of 
consideraide  extent,  level,  and  wifhon.t  :!uy  ap])(>aranc(>  of 
mouriaius.  Thick  forests  bounded  (lie  horizon,  a".  I  in  the 
n'ids;  of  a  glade  gleamed  the  pu)'*;  and  sparkling  wafers  of 
a  lak(!.  (ri'een  willows  and  •uuiiy  aveuuo'i  g;ivo  half  glimps- 
es into  these  mysteries  of  solitude,  aial  j'cAealed  many  a 
scattered  dwcdling,  seeming  by  its  rounded  foi'ui  and  I'oof  of 
dri(>d  leaves,  to  resem])le  a  huraan  hive,  [u-.m  v.'iich  the 
carling  smoke  ascended  in  tlie  air,  gTe(>t!ng  the  glad  snn- 
beanr-i  of  that  early  hour.  (ii'oiips  of  lialf  naked  men, 
women,  and  childivn,  astoiushed  rather  than  alarmed,  came 
down  amongst  the  trees  upon  the  shor(\  now  timidly  advanc- 
ing, and  again  returning,  showing  ly  their  lively  attitudes 


'  Friday-  the  rl.iy  of  llie  I'cdomptinii — wiis  nhvuys  a  blosxMl  (l;iy  for  Cciliimliiis.  On  Frliliiv  U( 
willed  from  I'alos;  on  Friday  hi!  iliscovcrrd  .\;iii'riiii;  on  I'riday  Uc  plaiiicd  lliu  llrst  c.roiib  in  llit 
A'uw  World;  and  on  Friday  liu  ru-cntorcd  I'alus  in  uiiinii>li  1 


m 


CinUSTOPIIKIi  COL  UMBL'S. 


m 


rn.l  croptnrcs,  mini^'led  fear,  curiosity,  nnd  admirntion,  nt  the 
siu'lU  of  the  shijjs  and  tlin  sti'aiigei's',  uhich  (ho  piwious 
ni:j.iit  liad  sfMit  tlu^Jii  ou  tiie  v.-avt':s. 

Cohnnliiis,  alter  sik^iitly  ^aziu.u'  upon  tlie  shore  of  tliat 
new  hind,  S!)  often  pi(^tured  and  so  nia,<i,-niticent]y  coloivd  in 
liis  i'liaiiiiialion,  ])elieitl  it  yet  more  b'^autiful  than  lie  had 
(h'eanied.  .)oy  made  his  iieart  heat  faster.  lie  yearned 
i[n))atieut1y  to  he  the  lirst  to  set  ix  European  foot  upon  tliese 
stiaiiuc  sands,  and  }>!ant  th(Ueon  the  Cross  and  tlie  Spaiiisii 
l!:i,u'.  tiie  standard  of  a  eoiKjuest,  made  hy  ills  f^-enius  for 
(iod  nnd  his  soverei.<;-ns.  Ihit  he  lestjained  Ins  own  anxiety, 
and  tliat  of  Jus  men  to  L-md,  A\isi!in,:j:  to  invest  tiiis  tal\iiig 

;lie  solemnity  J)elittinu' 


11! 


lied  1 


)V  a  navuratoi'. 


possession  of  a  Xew  ^Voi'ld,  with  all 
the  u'lea test  a('hie\-einent  ever  acconij 
hiiuce  human  witnesses  were  wanting;-,  he  v.ishod  to  call  (Jod 
.'•els,   sea,  and  land,  and  skv,  to  Ix^ar  t  'slinionv 


an 


il   ]li^ 


an 


to  his  vi(^toi'v  over  the  liitherto  unknown  \N()ii(I 


\V 


K-'U  a 


I!  was  readv,   the  iinehoi's  Mei'(>  k't 


(huv!i,  orders 


wei'e  uiven  to  man  the  hoats,  aiid  Coliiiiibus  v»i'.  h  aiajestie 
cnuntenanee  and  g'reat  recolleetion— as  one  wiio  ^\aikl'd  in 
the  ]>]'esenre  of  (uul — descen(h:'d  into  his  own  enlfri'.  lie 
w!is  richly  attired  in  th.e  costume  of  his  diii'uities.  A  scarlet 
ntle  hnuG' fi'Oiu  his  slioiddei's,  and  Ik^  held  displayed  in 


via 


hand. 


vjie 


inniy-e  of   Jesus  Christ    on  the  roval   il 


The  Captains  of  the  Pinfa  andi\7/7r/,  Afai'lin  Alonzo  i/inzon 
nnd  A  incent  Yanez  Pinzon,  likewise  put  olf  lli(>ir  boats,  each 
he;n'ii:,<r  the  bannei"  of  tht^  enterprise  enihla/.oned  v>ith  a 
f;Teen  cross,  and  aeconipanied  hy  a  well-armed  dt^lachmeiif. 
With  mute  deli,<:hl  and  all  tln^  elastic  ai'dor  of  y<>uth,  the 
A.lniiral  stepped  on  shore.  Scarcely  Imd  he  toiU'lied  the 
new  land,  wlien  lie  })lanted  in  it  the  slandaid  of  the  Cross. 


His  heart— !i'reat,   noble   lieart    that  it   Avas— sw 


elie( 


I  AvitU 


,!j,iMt;lude.  In  adomtion,  lie  pi-o,strated  himsidf  before  Cod. 
Three  times  bowinii'  liis  ju'ad,  -with  tears  in  Ins  eyes,  he 
hissed  th(>  soiltowhich  he  v/as conduct (m1.  by  the  di\  in(\u'ood- 
ness.  Tiie  sailors  jvirticipated  in  the  emotions  of  th'dr  Coiii- 
niander.  and  kneelinu',  as  lie  did,  (devated  a  ci'ucili.x  in  the 
air.    Kaisinghis  countenance  towards  Heaven,  tlie  gratitude 


'!■ 


!:    II, 

.        !■:■)! 


ii 


Ml'  f 


llllil 
i 


ri 


70 


crmisTopiTER  COL  l:^r^  rs. 


of  liis  soul  found  (^xpip^sion  in  tlmt  Ticnntifiil  prnyer  the 
lirst  nccf-nN  of  wiiic])  luivo  been  preserved  hy  iiistory: 

'' Lnrd !  Elvnxd  and  AlmiftJifi/  Co'I .'  ii<lio  hij  Tl:y 
sacrt'd  icord,  hast  creati'd  the  /ii'<n-eii>i,  t/ir  I'urfli,  and  tlm 
,sYy/,v,  'man  ^^^'!/  f^f^^'^f^  ^><-'  t)JesHed  and  (forijicd.  frcrt/irherc. 
Ma>l  Th)/  Mcjcst'/  tw  exalted,  who  hast  de'Kjned,  to  permit 
that  t)ij  Thy  hvint>Je  serrant,  Thij  fiarred  name  nJionld 
he  made  linown  and  irreached  In  this  other  pari  «/  t/ie 
icorldr  ' 

St;m(liii_i2:  np  with  "Teat  diu'iiity,  lie  displnyed  tlie  standard 
of  th(!  Ci'o.ss,  oU'erinii' np  to  .lesus  C'lirist  the  iii'st  fruits  of 
liis  discovery.  Of  liiniself  lie  thoni^'lit  not.  He  Avished  fo 
j,ive  :i!l  ihc  .'ilorv  to  God,  and  he  named  t!u'  island  .SV/i  ^^al- 
rador,  which  means  "Holy  Savior." 

CoIuMd>!is  then  drew  his  swcnd.  and  all  the  ofRceis  doini^ 
the  sinne,  he  Oi-claivd  that  he  toolv  iiossession  of  t!iat  L.nd  in 

e  notary 


the  naiae  of  our  Lord  for  the  Crown  of  Castih 


^.!Mi 


I'oyal  was  ordered  to  d'.av,- np  the-  p"oceedin,u,'s  in  prescri))e(L 
form.  He  then  ca!le(l  upon  all  jyresent  to  take  tlie  oath  of 
obedience  to  him  :!s  Adniira.!,  \'ii'troy,  and  r(>pr(.sentative  of 
Ferdiuiind  and  Isabella. 

Not  only  did  lii;-  lieitleaanis,  his  pilots,  and  his  crews  swear 
obedieuie  to  th.e  AdiiHral,  bnl  they  weye  oviucome  with  wild 
joy.  and  tilled  with  intense  n^verence  forone  whose  wf)nder()u.s 
ii'lancehad  peiu^ti'ated  beyond  tile  limits  of  the  visil)le  horizon, 
and  whom  lii(\v  had  so  lately  ontrap'd  by  their  blintl  i-ebe!- 
lion.  Overawed  by  ills  menfel  superiority, th"y  now  fell  at  ]n:i 


ee 


kissed  his  li.mds  and  cloth 


es. 


aU' 


a  moment,  rtM^osr- 


ni/.ed  tiie  diiiiiitv  and  tife  ui'andenr  of  ii'enius. 


Hut  vester- 


day,  they  coasid.u'ed  themselves  the  victims  of  his  obstinacy; 
to-dav  thev  felt  thev  were  the  comi)anions  of  liis  success — ra- 
diani  with  the  ,i;Iory  against  which  they  had  so  lately  blas- 
phemed! Such  is  human  nature,  'i'host^  who  open  the  Avay 
to  truth  aie  persecuted,  bnt  th(>  unthinking  world  gladly  in- 
herits their  vict(U-ies. 

AVe  shall  now  u'hince  at  the  natives.     When,  at  the  dawn 


■  '  T!ii«  prayurnf  Columbus  wnsnftcrwanls  rojjfatcil  1  yordiTof  thn  SoverciiiuH  of  Cnslllo,  In  sub- 
BUixuonl  (li.'^cuvcric'ii,    C'ui'lO,^,  Ualbuu,  uiid  ulUcrij  liaii  to  usu  il  olUciuily.-  (,'uilnt  Ue  Lvmuti. 


ciinisTOPUEit  COL  i'.ujn 


71 


rCiii'1il<\  in  sub- 


f  /  (liiy,  they  had  beheld  the  ships  h<)V('^ill^•  on  tlio  roast, 
ihov  sui)po.sed  tliem  to  be  some  nionsfci's,  Avliicli  luul  issued 
fiom  the  deep  durin.i;'  tlie  niii'ht,  'J'lieir  vccriii,!;'  abour,  witli- 
(iiit  any  apparent  etVoiT,  and  the  shifrinu'aiid  riiilinu-  of  thcii' 
sfiils,  resembling  hn.ti'e  wings,  tilled  them  with  astoiiislimeiit. 
When  they  beheld  the  boats  !ip])ro;ich  tlu'  shore,  aii'l  a 
rmnilierof  sti'ange  bcing'^,  chid  in  glittrTing  steel,  oi' laiiiKMifc 
of  various  colors,  landin";  npon  the  beach,  they  lied  in  af- 
iVight  to  til  •  woods.  Finding,  howevei-,  that  there  was  no 
attempt  tc  pursue  or  molest  them,  they  gradually  rei'o\eicd 
fivin  I  heir  teiTor,  and  ap])roaehed  the  Spaniards  with  great 
jiwc,  frequently  jti'ostrating  tiiemselves,  and  making  signs 
of  adoration. 

I)ui'ing  the  eei.nidny  of  taking  possession,  they  remained 
fxiizing.  in  li.Miid  admiration,  at  th(i  complexioa,  thi'  l-cai'ds, 
the  siiining  ai'moiii',  and  splendid  dress  of  the  S[)aniards. 
Tlie  Admir;'"  ^...ii'-ularly  attracted  their  attention,  from  hi.s 
(■onniiauding  h- i; .lit,  his  air  of  anthoriry,.his  scarlet  diess. 
and  the  def(M'ence  i)aid  to  him  l)y  liis  companions.  W'licn  iIk'V 
h;:d  '-^lili  fui  ther  J'ecf>rered  from  tlicii' fears,  they  a[»proached 
tliH  S]v,iniards,  tou(died  their  beards,  an<l  exa.mincd  their 
hands  and  fac-s,  admiring  their  whiteness.  Following  Iho 
example  set  them  by  (Columbus,  the  nmriners  received  with 
sinih's  of  kindness  those  artless  children  of  the  forest,  and 
quietly  submitted  to  their  examinations. 

The  wondering  savages  were  won  by  this  IxMiignity;  they 
now  su})posed  tluit  the  ships  had  sailed  out  of  tin'  ciyslal 
liraianient  which  bounded  th"ir  horizon,  oi'  he.d  dcsceiuhHl 
IVoia  above,  en  their  ample  wings,  and  th;it  thi'se  niarvclJDU.s 
beings  were  natives  of  the  skies. 

The  people  of  the  island  were  no  less  f>bj(>cts  of  curiosity 
to  the  Spaniards,  dilfering,  as  they  did,  from  any  race  of 
men  they  had  ever  seen.  They  were  entirely  naked,  of  a 
moderate  stature,  Avell-shaped,  of  acopjierhue,  with  agree- 
able  features,  loftv  foreheads,  and  tine  eves.  The  hair  was 
(•(i;use  and  straight;  they  had  no  beai'ds.  and  were  i)ainted 
with  a  variety  of  c(dors.  They  appeared  lo  1)e  a  sini[)lo 
and  aitless  race,   and  of  gentle  and  friendly  dispositions. 


■I ; 


i 


I  ;i 


.1    .U:i 


n<:ii  ■."if 


70  ciinisTOPiiEii  coLU.vnus. 

1'iit'U'  only  arms  w(M'(>  lances,  liavdoned  at;  llio  end  hy  fii'o,  or 
jjointcd  willi  a  iliiit  or  tin?  bone  of  a  iisli.'  Colmiibiis  dis- 
tributed aniomj,-  them,  (.'olorod  caps,  glass  be  ids,  liawk's 
bells,  and  other  trllles,  which  they  received  as  inestimable 
/p'i'ts,  and,  decoratinp,'  themselves  with  them,  were  ^\()nder- 
lully  d(  lighted  with  their  iinery. 

After  (.'oluinbus  had  conijil'-ted  tlio  formalities  of  t:d\in^- 
possession  of  the  islaml,  he  oi'dered  the  carpenters  to  con- 
Wiiict  a  hirge  wooden  (,'ross.  This  was  soon  (h>ne.  At  his 
1  vsire,  the  ]ioh>  in  which  the  pole  of  the  banner  had  been 
planted  in  th.is  shore  was  enlai'ged.  Into  this  hole  was 
placed  the  enVl.  of  the  erected  cross,which  was  sustained  by 
iiie  Admiral  hinisi'lf,  wliile  the  hymn  VcviUa  lieyia, 

"  Tlic  hunnciN  of  Iliavcii's  Kin!;  :iilv;infe, 
Tlie  mysti'iy  of  Uiu  Cross  siiiiifs  roilli," 

was  chanted  by  the  whole  party.  AVhen  ilu:>  sacred  sign  was 
solidly  jixe(l  in  tlit>  soil,  he  inton(>d  tliat  grand  hymn  of  vic- 
tory, the  7\'  Dell///.  '1  litis  ilid  th(^  great  Columbus  erect  the 
Sign  of  Kedeinption  in  the  jS-ew  AVorld,  not  merely  as  a  mark 
of  prior  occupation,  Imt  as  a  memorial  of  the  fact  that  he 
took  possession  of  this  laud  in  tlio  uanie  of  Jesus  Christ. 
As  the  (lay  was  now gi'ov.inglate,he  said  evening  jirayers be- 
fore \h(i  I'ough  Cross,  and  on  linishing  this  ])ious  act,  he  took 
up  the  Hag  of  the  expedition,  and  returned  on  board  the 
>>'(nfa  Jfi'rff.  How  grandly  did  this  immortal  Catholic 
h.ei'o  occupy  hisy/y-.v/'  day  in  America! 

The  island  which  Columbus  liad  just  oiTered  to  (lod,  and 
named  San  Salvador,''  was  called  in  the  language  of  the  na- 
tives "(iiianahani."'  It  is  one  of  that  group  which  ge- 
ographers now  term  the  Baliama  Islands.  The  Admiral  sup- 
posed it  to  be  at  the  extremity  of  India,  and  th;'i'(>foro 
called   tli(>  iidiabitants  Indiiiti'' — a  name  wliich  lir.s  since 


'  Tliorc  WHS  no  Iron  fo  Im  fiocn,  nnr  did  thoy  npponr  ncqiiaintcrt  with  its  properties;  for,  when  a 
drawn  sword  was  presented  to  them,  they  un^Miirdedly  took  it  by  the  edge.— /ri'iHy. 

'^  "Xot  flndins;  the  mime  Sinn  S!n! rm'or  f\r\o  enonch  for  their  marine  rhnrls"  writes  Count  de 
I.ora^iies,  •' ICiii-'Iisli  I'mti^-tniits  have  suli-liliid'd  O?/ for  it;  and  'n  their  aliases  the  Tsjand  of  (lie 
Uoly  Sjivioiir  is  nolily  e.illed  fdf  h/ainl.'"  Could  the  liliiiduesH  of  bigttry  and  the  dullness  of 
luuteriulietic  ttui)ldily  go  further  J 


CIIUISTOPIIHR  COLUMBUS. 


73 


I'H  fount  du 
Isl.iiul  of  llie 
10  (lulhio.-'S  of 


l)ppn  extended  to  nil  Ihe  :il)o]'iuiiit\s  of  tlie  Xow  "World.     In 
]iis  earlier  exijloratioiis  it  seems  that  tlie  Asia  ol'  Marco  Polo 
was  ever  ])res('nt  to  his  thoii.u'hts. 
San  Salvador  was  soon  e.vi)lored.     Aiiionu:  its  nauii-al  nd- 

The 


va 


ntau'es,  is   notieed  "stone   for  I)ni]din<^-   elinrelies. 


jMHir  natives  in  all  parts  (d'  ir  received  the  strangei's  with  the 
iiKist  sincere  hospifality.  Seven  of  tlie  Indians  were  easily 
iii(lii('e<k  to  go  with  ('(dmnlius,  and  he  seems  to  have  di.'rib- 
uti'd  tliein  anion.u'  the  three  vessels.  One  of  them  desencd, 
])Uf  (iiliers  were  added  iroiii  Ciiha  and  San  l)omini;'o.  lie 
(l('si'iiie<l  to  present  them  to  their  Catholic  Mnji'stics  to  have 
them  instructed  in  the  Faith,  and  then  (o  .send  them  hack 
t(i  their  c<mnlry  to  ludji  forward   the  work  of  conversion. 

^Vhen  he  sailed  away  from  San  Salvador,  the  Admiral,  at 
oiuv  I'uund  himself  in  an  archipelago,  iileasanlly  embarrassed 
liy  the  7iiidtitnde  of  islands  olfei'ed  to  liis  choice.  He 
.-•recred  for  the  largest,  which  he  named  Siinfa  Maria  <le  la. 
('iiiircpcidti.  Another  islaiul  he  named  FciiiaiuUna,  and 
(iiic  Isabella. 

The  iidiahitants  ai-.proaclied  the  Spaniards  with  olfering.s 


)!■  fi 


uit,  an('    birds,  and  cotton,  rea'ardiim,-  the 


m  as  snper 


hiiiiian  beiii  v  AVhen  they  landed,  in  (|iiest  of  watcM',  the 
simple  Indians  took  them  to  tln^  coolest  s])ri:igs,  and  sweet- 
est and  fi'eshest  runs,  tilling  the  casi^s.  rolling  them  to  the 
hiiats,  and  seeking  in  excry  way  to  giatil'y  them. 

The  lovely  scenery  of  these  islands  em-hanted  Colundnis. 
''1  know  not,"  he  wrote,  "where  to  go  lirst,  nor  are  my  eyes 
ever  weary  of  gazing  on  the  beantifnl  verdnre.  'J'he  singing 
(if  the  birds  is  su<'h,  that  it  se(>ms  as  if  (.ne  would  n(n-(>r 
to  depart  h(Mice.  There  are  flocks  of  ]>arrots  that 
the  sun,  :ind  other  birds  of  nianv  kinds,  lai'ge  and 


(les 


fre 


oiiscui-e  tlie  sun,  am 

.small,  entirtdy  dilTerent  from  ours.    Ti'ees  also  of  a  thousand 

si»ecies.  each  liaving  its  particulai  fruit.'" 

Kverywheri'  lie  ti'eated  the  natives  with  studions  kindness. 
repiessing  tlie  least  attetnpt  at  harshness  on  the  pai't  of  his 
iiii'ii.  He  thus  suci'e(Mled  in  inspiring  com]ilet(»  coTifitlence. 
Thi'  faith  was  his  lii'st  thought,  but  gold  was  (he  second.    In 


everv 


place  he  touched  he  in^iuired  where  gokl  was  to  be 


!'! 


i 

i 

74 


viinisToi'iiKii  roLcnars. 


fouiKl.  lie  liud  :i  Ivccii  eye  to  cvciy  littlf  oniMiiKMil  (;f  ixo]']. 
II<'  caiuli'llv  ;niii(»iiiic('(l  (liaf  he  should  oiilv  slop  \vlic!(! 
tlit'ic  was  a  prospcrl  of  collcctini!,"  ^old  ;  and  lie  adds  tliar, 
witii  tilt!  lu'lj)  ol'  our  Loid,  lit>  felt  siiio  of  siiccess  in  Ids 
seai'cli  for  iiold.  It  is  a  curious  manifestation  of  >']iarart('r. 
Love  of  fj;(»ld  is  not  one  of  the  usual  si.u'us  (d"  sanctity,  l^iit 
Columbus  wanted  uold  for  two  great  reasons:  (])  He  wisln  d 
to  eidiance  the  importance  of  the  discoveries,  for  all  his 
loftiest  di'eams  de|ien(h'd  for  their  reali/ation,  as  lie  in  his 
ignorance'  of  the  future  fondly  thought,  njjon  causing  a 
stream  of  European  entei'|)rise  to  How  into  tlu;  donunions  ef 
the  lireat  Khan.  {'2)  He  desired  to  amass  treasure  for  tho 
secotid  great  object  of  his  life,  the  recoveiy  of  the  ifoly 
Sepulchre,  an  ,;bject  early  oontenijilated  and  never  abaii- 
(loiie(l  to  Ilis  last  breath. 

Fi'om  Isabella,  Oobuubus  stood  across  to  Cuba,  convincnl 
that  it  must  be  the  Island  of  Cipango,  mentioned  by  tlio 
famous  Marco  I'olo'.  ]\[artin  Alon/.o  l*in/,on  succeeded  in 
persuading  him  that  it  was  the  maiidand  of  Asia.  Tf  it  was 
Asia,  then  the  (ii'and  Kahn  w;  s  accessible.  lb;  understood 
the  liiiHans  to  speak  of  a  great  king,  1"onr  days'  journey 
distant,  and  hc'  sent  oil"  two  ;iml)ass:(dors.  one  of  whom  was 
l)e  Torres,  ^vhose  knowledge  of  Arabic  nught  lielp  liim  with 
the  (ii'and  Kahn  or  some  of  Ids  vassal  sovereigns.  Two 
Indian  intei'preters  made  u})  the  party.  They  only  bmnd  :i 
village  of  liJ'ty  luits,  Init  the  natives  everywln're  j^ieeted 
them  kindly.  Tt  was  on  this  jourii(>y,  the  Spaniards  discov- 
ered that  hund)li' but  most  useful  root,  rhe  poftrfo;  a?ul  for 
the  Jii-st  time,  they  witnessed  that  now  buniliar  but  cui-ious 
practice  known  as  .s'/ifok/'n//.' 


'  Cuba  Iiroko  upon  Coliimlins  Tike  tm  ilvsimn.  "  ll  it"  tlio  most  bpimtifiil  isliind,'  lir  -ivs, 
"  tlmt  eyes  ever  liclifld.  full  of  cxrclli'iii  jiorts  and  docp  n\cT»."—Jriiii(j. 

'■'  On  tlirir  way  Imck,  (li.'y  for  tin'  lli-^'t  time,  wlliics-^i'd  tlic  nsi>  of  a  wocd,  which  llic  int'iiiluus 
nnirioi'  of  mail  Iim<  ^Uwr  loiivcvfi'd  Into  a  miiviTv.il  luxury,  in  dcllancc  of  the  opiioHit'oii  of  tin; 
(■iiiscs.  Tlu'V  lii'lu'lil  si'vcral  of  the  natives  i,'oiii!;  alioiil  with  llrc-hiainN.  in  their  liaiuls,  and  rer- 
tain  dried  herlis,  which  tliey  rolled  up  in  a  leaf,  and  liKhlini;  one  eml.  put  the  other  in  iliiir 
niouHis.  and  continued  exhallriL'  ami  putlliiL'  out  smoke.  .\  roll  of  thi«  kind  they  called  a  tutuimi, 
!i  name  sinee  transferred  to  the  plait  of  whieli  tlie  pills  witc  made.  The  Spaniards  alllMMidi 
prepared  to  meet  with  wor.ders.  were  struck  wliJi  astonishment  at  tins  sLifxiilar  and  apparentlj 
nauseous  indnlf.'eiici'.    Iruinf/. 

The  pitiful  ai;e  of  pip.^  and  ciuars.  and  the  days  tlmt  "  i  re  lo  witness  the  aboiniiiation  of  ehe.v 
iuB  Uie  vile  wei'd.  hiid  not  vi't  i-onio  I 


ciiuisToriiiJii  coi.uMin's. 


75 


isliiml,"  \w  ray-i. 

icti  llic  inL'iiii'iiu 
ippo^ilion  iif  111" 
ir  Imiulw,  nii()  'vr- 
he  iHhiT  ill  llii'ir 
y  calli'd  u  tihtirrn, 
)iiiiiiir(l'<  all!n>m;li 
ir  ami  appaRiitlj 

iiiiuitum  of  clu'«' 


T)iin'n<r  tlip  abspiico  of  his  piivoys  (\»liinilMis  indiislrioiisly 
rollpt'tpd  information.  TIip  Ciiltans.  in  r('i)ly  to  liis  iii(|iiir- 
ics  aliont  ^'nld,  Ivcjit  ]i(>iutin,!j:  eastward  aii'l  r('p^'atiIl,iJ:  tiu^ 
WMW.  Biil'c'l'"'-  Altliou.uh  111' was  not  a  little  ])ri']tl('X('(l  to 
liiid  trross  i,u:ti()ran<'(M)f  the  ways  of  civili/cd  life  instfad  of 
oiiciital  splendor,  and  altiioiiuli  he  must  liav(^  tlioiiulii  the 
oTciit  monarc]i  very  cai'eh'ss  al)out  staue  of  iiis  suitjects,  lio 
^lill  did  not  doubt  tliat  lie  was  on  tlie  coidines  of  Asia,  and 
it  iiiJLvlit  he  tliat  liahefpie  was  ('ii);in)j:o.  lie  (h'ternuned  to 
liv.  foi-  lie  was  anxious  lo  solve  t!'e  inystcry,  and  lo  <lis- 
cnver  some  more  satisfactory  traces  of  iniperitU  ^n)vei'nment. 
fit',  therefore,  abandoned  his  north-west  coui'sc.  winch 
would  soon  have  i)roved  Cuba,  to  be  an  isLand,  and,  still 
(Ircaniinti;  of  gold,  coasted  in  the  opposite  dii'cction.  lie 
iKiDH"!  the  boautifid  archipelago  near  Pin  rhi  del  J^riiii-i i><\ 


It  I  lie  east  of  Cuba,  "Sea  of  our  I/ulv 


As  h(^  went  alonu' 


li;'  ( 


■iccted  crosses*  and  scattered  ])ioiis  names,  but  of  these 


\"rv  lew 


have  come  d((wn  to  our  times. 


>;i. 


AsColiimbiis  was  linisliiiiu'  the  ('(cisiiuLi-of  the  isle  of  ( 'id 
Phifd  ci'uellv  deserted  him.    .M-i'liii  Alon/.o  rin/.oii  trieil 


III 


til  iiinke  out  afterwai'ds  that  th<'  scpai'atioii  was  accidental; 
Imt  tluM'c^  is  no  doubt  that  he   yield<'d  to  temptation,   and 


V.'cllt 


aw 


av  to  find   uold   foi'  himsc 


II' 


de!d'er;it<'l\'  drs- 


iilu'ved  the  Admiral's  Nigual  to  letiii'u,  and  as  the  I'liifa  w;is 
wi'll  able  to  outstrij)  the  other  vessels,  he  was  soon  out  of 
siulit.  Cf)lumbus  was  indignant,  lait  even  in  his  disti'css  he 
M'ltK'.itied  keenly  alive  to  the  ])eauty  of  nidure  in  that  fa- 
voi'cd  land.  His  emotions  were  described  in  rlieir  iirst  I'resh- 
iu"-s  in  an  enthnsiastie  hotter  to  the  sovereigns.  The  glo- 
liitus  scenery,  the  wild  exuberance  of  vegetabh^  lil'e,  tlie 
iii'i'fumed  breeze, the  water  pure  as  crystal,  all  the  gifts  of  the 
(Ycator  scattered  with  generous  hand  seemed  to  s})eak  of 
iM'uce  and  happiness.  The  passicms  of  men  can  make  the 
fairest  land  into  a  hell  n])on  earth. 
Columbus  for  several  days  continued  exjiloring  tlie  coa^t 


of  Cuba  until  he  reached  t 


ne  <- 


astern  end,  to  wdiich.  fr<in 


■;ini]iosing  it  the  extreme  point  of  Asia,  he  ga\e  the  naim 
jf  Alpha  and  Omega,  the  beginning  and  the  end.     Whih 


ii' 

I 

1 

T 

1 
1 

; 

:'  'I'  • 
i   il 

]    !|jJ 

1 

1 

It 

i 

i 

!'••  M- 


J           i 

1 

m  4 

■ 
i 

1  r ' , 

■:            } 

;■        it 

?   ^      ■:     ^l 

I    ,  it 


70 


('i!i!isT(>riii:n  col  r.v/irs. 


htecriii^  til  Ini'^c*' ^I'voiul  tliis  cap!',  vindetcvmiiit'd  wliat  coiii'sp 
to  takn,  lie  d(;.s('rh'<l  liigli  tiuxintaitis  touci'iiig  ali()\('  rlio 
clcai'  horizon  to  tlio  south-east, nii'l  ;;iviivi;'  (evidence  of  an  isl- 
and of  n'l'cat  cxtiMit.  lie  immcdiatt'ly  stood  for  it,  to  th« 
great  coiistcniatiouof  liis  TiKliaii  iriiiih's,  wlio  assured  hiin 
by  si.u'iis  tliafc  tlie  inhabitants  had  but  one  eye,  and  wen; 
iierce  iind  cruel  cannibals. 

It  was  th(^  first  island  to  which  he  u'ave  the  name  of  ///V 
pi///i(i7r(,  and  which  is  now  kncjwn  as  San  Doniing'o,  or  llayti. 
Thitlun"  he  turned  his  C(nlrst^  and  I'eachinL;-  the  western  point 
('oasted  slowly  along  the  noithern  side  of  the  ishuid,  eveiy- 
wliei'e  conciliating  the  good  will  of  the  natives,  lie  even 
received  visits  I'nnn  several  cacirpn's'  and  ;i  very  picssins;- 
invitation  with  rich  presents  from  Guacanagarl,  one  of  the 
iive  principal  caciques  of  the  island. 

The  mountains  of  JIis})aniola  were  liigher  and  more  rocky 
than  tliose  of  the  other  ishuKls,  l)ut  the  rocks  rose  from 
juiiong  rich  forests.  The  mountains  swept  down  into  lux- 
uriant plains  and  green  savannahs,  while  the  appearance  of 
the  cultivated  lields,  with  numerous  lires  at  night,  and  the 
columns  of  smoke  which  rose  in  various  parts  by  day — all 
vsliowed  it  to  be  ])opu]ons — it  rose  before  them  in  all  the 
splendor  of  tropical  vegetation,  c»ne  of  the  nu)st  beautiful 
islands  in  the  world,  and  uidia]tpi]y  doomed  to  be  one  of  the 
most  unfortunate. 

On  the  (>v>-ning  of  the  0th  of  December  Columbns  entered 
a  hai'bor  at  the  western  end  of  the  island,  to  which  lie  gave 
(lie  name  of  *SY.  Nle/ioJns.  Xot  being  able  to  meet  witli  any 
of  the  inliabitants.  who  had  tied  from  their  dwellings,  lie 
coasted  along  the  northern  side  of  the  island  to  another  har- 
bor, which  he  called  Conception.  Here  the  sailors  caught 
several  kinds  of  lisli  similar  to  those  of  tlieir  own  country; 
thev  heard  aLso  the  notes  of  a  bird  which  sinss  in  the  niiiht, 
and  wdiich  they  mistoolv  for  tlie  nightingale,  and  they  fan- 
cied that  the  features  of  the  sui'i'ounding  country  reseml)led 
those  of  the  more  beautiful  piovinees  of  Spain.     It  was  in 

'  liulr.m  C'liicfs, 


CHRIS  TOPlIEll  CO  L  UMB  US. 


const 


■qiipncc  of  I  his  i(lc;i  lliattlio  Adiiiifal  liad  named  it  TIi^ 


■]iaiiinla,  or  "  Liltlt'  Si)aiii 


Mit'i'  various  attempts    to  obtain  a  communication  with 


natives, 


three  .saih)i's  succeeded  in  oveitakinu'  a  v 


oun.uj 


I  liandsonie  female,  who  was  living-  fi'om  tliem,  and 
liroiiuht  their  wihl  beauty  in  triumph  to  tlie  ships.  She  was 
Healed  with  tiie  ^'reatest  kindness,  and  dismissed  linely 
cliiMied.  and  loaded  with  presents  cd"  l)eads,  hawk's  b(dls, 
;ind  other  baubles. 

('(iiilident  of  the  favoiable  imiiression  her  tivatnuuit,  ;ind 
(he  siuiit  (d"  lier  presents,  must  produce,  ('olumbus,  oji  the 
foildwin,:;-  day,  sent  nine  men,  Avith  an  intei'pretei',  to  lier 
viil.i.^e  which  was  situated  in  a  line  valley,  on  the  banlvs  of 
;i  iieautil'id  river,  and  c(»ntained  about  a  thousand  houses. 
The  natives  lied  at  iirst,  but,  Ixdng  re-assured  by  the  intei'- 
jireter,  came  back  to  tin?  number  of  two  thousaml,  and  aj)- 


1 


il'iiache( 


I  the  Spainards  with  awe  and  treni 


blimx. 


Olt( 


■u  jiau.' 


iim'  and  putting  their  hands  Ujjon  their  licdds  in  token  of 


ivver< 


'uce  and  subnussion. 


Tlie  femah^  also,  came  borne  in  triumph  on  tlie  shouhiers 
countrymen,  followed  by  a  multitude,  and  ])receded 


of  her 


t»v  Ik 


■)•  husband,  who  was  full  id'  gi'atitude  for  the  kindiu'ss 
wiili  which  slie  had  been  treatt^d.  The  natives  c(jndncted 
ilie  Si)ai;iards  to  tluMr  liouses,  aiid  set  before  tlu-ni  cassava 
I)i'ead.  lish,  roots,  and  fruits  (»f  various  kinds:  for  a  fraidv 
liesiiitalitv  reiu'ned  thiduuhout  the  island,  whereas  \et  the 

1  t  »    ■  '  a. 


jiassion 


of  avarice  was  unknown. 


The  Si)aniards  returne(l  to  the  vessels  enraptured  with  the 
heauty  of  the  counti'y,  surpassing,  as  they  said,  even  the 
luxuriant  valley  of  (,'ordo\a  ;  all  that  they  complained  of 
was,  that  they  saw  no  signs  of  liches  among  the  natives. 

'Jontinuing  along  the  coast,  (N)lund)us  was  visiie<l  bv  a 


I  of  llu'sc  Indians  Columbus  wrote  to  a  friend  :  "  True  it  is  thiit  iiftor  tiiey  folt  oonfidcnoo,  nnd 

lost  lliclr  fi'rirrt  of  UH,  ttiey  were  so  lili' riil  willi  wlint  tliey  po-isesscrl,  tliat  it  would  nut  be  1  o- 
I'l'vcd  by  Ibosu  w bo  liad  not  seen  it.  H'  anvUiiiii'  was  asked  of  tlieni.  tbey  never  said  no.  bnl 
riillii'VL'ave  it  ibeerfully.  and  sbowcd  as  miiidi  friendsliip  as  if  ibey  ijave  tln'ir  very  liearls;  aTid 
uhcilur  llie  tldni;  w.is  of  value,  or  of  little  price,  tbey  were  conlent  vvitb  wliab'ver  was  i,'ivcn  in 

riiiirn Tlie  v.onien  seem  to  wori;  uiore  than  the  men  :  .-md  I  bave  not  l)i'en  able  to  uii- 

liri-M  hI  wlii'tbi'r  tbi'y  possess  individual  iiropi'i'ty  ;  but  riithcr  lliiiili  that  wbatever  one  luis  all 
the  r.-l  >liare,  esinxially,  in  till  ar'Jrle.-  uf  iinivisious." 


.  r 

1 

: 

, 

1 

1 , 

1 

i 

'i "! 

''  f 

] 

\ 

''1 

. 

V 

-! 

_ 

78 


cmiisTopiiEii  COL r.u/irs. 


yonnjj;  onciijno.  a]»iini'cntly  (»f  ixveai  imiiortancfs  wlio  cniii'* 
lioi'uc  on  a  littei-  \)\  roitr  iiu'ii,  and  atrciid*'*!  by  two  liiiii(liv(l 
ol"  liis subjects.  IFe  t'litoictl  the  cabin  where  the  Adiiiiial  v.;is 
diniii.u-,  and  took  Ids  seat  besule  hhu,  with  a  IVanlc  iniembar- 
rassed  air,  wliile  two  old  men,  wlio  were  his  councillois, 
seated  tlieiHselvesat  his  i'eet,  walcliin,^'  Ids  lips,  as  if  to  catrh 
and  coiinunnicate  liis  ideas.  II'  any  tldn.i;'  wen*  givt'n  him 
to  eat,  ht^  marely  tasted  it,  and  sent  it  to  his  I'ollowers,  main- 
taiiun^'  an  air  of  .uivat  ,<;'ravity  and  dignity.  "After  dinm'r. 
lie  presented  tlu^  Admiral  with  a  belt  curionsly  wronght,  aiiil 
two  pieces  of  gold.  Columl>us  made  him  various  jjresents 
in  return,  and  slujweil  1dm  a  coin  l)earing  the  likenesses  dl' 
Ferdinand  and  Isaludla,  endeavoring  to  give  him  an  idea  of 
the  power  and  grandeur  of  those  sovereigns.  The  cacicpu^, 
however,  could  not  be  ma(h'  to  believe  that  Ihei'e  was  a  legion 
on  earth  which  produced  such  wonderrul  jjeople  and  won- 
derful things,  but  persisted  in  the  idea  that  the  Spaniards 
Were  more  than  moital,  and  that  the  country  and  sovereigns 
they  spok(>  of  must  exist  somewhere  in  the  skies. 

It  was  Chvistiiras  Eve,  and  the  sea  was  as  calm  as  a  lake, 
with  a  light  A\ind  blowing  off  the  shore — no  rocks  wei'e  iieni' 
— (Jolundnis  felt  that  he  nnght  now  safely  seek  the  sleep  lie 
so  much  needed.  The  man  whom  he  left  in  charge  thought 
he  might  safely  folhnv  tlie  example,  and  with  gross  disre- 
gard of  a  standing  order,  delegated  his  duty  to  a  boy  on 
hoard,  and  like  the  Admiral  went  to  sleep.  The  rest  of  the 
mtiriners  on  duty  did  the  same,  and  in  a  little  while  the 
whole  crew  was  buried  in  repose.  In  the  meantime  the 
treacherous  currents — which  run  swiftly  along  this  coast— 
cari'ied  the  ship  smoothly,  but  with  great  violence  Tii)on  a 
sand-bank.  The  bo}',  feeling  the  rudder  strike,  and  heniini;' 
the  rushing  of  the  sea,  cried  out  for  help.  Columbus — wlio 
even  in  sleep  fcu'got  not  his  heavy  responsil)ility — was  the 
iirst  to  take  the  alarm,  and  was  soon  followed  by  the  inaster 
of  the  ship,  and  his  delinquent  comi)anions.  The  Aduiinil 
ordered  them  to  carry  out  an  anchor  astern,  that  they  might 
warp  the  vessel  oif.  They  sprang  into  the  boat,  but.  beini;- 
confused  and  seized  with  a  panic,  instead  of  obeying  the 


Iio  canifl 
lmn(liv(l 
liral  v.as 
ut'inbar- 
ticilloi-^. 
to  catrli 
ivcn  liini 
•s,  iiiaiii- 
]•  (lininT. 
iiilit,  aiul 
presents 
iiesses  <il' 
n  i(l<'a  (if 
1  caciqui', 
•(  a  ie<j,'i(iu 
ami  woii- 
5paniar(ls 
oveivigns 

iis  a  lake, 


\v 


ere  lU'iii' 

sltM^P    hi' 

tliou.ulit 
ss  disn'- 
Ixiy  <tu 
t  oi"  ilu' 
hile  the 
imp   till' 
coast— 
upon  a 
hearing 
us — wlu» 
Avas  till' 
le  master 
Vduiiial 
oy  luifi'lit 
at.  iH'ir.^ 
.'yiiig  lUf 


CIIJilSTOPIlh'R  CO/.UmiCS.  79 

roniniands  of  Columldis,  they  rowed  off  to  the  other  caravel, 
Aiuccnt  Yauc/,  Piu/.oii,  avIio  coinniaiided  the  latter,  re- 
i,i(.a(li<'(l  fheiii  with  their  cowanlice,  and  rd'used  to  admit 
thi'iii  on  hoard;  anil,  nianniny;  his  boat,  hastened  to  the 
a>si>tance  oi"  the  Admiral. 

Ill  ilif  mean  time,  the  ship swinu'ing across  the  stream,  was 
s.  t  iiioi''  and  moi'e  ui)on  the  hank.  Ell'orts  Aver(!  made  to 
liuht.'U  her,  by  cnttin.^-  away  the  mast,  })Ut  iji  vain.  The 
kcrl  became  bedded  in  the  sand;  the  seams  opened,  and  the 
Ineakei's  l)eat  a2,'ainst  her,  until  she  Tell  over  on  one  side. 
I'diluiiately,  the  weatlier  continued  calm,  or  both  ship  and 
civw  must  have  i)erishe(l.  The  Adnural  abaiuloned  the  wreck, 
ami  look  rel'ii.ue,  with  his  men,  on  board  of  the  cara\el. 

All  this  Iiai)[)ened  but  a  lew  miles  away  IVom  the  harbor 
(.r  (iuacana.ii'ari,  and  when  the  Adnnral  sent  to  inform  the 
linlian  chief  of  the  misfortune,  he  nu4  with  ready  symjiathy 
and  the  most  delicate  kindness.  \Vhen  Ciuacanagari  heard 
(if  rlie  mishap  oi'  his  honored  guest,  he  was  so  much  alllicted 
as  to  shed  tears;  and  never,  in  civilized  country,  were  the 
lii.'s  (if  hosj)itality  more  scruiudously  observed,  than  by  this 
uncultured  savage.  He  assenil)led  liis  peojile,  and  stmt  olf 
all  his  canoes  to  aid  in  unloading  th(?  wi'eck.  The  ell'ects 
wei'e  landed,  and  deposited  near  his  dwelling,  and  guard  set 
(i\t  r  them,  until  houses  could  be  x^i'^-'PiU'^d,  in  Avhich  they 
could  be  stored. 

Thei'e  s(M>med,  however,  no  disposition  among  the  natives 
to  pilfer  or  conceal  the  most  trilling  article.  On  the  con- 
traiy,  they  numifested  as  deep  a  concern  as  if  the  disaster 
had  happened  to  themselves,  and  their  only  study  was  how 
they  could  administer  relief  and  consolation.  C<dund)us 
was  greatly  alfected  by  this  unexpected  goodness.  "So 
loving,  so  tractable,  so  peaceable  are  these  people,"  he 
wrote,  ''that  I  swear  to  your  Majesties,  there  is  iu)t  in  the 
woild  a  better  nation  nor  a  better  land.  They  love  their 
iieiiihbors  as  themselves ;  and  their  discourse  is  ever  sweet 
and  u'entle,  and  accompanied  with  a  snule  :  and  though  it  is 
true  that  they  are  naked,  yet  their  nuumers  are  decorous 
iuid  praiseworthy,' 

'  Irvin". 


# 


M. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


IM  mis 


«;?  IM    i||||2.2 


:£  m 


—    6" 


2.0 


1.4     II  1.6 


v2 


<? 


0% 


//, 


^. 


^;. 


/ 


/^ 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,'    Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


z 


& 

%' 


k 

<^\ 

• 

80 


CHRISTOPHER  COLUMBUS. 


When  the  chief  met  with  Columbus,  he  was  much  niovecl 
jit  behohliuf?  his  dejection,  and  offered  him  every  thin*;  he 
possessed  that  could  be  of  service  to  him.  He  invited  him 
on  sljore,  where  a  banquet  was  prepared  for  his  entertain- 
ment, consistini?  of  vai'ious  kinds  of  lish  and  fruit,  and  an 
animal  called  L'tia  by  the  natives,  which  resembled  a  cony. 
After  tlie  collation,  he  conducted  him  to  a  beautiful  grove, 
where  upwards  of  a  thousnnd  of  the  natives  \\ereavssembled, 
all  perfectly  naked,  whi>  performed  several  of  their  games 
and  dances.  When  the  liuiians  had  lin'shed  their  games, 
Columbus  gave  them  .^  11  eu>rtainnient  in  return  calculated 
to  impress  them  with  a  foi-miuable  opinion  of  the  military 
l)ower  of  the  Sjianiard-i.  A  Castilian,  who  had  served  in 
the  wars  of  Granada,  exhibited  his  skill  in  shooting  wiih  a 
Moorish  bow,  to  the  great  admiration  of  the  cacique.  A 
cannon  and  an  arquebus  were  likewise  discharged;  at  the 
sound  of  which  the  Indians  fell  to  the  ground,  as  though 
thev  had,  been  struck  bva  thunderbolt. 

When  they  saw  the  effect  of  the  ball  rending  and  shiver- 
ing the  trees,  they  ue re  tilled  with  dismay.  On  being  lold, 
however,  that  the  Spaniai'ds  would  protect  them  with  lhes^' 
arms,  against  the  invasions  of  their  dreaded  enemies,  the 
Caribs,  tlieir  alarm  was  changed  into  confident  exultation, 
considering  themselves  under  the  protection  of  the  sons  of 
lieaven,  who  had  conu'  fiom  the  skies,  armed  with  thuiuh'r 
and  lightning.  The  ca('i(|ue  placed  a  coronet  of  gold  on  the 
head  of  Columbus,  and  hung  plates  of  the  same  metal  lound 
his  neck,  and  dis])ensed  liberal  presents  among  his  follow- 
ers. Whatever  trities  were  given  in  return  were  legarded 
with  revereiHM^  as  celestial  gifts,  and  were  said  by  the  Indi- 
ans to  have  come  from  Turcji,  or  heaven.' 

AVhen  (i!ua<'anagari  perceived  the  great  value  which  the 
Admiral  attached  to  gold,  he  infoiined  him,  tliat  there  was  a 


i--t>ii 


IPfil 


'  Evprythiiia  from  tlic  hands  of  itio  SpimliirrtH.  evi'ii  n  riiiity  plcro  of  Iron,  nti  end  of  a  Ktriip.  nr 
II  lii'iiil  of  II  iiiiil,  hail  II  hiilili'M  mill  sii|h  riitiliii.il  viiliii'.  IIii»UV  lirlls.  Iidtvi'vir,  ivcrr  miiil'U  Ii)' 
till'  Inilians  with  ii  iii:iiii;i  only  <(|ii:illnl  hy  lliiil  of  Ihi'  Spiiiiiiii(l»  !'nr  polH.  Thi'y  coiilrt  no!  lon- 
liiiii  tlii'lr  lM•■.^■,■l^l('w  III  llii'  wiiiiiil.  iliiiK  Inu'  iinil  pliiyim;  ii  lhoii«iiiid  iiiiiIck.  On  one  oicaHinn  an  In- 
iliaii  u'avr  half  a  liii'i'lful  of  noid  ilii^l  in  rxilianuc  for  one  of  llicor  lny»..  ainl  no  Hnuni'r  was  hr  in 
pD-isi'fi-lon  of  il,  than  hr  liotindcd  hhiiv  I<>  IIii'  mimhIk,  looking'  oriiii  ludiind  lihn.  fniriiiR  lliu 
Simniards  might  repint  of  lunin;^  parU'd  ko  chi'eply  wilh  isncli  an  ini:»tiniahli'  ivssvW—ln'tHij. 


It  f- 


CHRISTOPHER  COL  UMB  US. 


81 


Lich  moved 
y  tliin<i;  hn 
nvited  liim 
.  entertaiu- 
uit,  and  an 
ed  a  cony, 
tiful  grove, 
avssenibled, 
heir  games 
leir  games, 
calculated 
:ie  military 
I  served  in 
ling  will)  a 
'aci(iue.     A 
ged;  at  the 
,  as  though 

and  shiver- 
being  told, 
with  these 

nemies.  the 
^xiiltatidii. 
he  sons  of 
h  tiiiinthn- 
iold  on  the 
letal  iniind 
his  i'ollow- 
regarded 
V  the  Indi- 


it 


-wliich   the 
there  was  a 

i-nd  of  11  clrii|i.  ir 
1  r,  \M'!r  miiil'iI  ''V 

ry  conlrt  no!  i"" 
il;i'  ll(■(■|l^il)ll  nil  111- 

I  sodiiiT  «:i»  hi'  III 

II  llilll.  frilling   ll'" 
jiwcl!—  Jiiimj. 


place,  not  far  off,  where  it  abounded;  and  he  promised  to 
procure  him,  from  thence,  as  much  as  he  desired.  This  gold- 
en region,  was  called  Cibao,  and  lay  among  high  and  rug- 
ged mountains.  The  cacique  avIio  ruled  over  it  owned  many 
rich  mines,  and  had  banners  of  wrought  gold. 

Three  houses  had  been  given  to  the  shipwrecked  crew  for 
their  residence.  Living  on  shore,  and  mingling  freely  with 
the  natives,  they  became  fascinated  by  their  easy,  idle  mode 
of  life.  They  were  governed  by  their  caciques  with  an  abso- 
lute but  patriarchal  and  easy  rule,  and  existed  in  that  state 
of  prnnitive  and  savage  simplicity  which  some  jjhilosophers 
have  fondly  pictured  as  the  most  enviable  on  earth. 

"It  is  certain,"  says  old  Peter  Martyr,  '"that  the  land 
among  these  people,  is  as  common  as  the  sun  and  water;  and 
that  'mine  and  thine,'  the  seeds  of  all  mischief  have  no 
place  with  them.  They  are  content  witli  so  little,  that,  in  so 
large  a  country,  they  have  rather  superliiiity  than  scarce- 
ness; so  that  they  seem  to  live  in  a  golden  world,  Avithout 
toil,  in  open  gardens,  neither  intrenched,  nor  shut  up  by 
walls  or  hedges.  They  deal  truly  with  one  another,  without 
laws,  or  books,  or  judges.'' 

In  fact,  they  seemed  to  disquiet  themselves  about  nothing; 
a  few  lields,  cultivated  almost  without  labor,  furnished  roots 
and  v<'getables,  their  groves  were  laden  Avith  delicious  fruit, 
iiiul  llie  coast  and  rivers  abounded  Avith  iish.  Softened  bv 
the  indulgence  of  nature,  a  great  part  of  tlie  day  was])assed 
by  them  in  indolent  repose,  in  their  luxury  of  sensation  iu- 
spired  by  a  serene  sky  and  voluptuous  (dimate,  ami  in  the 
evening  they  danced  in  their  fragrant  groves,  to  their  na- 
tional songs,  or  the  rude  sound  of  their  sylvan  drums. 
When  the  Spanish  mariners  looked  ba(d\.  u]i(in  their  own 
toilsome  and  painful  life,  and  retlected  ujion  the  cares  and 
haidsliipsthat  must  still  bo  their  lot,  should  they  return  to 
EMro[>e,  they  regarded  Avith  a  wistful  eye  the  easy  and  idle 
existence  of  the  Indians,  and  many  of  them,  r('i)i'(>s«'nliug 
to  the  Admiral  the  dilhculty  and  (hinger  of  embarking  so 
many  pei'sons  in  one  small  caravel,  entreated  permission  to 
viuiaiu  in  the  island. 


iF 


if" 


82 


CHRISTOPUEB  COLUMBUS. 


Columbus  consented,  for  he  began  to  look  upon  the  ship- 
wreck as  a  Divine  interposition,  guiding  him  to  the  most 
advantageous  spot  for  establishing  a  colony.  The  wreck  of 
the  caravel  would  furnish  materials  and  arms  for  a  fortress; 
and  the  people  who  should  remain  in  the  island  could  ex- 
plore it,  learn  the  language  of  the  natives,  and  collect  gold, 
while  the  Admiral  returned  to  Spain  for  reinforcements. 

Guacanagari  was  overjoyed  at  finding  that  some  of  these 
wonderful  strangers  were  to  remain  for  the  defence  of  his 
island,  and  that  the  Admiral  intended  to  revisit  it.  He 
readily  gave  permission  to  build  the  fort,  and  his  subjects 
eagerly  aided  in  its  construction,  little  dreaming  that  they 
were  assisting  to  place  on  their  necks  the  galling  yoke  of 
perpetual  and  toilsome  slavery.  In  ten  days  the  fortress 
was  completed.  It  consisted  of  a  strong  wooden  tower,  with 
a  vault  beneath,  and  the  whole  was  suiTounded  by  a  wide 
ditch.  It  was  sui^plied  with  the  ammunition  and  mounted 
with  the  cannon  saved  from  the  wreck.  Columbus  gave  the 
fortress  and  harbor  the  name  of  La  JVav/dad,  or  The  Nati\- 
ity,  in  memorial  of  having  been  preserved  from  the  wreck  of 
his  ship  on  Christmas  day. 

From  the  number  of  volunteers  that  offered  to  remain,  he 
selected  thirty-nine  of  the  most  trustworthy,  putting  them 
under  the  command  of  De  Arana,  notary  and  alguazil  of  the 
armament.  In  case  of  his  death,  Peter  Gutierrez  was  to 
take  the  command,  and  he  in  like  case,  to  be  succeeded  by 
Roderic  de  Escobido.  Columbus  then  charged  the  men  to 
be  obedient  to  their  commanders,  respectful  to  Guacanngari 
and  his  chieftains,  and  circumsjwct  and  friendlj'-  in  their  in- 
tercourse with  the  natives.  As  their  safety  would  depend 
upon  their  tmited  force;  he  warned  them  not  to  sei)arate  nor 
to  stray  beyond  the  territory  of  the  friendly  cacique.  He 
enjoined  it  upon  the  offi(!ers,  to  employ  themselves  in  gain- 
ing a  knowledge  of  the  island,  in  amassing  gold  and  spices, 
and  in  searching  for  a  more  safe  and  convenient  harbor. 

Before  his  departure,  he  gave  the  natives  another  military 
exhibition,  to  increase  their  awe  of  the  white  men.  The 
SiJanuirds    performed  skirmishes    and  inock   fights,   with 


CUIUS TOrUER  COLU.VBUS. 


83 


swords,  buclvlers,  lances,  crossbows,  and,  firearms.  The  In- 
di;i  113  were  astonished  at  the  keenness  of  the  steeled  weap- 
ons, and  the  deadly  power  of  the  crossbows  and  muskets : 
liut  nothing  equalled  their  awe  and  admiration  when  the 
tainiiiiis  were  discharged  from  the  fortress,  wrapi)ing  it  in 
smoke,  sluiking  the  forests  with  their  thunder,  and  shivering 
tlie  stoutest  trees. 

W'iien  Columbus  took  leave  of  Guacanagari,  the  kind- 
lienrted  chief  shed  many  tears  ;  for  he  had  been  completely 
won  by  the  benignity  of  his  manners.  The.  seamen  too  had 
iiinde  many  pleasant  connections  among  the  Indians,  and 
tlit'V  parted  with  mutual  regret.  But  the  saddest  parting 
wiis  with  the  comrades  who  remained  behind.  The  signal- 
gun  was  fired.  The  crew  of  the  caravel  gave  a  last  ringing 
cheer  for  the  gallant  band  of  volunteers  who  were  thus  left 
on  t-lie  wild  shores  of  an  unknown  island,  and  who  were  des- 
tined alas !  to  welcome  their  companions  no  more. ' 

'  Am.Mig  the  mariners  who  were  left  behind  at  La  Nnvidnd,  was  the  Irishman,  William  IJict, 
Willi  ir.  'lie  language  of  the  documuntti  >ym  "  natural  4e  tmlmg.  en  //Yunt/a"— a  uativ«  ot  Ualwaj 
hi  Ircutad. 


>  remain,  he 


il  I 


I  ^ 


'  ■  f 


mil  ihi 


CHAPTER    IV. 

IIOMEWAIJD   BOUND. 

Atrnnnf— Til 0  fir Hthlood sited — Storms  on  the  loild  icares 
— Jivlii/ioii.s  I'oics—Tlie  cask — Laud — An  upstart  (Joo- 
cniDr—'"  JIoiiw,  sweet  lioiiie!^- — Genius  honored — Prep- 
arations for  a  second  voyage. 

It  was  on  tlie  4th.  of  January,  1493,  that  Coliinilnis  set 
sail.  On  tlie  0th  as  lie  was  beatiuii'  alonij  the  coast,  with  a 
head  wind,  a  sailor  at  the  mast-head  cried  out  that  there  was 
a  sail  at  a  distance,  standiuii"  towards  them.  It  jjroved  to 
be  the  Inuint  Marl  in  Alon/.o  Pinzon  and  the  Vinta.  Frem 
'the  natives  he  had  lieard  of  the  sliipwreck  of  the  Admiral; 
but  instead  of  hastening  to  the  aid  of  his  Conimandei',  he 
quietly  continued  to  push  his  private  traffic,  linrMng  it  very 
lucrative.  AVith  a  part  of  his  profits  he  bribed  his  crew  to 
give  a  false  accouiit  of  his  proceedings.  He  had  also  made 
slaves  of  some  of  the  Indians  intending  to  sell  them;  but 
Cohnnbus  exerted  his  authority,  and  forced  him — notAvith- 
out  high  words  passing  between  them — to  send  the  captives 
home  with  i)resi'nts. 

Though,  as  regarded  the  act  of  deserti<m  the  Admiral  jini- 
dently  snppressed  the  signs  of  his  just  indignation,  he  could 
feid  no  further  conlidence  in  the  man  Avho  might  at  any  time, 
under  renewed  temptation,  rejieat  a  iierfidy  whicli  lie  did 
not  seem  to  regret.  Tliat  one  disloyal  act  had  ruined  ac;nii- 
paign.  The  (uily  safe  course  now  was  to  make  tli(>i  best  way 
back  to  Spain,  and  leave  further  discoveries  for  future  ex- 
peditions. The  resolve  was  ii  jiainfiil  oii(>,  but  it  was  more 
important  to  secure  the  discoveries  already  made  than  to  en- 
large them. 

After  standing  for  some  distance  further  along  the  const 
of  Jlispaniola,  the  Admiral  anchored  in  a  vast  bay,  threo 
■6\ 


>il  i 


nm 


CHRISTOPHER  COL  UMB  US. 


8;-) 


lea;,niesinbreadtli,  extending  far  in  to  the  land,  and  bordered 
bv  tlie  mountains  of  Ciguay.  Here  tlie  Spaniards liad  a  shaip 
skii'niish  with  the  natives,  in  -which  several  of  the  hitter 
weie  shiin.  These  Indians  Avere  a  liardy  and  warlike  lare  of 
mountaineers,  in  aspect  iieire,  liideoiisly  ])ainted,  and  tlieir 
heads  decorated  with  feathers.  Tliey  fouglit  witli  war-dubs, 
bows  and  arrows,  and  palm-wood  swords,  so  hai'd  and  heavy 
as  to  cleave  through  •  helmet  to  the  very  brain.  Several  of 
the  savages  were  killed.  This  Avas  the  first  contest  with  the 
jieople  of  the  New  World,  and  the  first  time  that  native 
Mood  was  shed  by  the  white  men.  From  this  skirmish  tlie 
jihice  received  tlie  name  of  the  Gulf  of^  Arrows— now  the 
(julf  (»f  Samena.  The  encounter  caused  much  grief  to  Col- 
umbus, nor  would  lie  leave  the  ishmd  until  friendly  rela- 
tions had  been  restored. 

'flu?  Discoverer  of  a  New  World,  could  not  without  bitter 
re:;ret,  turn  his  back  after  three  short  morrlis  upon  those 
nuiiny  shores, Avhicli  had  expected  him  so  long,  guarded  from 
])i'tty  intruders  by  all  the  terrors  of  the  mighty  ocean.  Yet 
it  must  be.  He  owed  it  to  mankind  to  run  no  needless  risk. 
Otlieis,  perhaps,  before  him  had  found  theii' way  by  accident 
or  design  to  the  land  in  the  AVest,  but,  if  it  were  so,  none 
had  returned  to  Europe  to  tell  their  tale;  and  so  it  might  also 
lie  in  his  own  case.  All  that  he  liad  so  far  done  might'  lie 
for  ever  hid  behind  that  waste  of  waters,  and  his  fate  might 
lie  only  one  dark  example  added  to  the  rest  to  warn  rasli 
mortals  not  to  try  to  read  the  secrets  of  the  deep.  He  wish- 
ed, iiKleed,  at  lirst  to  make  the  homeward  voyage  include  a 
liitle  lateral  exploring,  but  this  design  he  soon  found  him- 
wlf  forced  to  relinquish. 

New  dangers  were  at  hand.  About  the  2ntli  of  January, 
alnmdouing  all  seccmdary  plans,  he  steered  for  the  Azores, 
aiiii  tile  sea,  before  so  tranquil,  Avas  soon  beset  with  wind  and 
storms.  On  the  12th  of  February  a  fearful  storm  overtook 
iliem,  and  became  more  and  more  furious,  until,  on  the  14tli 
ir  rose  to  a  hurricane,  before  which  Pin/.on's  vessel,  the 
Pi)i(ii,  could  only  drift  helplessly,  Avhile  the  NiTia  was  abhj 
tii.-et  a  close- re'j fed  foresail,  which  kept  her  from  being  bur- 


86 


CIimsrOPlIEli  COLUMBUS. 


I '41 


.llr 

l!'»|;iir'!' 


k'cl  in  the  trough  of  the  sea.  In  the  evening  hnth  enravels 
Avore  scudding  under  bare  i)oles,  and,  when  darkness  fell,  iuid 
tlie  signal  light  of  the  Piiitu  gleamed  fiirtlier  and  furtlun' 
olf,  through  the  blinding  spray,  until  at  last  it  could  be  seen 
no  more — when  his  panic-stricken  crew,  gave  themselves  up 
In  desj);iir,  as  the  winds  howled  louder  and  louder — then,  in- 
deed,  without  a  single  skilled  navigator  to  advise  or  to  iiid 
him,  Columbus  must  have  felt  himself  alone  with  the  gloomy 
night  and  tlie  awful  tempest.  But  his  brave  heart  bore  liiin 
up,  and  his  wonderful  capacity  for  devising  expedients  on 
sudden  emergencies  did  not  forsake  him. 

As  the  stores  were  consumed,  the  Nina  felt  the  want  of 
the  ballast  which  Columbus  had  intended  to  take  on  boiud 
at  one  of  the  islands.  "Fill  the  casks  with  water,"  he  said, 
and  let  them  serve  as  ballast" — an  expedient  which  has  grown 
common  enough  now,but  which  thvn  was  probably  oi-igiiial. 

Nor,  while  he  did  all  that  human  skill  could  suggest  lor 
the  safety  of  his  vessel,  did  the  dauntless  Admiral  neglect 
to  invoke  the  aid  of  that  Almighty  Power  at  whose  sjiecial 
inspiration  be  felt  he  had  undertaken  the  expedition.  >Vitti 
his  whole  crew  he  drew  lots  to  choose  one  of  their  number  to 
perform  a  ])ilg]-inuige  to  the  shrine*  of  Our  Lady  of  (lUiidu- 
loupe.  Columbus  was  chosen.  Twice  more  were  the  lots 
drtiwn  with  a  similar  object,  and  once  again  the  lot  fell  to 
the  Admiral.  Afterwards,  he  and  all  his  crew  made  a  vow- 
to  go  in  procession,  clothed  in  i)enitential  garments,  to  tlie 
lirst  church,  dedicated  to  the  Immaculate  Virgin,  which  they 
should  meet  with  on  arriving  at  land — a  vow,  that  we 
shall  presently  see,  was  followed  by  quite  unexpected  cir- 
cumstances. 

^Vllen,  in  truth,  the  chances  of  weathering  the  storm  had 
become  small,  Columbus  determed  that  if  possible,  the  tidinirs 
of  his  discoveries  should  not  perish  with  him.  He  wrote  a 
short  account  of  his  voyage  on  parchment,  and  this  he  in- 
clf)S3d  in  wax,  and  placed  in  a  cask,  which  he  committed  to 
the  waves.'    Thinking,  probably,  that  his  crew  would  inter- 

'  Almiit  tlio  yenr  IRVi,  writos  Sir  Arthnr  Ilplpc  a  pnrnin'nph  wont  tho  rounds  of  llio  EiiL-lish 
Jir*-.".  .imioniuiMU  llu'  discovery  of  \\\'\*  ta^k  on  tlu'  African  coiiFt.  I)y  tiio  \y,\rk  f'hiiflaiii  i>i  Un- 
ion. Mass.  hanjartino  lias  accepted  this  utory  us  correct,  but  it  has  uevtr  been  aiilhuutic'ut(.il. 
LU'e  qf  OoluiHbus,  p.  llU,  note. 


CniilSTOPIIER  COL  UMB  US. 


87 


prpt  this  as  an  abandonment  of  all  hope  be  concealed  from 
t!;em  the  real  nature  of  the  contents  of  the  cask,  so  that  the 
nm liners  believed  that  their  Commander  was  performing 
some  religious  ceremony  which  might  assuage  the  fury  of 
lleaiiiiTy  elements.' 

.As  the  Admiral  continued  to  view  the  wild  storm,  great 
WIS  his  agony  of  mind.  "I  could  have  snj)ported  this  evil 
i'ort'iiie  with  less  grief,"  he  wrote,  "had  my  person  alone 
been  in  jeopardy,  since  I  am  a  debtor  for  my  life  to  the  Su- 
]  ivine  Creator,  and  have  at  other  times  been  within  a  step  of 
iJiMili.  But  it  was  a  canse  of  infinite  sorrow  and  trouble  to 
tliink  that  after  having  been  illuminated  from  on  high,  with 
iiiitli  and  certainty  to  undertake  this  enterprise,  after  having 
victoriously  achieved  it,  and  when  on  the  point  of  con- 
vincing my  opponents  and  securing  to  your  Highnesses 
great  glory  and  vast  increase  of  dominions,  it  should  i>lease 
th<'  Divine  Majesty  to  defeat  all  by  my  death."  He  adds 
that  he  (h^eply  felt  the  fate  of  those  for  whose  death  he  was 
responsible. 

On  the  15th  of  February  the  storm  abated  to  some  extent, 
and  at  last  they  came  in  sight  of  some  land.  It  was  one  of 
the  Azores.  The  reception  of  the  tempest-tossed  Spaniards 
in  St.  Mary's  of  the  Azores  by  the  Christian  Portugese  was 
in  strange  contrast  to  the  kind  and  generous  contrast  of  the 
jiiior  Indians  of  Hispaniola,  when  the  ISanta  Maria  ran 
nsliore  and  became  a  wreck. 

The  Governor  sent  amicable  messages  to  Columbus,  and 


'  (If  this  inciilcnt  rolimibufi  wrifes  to  tho  Spniiish  SovoroitmR  :  "While  in  this  cnnfiifcd  Htato, 
1  iliiiimlil  on  the  jrooil  fiirtiiiii'  which  iictonipiinit'H  your  llijjhiii'HHes,  and  inmt;inid  that  althoii(,'li 
I  -liiiiilil  perish,  and  tho  vessel  hi-  lost,  it  was  possihlw  tlmt  you  might  sninihow  coiiii'  to  the 
l;iumli(l_M'  of  my  voyage,  and  the  siioccsji  with  which  It  was  attended.  For  that  reason  I  wrolu 
iil»iii  piiriliiiiiiit  with  the  brevity  which  the  situation  required,  that  I  had  cliseo\ere(l  the  lands 
whirli  1  priiniised,  in  how  many  days  I  had  done  it,  and  what  course  I  had  followed.  I  nien- 
ti.mcd  tlif  (.'ooilness  of  the  country,  the  character  of  the  inhabitants,  and  that  the  sub.j(>cts  of 
.iiiur  IllL'hnesses  were  left  in  possession  of  all  I  had  discovered,  llavini:  sealed  this  wriiiti^',  I 
iiililrisy:'il  it  to  your  IIi^;liness  and  promised  1000  duoats  to  any  persons  who  sliouM  deliver  it 
si-aliil.  so  that  if  any  foreij^ners  found  it,  the  promised  reward  mipht  prevail  on  them  not  to  tjivo 
the  iiifciriaaiioii  to  another.  I  then  caused  a  preat  cask  to  he  hroi'tiht  to  me.  and  wrappint;  up 
the  ii;ii(  hniciit  in  an  oiled  cloth,  and  afterwards  in  a  cake  of  wa.x,  I  put  it  into  the  cask,  and  hav- 
inu-  slopped  it  well,  I  cast  it  into  the  sea.  All  the  men  lielieved  that  it  was  some  act  of  devotion. 
Tliiiikiiii;  that  this  might  never  chance  to  be  taken  up,  as  the  ships  approached  nearer  to  Spain, 
I  niudc  another  pac«et  like  the  first  and  placed  it  at  the  fop  of  the  poop,  so  that  if  the  sliip  Bunk, 
the  cast  remainiiiR  above  water  might  be  committed  to  the  gnidaucc  of  fortune." 


88 


CinilSTOPlWli  COL UMIiUS. 


announfinc;  liis  intention  of  visitina:  liim.  T?ut  wlien — in  fiil- 
iillnKMit  i)i  tlu'ir  vow — linlf  tli»'  crew  w«>nt  biWi^lVxtted,  on  ji 
l)ilgiini.'i<i:»3  to.  the  CImrcli  of  St.  Mary,  wliicli  was  not  I'm' 
from  tlie  harbor,  tlie  treaclicrous  (Jovernor  and  his  satellites 
hiy  in  ambush  on  the  road,  and,  allej^ing  royal  oich^i's,  cm]). 
tiired  tlie  whole  i)and  of  i)i]grlms.  The  i-rowns  of  Poitii;,^;;! 
and  Castile  were  still  at  jieace,  bur  it  '.ippcars  that  this  man 
"dressed  in  a  little  bi'ief  authority,'"  th(;ught  that  the  ciip- 
tui'e  would  <i;ratify  his  sovereign.  Of  no  avail  were  the  rc- 
nioustrances  of  Columbus.  But  though  the  (xovernor  s])oke 
M'it/i  scorn  and  lofty  contempt  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabclln, 
still  the  cringing  syco])hant  found  it  convenient  to  allow  liis 
guests  to  depart.  The  pitiless  storm  broke  upon  them 
again,  and  pursued  the  gallant  little  caravel  with  evei-iu- 
creasing  fury,  till,  kept  atloat  by  a  sort  of  miracle,  it  stag- 
gered into  harbor  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  Tagns. 

Columbus  did  not  like  the  situati<m,  but  no  choice  avis 
given,  lie  sent  a  message  inunediately  to  the  Spanish  sover- 
eigns, and  another  to  the  King  of  Portugal.  Crowds  can  e 
to  look  at  him  and  his  Indians.  lie  was  treated  from  tli;; 
first  with  marked  respect.  The  King  invited  him  to  Court, 
and  though  tlK^Portuguescriiler  must  have  been  tortured  by 
remorse  w'hen  he  thought  of  all  he  had  allowed  to  slip  fiom 
liis  grasp,  he  did  not  permit  Columbus  to  feel  any  effects  of 
Ills  displeasure,  but  congratulated  him  kindly  and  gave  liim 
many  marks  of  his  esteem. 

King  John  even  offered  to  escort  his  guest  overland  to 
Spain,  but  the  storm  had  now  passed,  and  Columbus  ]»re- 
ferred  to  (continue  the  voyage.  He  ran  into  Palos  on  Friday, 
the  loth  of  Mar(!h,  149:^  (xreat  was  the  e.xcitement  in  tlie 
little  town.  The  inhabitants  had  been  gradually  settliii!; 
down  into  sombre  resignation,  and  scarcely  dared  to  think 
of  the  terrible  fate  to  which  so  many  who  were  dear  to  them 
Iiad  been  consiuned  ;  an<l  now,  when  thev  saw  their  own  lit- 
tie  caravel,  the  Nina,  actually  sailing  np  tlie  Odiel,  they 
were  almost  as  much  taken  by  surprise  as  the  poor  Indians 
of  San  Salvador  liad  been.  The  bells  were  rung  in  rejoicini:, 
all  Palos  came  to  the  river-side  to  welcome  back  friends  and 


CIIRISTOPIIEli  o  .^i.  VMD  US. 


88 


rola lives,  as  if  tlioy  Imd  risen  from  the  douci,  and  to  hear 
tilt'  fait'  of  woiuU'r. 

]]\  a  stnini:*!  arcident,  a  few  hours  hiter,  before  the  first 
lniiNt  of  cntliiihia.stic  weh'oiiu)  had  subsided,  wluk^  tlie  J)ell.s 
wi'ic  still  rin.ii'ing  to  tell  the  country  round,  and  th<*  Aduiiral 
wiis  ivccivinn-  fresli  felicitalioiis  ever^  niouieut,  the  Piiita, 
wt'll  kiKiuii  ill  Palos,  stood  up  the  river  and  cast  anclioi-  by 
the  side  (if  the  J\'ina.  Martin  Alonzo  I'inzon  was  not  on 
lioard..  Tile  Pintdhxi'l  been  driven  by  the  j^ale  into  the  Bay 
of  liiscay.  and  from  IJayonne,  Pinzon  liad  liastily  disjjatchetl 
a  li'ttcr  to  the  Spanish  soverei,<;'ns,  arro^atiniif  to  himstdf  all 
rliciiiciit  of  the  discovj'iics,  for  he  felt  quitt^  sure  that  tlio 
podi' little  A'//7'<  and  Columbus  had  jierished  in  the  storm. 
Ilis  own  civw  woulil  not  (H)nri'adiet  ]us  statement,  lie  thouglit, 
fill'  their  interests  were  ich-ntilied  with  Iiis,  and  dead  men 
tell  no  tales.  Tlie  JV/h((,  lying  off  Palos,  was  hidden  by 
the  bend  in  the  I'iver,  and  it  was  only  at  the  last  moment, 
when  he  was  almost  in  the  act  of  landing,  that  i)oor  Martin 
Alonzo  Pinzon  saw  the  Kina  riding  at  anchor  with  the  Ad- 
iiiiial's  ilag  at  the  masthead.  He  liad  come  to  reap  a  harvest 
of  ijldiy  ill  his  nativ(^  place,  while  he  waited  for  the  royid 
iinswer  siiMiiiioiiing  him  to  Court.  Never  was  applicant  for 
loyal  favor  so  crestfallen  since  Aman  made  over  ins  honors 
lo  ManlochiMis  aiv'  was  hanged  in  his  st(>ad.  The  iinha))py 
iiiaii  crept  over  th<'  side  of  his  vessel,  made  off  in  his  boat 
MS  last  as  he  <'oul(l,  and  kept  out  of  sight  till  Columbus  left 
Palos.  Then  h(?  made  his  way  silently  home,  to  die  very 
soon  of  a  l>n)ken  heart.  It  was  not  fear  of  any  punishment 
which  the  Admiral  might  inilict,  but  a  self-accusing  ccm- 
siieiirc  \vhi(di  made  him  shriidv  from  public  notice.  lie 
had  just  enough  greatness  of  soul  to  feel  th(,'  fidl  siuime  oi" 
his  own  ineaness  and  defection. 

The  Viiild  and  JViTia  had  between  them  brouglit  back 
eveiy  nian  belonging  to  Palos  who  had  joined  the  enterprise. 
0:  the  thirty-eight  who  stayed  at  La  Navidad.  not  one  was 
from  Pidos.  Only  one  man,  an  Indian,  had  died  (»n  the 
voyage.  The  general  exultation  was  not  sullied,  as  the  joy 
of  victory  invariably  is,  by  private  giief. 


90 


CHRIS  TOPIIER  CO  L  U.Vl)  ITS. 


ia'fi: 


Not  Jill  the  conf^ratulations  that  pressed  in  upon  liini.  or 
all  tho  !inti(!ipation.s  ol"  hii-her  glory  in  n  wider  splieiv,  could 
make  the  faithful  servant  of  Holy  ^fary  foi-get  the  vows 
pronounced  in  the  houi' of  his  deep  distress.  One  of  ihesewa.s 
to  <;o  with  all  his  men  of  the  Nina  in  i)iocession,  in  ju'iiifrn. 
tial  M'ai'h,  to  the  nearest  shrine  of  our  Lady,  al'te/  hmdiiiu'. 
lie  had  made  the  attempt  to  keei)  the  vow  when  he  hindcil 
in  the  Azores,  but  had  been  prevented  as  we  saw  by  the  at- 
titude of  the  l\)rtnguese  (governor.  The  Adndi'al  then  n-- 
served  its  fulfillment  for  the  final  landing,  and  so  it  liap- 
l)ened  that  the  j)rocessi()n  marched  to  the  Convent  of  hti 
Kal)i(hi,  and  it  fell  to  good  Father  John  Perez  to  ,say  tho 
Mass  of  Thanksi^iving. 

The  men  were  then  permitted  to  rejoin  their  families,  and 
each  one  must  have  been  at  once  a  hero  on  his  own  account, 
the  center  of  a  circle  of  admiring  friends  who  hung  with  rap: 
attention  on  his  words  as  he  delivered  Ins  oi'acuiar  accouni 
of  the  cruise.  Colund)us  na  iirally  fell  back  upon  I^a  Ha- 
bida.  His  "family"  lived  there,  for  lie  was  a  son  of  St. 
Francis.  The  pious  day-dreams  of  Father  J'erez  had  roinui 
i]ideed  their  fultillment,  and  there  really  wer(!  in  the  far 
west  nations  to  be  evangelized.  The  Cross  had  already  Iiecn 
l)lauted  there,  but  that  was  ordy  the  beginning.  ]t  was  not 
enough  to  find  a  new  world.  Grave  responsibilities  dt.-- 
volved  upon  the  tinder. 

Columbus  could  now  speak  and  be  listened  to.  Kings  and 
Popes  would  value  his  advice,  perhaps  sha])e  their  conduct 
upon  it.  The  destinies  of  millions  of  immortal  sotds  avoiv 
delivered  to  his  keeping.  In  that  convent  once  alivady  a 
more  important  junto  had  been  held  than  that  of  Salamanca. 
and  now  the  monk  and  the  Admiral  laid  their  lieads  to- 
gether again  to  devise  great  things.  Co]und)us  in  his  cell  sup- 
I)lemented  by  a  full  narrative  the  brief  des])at<di  sent  from 
the  Tagus,  and  counselled  Isabella  to  come  to  t(M'ms  with  the 
Holy  ^ee,  suggesting  a  line  ol:  demarcation  lietwe^'u  the 
East,  which  belonged  to  Portugal,  and  the  ^Vest,  which 
ought  to  belong  to  Spain. 

It  is  easy  to  sneer  at  the  "  sage  device"  of  the  Pope,     "  It 


CIIKIsrOPUEIl  COL  VMDUS. 


01 


f;,>('in.^  nevor  to  havo  occurred  to  tlio  Pontiir,"  urlfcs  Ti'vintr, 
^•i!i;it  by  piH^iin^  tlieir  opposite  careors' of  discovery  tlx-y 
iiiiii'lit  sonic  (l;iy  or  ot1n'r  cdnK^  x\)is\\\\  \\\  collision  and  renew 
I',:..  ,|ii('sti(>n  ol'  t(-rnfoii:iI  riulit  \\\  the  Antiitodes."  Jfit  hjitl 
(.(■(•'iiieil  lo  tlie  INipe,  he  might  hnve  nlso  had  scune  liidit 
li.iiii  (leaven  to  know  ifiat  before  the  collision  of  SpaniaidM 
inim  tini^  thf5  world  to  the  U'est  and  I'oitn.uiiese  to  the  Kast 
took  i)!ace  at  lh(!  Antipodes,  Kn^land  niiulit  have  soniethini;- 
to  s:iy  to  llne-i  of  demarcation.  It  was  the  truest  wisdom  to 
(l(';il  with  I  lie  dilli<'ulty  as  it  ])i-es(>nted  itself,  and  seldom  lian 
;i  \;isf  iiiteiiialional  [jroblein  been  so  trenchantly  solved. 

The  penitential  proiu'ssion,  however,  was  only  one  of  many 
vdws  v.hicli  had  been  niadci  in  that  lonir  sei'ies  of  terril)!'> 
st'iiMis.  Oat  of  four  otlier  vows  )>roi'  )sed  to  the  acceptance  of 
111!  en  board  the  NiTia,  tlirce  bad  by  lot  fallen  to  Colnnreii.'i 
liiiii^i'U".  They  involved  ;.  Journey  to  Snita  ^[aria  de  (iiiad- 
a'liiM",  wliei'e  lie  i)roriiised  the  monks  lo  call  one  of  bis  i^l- 
iiii'ls  ;ifter  tlieir  convent',  nnotb'T  to  ;-'anta  Clara  at  ^Mo.u'uei-, 
uiii'iv  lie  sju'iit  tin;  night  bcfoie  the  Blcsseil  Saciainent,  and 
ii  ihiid  lo  Sjiuta  Maria  de  la  Ceuta  in  lluelva.  Then  be  re- 
{•(■iv.'il  Holy  Connnnnion,  after  eight  months'  i)rivation.  llo 
iviiuiiiicd  a  few  days  with  Fatbei*  Perez,  and  then  went  to 
bfrville  to  wait  for  the  answer  ftf  the  King  and  (^iieen. 

It  came,  addnvssed  "  7V>  Don  VlirisfopjK  r  (/<>Jiniihu,s\  our 
Admiral  of  the  Ocean  Sea,  Vircro//  and  (lorernor  of  the  IH- 
(iin/s  //j.srorered  in  ihe  ///c//c.v."  lie  was  invited  to  ju'o- 
('('(■il  :is  soon  as  possible  to  Barcelona.  The  journey  was  a 
tiimiiplial  ])roc(\ssi()n  all  llie  way.  He  laid  summoned  his 
siilors  from  Palos  to  share  the  honors,  and  as  by  that  time 
;i!l  tli(^  country  had  heard  of  the  grand  discovery,  crowds 
iiiickcd  along  the  route  to  tender  their  respect  to  the  great 
man  ;is  lie  ])ass'»d.  The  Indians  whotn  he  carried  v.ith  him 
wvw  objects  of  special  interest,  and  amotister  iguana,  harni- 
li'ss  enough  even  when  alive,  but  looking  very  diabolical 
(Veil  when  stuffed,  was  an  object  of  mingled  wonder  and 
foar. 

Tli(>  enthusiasm  of  the  people  v/as  a  suggestion  to  tla> 
Court,  and  a  reception  in  the  grandest  style  of  the  Spanish 


iH; 


;  ■ '   ii 


M 


I    fl 


02 


CHiusro  riiER  col  umr  us. 


ccremonia]  wus  cMvefully  prepared.  As  lie  approaclietl  n.e 
town  he  Avas  met  by  a  lujble  escort  of  young  cavaliers  a  id  u 
Aast  singing  tlirong  oi!  citizens.  He  was  liiniself  on  horse- 
back, and  seemed  by  his  stately  bearing  and  commajidiu,' 
]»i'esf'nce  lit  to  be  the  central  iigUie  of  tiii.s  almost  Kunuin 
triumph. 

"A  Iliuir-Miid  liumpcts  ring  witliin  old  I5arc(,'l(iii!i's  wnlls, 
A  tlioiisaml  irnlhiiit  iiohlus  tliroiiff  in  B.ircelona's  lialls— 
Ail  niccl  Id  ,!i  i/.<!  on  liiin  wiio  wrouiilit  a  pathway  for  niankiiid, 
Tlii-ouiili  seas  as  hiaiail  lo  worMs  as  ricli  as  liis  iriiuiiiiiiaiit  iiiiiiil;  • 
Ami  Iviim  a'lil  <iuc('n  will  jxv;wr  I'orsodlli  tli(i  mariners'  array — 
Tlic  lomly  seaman  sconird  and  scotVcii  in  I'alos  (own  oiu;  day! 
He  conii's — 111'  comes  I  ilie  sales  swinj^'  wide  and  iliriiui;!!  tlie  streets  advance 
His  cavaicnde  in  pioiid  (nrade,  wilii  plume  and  pennoned  lance. 
Anil  nati\es  uf  linoe  ne«- fonnd  worlds,  anil  Ireasiires  all  tiiitold, 
And  in  i1m'  uiid-l  Tiir,  .\i).miii\i„  his  ehari,'er  trapped  with  ;j;old; 
And  all  a;c  wild  witli  joy,  and  hlitlie  the  i^ladsitmc  chirions  swell 
And  d. lines  and  princes  meet  lo  i;reet,  and  loiid  the  myriads  yell, 
'J'liey  cli'i'iv  til  It  \u\U,  tliey  wildly  cheer — Colinnlins  checks  iiis  rein, 
And  heiid^  liiin  to  tin.'  heaiiteoiis  dames  and  cavaliers  of  ^iiain."  ' 

At  the  royal  paltice  the  first  hall  of  audience  had  been 
Ihi'owu  o])eii.  A  seat  splendidly  adoined  was  placed  clo.sfin 
front  of  tile  two  royal  tliroiies,  whi(di  siirptissed  llieir  usual 
niagHiliceiire.  l"\'rdinanil  and  Isabella  were  already  seated, 
waiting  for  ('olunibus.  When  the  coiKpieror  of  the  occini 
a])proach('d.  Iliey  rose  to  greet  him.  In  A'ain  he  tried  lo 
kneel  and  kiss  lyieir  hands.  Not  till  he  Avas  seat(Hl  would 
they  resume  their  seats.  Then,  they  demanded  his  naira- 
tive,  and  Avitli  (diarming  modesty  and  self-jjossession  he  te:d 
llit'iu  of  their  new  dominions.  We  do  not  possess  the  avok is 
of  his  discourse,  but  Avhen  he  finished, the  King  and  Queen, 
Avith  all  the  vast  multitude  present,  fell  ui^on  their  knees 
and  the  choir  of  the  royal  chapel  chanted  the  7\i  Denm  in 
Hianksgiving  to  God  for  tlie  mighty  deeds  of  Christopher 
C'olumbusI 

Touring  the  whole  of  this  sojourn  at  Barcelona,  the  SoA-er- 
eigns  t(n)k  oA-ery  occasion  to  bestoAv  personal  marks  of 
hiiih  consi<leration  on  the  Admirah     lie  Avas  admitted  at  all 


'  0.  II.  Siipplo. 


cimisroriiEP,  columbus. 


03 


times  ti")  tlie  royal  presenfp,  and  tlie  Queen  delii^hted  to  con- 
v-trse  with  him  on  the  siibjeet  of  liis  enterprises.  The  Kintr, 
toil.  ai)i)eared  occasionally  on  horseback  with  t!ie  Piince 
,T(i!in<»n  one  side,  and  Columbus  on  the  other.  To  ])ei-])etu- 
lift'  ill  his  family  the  glory  of  his  adiievenient,  n  cent  of  ai'nis 
AViis  assi,gned  with  Ills  proper  bearings  which  were  a  group  of 
jshiiiils  surrounded  by  waves.  To  these  arms  were  afterwards 
annexed  the  motto: 

A  Cast  ilia  y  li  Leon 
Is't'uvo  iiiundo  dio  Colon.' 

Xono  now  spoke  more  loudly  the  praises  ol  the  man  whom- 
llie  Court  and  the  nation  agreed  to  honoi',  tlian  those  who 
had  mocked  lum  in  his  distress,  when  a.  kind  word  would 
liMve  reached  liis  heart  and  been  forever  remembered.  AVell 
(ii(i  Co(!nTul)Usl\now  the  value  of  their  protestations  of  good- 
will. Tlie  Dominican  Father  I)i<'gode  J)eza,  who  liad  plead- 
ed his  cause  at  Salanuinca,  shared  with  Father  .bdin  Perez, 
his  undying  gratitude;  but  he  was  well  assured  tliat  ( lie  base 
ijiirits,  who,  after  trying  to  ciaish  him  in  his  poverty,  now 
(Mine  to  iiatter  him  in  his  prospeidty.  would  desert  liim  again 
if  iio  cver  needed  their  assistance.  His  enenues  hiihei  lo  iiad 
done  nothing  worse  than  waste  his  time  and  lieallh  and 
:-;i('n,ut]i.  and  delay  his  work.  It  was  now  to  be  tlieir  ]iarfc 
tni'uinliis  benevolent  schemes,  to  bring  his  gray  hairs  in 
sdiiow  to  the  grave,  and  heap  reproaches  on  his  illustrious 
iiM'itioi'y.''' 

The  active  vigilance  and  continual  anxiety  of  eight  event- 
ful months  must  have  maderepose  almost  a  necessity.  Ther<! 


'  To  Castile  niid  Lion. 
Colii'iil.ii^  ^;ive  a  Now  World. 

Tliomnvsof  ihc  disrovpry— lliu  ^Tcafost  iiiul  tlip  most  iniportniit  cvciit  for  s(  ir'iic(?  ami  for  liii- 
nanily  lliat  liad  evi-r  occiirri'd— s|)rcad  i\\'in<j,  liic  i-liorcs  of  Ijiropc  readied  llii'  center  parN,  and 
mon  I'xli'iidcd  to  the  Kasl.  Tho  celelir.ited  Seba-^lian  ('hI)oI,  who  wiis  tli'ii  lit  the  Kll!.'li^ll 
Ciicirt.  ,'ukii(i\vledf,'es  that  the  <liscovery  was  Www.  considered  a  divine  rather  limn  a  human  worlt, 
anil  ihc  invat  na\  iju'ator  considered  it  so  himself.— ri>»H^  ile  Lorijiim. 

'.\  minor  niistiilie  nwiy  by  correeted  here.  The  anecdote  nf  the  efi!  iiiade  to  stand  on  end, 
nhicli  i-^  lis  Will  known  as  the  name  of  t'olmnbiis,  is  found  lo  be  a  pure  .'.ilii  ieatioii  of  Italian  or- 
i,.';ii,~  ralliir  h'hii//if  K./. 

Xmieiif  tlie  S|iaiii>li  liNlori.'ins  liave  nienlioncd  sii.h  a  circumslance.  I-'er  the  dL'iilly  of  liis- 
Inry.  we  licseeeh  our  readers  to  r.'cite  no  Ioiiltit  Ihis  miserable  laiecdolo  and  not  to  impute  to  llio 
KvulLTof  the  globe  i-o  unworthy  a  iriuk. —  Coiiiit  ik  Loi-jues. 


9t 


CIIUISTOPIIER  COLUMBUS. 


It   ^ 


m 


.: .  * '  -I  1 


M':  ,1! 


!<'li 


Ni'[ 


was  indeed  no  time  to  lose,  for  wasted  years  had  made  all 
that  iniglit  yet  remain  of  life  very  precious.  But  it  seems 
tiuit  Columbus  did  actually  contemplate  a  flyiiis^  visit  to 
Home,  to  tell  with  his  own  lips  the  story  of  his  voyai'v  u 
the  A'icar  of  Jesus  Christ,  to  whom,  in  the  truthful  j aug- 
ment of  those  days,  the  discovery  of  new  races  of  nnm  \\a5 
a,  nuitter  of  more  vital  interest  and  grave  concern  than  even 
to  Ferdinand  and  Isahella,  or  to  John  II.  A  journey  from 
Korae  to  Grenoa,  tf)  see  his  aged  father,  Dominic,  who  was 
yet  alive,  would  have  been  in  the  natural  course  of  th;ni:;s. 
][■  any  such  design  had  been  loi'med,  it  had  to  be  set  asidf, 
i'or  the  threatening  attitude  of  Portugal  made  even  a  shoit 
delay  nnwise.  King  John  IT.,  although  he  had  not  nio- 
](\sted  Columlnis  when  he  had  him  in  his  ])ower,  was  fvilly 
deiermincd  to  secure  for  himself  soin;'  portion  of  the  West- 
ern World;  and  it  seemed  likely,  by  the  reports  which 
reached  the  Court  of  Spain,  that  lie  would  solve  the  dij)l(i- 
matic  difliculty  by  lifting  out  :m  expodition  without  further 
ceremony.  Columbus  Avas  therefon^  orderetl  to  push  tlie 
])reparations  for  a  second  voyage.  Instead  of  visiting  his 
father,  he  sent  an  alVectionate  message,  begging  at  the  same 
time  that  his  brolli:n'  James  might  be  allowed  to  join  hiin  in 
Sl)ain.  The  young  man  acc(n-dingl_v  ])ass('d  str:iiglit  from 
Iht;  wool-comber's  sl;op  to  (he  Spanish  Court,  and  becamf' 
Don  James  Columbus.  His  first  iniblic  act  vras  to  stand 
godfather  to  om^  of  the  Indians,  who  received  his  nanu".  hi 
this  pious  work  King  Ferdinand,  Prince  John,  and  the  first 
nobleman  of  Spain  were  his  associates. 


II  '•   '  si   ;  'y   ' 


CHAPTER   V. 

TIIK  TRIALS,  ADYENTUKES,  AND   IIKIIOISM  OF   THE   SECOND 

A'^OYAGE. 

Xcir  ofFu-Uds  and  the  final pfejxirations — A  slnguhtr  mis- 
iakc—A  pomcrfid  enemy  of  Colu/nhns — On  ///>'  ocean 
ai/d.i/i — Adventure  in  Guad(dui)e — At  Ilispaitiola  once 
■more — xi  .sere/  tide  of  La  Kai^ldad—The  proijrrsi^  '>/  cf- 
falrs  In  lI'iKpanlota — The  dtp  of  Lsaln'tta—The  llopal 
Plain — llernltdion  of  lazp  inaotence — Diffieiittles  with 
Father  Bod— Exploration  and iVdcentures—^i iim < .v.y  <f 
Cohdahus — Character  of  Don  Bartholonieic — Viltlanp 
of  jiarparite — Ojeda  and  Caon(d)o — Battle  of  200  apainst 
■\[)()^^M—V(d)i.ninp—Diaz  and  his  duakp  bridx—llie 
Ailiitind  sails  for  Spain. 

Ferdinand  and  Isabella  issued  tlunr  instructions  for  the 
second  V()ya^ii,'e,  and  placed  the  fitting  out  ol"  tin;  lleet  and  the 
inanajienient  of  Tiulian  atfaii's  under  the  superlntendeuce  of 
John  Eodcriguez  de  Fonseca,  Archdeacon  of  Seville.  avIio 
luul  the  administration  for  thirtv  vears.  The  choice  Avas 
very  unfortunate.  Francis  Pincdo  Avas  made  treasurer,  and 
John  de  Soria  comptroller.  Tlu'  Admiral  was  directed  to 
estal)lish  a  similar  ofTicein  Hispaniola.  Father  Bernard  Boil 
from  the  Benedictine  Monastery  of  our  Lady  of  ^NfontseiTat, 
received  tin?  mission  to  evangelize  the  new  nations,  with  the 
assistance  of  twelve  priests  of  his  own  choice. 

The  appointment  of  this  worldly-mindful  monk  had  not 
the  l)lessing  of  Heaven  upon  it,  and.  as  it  now  seems,  no 
authoriiat ion  from  Rome.  It  was  apparently  a  culpable 
error  on  the  part  of  Ferdinand,  the  true  history  of  which 
never  eaine  to  light  till  IH.")!,  Avhen  the  laboi's  of  Count  d(^ 
Lurgues  cleared  ux)  the  mutter.     The  sterility  of  these  lirst 

00 


96 


cnniSToniER  coLUMiiUs. 


li.      !i 


l|ii:i 


ii>  'i,!  1'; 


I  I 


missionaries  to  the  Xew  World  is  no  longer  f^nrprising. 
Father  IJernard  IJoil,  the  Benedictine,  who  went  out  with 
Columbus  on  his  second  A'oyago,  was  well  known  at  the 
Court  o^  Aragon,  and  highly  esteemed  for  skillful  manage- 
ment of  business.  Ferdinand  sent  his  name  to  Kome,  ])ray- 
ing  that  the  s^nritual  interests  of  the  exix'dition  might 
be  conlided  to  his  care.  But  the  Holy  Father  knew 
that  (Columbus  Avas  deei)ly  attached  to  the  Franciscan?; 
so  setting  aside  the  King's  nominee,  he  ai)])ointt'(l,  it 
seems,  a  Franciscan  Father  of 'the  same  name.  When  the 
Bull  arrived,  bearing  the  address,  Di/crfoJ/lio,  Jhr/zarflo 
B0//I,  fratrl  ordinis  mhiorum,  V/can'o  diet  J  ordint.s  in. 
Ilispaniaruni  rcgiiis,  Ferdinand  seems  to  have  thought 
that  the  Holy  Father  had  made  a  mistake,  and  that  al- 
though Father  Jiernaid  lio}/l  Avas  styled  a  1^'riar  Minoi\  he 
mnst  surely  be  that  Bernard  Boil  for  Avhcmi  solemn  appli- 
cation had  l)een  madi^. 

The  King  did  not  feel  quite  certain  about  his  inter}n-eta- 
tion,  but  it  would  never  do  to  delay  the  departure  of  the 
tieet  till  !•  rectification  could  be  procured  from  Koine.  He 
therefore  persuaded  himseU'  that  he  could  Avith  safe  con- 
science take  the  benefit  of  the  doubt,  for  after  all  he  Avas  do- 
ing very  little  violencn  to  the  document  by  changing  the 
tith^  of  the  reveivnd  Father,  and  in  those  days  it  could  not 
have  even  enteivd  his  mind  to  considei'  the  different  spell  in;; 
of  the  name.  Moreover,  it  surely  did  not  matter  much  in 
any  case,  he  might  easily  think,  whether  one  saintly  Older 
or  another  had  to  provide  a  Vicar- Apostolic.  Having  thus 
forced  his  conscience  to  agree  with  his  inclination,  he  sup- 
pressed the  Bull,  f(n'  it  was  not  impossible  that  theologians 
might  attach  moreA'alue  to  what  the  Pope  had  actually  said, 
than  to  AA'hat  the  King  thought  the  Pope  had  intended  tf)  say. 
Father  Bod, the  Benedictine,  received  due  notice  of  the  ar- 
rival of  the  Bull  conlirming  the  King's  nomination,  but  the 
document  itself  Avas  retained  by  the  King,  for  fear,  it  was 
stated  of  exposing  it  to  nny  unnecessary  risk.  Later  it 
vanished  altogether,  and  is  not  to  lie  found  in  the  collection 
of  diplomatic  papers  published  by  the  Spanish  Government. 


cnmsToriiEn  columbur. 


07 


A  ((']]  t;ilf'  f^opy,  liowever,  has  been  faithfully  iireservecT  in 
the  nirliives  of  the  Vatican.' 

Till'  lltH't  for  this  expedition  was  made  iij)  of  seventeen 
yp>^»<Hls— three  large  rarraeks  and  fourteen  caravels,  ({rcat 
activity  Avas  displayed  in  furnisliing,  provisioning,  and  arm- 
inir  tile  ships,  and  in  selecting  suitable  crews  from  the  crowd 
of  volunteers  of  all  conditions  who  jn-essed  forward  fo  de 
iiKind  adinission.  It  is  easy  to  understand  that  men  of  very 
vai'ioiis  character  would  eag<'rly  desire  to  visit  distant  shores, 
so  lately  forming  part  of  the  land  of  dreams,  and  suddenly 
transferred  to  waking  life.  Many  motives  were  at  work. 
The  ambitious,  the  covetous,  the  curious,  the  le-itless  became 
(■oir^cious  of  avocation,  for  a  short  way  had  ])een  found  to 
fame  and  fortnne,  scientilic  research,  :ind  thrilling  a(lv<m- 
tuie.  Few  men  can  open  a  new  held  to  human  thought,  but 
many  can  inii)rove  a  hrst  success.  In  the  jirst  voyage  Co- 
lumhus  st(jod  ah^ne  in  his  conlidence.  In  the  .•tecond  voyage 
every  man  in  the  seventeen  ships  had  the  soul  of  a  dis- 
coverer. 

Columbus  stayed  in  Barcelona  till  the  28th  of  May.  re- 
ceiving continual  proofs  .of  the  comi)lete  conlidence  which 
Isahella  placed  in  his  judgment ;  and  the  solemn  instructions 
(Iclivei'ed  to  him  by  the  sovereigns  to  guide  him  in  his  gov- 
ermnent  of  the  colonies  wei'e  really  nothing  but  his  o'l^n, 
siifff/c.sfionfi,  adapted  without  an  amentlnient  or  an  addition, 
iuid  ratified  by  royal  authoi'ity.  He  was  nameil  Capfain- 
(ieneial  of  the  fleet  of  the  Indies,  and  received  authority 
for  the  direct  appointment  of  all  tluM)fhcers  of  the  new  (.u)v- 
ciintieiit.  The  royal  seal  was  connnitteil  lo  him  to  be  used 
at  his  discretion,  and  the  articles  agreed  upon  at  Santa  F6 
Mvie  solemnly  conlirmed. 

Tlie  Queen  showed  great  solit  it ude  for  all  that  concei'ued 
the  personal  comfort  of  the  Adnural  and  required  that  tlu; 
frreatest  deference  should  be  paid  to  all  his  wishes.  She 
provided  generously  for  his  e.\}H'n>es ;  wliei'ever  he  went, 
lie  was  to  liave  free  lodgings  for  himself  and  liv(>  ser- 
vants, and  free  transport  for    his  baggage.     lAmseca  and 


n 


'  Tliroir'h  Uie  roj^oardifs  uf  Count  de  Lorgiii'S  this  docmin'iit  wa>'  bfonr^hl  lo  li^lit  in  \h!>\. 


n  iii! 


( i,i. 


ii:ti:;iii 


J. 'iJ! 


A\y.U  v;^ 


'•;     4y- 


.4.4; 


'■mi 


98 


ciuusroriiER  coLUMnus. 


S()ii:i  Ihoii'^lit  the  Qiu'cn  was  i::olni''  a  little  too  far,  and  th 


qiiit'tly  (lis()l»eye(l  Jier  injunctions,  treatin,!Jf  some  of  the  de- 
mands of  Columbus  with  contempt.  Father  i?oil,  who  was 
at  this  time  a  sincere  admirer  of  the  great  man,  wrote  iv-  the 
sovereigns  to  complain,  and  drew  down  a  sev(>re  repriniaiid 
upon  *Juan  de  Soria,  with  fresh  instiaictions  for  Fons.'ca. 
Tlicy  never  foipive  (Jolumbus,  and  Fonseca  had  ample  op- 
portimily  to  make  him  feel  the  full  wei;.i,ht  of  his  ven- 
geance.' 

During  the  AdmiraVs  stay  in  Barcelona  the  ])iize  for  the 
first  sight  of  land  was  adjudged  to  liim,  because  he  had 
descried  the  moving  light  npon  the  shore. 

Isabella  was  careful  to  provide  Father  Boil  and  his  brethrtMi 
witii  ail  things  needful  for  the  eflicient  discharge  of  th(>ii'  sa- 
cred duties  ;  and  she  re]H>atedly  comniended  her  dear  India.as 
to  t!ie  [)rotection  of  Columbus,  oi-dei'ing  him  lo  punish  with 
severity  any  Spaniards  v.ho  shoidd  injure  them. 

The  eipiipmenr  of  the  fleet,  nnder  tlu;  active  (>ncourage- 
nient  of  the  Queen,  was  conceived  in  w  lai'ge  spirit,  and  car- 
ried out  vigoi'()Us]y.  Tliti  event  i)roved  that  t^^orhi  was  uc/t 
above  the  temptation  of  profiting  by  fraudulent  contracts. 
The  outht  included  domestic  animals,  agricultui'al  ini])le- 
ments,  grain,  lime,  bricks,  iron,  and  a  large  suj)]tly  of  glasg 
ornaments.  Horses,  destined  (o  jjlay  an  important  ])art  in 
tile  Spanish  coiupiest  of  America,  wei'e  carefidly  selected, 
munitions  of  war  were,  of  course,  not  forgotten.  I'he  ai'qne- 
buse  was  not  yel;  a  very  ellicient  weapon,  but  though  cross- 
bows and  lances  ^vere  considered  more  really  nseful,  iire- 
arms  and  artillery,  so  well  calculated  to  strike  tei'ror  into 
fc-avages,  could  not  be  onnnitted. 

The  nund)er  of  men  was  at  first  fixed  at  one  thousand,  but 
an  extension  to  tlie  nund)er  of  twelve  hundred  was  iiermit- 
ted,  and  at  the  last  mom^'nt  about  thi'ee  hundred  more  con- 
trived to  stow  themselves  away  out  of  sight,  so  that  about 


'  Konsccii  was,  it  seems,  a  person  of  miirh  al)ilit.v,  hut  of  dcsijicalilo  cliararlor— vimliciitivo 
and  nialiij;n!int  in  an  exironio  dciiivc.  He  eontrilniled,  perliaps,  more  than  any  other  man  lo  hieak 
the  henrt  and  eml)iller  the  deflinini;  years  of  the  ilUiMlrious  discoverer  of  America.  True  history 
has  not  failed  to  brand  lijsname  witk  the  stigma  of  infamy. 


CIllUSTOPlIini  COL  UMBUS. 


90 


flfkM-n  litihdixHl  eventually  sailed.  Cure  luid  been  tuken  to 
foiiii  iMi  i'.ciive  ('()r[)s  ((f  en.u'ineers  and  rtitisjnis. 

T!ie:i'  is  I'eason  to  tliink  that  another  priest,  not  included 
in  Father  foil's  company  oi  twelve,  was  sent  out  by  the 
Queen,  as  her  astronomer  royal  ;  and  this  was  no  less  a  man 
ihan  Father  Jolin  Perez,  (xuardian  of  La  luroida.  Count 
(Ui  i.i)!i!,ues  makes  it  appe.ir  very  proliable  that  liere  tlicre 
has  heeu  some  coni"iisi(/n  i)i  names,  and  that  Father  l\;re/. 
not  only  accompanied  Columbus  on  his  sectMid  voyage,  but 
also  was,  as  he  deserved  to  be,  tlie  Jirst  priest  wko  set  loot 
in  the  2>'ew  World.' 

Twenty  days  before  th.»  departure  of  the  expedition,  Tsa- 
liclhi  sent  back  to  Columbus  that  much  regretted  j(niiiial 
v.liich  JiUS  Casas  nas  content  to  ei)itomi/,e.  i^he  said  that 
slie  had  read  it  through  and  through,  and  with  ever-inci^as- 
ii;g  adnuration  ;  she  asked  for  fnrtlen'  instru.ction  ujjon  sev- 
eral points;  she  begged  him  to  send  her  a,  miip  with  the 
degrees  marked,  promising  to  keep  it  secret,  if  he  so  desiied. 
Fiirally,  she  advised  him  to  take  withhim  a  sl^illFal  ;:sti-on- 
(iiiier,  and,  witli  that  thouglitrni  kindm^s.s  Aviiich  \\as  a  pai't 
of  herself,  she  as  usual  ti'ied  to  inteJ'iiret  liis  wishes,  ai:d 
convert  them  into  royal  decrees. 

(,'ohnnbns  named  his  ship  once  nu>]'e  after  our  Blessed 
L;!(ly.  The  Muria-Galanfa'  had  on  board  the  Court  phy- 
t^ician.  Dr.  Chanca,  a  learned  man,  avIioj^h  letters  are  very 
valuable,  and  Anthony  Casaus,  (he  father  of  Las  Casas,  who 
has  l)een  by  some  writiu's  confonnded  witli  his  illustrioas 
son.  The  "Friend  of  the  Indians  '  was  then  a  stndiuit  at 
Seville.  Among  the  passengers  were  many  young  gentle- 
Dien,  who  thought  it  a  line  thing  to  join  in  an  adventurous 
search  for  gold,  but  never  nunint  to  sod  their  daiiily  hands 
by  manly  toil.  Firiain  Zedo,  the  worker  in  metal,  had 
.uainedhy  much  boasting  a  high  re]i>u tat  ion  foi' scientilic  skill, 
l)ul  ill  the  event  it  api)eared  that  he  was  as  ignorant  as  he  was 
conceited.     The  brother  of   the  Admiral,   Don  James  Co- 


^  iWmzi'  VA\i\i))'r<.  mWw.  rnrtugucae  ITaginrjrnpInjy  »ay*  Ihiil  Fallicr  IVi-cz  \vm.<  {\\c  .flrxt  \M\iiA 
Biso  laiiiini  111  ilu' New  World,  niiil  tlK'//,'4MvUo  said  Muss  lln.Ti'.—/''((.'/i(/'  Knight,  S.  J. 
■  Tla  Ui  Miuun  Mary. 


100 


CimiSTOniER  COL  UMBUS. 


Mi':iM' 


v'Vi 


m 


"  ii 


mi 


liunbiis  and  las  godson  were  also  on  board  the  Jfaria' 
(Jiilnnhi. 

Oil  rlie  2.")th  oC  Septoniber,  140;?,  the  iieet  set  sail,  steerin;; 
for  the  Canaries.  After  takiiii;;'  in  largei  supplies  of  liv(i 
stock,  aiivady  ])artially  afcliniatizcil.  (Joliunbiis  gave  to  all 
tile  captains  of  the  caravels  scaled  orders,  which  wci'e  only 
to  be  opened  in  ease  oi'  necessity,  and  then  lixed  liis  conrsi} 
further  south  than  on  (lie  previous  voyage,  lie  wished  to 
light  upon  the  lan<l  of  tiie  redoubted  Carib  tribes,  whom 
tlu^  llis|)aniola  Tndi;ins  bad  with  one  accord  placed  to  tluj 
southeast  of  their  own  ishind. 

On  the  ];5th  of  October,  tlie  Si)anish  fleet  lost  sight  of  the 


island  (tf  Ferro.     The  vova: 


was  most  i)ros])erous,  with 


fair  bi'ee/.{^  almost  all   the  wav 


On  tlu>  ;2(1  of  ]S'ove 


nioe 


mountainous  island  u 


the  signs  of  land  made  it  priiden*"  to  advances  cjiutiously 
after  nighti'all,  and  witii  the  lirsl  liglit  on  tlie  following  day, 

sMMi.  'I'he  Admiral  gav(^  it 
the  name  of  lioniinicti .  from  having  discovered  it  on  Sun- 
day. On  their  way,  another  island  aj^pinu'ed  to  the  right, 
and  received  the  name  of  ^Inrid-dnlifutn.'' 

The    lirst    landing    was    elfei-ted,    and    the    iii'st    cross 
planted  on  this  island. 

Other  islands  lay  near,  and  tlcy  visited  the  n(>xt  day  tho 
largest  of  the  group,  to  wliicli  (.'ohunbus  gave  the  name  ei 
f^itii.lir  M(irhi(h'  (ln(i<hilon 
fore  mentioned.     Here  thev   fomul  sonu?  women  and  chil- 


nc. 


iccording  to  his  i)i'omise,  b 


dren,  and   manv  dreadful  relics   (,f  cannil)ali 


sni. 


At    that 


very  time  the  men  of  the  islai'.d  ^vere  engaa'(»d  in  procuriii'-! 
captives  for   their  liorribhi   tiantpiets."     There  is,  unfortii- 


•  Itlsworlli  miiicin:,'.  says  F;itliiT  Kni-lit.  S.  J.,  tli.it  C'uliimlms  nli^orvcd  tlio  i--iinv,'  orilcr  in 
roiifcriiiiL,'  iiiiiu's  on  lioili  ym-.v^v*.  Mis  (Icvoiion  to  il,(>  Mjis-iod  Vir.'in  wu"  anient,  hut  well 
r'','iilat.'(l.  Ill  l)i)lh  iiwtaiicivs  Ihf  first  trU)iito  (if  dlsfovcry  was  offorwl  to  Jcsiim  ClirM-tha 
f<co>id  to  liN  lili'sscil  Mother.  « 

"To  tills  l,<laii(l.  that  was  ralleil  liy  the  li„li,iiis  TnniL-iMini.  tho  Adniinl  !.','iv('  tlie  ii'i:n<  of 
Ciiiadaloiipe.  liavini,'  pfoinised  the  iiioiiUs  of  o:u-  Lady  of  (iiiaa.Ioiilie  to  eall  some  iiewly-d-.seov. 
cred  plaee  after  tlieir  Convent.— /;•(•/«?/. 
Jt  wii;4  here  that  tlie  Spaniards  tlrst  met  wllli  lliat  iinmi  of  fruits— tho  pir)f-a;ipl(\ 
'  What  striiek  the  Spaniards  witli  horror  was  the  si_dit  of  human  hones,  vrrtii^es  as  they  sap. 
posed  ot  nnnatnial  reimsts:  and  skulls  apiiarently  used  as  vases  and  other  household  utensils. 
These  dismal  ohjicts  eonvineed  tliem  that  liiev  wer"  now  in  the  nliodes  of  the  Cannihals,  of 
Curibs,  whose  predatory  expeditions  iind  nilhirss  character  rendered  them  tho  terror  of  IhcKU 


CIIllISTOPIIEll  COL UMnvs. 


l;)l 


I'st    cross 


iintt'ly.  littk;  ronsnn  to  doiilit  that  tlu^  {icconnt  given  by  tlio 
lirst  Kuroix'an  visitors  is  trin^  in  its  iiiuiu'reatiavs,  J^vcu'tlio 
(l.'iilH'rnt.:;  iiifaiDV  ot  rcsei-viiii;-  cliildrs'n  i'or  future  .s]au,:j,]iler, 
ii!it[  [irciiarin.i,'  llieiu  (•ai->'rul!y  I  ill  they  reuclu'd  a  ct'i'laiii  ag'o 
,«t..'iiis  to  have  );een  an  cstablishod  ])racti('L'  among  tlioso 
Jiialhsoiui^  cannibals -wliojiavingdciioijulated  llic  nearest  isl- 
aiuls.  extended  tlieir  ra\agi's  to  more  distant  shores.  'J'he- 
(,riL's  of  autonomy  aiv  nuich  disturbed  by  facts  lil^e  tliese,' 
Just  or  unjust,  it  would  at  It-ast  have  been  merciful,  not  only 
to  their  victims,  J)ut  iilcewise  to  themselves,  to  subjugate  or 
eveir  to  enslave  such  a  ti'ibe. 

(viiadalou[)e  was  th(?  vej-y  centre  of  tlio  Carib  settlement; 
HO  tJKit  Columbus  liad  made  his  cahidations  well.  Without 
a  clinii'^'e  of  course,  or  a  moment's  hesitation,  he  had  steered 
.vti;ii,aiit  across  the  Atlantic  to  the  ()])ject  ot  his  searidi.  He 
tit'iit  e\]i]oring  pai-lies  into  the  island.  One  ot  his  cajitaius, 
JiiDies  Mar(iuez,  landiiig  without  the  Admii-al's  i»ei'nus:.i()n, 
set  oil'  witli  eigh.t  ol  his  men  on  a  tour  of  inspection  a.ud  hst 
liis  way  in  the  tangled  forest.  Columbus  sent  the  very  brave 
nml  justly  renowned  Alon/.n  de  Ojeda  to  try  to  find  the  mis- 
siiiH'  men;  but  all  his  ell'orts  were  nnavaiiim:.  The  thoiiglit 
of  leaving  them  in  (ruadaloupi^  to  the  mercy  of  tln^  cannibals 
could  -car'.'ely  be  endured,  but  the  length  of  tiuu^  which  had 
chqtsed  since  their  disai»i)earance.  and  the  failure  of  Ojeda's 
skillful  and  dari.ng  i>nrsiiit.  convinced  Columbus  that  he 
must  s'lbmit  to  the  sad  necessity. 

Just  as  the  shi])s,  however,  were  weighing  anchor,  the  poor 
waiideri'i's,  starved  and  exhausted,  struggled  to  the  siioi'e. 
Son:.'  Indian  women,  A\hf)  had  been  captured  by  the  Caribs, 
also  escajied  to  the  Spanish  shi])s.  The  Caril)  women  Avero 
as  ferocious,  and  almo>t  as  expert  in  war  as  the  men,  and 
tiiey  were  cpiite  al)le  to  defend  the  island  against  any  oidi- 
naiy  intruders.  As  tlie  wundi-rful  stoi'ies  of  Caihay  had  a 
vjMTgood  foundation  in  the  realities  of  the  Celestial  Kmjiiie, 
so  the  verj'  ancient  belief  in  a  nation  of  anuizons    had  a, 


una.  ,  .AnTiii  '■lulil^*  nii't  lliom  iit  Fovrv:))  villa'_'<'s.  Uiinvin  limli-'wcri'  sii>i|)cii.lrcl  lii  the  1ic:iin.»<if 
JhcliiMisi'M,  as  if  ciiriii'j;  for  p'rovisiim.-.  Tin'  lu'ail  of  a  yonni;  man  fciMilly  killi'il.  vr.M  yet  blfcil. 
iiiL':  Mime  parts  of  his  body  woro  roa-ling  ij.forj  Uiu  lire,  uliiors  Ijuiliiig  wUli  llio  Ul'sIi  of  yi'Ocu 
Will  \anoU.~ln%,ig. 


1 1'  I 


■m 


I. 


••!! 


]l     : 


'.m 


^'l 


103 


cmusTornER  coLu:trnus. 


Rtmnrjo  r(\')lization  in  tli(>  women- wji mors  of  those  cannilnil 
isliuuls,  '.vlio  for  .some  considenibh.'  porticm  of  each  year  woie 
h'f^  in  sole  jwssession. 

rji'sivini':  <riKi(1n!oiipe,  Colnmbns  sailed  to  the  north-wesf, 
for  llispjiiiiola,  and  as  lu^  passed  between  the  thickly  clus- 
tered islands,  h.c  found  pious  names  for  them,  one  by  ouc, 
till  Ik' cuMic  to  a  Ji'i'oiii)  si>  niuUitudinons  tli;it,  without  tlio 
'aid  of  St.  Ursula  and  Iut  cK'vcn  thousand  vir^-in  martyrs, 
even  liis  inventive  .u'cuiiis  niiu-lit  have  been  at  fault.  At 
t%i/i('i  ('/•//:,'  a  boatful  of  Carib  men  and  women  ij:ave  si<.rn:il 
proof  of  the  fierce  coura,u,'e  of  tliat  strange  people.  AVIicn 
their  boat  wns  npset  by  the  Spaniards,  tlie  savages  fought  in 
the  water;  and  if,  in  their  tlight,  tliey  found  a  moment's 
rest  for  their  feet  npon  some  liiddcn  ledge,  they  rallietl,  iiiid 
poured  in  a  shovrer  of  arrows  upon  their  pursuers. 

Continuing  liis  cours(>  the  Admiral  came  on  the  2'2d  of 
November  to  Ilispaniola.  "]?y  the  grace  of  (lod,"  widto 
tlie  h'arned  Doctor  Chiincn.  '"and  tlie  science  of  tlu;  A'l- 
mii'al,  we  steered  as  straight  ;is  if  we  had  been  following  a 
well  known  and  beaten  ti'ack."  Tn  his  anxiety  to  see  once 
more  tlie  little  colony  at  La  Navidad,  {-olnmlais  had  nllov.id 
liimself  only  two  days  on  the  island  of  Porto  llico,  which  well 
deservtnl  a  longcn'  stay;  and  now  Hint  the  mnch  expected 
meetitig  was  close  at  hand,  a  thrill  of  excitement  ran  through 
the  fleet.  At  the  gulf  of  Samiina,  wJiere  the  unfortunate 
skirmish  with  the  natives,  which  formed  the  closing  scene  of 
the  iirst  voyage,  had  tnken  place,  Colnmlvus  put  on  shore 
one  of  the  two  yonng  Indiiuis,  whohnd  returned  from  Spain. 
lie  was  never  heni'd  of  ngain.  'J'he  olhei",  James  Columbus,' 
who  was  a  native  of  San  Salvador,  remained  faithful  to 
the  end. 

Xear  the  month  of  the  Eio  del  Oro  an  exploring  party 
found  two  bodies  with  the  arms  fast(^ned  in  the  form  <vf  a 
cross,  but  their  nationnlity  was  no  longer  distinguishable; 
the  next  day,  not  far  from  the  same  place,  they  saw  two 

•  Holy  CroM. 

'  Or  Dlfgo  Colon.    As  will  bo  remembered,  he  w.is  named  after  the  Admirars  brother, who  wai 
his  godfather. 


CliniSTOPllER  COL  UMIiUS. 


103 


Irotlier.wlio  wfti 


hk 


I7!(iiv  (Trail  bodies,  cortiiiitly  Kin-oiiciiii.  (Jlooiiiy  su.sj)ici()]is 
ivi'iv  iiiouscd.  'Pile  sliips  i)i'ess('(l  I'oi'wai'd  in  nil  li:istt',  hut 
il  \\ns(iuite  (hiik  wIumi  tlicy  nirivcd  (»1V  liii  Navidad.  To 
k((|i  fl'';!!'  "I"  tf!'"  dan.i>'ev()us  shoals,  \\w  ships  were  aiudiorcd 
iit  Mime  <li:-'t!inc"  Trorn  llic  shore.  No  li,u!it  was  ^ecn.  Co- 
liitiiliiis  liird  oil' tvoof  th(Ui('a\iest  ^iiiis,  hill,  tlioi!i:li  tlieK'- 
Ddi't  t'clioed  ['ar  aloiifi;  the  shore,  no  answer  was  returned. 

TdWiirds  iiii<lni,ulit  a  eaiute  eanie  alonaside  with  \\\u  \\va\- 
ans  iniiaiiiiiii,'  for  the  Adiinral.  Tlipy  were  directed  lo  liis 
slsi]!.  hut  would  not  go  on  board  till  they  liud  identi!ie(l  hiai 
liy  the  linlit  of  a  lani}).  Tliey  said  tluit  llu^  S])anish  sf'tllers 
w(  IV  well,  and  by  way  of  conliiniatioji  innuediately  added 
tli;it  some  hiid  died  from  disease,  and  sonuj  liad  been  killed 
in  tlit'ir  i'reiiuent  (juarrels  among  themsel\(\s^  and  others  liiid 
<:(mc  to  live  in  a  distant  ])art  of  llie  island.  They  also  said 
tliiit  (.'aonabo  and  aiu>tlier  eaeiciue  had  nuule  war  on  the 
friend  ol'  Columbus,  (Jnaeanagari,  and  had  burnt  his  Adlla.ae 
and  woiiiHii'd  Idmself.  A  little  later.  whei\  the  wine  which 
tli.'V  liaddi'unk  nuule  theui  less  prudent,  they  iid'ol'med  the 
YdUiiir  Indian,  .hnues  (.'ohunbus,  that  all  llu;  litth;  colonv  had 
heeii  (lt"<troyed;  but  this  was  too  dreadful  to  be  believed. 
!iii;l  the  difference  of  dialects  was  supposed  to  have  cansed 
soiiir  uiisajiprehension  of  nieaiung. 

The  next  day  showed  that  the  story  v^aa  only  too  tr^io. 
C'oliuiiltus  waited  ftir  a  visit  from  (luacanagari,  which  ll;e 
huliar.s  had  prcmiisini  in  his  name,  bnt  he  did  not  come.  A 
iii.'lanchfdy  silence  reigned  ov(>r  the  pla.ce,  so  full  of  life  a 
few  months  before.  The  IVn-tress  was  a  ])lackene<l  ruin,  lit- 
toved  v.itli  renniants  of  furnitnre  and  brcdven  vessels.  The 
Indian  village  close  by  had  also  been  burnt,  from  which  it 
st'ciHcd  that  at  least  the  Indians  of  the  neighborhood  had 
netlii'i'u  treacherous. 

('iiacanagari  was  discovered  in  a  village  down  the  coast, 
coiilini'd  to  his  hammock  by  a  wonnd  in  his  leg,  and  he  sent 
to  bci:  that  Colnmlnis  might  pav  him  a  visit.  The  visit  was 
made  with  all  possible  parade  of  power  and  magnilicence. 
Tlio  womuf ed  cacique  gave  a  detailed  account  of  (Jaonabo's 
attack,  which  exactly  tallied  with  the  information  gathered 


104 


CUIUS  Torn  Ell  col  i '.»//;  i  's. 


m 


f!  i 


m 


\i  1 


I  i 


■;  J 


hum  (illicr  sources ;  ])iif,  ulicii  t'olimibus  niadt;  lilm  siilnnit 
la.s  woiiiiiL  to  iiit'dical  iiisiiection.  no  trju'o  ol'  any  injury 
ujipcai't'tl. 

h^us()ii'ion  was  jit  once  aroused.  Fatlier  J'oi'l  demanded 
that  tlie  iierlidious  (duel'  should  he  [Jimished  on  the  si)ot.  Co- 
Itnnbns  was  unwilling-  to  helieve  Ids  /^'uilt,  Imt  out  ol'  i'es|i( ct 
to  the  siiered  (liai'acter  of  liis  counsellor,  lie  based  his  re- 
fusal to  [ii'oceed  t<<  extl'einit ies  U]ioii  the  necessity  of  cmi- 
ciliatiui;'  the  Indians;  and,  as  his  oliicers  for  the  most  ]iMrt 
a.ureed  with  him,  I-'ather  Jioil  had  to  acceiit  the  ail' ront  with 
the  best  jiiacf^  he  could. 

Jt  would  have  been  small  mattcu'  for  aslonisliment  if  the 
])oor  cacicpie  had  indeed  cast  off  his  Spaiush  allies  on  the 
tirst  u'ood  chance,  i'oi-  his  lidelitv  had  Iieen  rudely  tested. 
Irvinir,  J'ollowinu;  ()vi(>do,  states,  that  ('xcei)t  the  commander, 
.lami's  de  Arafia.  and  oiu^  or  two  others,  the  thirl y-ei^ht  c(j1- 
<inists  w('i<>  men  whom  it  was  the  height  of  folly  to  h'uve  in 
any  ref;jionsible  position,  for  that  they  Avei-e  nearly  all  of  the 
Acry  lowest  class,  and  for  the  most  j)art  common  sjdlors, 
who  can  nevei'  be  trusted  to  conduct  themselves  with  discre- 
tion asliDi'e.  'i'his  is  not  the  fact.  About  half  of  liie  num- 
ber were  eirlier  ;j,'entlemeii  oi'  niaster-tradesiuen,  and  it  miulit 
have  b<M>n  presumed  that  for  n  fVnv  months,  in  so  ex- 
ceptional a  ])osirion,  all  would  be  on  their  l>est  behavior. 
If  tli"y  had  adheicd  to  only  a  small  portion  of  the  wise  in- 
struction left  by  Cohunbus,  they  mi.^dit  have  been  found 
alive  on  his  return. 

Ev  the  liuiian  account,  in  winch  there  was  no  conilictin" 
testimony,  the  jVirf(f  was  scarcely  out  of  siuht  when  the  ,<rar- 
lison  of  the  fort  beii,'nn  to  do  very  mueli  as  they  liked, 
'i'hey  had  found  the  Indians  of  Ilis]ianiola  .so  yielding-  and 
a.pparently  so  hel])l(>ss  that  they  probably  thou.u'ht  them- 
selves ([uite  free  from  present  a])prehension,  and  fancied 
that  it  would  be  time  enou^'h  for  subnuttiuii;  to  unpleasant 
constraint,  when  s(nne  real  dan<;er  should  arise.  They 
roamed  about  the  country  in  ]iarties  of  two  and  throe  to- 
.c^Mher,  extortinij;  cold  from  the  natives, oftiui  with  violence, 


carrying  oil'  women,  and  by  their  incessant  wrangling  a 


nd 


CIUUSTOrilEIi  COL UMDUS. 


105 


slianK'fnl  ]icHitl(»Tisii<'ss  ([n\n^  their  best  to  provt»  thnt  tlioy 
wciv  luit  cflcsliiils,  iind  thus  to  destroy,  thiit  sup<'r.stitiou.s 
levt'it'iict'  wliii'li  hiid  Ix't'ii  their  chief  security. 

Arafi!i"s  authority  was  set  at  deliance.  His  lieut<Miants, 
(Jiitit'riv/  and  i<]sc<)he(h).  aspired  to  sliai'e  ids  coniinand,  and. 
liMviiiir  l\illi'<l  !i  Spaniai'd  in  some  (piarrel,  tliey  tooiv  the  ]:i\v 
iiit(j  tlieii' own  liands,  and  marched  away  witii  nine  malcon- 
tents anil  tlieir  Indian  wives  into  tlie  mountains,  wluire 
(';i(iiiat)i»,  a  Carib  by  oi'i;iin,  slew  them  all  at  once.  Others 
livt'd  at  loose  (piarters  anu)n,ii;  (ruacanairari's  Indians, 
scivciii'tl  by  his  autlioj'ity  from  thtj  punishment  which  their 
sins  (lt's('r\-ed.  Finally  ('aonabo,  havini,'  ib'slu^d  his  sword 
jiiid  foiiiid  the  invaders  not  invulnerable,  caira?  down  fi'om 
his  hills,  buitit  the  Indian  villa;j,-e,  and  stormed  tlr.^  fort, 
killinir  I  he  bravo  James  do  Aruna  imi!.  his  remnant  of  ten 
I'airliful  men. 

(biacanau'ari  returned  the  visit,  going  on  board  the  Ad- 
niirars  slii[).  IbM'e,  unfortunately,  one  of  the  Indian  wo- 
nii'ii.  who  had  lied  from  the  Caribs  and  had  been  detained 
for  msrruction  and  baptism,  so  captivated  by  Ihh"  l)(>auty 
tilt'  susceptible  heai't  of  the  cacique,  that  lu'  chivahously 
(ictcrniiiied  to  free  her  and  her  companions  and  to  brave  the 
(■()ns('(iu"nces.  lie  saw  that  he  was  no  longer  trusted  by  the 
Sinuiiards,  and  all  the?  studied  kindness  of  Columbus  could 
nor  Jiiake  him  feel  at  his  ease,  es])ecia]ly  now  that  he  was 
ncrnally  scheming  the  lilieiution  of  Catalina  aiul  her  friends. 
Father  Boil  read  (disaffection  in  the  cluef's  looks,  and  was 
conliniicd  in  his  conviction  that  this  was  the  real  murderer 
(if  Araua. 

Wlini  a  few  days  later  the  Indian  women  effected  their 
psr;i]t(»  and  (iuacanagari  and  all  liis  subjects  disa]>i)eared 
fiDHi  rlie  coast.  Father  Bo'il  was  triumphant.  Sid)se(piently 
the  caci(ine  gave  inccmtestable  proofs  of  his  friendshij)  for 
roluiiibus.  and  he  died  in  obscurity,  hated  h\  tlie  Indians 
of  other  tribes  for  having  welcomed  and  protectetl  their 
destroyers.  Ctdumbus  spoke  to  him'  of  Jesus  Christ  and 
Ba])ti8ni.  but  alas!  he  had  seen  more  than  enough  (»f  what 
Christianity  meant,  at  least  in  practice,  and  he  distinctly 


106 


CinilSTOPlIER  COL  LWBUS. 


I:    r:rl 


liii 


n  , 


refused  to  wear  a  medal  of  our  Blessed  Lady  round  liis  neck, 
thouii'h  at  last,  npon  tlio  urgent  entreaty  of  tlio  Admiral— 
Avlioiu  lii;  really  loved — lie  consented  to  keep  one  iu  Lis 
possession. 

The  misfortunes  Avliicli  had  befallen  the  Spaniards,  in  the 
vicinity  of  this  hnrlioi-,  threw  a  gloom  over  tlie  place,  and  it 
was  considered  as  under  some  baneful  Mitluence,  or  malignant 
star.  Tlie  situation,  too,  was  unhealtliy,  and  there  was  no 
stone  in  the  neigld)ourliood  for  building.  Columlnis,  there- 
fore, removed  to  a  liai'bor  about  ten  leagues  east  of  Monte 
Christi,  ])r()tect('d  on  one  side  by  a  natural  rampart  of  rooks, 
and  on  the  otiier  by  an  impervious  forest,  with  a  hue  plain 
in  till!  vicinity,  watered  by  two  rivers. 

Here  the  troorjs  and  i)ei\sons  to  be  employed  in  the  colony 
were  diseml)a]'ked,  togetln^r  with  the  stores,  arms,  anuuii- 
nition,  and  live  stock.  An  encamiJUi'Mit  was  formed,  arid 
the  plan  of  a  city  traced  out  and  commericed,  to  wliicli 
(J  )biiubus  gave  the  name  of  Ifidhvlla,  in  honor  of  his  royal 
patroness.'  The  public  cililices,  sucii  as  a  ciuirch,  a  stme- 
house,  and  a  residence  for  the  Admiral,  were  consti'ucted  of 
stone;  the  rest  of  wood,  plaster,  reeds,  anil  sucn  other  ma- 
terials as  could  iio  readily  pi'ocurcMl. 

For  a  tinu3  everv  oiu^  exerted  himself  with  Z(>al  ;  but  nial- 
adies  soon  began  to  make  their  appearance,  ^lany  had 
sufl'ered  fiom  sea-sickness,  and  the  long  conlineiiKMit  en 
board  of  the  ships  ;  others  from  the  exhalations  of  r,  hot  and 
moist  cliinat<\  (h'use  natural  forests,  and  a  new,  rank  seil. 
The  mahulies  of  the  mind  also  mingled  with  those  of  the 
body.  iMany.  as  has  l)een  shown,  had  embai'kinl  in  the  en- 
terprise Willi  Ihe  most  visionary  and  romantic  expectations. 
"What,  then,  was  their  sur}uise  at  Unding  themselves  snr- 
rounthnl  by  imimu'ticable  forests,  doomed  to  toil  painl'n.ny 
for  mere  subsistence,  and  to  attain  every  comfoi't  bv  tlie 


>  Tlif  eliniatc  was  Inul  :iiiil  tho  iir-\v  rily  had  n  ^■lloI•t  rxistinioc  At  llir  jirosfiit  diiv,  Isnliclb  i« 
qiiilp  ovcn,'n)\vii  wllli  fnu'sis.  In  \\w  midsi  u\  wliicli  iir.'  slill  to  hv  seen  partly,  !lic  )iilliir«  of  llif 
cimrcli.  somo  remains  (if  (lie  Kinit's  Htorclion.-os  and  part  of  llic  rcsidi'tici'  of  Colnniliu<-ii!l 
hiiiltof  lii'wn  slonc  Tlu'  small  fcnin-s  is  aNo  a  iironiintiif  rnin:  niiil  a  liltlc  iicirlliiif  it  i^  i 
tlrcnlar  iiilliir  aliont  Icn  feet  liitrM  and  a-  nnicli  in  diamalcr.  of  solid  masonry,  noarly  onlirc. 
wliicli  appears  to  liavi!  had  a  wooden  e-allery  or  lialtlenicnt  round  the  top  for  convenience  of 
room,  and  in  the  cenlre  of  u  liicii  was  planted  the  {V\):,-Ai\.tt..— Irving. 


CIIRISTOrilER  COL UMBUS. 


107 


md  Ills  iieok, 
(^  Adiuinil— 
)   one  ill  Lis 

inrds,  in  tlip 
lilacc,  and  it 
or  iiuiliguiuit  I 
tiiere  was  no 
ml) us,  tliere- 
i.st  of  ^loiitf 
)ai't  oi'  I'ocks. 
a  lino  plain 


n  the  colony 
mns,  auiinu- 
i'ornied,  and 
■d,  to  uhich 
of  lii.i  voyiil 
irch,  a  stoie- 
()nstruct(Hl  (if 
/n  other  ma- 


il ;  but  iiial- 
]Many  had 
inciiKMit  on 
)f  [\  hot  and 
rank  .soil. 
tlK>S(^  of  tiic 
I  in  the  en- 
xi)('('tations. 
iiiselvos  sill'- 
)il  paiufii!ly 
'o]'t  bv  till- 


riit  (Iny.  Ifiiliolhi' 
•licvillnr"  cf  till- 
it'  C'lilmiiliU'^-all 
illlr  iKirtli  of  il  i- 1 
ni'.ry.  ii.'Mrly  I'lilin'. 

fl),-    CDllVC'llioillO  of 


i 

r- 
f 


ppvoro^it  exertion !  As  to  ^old,  which  they  liad  expected  to 
linil  retulilv  and  in  abundance,  it  was  to  bo  procured  only  in 
siuiill  (luanrities,  and  by  i)atient  and  perseverin<?  labor. 

But  to  return.  Soria's  ])"culatious  were  i)atont  to  Colum- 
l)us  when  the  caru'oes  wi^-e  discharg'ed.  The  i>vovisioning 
luul  been  "econonnzed"  in  quantity  and  quality,  for  it  is  an 
(ii'or  to  suppose  that  short  measure  and  adulteration  are  of 
iiKulern  invention. 

Sii)"e  it  would  be  necessary,  as  soon  as  the  weather  ini- 
])V()ved,  to  send  back  the  uTcater  part  of  the  tieet,  Columbus 
(lisp;ttch''d  without  delay  t  ,vo  exi,lorin<r  jiarties  under  Ojeda 
iuul  Uorvalan.  iJoth  return(»d  with  enthusiastic  reports  of 
the  veii'etable  and  mineral  wealth  of  the  island,  which  canu; 
just  in  time  to  iluow  u  gleam  of  snnshine  upon  the  dark 
stiirv  of  disaster. 

Coluniltus  sent  olf  twplve  of  the  ships  nnd'^r  Anthony  de 
Torres,  giving  lain  a  letter  to  the  sovereigns,  full  of  sanguini; 
anlii'iiial' ins,  but  ending  with  a  petition  for  fresh  su])plies 
(d'  all  kinds.  This  letter,  nhicli  is  still  extant,  ail'ords  pi-oof 
(if  the  a(hniuistrative  Avisdom  of  Columl)us,  and  the  niargin- 
;il  notes  show  that  his  suggestions  received  cordial  a]ipio\a], 
except  that  a  in'ojjosal  to  enslave  the  cannibals  with  tli(>  two- 
fold object  of  saving  their  victims,  and  ])ossibly  by  a  little 
wlndesonu?  jienal  servitude  r(>1'oi'nnng  the  criminals  theui- 
si'lves.  u'ave  Isabella  matter  foi-  carefid  nu>dilation.  After 
much  thonu'lit  and  nuu'h  consultation  of  learned  theolo- 
gians. shi>  decided  that  all  the  Indians— even  the  Caribs — 
were  to  lie  wou  ov(U'  by  gentleness.  Afterwards,  luiwever, 
l-.ali(dia  (diangi'd  her  ojunion  in  part,  and  withdrew  her  pro- 
ti'i'tiiiii  fr(imcannil)als. 

As  we  have  observed,  the  building  of  the  ncnv  city  of  Isa- 
hellawas  undertaken  with  an  enthusiastic  industry  which 
v.assfion  to  give  way  to  disa]>]iointnient.  Tiie  much-coveted 
,ii,(d(l  rame  in  but  slowly,  and  epidennc  sickiu'ss  completed 
the  ^(MiiM'al  dis]iondency.  ('olumbus,  although  he  Avas  him- 
self weak  and  suiTering,  tried  to  ])ush  forv.ard  the  ]iublie 
Works,  and  to  encourage  the  workmen;  but  when  the  lleet 
liad  departed  for  Europe,  discontent  spread  rapidly. 


p 

iiii!jH'iir,i  ^^i 


108 


CHRIS  TOrilER  COL  UMB  US. 


The  mischief -makinpj  metallurgist  announced  with  all  the 
(lo.uinatisni  of  ignorance  that  the  fancied  gold  was  only  iron 
pyrites,  or  soiuetliing  similar,  that  the  golden  ornaments  of 
the  natives  were  heirlooms,  and  could  not  be  replaced,  and 
that  all  the  golden  dreams  were  a  delusion.  A  plot  was  con- 
certed to  seize  the  remaining  five  shijis  and  return  to  S])ain, 
l)iit  Columbus  discovered  it  in  time,  and  having  arrested  the 
chief  conspirator,  Bernard  Diaz,  an  t)f!icer  of  high  rank,  who 
held  a  direct  appointment  from  the  Crown,  sent  him  to  Spain 
to  be  tried.'  To  prevent  any  further  attempt,  he  put  all  the 
artillery  and  ammunition  upon  one  vessel,  which  he  consign- 
ed to  trustworthy  hands. 

Then,  leaving  his  brother  James  in  charge  of  the  ships  and 
th(^  town,  he  had  a  general  expedition  into  the  interior, 
forming  a  little  army  of  infantry  and  cavalry,  which  ob- 
served strict  discipline  and  moved  in  imposing  array,  always 
marching  past  the  Indian  settlements  with  drums  beating 
and  colors  tlying.  towards  the  mountains  of  Ci))ao,  where 
ruled  the  warlike  Caonabo.  Some  of  the  natives  came  for- 
ward to  jn'opitiate  them  with  presents,  others  took  refuge  in 
their  huts,  apparently  deeming  themselves  safe  behind  the 
frail  ram])art  of  a  wattled  gate,  (,'olumbus  did  not  permit 
his  soldiers  to  dispel  the  innocent  delusion.  Su<ldenly  they 
came  to  a  mountain  pass,  and  a  view  imposing  and  pictur- 
es<]ue  broke  on  their  astonished  vision. 

The  luxuriant  landscape  extended  as  far  as  the  ej'e  could 
reach,  until  it  appeared  to  melt  away,  and  mingle  with  the 
Iiorizou.  The  Spaniards  were  tilled  with  rapture  at  the  sight 
of  this  beautiful  country.  Columbus  gave  it  the  name  of  the 
Vi'lfa  JiciiJ,  or  Royal  Plain.'  To  the  ardent  soul  of  the  Ad- 
miral, as  he  gazed  from  the  mountain  pass  across  the  glori- 
ous plain,  the  scene  before  him  was  as  aglimpse  of  Paradise. 
Jtwas,  however,  very  n)uch  too  soon  to  dream  of  Heaven. 


•  Tliis  was  till', rfr.>7  time  C"(jlumlm.s  oxcri'iscd  llio  riirlit  of  |iiiiiisliiii'_' (li'liiiiini'iito  on  his  in'.* 
povcrninriit.  jiiiil  it  iiiimcilinti'ly  I'miscd  it  irrciit  ('liuni)r  u:r:iiiist  liim.  Alrrady  tlui  (lisadvant.i.'fs 
of  \w\wii\fore}^piiV  was  clearly  iiiaiiil'i'sti'd.  Hi'  liad  no  niitiiral  fiii-nds  to  rally  round  liiin: 
wlnTi'as  tlirMmitliii'c'r?i|iad  connections  ill  Spain,  fnouds  in  tlic  colony,  and  met  with  cynipatliy 
in  cvury  discontented  minA.--[rr'iii'j. 

•J  Accordina  to  nisliop  Las  Casas  this  noble  plain  U  eighty  leagues  in  length  and  from  twenty  to 
thirty  in  breadth. 


i- 


ciinisToniER  COL  UMB  us. 


103 


AVlien  the  Indians  behold  tliis  band  of  warriors,  omorii'inu; 
finni  tlie  mountains  with  prancinu;  stiieds  and  fl(iai:n,<;-  ban- 
ners and  glittei'ing  armor,  and  heard,  for  tlie  lirst  time,  their 
loclvs  an(L  forests  eclioing  to  the  din  of  drum  and  trumi^et, 
thev  were  bewildered  with  astonisliment.  The  horses,  es- 
pecially, excited  their  terror  and  admiration.  They  at  first 
supiMised  tlie  rider  and  his  steed  to  be  one  animal,  and  noth- 
inii'  co-uld  exceed  their  surprise  on  seeing-  the  horseman  dis- 
niduut.  On  the  approach  of  the  Spaniards,  the  Indians  gen- 
erally lied  with  terror,  but  their  fears  were  soon  dispelled; 
they  tlicn  absolutely  retarded  the  march  of  the  army  by  their 
hospitality;  nor  did  they  appear  to  have  any  idea  of  receiv- 
ing a  recdnipense  for  the  i)rovisions  they  furnished  in  abun- 
dance. The  untutored  savage,  in  almost  every  part  of  the 
world,  scoi'ns  to  make  a  traflic  of  hospitality. 

After  marching  for  two  or  three  days  across  this  noble 
plain,  they  arrived  at  a  chain  of  lofty  and  ruggud  moun- 
niins,  amidst  which  lay  the  golden  region  of  Cibao.  On  en- 
tei'ing  this  vaunted  country,  the  whole  character  of  the  scen- 
ery changed,  as  if  n.iture  delighted  in  contrarieties,  and  dis- 
played a  niiserdike  jioverty  of  (>xteri(ir,  when  teeming  with 
hidden  t]'easures.  Nothing  was  to  be  seen  but  (diains  of  I'ocky 
and  stei'ile  mountains,  scantilv  clothed  with  pines,  'i'lie  very 
name  (if  the  country  bespoke  the  nature  of  the  soil;  Cibao, 
in  tlie  language  of  tiie  natives,  signifying  a  sUmc.  Hut 
wh:it  consoled  the  Spaniards  for  theaspei'ity  of  the  soil,  was 
til  observe  particles  of  gfdd  among  the  sands  (d'  the  streams, 
washiMl  down,  no  douI)t,  from  the  nnnes  of  the  mountains. 

Columbus  with  much  skill  selected  a  strong  position,  and 
traced  out  the  plan  of  a  fortress  intendcMl  to  protect  the  pus- 
snp'  from  Isaliella  to  these  gold-tieids.  He  dirt'cted  tin* 
wnik  'a  iierson.  and  having  named  the  fort  after  St.  'I'itomas 
— ii)  order  it  is  said  to  renund  his  followei's  of  theii'  wrong- 
lieadod  incredulity  '  he  ai^pointed  I'eter  ^fargarite.  a  noble- 
man of  Uatalonia  and  a  Knight  of  the  Order  of  St.  -lames. 


From  twoiily  to 


I  To  (he  fnrtrcss  he  u' iv<'  'lii'  n;inii'  (if  Sf.  TlumiaM,  iiitondcd  ns  ,1  plciiwjiil  thcm-!i  ipioiis  ri'iirnnf 
of  ilu'  iinTciliiliiyof  Ci'ildiiiid  Ills  ddiililiii:;  iidliiTcid'',  who  olisilriiitcly  rcfii-ii'd  |o  I'rlii'vr  Ih.it  lliu 
iriuud proilucal  guld,  u.ilil  llu'y  bulitdd  it  with tlicir  vyv* iiud  toucUud  it  with  tliiir liuiiiU.— //'i iii'j. 


\A\K' 


i'?  ?!;! 


110 


CUIUS  TO  PIIEIl  CO  L  UMB  VS. 


Vi¥^^ 


to  tile  roirimand,  with  a  garrison  of  fii'ty-six  men.  He  liim. 
self  returned  with  the  rest  to  Isabella. 

The  island  of  Hispaniola  at  that  time  was  divided  into  live 
little  kinti'donis,  under  iive  in(U'pendent  ca('i(![ues.  News  diil 
not  s])read  riipidly  from  one  princi[)ality  to  an(.)ther,  and  the 
Indians  of  the  Royal  Plain  still  regarded  the  strangers  with 
veneration.  (Jaonabo  was  not  once  heard  of  in  the  course  of 
the  excursion.  A  nu'ssenger  from  Peter  ^Margarite  very  soon 
l)rouglit  intelligem'(>  that  th:>  Indians  showed  signs  of  hostil- 
ity, and  that  Caoiiaho  was  preparing  an  attack.  It  was  the 
the  ohl  story.  As  soon  as  the  jn-otecting  presence  of  the 
cointuander-in-chief  was  withdrawji,  it  had  tared  ill  with 
tlie  poor  Indians,  The  Spaniards  had  learned  to  obey  liiui, 
but  they  obeyed  no  one  else,  and  Margarite  even  set  the  ex- 
ample (tf  licentious  conduct.  A  reiufv^i-cement  of  twenty 
men  was  considered  quite  sulUcient  for  the  occasion,  and 
thirty  more  were  told  oil"  to  make  a  road  for  the  T)assage  ot 
troops. 

The  I'eai  anxiety  of  Columbus,  lu^wever,  lay  in  the  new 
city.  Strange  maladies  caused  by  noxious  vapors,  and 
helped  l»y  vicious  indulgence,  spread  rapidly  among  the 
Spaniards.  The  sui)])ly  of  Hour  failed,  and  hands  to  giiiid 
the  A\heat  were  gi'owing  scarcer  every  day.  It  was  no  titiic. 
the  Admiral  thought,  for  staiuling  upon  jn'ide  of  rank,  lit- 
ordered  all  the  able-bodied  men,  gentle  and  simple,  to  take 
their  tniii  at  the  grinding,  under  penalty  of  having  their  ra- 
tions diminished.  This  was  an  indignity  not  to  l)e  borne  by 
the  "blue  blood"  of  Spain,  even  though  no  ^^tlnn'  coarse 
could  save  the  little  colony  from  famine  and  ])estileuce. 

Father  Boil,  the  yicar-A]-)ostolic,  sympathized  with  the 
young  cavaliers,  and  rejiroved  Columbus  for  his  "crmdty" 
when,  according  to  his  threat,  the  Admiral  ]mnislied  the 
refractory  by  diminution  of  rations.  I^y  loudly  proclnini- 
ing  his  disajiju'obation  of  the  meastire  adopti^I,  the  A'icar- 
Apostolic,  perhaps  thoughtlessly,  did  much  to  foment  dis- 
alVeclion. 

When,  in  s]iite  of  his  remonstrances,  the  Admiral  iier* 
sisted  in  his  conscientious  eit'orts  to  save  his  people  from  do- 


If 


CmUSTOPlIEIl  COL  UMB  US. 


Ill 


1.     He  liiiu, 

led  into  live 
News  did 
ler,  and  tlif 
in,<i,-er,s  with 
le  course  of 
e  very  soon 
IS  of  liostil- 

It  was  til..' 
pnce  of  rile 
h1  ill  Willi 
)  obey  liim, 
.  set  the  ex- 

of  tW(Mity 
•asion,  ami 
passa<;,'e  ot 

n  tlio  ]iew 

npoi's,  and 

ajiionu'  the 

Is  to  ,ui  ind 

IS  no  tiMK". 

I'ank.     ]{f' 

li'.  to  taki' 

.U'  their  lu- 

'  horiie  liy 

\ov  course 

lencc. 

with  the 

'cruelty"' 

n'shed   the 

])roelaiiii- 

li(^  Viear- 

tinent  dis- 

niral  ]>•';•• 
i  from  (1(3' 


wm 


strr.cfion.  Father  BoTl  conmiitted  the  extravaQ,'ent  folly  of 
,  xco.'iuuuuicatiiig  liini,  for  doini;-  wliat  Coluuibus  felt  to  be 
)iis  duty.  He  was  altogether  incapable  of  understanding  the 
ii'ivat  soul  of  C(dunibus.  Either  the  theological  course  of 
-nidyat  La  J^abida,  or  common  sense  was  enougli  to  certify 
to  the  Discoverer  c>f  America  that  the  censures  of  the  Church 
iiulv  fall  upon  sinfid  acts,  and  th^t  where  no  fault  exists  ex- 
coiiununication  only  causes  external  annoyance,  and  im- 
ixises  no  obligation  binding  in  conscience  beyond  the  general 
(liitv  of  receiving  even  an  nnjust  sentence  with  respectful 
detuciUior.  Under  very  peculiar  circumstances  acipuescence 
]ii:iv{)e  sinful.  Even  ecclesiastical  superiors  must  be  dis- 
oheyi^dif  they  command  an  injustice,  and  spiritual  penal- 
ties in  siudi  case  fall  harmlessly  upon  the  soul,  which  in 
ooiid  faith  disregards  them  at  the  bidding  of  c, eitMice.' 

Father  IJoil  was  resisting  legitimate  authority  in  a  civil 
matter,'  and  deserved  chastisement.  As  he  did  not  possess 
th(^  spirit  ol  a  martyr,  a  little  fasting  on  bread  and  water 
had  the  effect  of  redui-ing  him  to  silence,  though, of  course 
it  did  not  im])rove  his  temiier. 

Many  proud  spirits  had  been  olfended  beyond  fctrgiveness, 
but  a  nioie  conciliat(n'y  policy  might  have  l)een  even  more 
disastiou'^,  and  probably  was  not  feasible.  The  hidalgos 
were  not  open  to  argument  where  their  pride  was  touched. 
To  exempt  tluMii  fi'om  a  share  in  the  burthen  w-  -,  to  throw 
it  all  upon  a  few  ]-)oor  men,  who  Avith  their  decr-'asiug  num- 
bers would  have  Inultobe  literally  vrorked  to  (hath  tosu])j)ly 
till'  u'l'owing  wants  (d'  the  invalids  and  jirivileged  idlers. 
ColuMibiis  in  tills  emergfMicy  showed  once  moi'e  that  indom- 
italilo  will  which  clings  to  dutv  at  all  costs,  and  braves 
jiopiilar  clamor  I'athei'  than  commit  injustice  or  depart  the 
breath  of  a  hair  fi'om  "in'ihciple. 

U'hen  bv  the  unllinching  eiiera'v  of  the  Admiral  good 
order  had  been  to  sonn^  exb>nt  j'(>stored.  the  gai'rison  of 
l.-ahella  was  sent  nniler  Ujeda  to  St.  Tlumias,  where  Peter 


'  Sic  (iiiiT,  "fdiiippiid.  Thpol.  JiDr.  V.  II. 

-  It  iiiM-t  iiiit  111' fiirL'olti'ii  that  ColiiiiibMs  UiH  Viceroy  of  tlio  Indicj,  »:id  aa  ^lu  li  llio  iiMl  t-u- 
ptriorunhu  wliulc  colony,  Itiy  mid  clerical, 


m> 


*  ■;   i, 


l;:?g         :      M  I'H 


h;fi. '!* 
.11    -f. 


i  ■  ji 


^^5' 


113 


CinUSTOPJIEIi  COLUMBUS. 


Maru'ni'ite  and  Ojeda  were  to  excliango  commands,  Ojeda  re- 
niaiiiiiiii;  in  ('hnru,-e  ol'  thu  fortress,  and  setting  Margarite  free 
for  a  iiiilitai'v  pi'ogress  ronnd  the  island.  He  sent  many  ad 
miral.)le  iiistnictious  to- Peter  Margai'ite,  wliose  virtue  lie  had 
not  yet  found  cause  to  doubt.  lie  ordered  hiiii  t(»  be  most 
circums|iect  in  his  dealings  with  the  natives,  to  treat  tliein 
with  scrupulous  justice,  and  to  do  his  best  to  win  iheir  id- 
lections  and  pi'edispose  them  tor  becoming  Christituis.  Sug- 
gestions are  adth'd  in  curious  detail  lor  capturing  Caonabo 
by  stratagem. 

Tiie  ni'xt  tiling  was  to  provide  for  the  maintenance  of 
good  order,  and  to  this  end  Columbus  a]»i»()inted  a  council 
consisting  ol*  Father  IjoiI  and  tliree  leading  men,  under  the 
presideiu'y  of  his  brother  Don  James,  to  govern  the  colony 
m  his  absence.  Finally  lie  set  sail  with  thr(H^  of  the  live  re- 
maining shii)s,  selecting  those  of  the  lightest  draught.  The 
one  wlucii  he  took  for  himself  was  the  sanu^  bi'ave  little 
JS'Lua  winch  had  served  him  so  laithfuiiy  belore.  It  seemed 
almost  ungrateful  to  change  that  now  famous  name ;  but  to 
confer  the  name  of  the  great  Franciscan  saint  was  in  the 
judgment  ol  Coliimbiis  only  to  add  honor,  and  so  the  ^'ina 
became  the  S,(i//(i  Chira.' 

Independently  ot  all  the  grief  and  anxiety  which  the  mis- 
conduct ot  the  Spaniards  hatl  caused,  the  delay  itsell'  must 
have  been  a.  severe  trial  to  the  impetuous  spirit  of  a  discov- 
erer. At  last,  however.  Columbus  was  able  to  continue  his 
voyage.  On  the  i?4th  ot  April,  he  sailed  iwnn  Tsnlxdla,  taking 
with  him  three  small  vessels,  tit  to  run  in  the  shallow  water 
of  coasts  and  rivers.  The  plan  of  this  expedition  was  to  re- 
visit Cuba-  at  the  point  wliere  he  had  abandont>d  it  on  his 
lii'st  voyage,  and  thence  to  explore  it  on  the  southern  side. 
As  hasuilrcady  been  observed,  he  supposed  it  to  be  a  c(mti- 
nent,  and  tin*  extreme  end  of  Asia,  and  by  following  its 
slnves  trusted  to  arrive  at  Mangi,  and  Cathay,  and  other 
n  ''  ■■  Jnfies,  forming  part  ot  the  territories  of  the  Grand 
K  :)?;i    ■      "rijjed  by  ^larco  Polo. 

'Li.'u;'"  ..'Tived  at  the  eastern  end  of  Cuba,  he  sailed  along 


'  SL  Liaru. 


CJiniSTOPIIER  COLUMBUS. 


i];3 


,  Ojeda  re- 

•giirite  free 

:  many  ud 

file  lu;  ]ia(l 

?B19 

<)  bo  most 

t^reat  thorn 
1  tlu'ir  al- 

9 

a  IIS.    8u<;'- 
g  Caonabo 

*  ^  1 

ennnce  of 

r^ 

a  council 

uncicr  the 

■  %^ 

lii^  colony 

1 

lie  live  re- 

■"■ 

gilt.     The 

'■'       1 

•ave   little 

It  seemed 

e;  l)ut  to 

'< 

as  in  the 

'■       :' 

the  ]\'ina 

. 

1  the  mis- 

■ 

self  must 

■ 

a  (li.scov- 

itiuue  his 

la,  takiiiii,' 

low  water 

mm 

ivas  to  re- 

WM 

it  on  his 

^M 

ern  sule. 

■■ 

e  a  conti- 

Is 

)\viiig  its 

■■ 

lul  other 

^B 

le  Grand 

H 

led  along 

■ 

the  southern  coast,  touching  onco  or  twice  in  the;  hai-bors. 
The  natives  crowded  to  the  shores,  gazing,  with  astonishment 
at  the  shii)S  as  they  glicfed  gently  along  at  no  great  distance. 
They  hi'ld  u})  i'ruits  and  other  jn'ovisions,  to  teni])t  the 
Spaniards  to  land;  Avhile  others  came  oil:  in  canoes,  oll'ering 
v!irii»us  rerreshments,  not  in  barter,  but  as  free  gifts.  On 
ii:c|iiiriiig  of  them  for  gold,  they  nniformly  jjointed  to  tho 
soutli,  intimating  that  a  great  island  lay  in  rhat  direction, 
where  it  was  to  be  found  in  abundance. 

On  the  ;5d  of  May,  therefore,  Columlius  turned  his  ])row 
directly  south,  lie  had  not  sailed  many  leagiu's  ])efoie  tho 
blue  siinunits  of  Jamaica  began  to  rise  above  the  horizon. 
It  was  two  days  and  a  night,  however,  before  he  reached  it, 
tilled  with  admiration,  as  he  gradually  drew  near,  at  its  vast 
extent,  tlu!  l)eauty  of  its  mountains,  the  majesty  of  its  for- 
ests, and  tlie  great  number  of  villages  which  animated  tho 
whole  face  of  the  conntry.  lie  coasted  the  island  from 
about  t lie  centre  to  the  western  end.  The  natives  a])])eared 
to  be  more  ingenious  as  well  as  more  warlike  than  those  of 
Cuba  and  llayri.  j'heir  canoes  were  constructed  with  more 
art.  and  ornamented  at  the  bow  and  stern  with  carving  and 
painting.  Many  were  of  grc-.it  size,  hollowed  from  trunky 
of  the  mahogany  and  other  magniiicf^it  trees,  Avhi(di  rise 
lik(-  verdant  towers  amidst  the  lich  forests  of  the  trojjics. 
Kvery  caci(|ue  had  a  large  state  canoe  of  tlu,'  kind.  One 
measured  ninety-six  feet  in  length,  and  eight  feet  in  breadth, 
foniied  of  a  single  tree. 

Being  disapointed  in  his  hopes  of  lindinggold  in  Jamaica, 
Cnhuiibiis  determined  to  return  to  (hiba.  As  he  wiis  about; 
to  leave  the  island,  a  young  Indian  cam<^  off  to  the  shi}), 
and  begged  that  the  Spaniards  would  taki^  him  with  tliern 
to  their  country.  lie  was  followed  by  his  relatives  and 
friends,  siii»plicating  liim  to  abandon  his  ]iurj)()se.  For 
seme  time  he  was  distracted  between  concern  for  their  dis- 
tress, r.nd  an  ardent  desire  to  se(5  the  home  of  tin?  won- 
derful stiJingers,  Curiosity,  and  the  youthful  propensity 
to  rove,  at  length  prevailed:  he  tore  himself  from  the  em- 
braces of  his  friends,  and  took  refuge  in  a  secret  jiart  ot  the 


li 


■nn 


114 


CIiniSTOPHER  COL  UMBUS. 


sliip,  fi'om  tlio  t(^nrs  and  ciid'caties  of  liis  sistors.  Tourliofl 
by  tliis  sceiK^  of  iitirural  iilfection,  and  |)lonsed  with  the  con. 
Jidiiii;'  s[)ii'ir  of  tlxo  youth,  Colmnbu's  ordered  tliut  he  should 
be  treat(>d  with  es])e('ial  hiiidness. 

Ilavin^ii,-  steered  ai;aiu  for  Cuba,  Cohimbns,  on  the  18th  of 
INlay,  arrived  at  a  ,Li,ivat  cape,  to  whicli  lie  g'ave  the  name  ol; 
Cubo  de  la,  Cruz,'  wliicli  it  still  retains.  Coasting  to  the 
west,  he  soon  !^ot  entan.iiled  in  a  labyrinth  of  suiall  islands 
and  keys;  soiue  of  1  hem  were  h)\v,  indved,  and  sandy,  others 
covered  with  verdure,  and  others  tufted  with  lofty  and  beau- 
tiful forests.  As  the  shi])s  glided  along  the  Jir.iooth  and 
glassy  channels  which  separated  the  islands,  the  niagniticence 
of  their  v(\getation,  tlu^  soft  odors  wafted  from  ilow(n:s  and 
blossoms  and  aromatic  shrubs,  the  splendid  plumage  of 
scarlet  cranes,  flamingoes,  and  other  tro])ical  birds,  and  the 
gaudy  cloutis  of  butterllies,  all  resend)led  what  is  described 
of  oriental  climes.  He  persuaded  himself,  therefoi'e,  that 
these  were  the  islands  mentioned  by  ]\larco  Polo,  as  frinuini,' 
the  coast  of  Asia,  and  he  gave  the  cluster  the  name  of  the 
Queen's  Garden. 

Emo'ging  from  this  labyrinth,  Columbus  pnrsuod  his  voy- 
nsre  with  a  prosperous  breeze  along  that  ])art  of  the  .'south- 
ern side  of  (Juba,  where,  .or  neaily  .,liirty-live  leagues,  the 
navigation  is  free  from  banks  and  islands:  to  his  left  Vwis 
the  broad  and  o[)eu  sea,  whose  dark-blue  color  gave  token 
of  an)i)le  depth  ;  ro  his  right  ex^■nded  a  richly  wooded 
country,  called  One  fay,  wirh  noble  mouiitains,  frequent 
streams,  and  numerous  villages. 

The  aj)pearance  of  the  ships  spread  v  ^mder  and  joy  alonn: 
the  coast.  The  naf  ivi's  came  oft  swimming,  or  in  canoes,  to 
oit'er  fridts  and  other  presents.  When,  after  the  nsual  even- 
ing shower,  the  biveze  bh>w  from  th(>  shore,  and  lironght  ol! 
the  sweetness  of  the  land,  it  l)ore  with  it  also  tiie  distant  sona'S 
ol  the  natives,  and  the  sound  of  their  rude  music,  as  they 
were  probably  celebrating,  Avitli  national  chants  and  dances, 
the  arrival  of  thest^  wonthn-ful  strangers  on  their  coasts. 

If,  instead  of  a  l)usy  politician  like  Father  Boil  and  the 


1  tape  ol  tlio  Cross. 


ClimsrOPIIER  COLUMBUS. 


115 


virtuous  hut  for  tlie  most  part  sadly  imenterprisini*  monks 
wlioin  he  had  chosen  to  accompany  him,  there  htid  been  a 
IVw  ticHiiiue  apostles,  a  more  glorious  field  for  missionary 
];ilu»r  than  the  fair  island  of  Cuba  could  scarcely  have  been 

found 

Animated  by  the  delusions  of  his  rich  fancy,  Columbus 
now  continued  to  follow  u])  this  supnf)sed  continent  of  Asia; 
plunuin.U"  into  another  wihlcrness  of  keys  and  islets  towards 
thr  western  end  of  Cuba,  and  exploring  that  perplexed  and 
loiii'ly  coast,  whose  intricate  channels  are  seldom  visited, 
even  at  the  present  da}',  except  by  tln^  lurking  bark  of  the 
siniiii.uler  and  the  pirate.  In  this  navigation  he  had  to  con- 
tend with  alnior.t  incivdible  difhculties  and  ])eri]s  ;  his  vessels 
liavlni','  to  be  warped  through  narrow  and  shallow  passages, 
wlicre  they  frequently  ran  aground.  He  was  encouraged  to 
])iocoed  by  information  which  he  received,  or  fancied  he  re- 
ceived, fioin  the  natives,  concerning  a  country  farther  on, 
ciiUeil  Mangon,  where  the  jjcople  Avore  clothing,  and  which 
lie.supi)0sed  must  be  Mangi,  the  rich  Asiatic  province  de- 
scribed by  Marco  Polo. 

His  crews  seem  to  have  partaken  of  his  delusion.  One 
(l;iy.  while  a  party  on  shore  was  employed  in  cutting  wood 
aiul  iilling  water-casks,  an  archer  strayed  into  the  forest 
wiili  his  ci'ossbow,  in  search  of  game,  but  soon  returned, 
jlyiiig  ill  breathless  terror.  He  declared  that  he  had  seen 
ilu'oiigh  au  o])en  glade  a  man  dressed  in  white  robes,  like  a 
i'liai'ol"  the  Order  of  Mercy,  so  that  at  lirst  he  took  him  for 
iiic  chaplain  of  the  Admiral.  He  was  followed  by  two 
otluMs  dressed  in  white  tunics  reaching  ^-o  their  knees,  and 
nil  these  had  comi)lexions  as  fair  as  Eurojieans.  Heliind 
them  were  others,  to  the  number  of  thirty,  armed  with 
dubs  antl  lances. 

Two  parties  were  dispatched,  well  armed,  on  the  follow- 
iiiu'  morning,  in  (piest  of  these  people  in  white  :  the  lirtt  re- 
turned unsuccessful;  the  other  brought  word  of  liaving 
trucked  the  footprints  of  some  large  animal  with  claws,  su]>- 
posed  by  them  to  have  been  either  a  lion  or  a  grillln;  but 
vliicli  most  probably  was  an  alligator.    Dismayed  at  tha 


"♦ 


. !   » 


!ii|i 


'iff  '  \ 


Ml 


IIG 


CimiSTOPIIER  COLUMBUS, 


siulit,  they  hastened  back  to  the  sea-side.  As  no  tril.o  ol 
Indians  Avearing  cU)thing  was  ever  discovered  in  Cuba,  it  ia 
prol)al)le  the  men  in  Avlnte  were  nothing  else  than  a  ilock  of 
(■I'anes,  nmgnilied  by  tlie  feai's  oi  tlie  wandering  arclior. 
These  biids,  like  the  llatningoes,  feed  in  coniiiany,  with  one 
stationed  at  a  distance  as  a  sentinel.  AV'hen  seen  thruiii^h 
an  opening  of  the  woodland,  standing  in  rows  in  a  shallow 
glassy  jjool,  their  heiglit  and  erectness  give  them,  at  lirst 
glance,  the  semblance  of  luinian  ligiires. 

Firmly  ccMiviuccd  that  he  was  coasting  the  shores  of  Asia, 
Colnni])iis  hop;^d  by  continuing  on  to  arrive  jvt  the  Auiea 
Chersonesns  of  the  ancients,  doubling  which,  he  miuiit 
retui'u  to  Eui'oT)e  by  the  way  of  tho  lied  sea;  or,  eircum- 
navigating  Africa,  he  miglit  pass  by  Mie  Portuguese,  as 
they  were  groping  along  the  coast  of  Guinea;  and,  after 
liaving  navigated  round  the  globe,  furl  his  adventurous 
sails  at  tlie  })illars  of  Hercules,  the  no  2^^its  ultra  of  the 
ancient  world! 

But,  though  his  fellow  voyagers  shared  his  opinion  that 
they  were  coasting  the  continent  of  Asia,  tliey  shruid\  from 
the  increasing  perils  of  the  voyage.  The  ships  wei'e  stiained 
and  crazed;  the  cables  and  rigging  mnch  worn;  the  provis- 
ions nearly  exhausted;  and  the  crews  worn  out  by  incessant 
labor.  The  Admiral,  therefore,  was  finally  persu;vhu  to 
al^andon  all  further  prosecuti  >n  of  the  V(^yage.  Befoi'e  lie 
turned  back,  however,  he  obliged  the  officers  and  seamen  to 
sign  a  de})osition,  declaring  their  perfect  conviction  that 
Cul)a  v/as  a  contin(>nt,  the  beginning  and  tlie  end  of  Tiulia. 
This  singuhir  instrument  Avas  signed  near  that  deep  bay 
called  by  some  the  Bay  of  Philipina,  by  others,  of  Cortes. 

At  this  very  time,  a  ship-boy  from  the  mast-head  might 
have  overlooked  the  gi'oup  of  islands  to  the  sonth,  and  have 
beheld  Mie  o^ien  sea  beyond.  Had  Cjlnmbus  continutMl  on 
for  two  or  three  days  longer,  he  would  have  jiassed  round 
the  extremity  of  Cuba ;  his  illnsion  would  have  been  dis- 
pelled, and  an  entirely  different  course  might  have  been 
given  to  his  snbse(pient  discoveries. 

Iveturning  now  towards  the  east,  the  crews  suiTered  greatly 


^ 


CURISrOPIIER  COLUMBUS. 


117 


li'om  fiiti.^nio  find  sonrcity  of  provisions,  until  tii^y  nnclioivd 
„iie  (hiy  in  the  mouth  of  a  liu(!  river,  in  an  abunchmt  country, 
where  the  natives  soon  .su])])lied  tlieir  wants.  Here  Coluni- 
l)us  landed  one  Sunday  niorrting  to  erect  a  cross,  as  was  his 
nistoin  in  all  remarkable  i)laces,  in  token  of  luivin.o;  l)ron^iit 
thccciuitry  under  tlu!  blessed  donnnion  of  the  Catliolic  Churcli. 
}Ie  was  met  by  the  cacique  and  by  a  venerable  Indian,  four- 
srore  years  of  ai^e,  who  presented  him  with  a  string?  of  tlieir 
iiivstic  beads,  and  a  calabash  tilled  with  delicate  fruit.  They 
then  walked  with  him,  hand  in  hand,  to  a  stately  gnne  on 
the  river  l>aid'C,  where  he  had  ordered  ^rand  mr.ss  to  be  ])er- 
foniied.  The  assembled  natives  looked  on  wilh,i!,T(^at  rever- 
ence. When  the  ceremony  was  ended,  the  old  man  of  four- 
score approached  Columbus,  and  thus  addressed  him:  "I  am 
told  that  ihou  hast  come  to  these  lands  with  a  niiuhty  force 
and  hast  subdued  many  countries,  spi'eadin<''  jU'reat  fear 
iiinonu-  the  people.  Be  not,  however,  vaingloiious.  Know 
tlmt  the  souls  of  men  have  two  Journeys  to  perfoi'in  after 
tliey  have  dei^arted  from  the  body  ;  one  to  a  place  dismal, 
i'niil,  and  covered  with  darkness,  prepaivd  for  su<di  as  have 
been  unjust  and  cruel  to  their  fellow-men  ;  the  other  full  of 
dcliglil,  for  such  as  have  promoted  peace  on  earth.  If, 
tliiMi,  th'Hi  art  mortal,  and  dost  expect  to  die,  bewai-e  that 
thou  hurt  no  man  wrongfully,  neither  do  harm  to  those  wIk.) 
have  done  no  harm  to  thee." 

This  speech  being  interpreted  to  Columbus,  he  was  nu:)^■ed 
by  the  simple  eloquence  ot  the  savage,  and  rejoiced  to  hear 
Ins  doctrine  of  the  future  state  of  the  soul,  having  sup]K)sed 
that  no  belief  of  the  kind  existed  among  the  iidiabitants  of 
these  counti'ies.  He  assured  the  old  man  that  he  had  be(^]i 
sent  by  his  sovereigns  to  teach  them  the  true  religion,  to 
protect  tht>m  from  harm,  and  to  subdue  their  enemies,  the 
twrlMe  Cai'ibs.  The  venerable  Indian  was  astonished  to 
learn  that  the  Admiral,  whom  he  had  considered  so  great 
andpowei'ful,  was  yet  but  a  subject ;  and  when  he  was  told  of 
the  grandeur  of  the  Spanish  monarchs,  and  of  the  wonders 
of  tlieir  kingdom,  a  sudden  desire  seized  him  to  see  this 
marvellous  countrj^,  and  it  was  Avitli  difficulty  the  tears  and 


I 


1 


i 


1! 

'V\"\ 

V  J  ' 

11 

^  i 

' :    „    1 

•  1     '  ■ 

1 

'       1 

i     l" 

■' 

' 

118 


Clin  IS  TO  PI  IE  It  COL  UMU  US. 


rciiionsfrniu'os  of  his  wifi?  luul  children  could  clissnado  hiin 
IVoiii  (•iiil):iikiii,u:. 

Aflcr  IiMviii^'  this  I'ivcr,  (>  )liitnbus  stood  <>v(M'  to  Jiimaica, 
and  fur  lu-ariy  a  month  coiitiiuied  beating  along  its  simth. 
('I'll  coiisi.  Anchoring  one  evening  in  a  great  Ikiv,  ho 
Avas  visili'd  by  a  cacii|iie,  who  remained  until  a  latt;  hour 
conversing  \\ith  I  he  Indian  inter])reter,  about  the  Si);iu 
iiirds  and  their  country,  and  their  prowess  in  vamiuisliiiy 
the  Cai'il)S. 

On  the  following  inorning,  when  the  ships  -were  under 
weigh,  tjii'ee  ciiuoes  issued  irom  among  tin;  islands  ol"  thij 
bay.  In  IIk^  centre  one,  which  was  large,  and  luindsoin -ly 
carved  and  ])ainted,  were  seated  the  cacique  and  his  family, 
consisting  of  two  diiughtiu's,  young  and  beautiful,  two  svins, 
and  five  I)rothfrs.  They  were  all  arrayed  in  tlieir  jewels, 
and  attended  by  ollicers  decoi'ated  with  plumes  and  niautlM 
of  variegated  feathers.  Tiie  standard-bear* -r  stood  in  the 
l)i'ow  with  a  11  uttering  white  banner,  while  other  Indians, 
fancifnlly  painttnl,  b(;at  upon  taboi's,  or  souu(hid  trumpets 
of  hue  bhu'k  wood  ingeniously  carv(;d.  The  ('acicpie,  enter- 
ing on  b(»;iid  of  the  shij),  liistributed  presents  among  the 
crew,  and  thus  addressed  the  Adnural: 

"I  lun«^  iieaid  of  the  irresistible  power  of  thy  sovereigns, 
and  of  th.'miuy  nations  tiion  htist  subdued  in  their  nnine. 
Thou  hast  destroyed  the  dwellings  of  the  Cai'ibs,  slaying 
their  waniois,  and  carrying  their  wives  and  children  iiito 
captivity.  All  the  islands  are  in  dread  of  thee,  for  who  can 
withstand  thee,  now  that  thou  knowest  the  secrets  of  tlio 
land,  and  the  weakness  of  the  jjcople?  Rntii*  r,  therefore, 
than  thou  shoiddst  take  away  my  dominions,  t  Avill  embark 
Avith  idl  my  honsehold  in  thy  sliips,  and  i.Hi  go  to  render 
homage  to  thy  king  and  queen,  and  behold  thy  country,  of 
Avhich  I  \h\w  such  Avonders."  When,  howin-er,  Coliinibus 
beheld  the  Avife,  the  sons  and  dar^'hters  of  the  cacique,  and 
considei'cd  to  Avhat  ills  they  AAOuld  be  exposed,  he  Avns 
touched  with  compassion,  and  determined  not  to  take  them 
from  their  native  land.  He  received  the  caciquf  under  his 
I)rotection  as  a  vassal  of  his  sovereigns,  but  dismiss.'d  him  fur 


Ji ' 


ClIRISTOniER  COLVMDUS. 


119 


tlic  prosonf,  promisini:?  (li;it  at  Humo  fiitiiru  (Imo  ho  would 
jvtiiruiind  .iiiatil'y  1  lis  wishes. 

Al'rir  k'iiviiiu'  .laimili'a,  lie  cda.sted  the  Wholo  <.P  the  south- 
prii  side  of  llayti,  and  cxpcritMic'd  iiTcat  li.iidslil]>s  iu  u 
storni.  which  ra.u'ed  I'or  sevtu'al  d;iys.  Tiu;  wcatlici'  having 
m  Klcnitcil,  he  .set  sail  t'astward,  with  tin-  iiitcntioii  of  com- 
]i!('tiii,n'  tli'^  dis;'o\«'iy  of  the  Carii)bee  islands.  The  f;iti.L!,'iie, 
jiDwcvcr,  which  he  had  suU'ered,  both  in  mind  and  body, 
tliroiiKhniil  his  voya^-e,  had  secretly  preycil  upon  his  health; 
nnd  tlu;  l;i!e  tempesi  had  kept  him  in  a  i'ever  of  anxiety. 
He  hiul  sh:ii'ed  the  hardships  of  the  ooninionest  saihn-,  nay 
jr.oi'e,  fur  I  he  saihn*,  after  the  labors  of  liis  watch,  slept 
soundly,  while  the  anxious  coniiniinder  had  to  maintain  a 
ceiistant  Ai.i-vil,  thronu'h  Ionic  stormy  niuhts.  Indeed,  it  is 
t;;iiil,  tho  Admiral  had  no  sh'ep  for  liiirlij-tu^')  days,  'i'ho 
nicinent  he  was  reli(;ved  from  all  solicitude,  and  found  hlm- 
ficif  iu  11  trampiil  se;i,  both  mind  and  body  sank  exhansted 
by  almost  siipei-hiiman  exeiricnis.  lie  fell  into  a  (h'e])  leth- 
nru^'.  reseniblin.n'  death  itself.  J  lis  crew  f(^:nvd  th;it  death 
was  really  :it  hand.  They  abandoned,  therefore,  all  farther 
jirosecutinn  of  the  voyau'e,  and  spi'eading"  their  sails  to  a 
iavoral>le  ))rei'ze  fi'om  the  east,  bore  Coliimbns  back,  in  a 
6tat(>  of  comiilete  insensibility,  to  the  harbtn' of  Isabella.' 

When  the  venerable  Admiral  returned  to  consciousness, 
]i'>  found  his  brother  Bartholomew  standing  by  his  bed. 
Bartholomew,  who,  it  will  be  remembered,  was  sent  to  Kn^'- 
land,  seems  to  have  met  with  many  delays  before  he  ariived 
at  the  Enu'lish  court;  bnt  ho  was  kindly  received  by  Henry 
A'll.,  and  assistance  in  the  prosecution  of  his  desii-n  was 
actually  promised.^    On  his  way  to  bear  the  o-ood  tidin.^'s  to 


1  Irviii- 

'  l!;r.t!uil(iin(nv  f'rilnm'ins  loft  T.islmn  IIS.'  tn  co,  on  flio  p!irt  of  lii^  brollior.  tn  prtipo'^c'  to  tlio 
kiiiLMif  EiiL'liinil  llic  in-ojfcf  of  discovery,  wliicli  \v  s  rcjiTh-d  i)y  l'ortii,i;:il.  'I'lie  ^hip  \w  siiik'il  in 
w:isca;i;iiriil  Iiy  jilrati's,  wlio  ro'ibcd  him  of  nvorythiiii;.  unci  li-ft  liim  on  iin  nnkiiown  .-liorf.  Kor 
(1  Idiii;  tiin'>  iill  lil-<  I'niTuy  '.va^  tiikcn  to  pnicurp  tV.o  n("'("'-<;iriiM  of  |if,.,  nnil  renew  \\\-i  wnrilrolio 
tti  i'tTr(  t  Ills  voviiirc.  He  spent  scvertil  ye:irs  in  an  nnprofUiil)!e  lahor— ni  rnnMlniefini;  sphere's  and 
(l'ur.\i:v,'cliarls  for  mariners— before  \w.  coidd  succeed  in  reachioi;  the  const  of  I^n;,dand.  Tlu're, 
he  li;iil  first  to  learn  llie  hin'4iia;;e  of  the  country,  to  provider  for  tlie  means  of  esMstence  to  ohtair. 
till'  countenance  of  some  palrons.  nnd  to  leirn  the  usatres  and  etiipiette  of  rtie  court.  It  was 
only  in  the  midi'.le  of  the  year  lin.S  that  he  obtained  an  audience  of  Kiu;:  Henry  VII.  The  moii- 
arcli  likoa  llic  iilan.    To  maku  the  proof  more  strikins,  Bartholomew  paiutej  an  ntlaj.    ni.s  rea- 


iViliJI 


;f!  \iy-\ 


120 


CIIIilSTO  PITER  COL  UMB  US. 


m 


n  •'! 


lit 


J,, 


liis  l)r()tl)or,  he  lieard  in  Paris  that  the  expedition  wag 
already  an  a(,'('i)m]>lished  i'act,  and  the  French  Kin<?  received 
him  with  hii,di  honcn-  and  assisted  him  liberally  with  money. 
He  was  welcomed  with  oi)en  arms  at  the  Spanish  court,  and, 
as  he  was  liimself  an  experienced  navigator,  he  was  put  in 
ooniiiiand  of  three  vessels  which  w^ere  starting  Avith  sup- 
plies. His  arrival  was  very  opportune,  I'or  tliough  James 
Columbus  was  a  most  estimable  man,  he  w'as  not  formed  bv 
nature  for  coercing  discontented  spirits. 

Eartliobjjnew,  on  the  contrary,  was  a  man  of  powerfnl 
frame  and  unbending  will,  knowing  by  intuition  the  mo- 
ment f()!'  action,  and  striking  fearlessly.  He  had  not  the 
gentleness  of  his  great  brother,  the  Admiral,  l)ut  his  manly 
virtue,  dauntless  nature,  and  genuine  nobility  of  character 
made  ample  amentls  for  some  harshness  of  manner  and 
defect  of  relinenient.  Although  he  was  a  devoted  Catholic, 
■\\-ith  unliinching  faith  and  honest  piety,  the  more  spiritual 
gifts  of  the  interior  life  were  rather  beyond  his  api>reciation. 
James  was  naturally  of  a  studious  turn.  He  revered  liis 
brother  Chriatopher  as  a  second  father,  and  looked  upon  it 
as  a  call  from  Heaven  to  help  him  in  whatever  way  he  could. 

Christopher,  thanking  God  for  sending  liim  the  brave  and 
noble  Iiartliolomew  at  that  critical  conjuncture,  at  once 
appcintrd  him  Addanfado  or  CTOvernor.  and  put  all  the 
power  into  his  hands  during  his  own  c(^uvalescence.  Dur- 
ing the  live  months  of  his  absence  the  aifairs  of  the  colony 
Iiad  grown  all  but  desp'M'ate.  If  any  proofs  wei'e  wanting 
of  the  Admiral's  remarkable  ability  to  govern,  it  might  be 
found  in  the  ir^variable  confusi(m  which  marked  his  absence. 
The  wonder  is  not  that  one  trouble  followed  another  till 
ruin  starei'  the  Spaniards  in  the  face,  but  that  discipline 
could  have  jver  been  nuiintained  at  all  among  such  wild 
and  reckless  libertines. 


Bomng  WHS  so  c  .'ar  and  convincing  tlint  tlio  Kiny;  welcomed  tlio  projoct,  iiii'.i  cntci'i'd 'ni  tho 
prolinilnarii'^'  of  a  trt'aly  witli  liim.  Dartliolomew  Uoparted  ini:iiodi-iU'ly  to  Huik  lil.-*  ijn  r,— 
Count  ilf  LirffpiiK. 

Irviii!;  tliiiilis  (liar  ilartlioloincw  Columlms  was  not  "iiiiiMy  ('duratcd.'' liiit  wo  arc  not  sure 
that  many  of  llio  "liiLrlily  I'ducafi'd"  people  of  ourday  can  speak  LnHn.  I/tilinn.  I'ortmjuti^,  Danr 
ieh,  A'tiylh/i,  and  Sjtaiiiis/i,  as  Count  do  Lorjfnes  aabuioa  us  DartUolumcw  could. 


:i    .\A 


cnnisTornER  col  umb  us. 


121 


We  must  now  turn  onr  attention  to  another  aiTair.  Peter 
Mnin'iirite  lef t  Foi't  St.  Tli07nas,  as  had  been  arranged,  in  tlie 
liaiuls  of  Ojedn,  but  with  tliat  one  act  his  oljedienco  ended. 
Instead  of  making  tlie  prescribed  progress  round  tlie  island, 
he  (Irsi'onded  into  the  beautiful  valley,  and  there  set  the 
eN:uii]il<'  to  his  soldiers  of  every  sordid  vice,  till  the  poor 
IiKiiiin>  0.'  the  Royal  Plain  in  their  turn  learned  to  hate  the 
vei-vnonii  of  Spaniard.  Then,  terrified  to  think  of  what  he 
luui  (lone,  he  concerted  with  the  help  of  Father  Boil,  to 
whom  of  course  he  did  not  reveal  his  own  misdeeds,  a  clan- 
destine d(>]iarture  to  Europe  for  the  purpose  cf  representing 
ro  the  sovereigns  the  miseries  which  the  misgovernment  of 
I'dlunibns  had  brouglit  upon  the  poor  deluded  colonists  and 
the  i>oor  persecuted  Indians! 

This  wns  the  general  policy  of  the  enemies  of  Columbus. 
By  their  own  woeful  misconduct  they  made  peace  and  good 
order  iiniiossible,  and  then  they  demanded  that  lie  should 
be  ptmished  for  their  iniquities.  The  blackest  feature  in 
Mnrgaritc's  dark  villainy,  is  liis  base  ingratitude.  Colundjus 
liad  tivatod  liini  with  marked  kindness,  and  had  written  in 
liis  lichaU'  to  ]>rocure  the-  favor  of  Isabella  for  the  wife  and 
cliihli'eii  left  in  Spain  by  the  Knight  of  St.  James. 

leather  ]){)'il  was  easily  persuaded  that  it  was  his  duty  to 
inform  tlie  crown  of  what  was  goiiig  on  in  the  colony,  and 
\vhi'i\  ('olunil)us  I'eturned  to  Isabella,  thedesertcvsliad  made 
good  thi'ir  flight  in  the  ships  which  brouuht  linrtholomew 
(Jolnmbus.  James's  authority  had  ])een  desi)ised  from  the 
iirsi  l)y  the  hidalgo  faction.  IMargarite  h;d  not  even  cared 
to  dclogtite  his  command.  The  soldiers  were  suddenly  left 
witliont  any  general,  and  could  not  long  conceal  their  weak- 
ness. Ten  S[)aniards  were  killed  in  ojie  ])lace^  and  forty 
more  won^  burnt  in  a  hospital  by  order  of  Guatiguana,  a 
v,iss;d  of  Guarioiiex.  If  Father  Boil  had  remained  at  l:is 
post,  he  would  havo  seen  with  his  own  <'yes  a  suliicient 
proof  of  the  innocence  of  Guacanagari,  whom  he  had  wished 
to  pnni.sli  for  the  nnissacre  of  La  NavicUid.  This  iV.ilhful 
•  liieF  now  came  unbidden  to  visit  Colundms,  aiul,  standing 
by  Lis  sii'lv-bed,  informed  him  of  the  coalition  of  all  the 


1' 


122 


CHRISTOPHER  COL  UMBUS. 


!-    ■ 


m 


!;  ii ! ;! 


m\ 


other  great  caciques.  His  refusal  to  join  tliem  liad  already 
cost  him  dear.  (Jaonabo  had  mad(i  a  hostile  iiicursicjii  into 
his  territory,  and  the  beloved  Catalina  was  lei't  among  the 
slain. 

Caonaho,  who  Avas  undoubtedly  the  leading  spirit  in  all 
the  island,  railed  his  warriors  together  and  moved  to  tlie 
attack  of  Fort  St.  Tiiomas :  but  Ojeda  was  a  real  soldier, 
and  was  on  his  guard.  He  maintained  strict  discipline 
within  the  fort,  and  by  personal  insi)ection  secured  tlie  vifji- 
lance  of  all  under  him.  Caoualx),  iinding  it  hn])ossil)le  to 
surprise  liini  ])y  day  or  night,  tool-:  arriied  pt)ssession  of  tlie 
surrounding  Avoods  and  tried  to  starve  tlie  garrison.  Ojcda 
reduced  the  allowance  of  foocl,  and,  seizing  ids  opportunity', 
made  vigorous  sallies,  wliich  cost  Caonabo  the  bravest  of  liis 
men,  till  the  Indian  chief,  convinced  that  storming  anu 
starving  were  equidly  hox)oless,  decamped  at  the  end  of 
thirty  days. 

Guatiguana  was  answerable  for  the  death  of  many  Spnn- 
iards  and  could  not  be  allowed  to  go  unxmnished.  Ojcda 
soon  met  him  in  openlield,and  routed  his  annytnid  took  many 
prisonei's,  but  did  not  cajiture  the  clLcf  hiriisolf.  Then 
Columbus,  witli  politic  mercy,  made  peace  with  Guarionex, 
refusing  to  hold  him  responsible  for  the  mi>de('ds  of  liis 
subordinate,  l)ut  he  also  took  care  to  build  the  strong  fort- 
ress of  Co)i''rpci(in,  that  he  might  be  ]irepared  f(n' any  now 
insurrection  in  the  Vega;  for  with  Caonabo  and  Guatiguana 
still  at  hirge,  peace  could  not  be  deemed  secure. 

Soon  after  this  Ojeda  executed  ons;  of  the  most  darins!; 
stratag(>ms  on  record.  lie  went  with  nine  cavaliers  to  seek 
Caonabo  in  the  midst  of  his  own  people.  lIi;  ])romisedto 
bestow  on  him  no  less  a  gift  than  tlie  Angidus  bell  of  Fort 
St.  Tliomas,  which  was  supposed  to  have  the  power  to  col- 
lect a  multitude  hy  the  sound  of  its  voice,  if  lu^  would  cnine 
to  Isabella,  and  make  terms  with  Columbus.  The  olfer  was 
too  tempting,  and  Caonabo  agreed  to  go,  b,;it  he  insisted  on 
taking  a  large  ni'u^v  with  him.  On  the  march  Ojeda  per- 
suaded the  chief  to  mount  l)ehind  him,  and  liave  a  rideon 
the  proud  war-horse,  which  had  so  often  excited  his  admi-' 


I,!.  I  (    1    '      ■ 


cnmsToniER  columbus. 


123 


or  any  new 


ration.  He)  anticipated  no  danger  with  his  army  round  him, 
and  u'lndly  accepted  the  otter.  Ojeda  made  a  few  circles 
with  his  delighted  captive,  before  the  eyes  of  all  the  Indians, 
and  tiieii  set  spurs  to  the  horse,  while  the  other  cavaliers, 
closing  in  with  the  threat  of  instant  death,  secured  Caonabo, 
and  the  raid  was  successfully  accomplished. 

From  that  time  Caonabo  had  the  most  enthusiastic  rever- 
ence for  the  brave  Ojeda,  In  the  presence  of  Columbus,  the 
lordly  savage,  however,  would  not  give  the  slightest  sign  of 
respect,  but  when  Ojeda  entered  the  room,  he  rose  at  once 
ti)  salute  the  man  who  had  dared  to  carry  liini  off  in  open 
dav  with  all  his  warriors  looking  on.  His  courage  was  not 
vet  exhausted.  He  scowled  I'teiiance  at  the  Spaniards — 
n'  da  always  excepted — and  gloried  in  the  destruction  of 
ividiul,  boasting  moreover  tliat  lie  had  been  prowling 
]  isabella  with  the  intent  to  strike  a  l)low  of  the  same 

k..,>i  there.  Columbus  treated  him  as  kindly  as  was  con- 
sistent with  stife  custody,  and  hoped  to  gain  that  proud 
s])irit  to  Jesus  Christ,  subduing  it  first  by  the  splendor  of 
Castilian  royalty,  and  then,  in  the  strength  of  Christian 
ohai'ity,  leading  it  forward,  meek  and  humble,  to  the  Avaters 
of  Baptism. 

It  must  have  been  a  relief  for  the  moment  to  have  Caonjibo 
safe,  but  when  the  first  astonishment  of  the  Indians  had 
subsided,  tiu'ir  hostility  only  b(>came  more  bitter;  for  Mani- 
oaotex.  rhe  brother  of  the  captured  cacique,  who  had  assumed 
his  auriinrity,  shared  also  his  inartial  s[)irit,  and  tried  to 
orifani/.e  a  general  rising  oC  the  tribi^s  foj-  his  release,  (f ua- 
ranau,a!'i  alone,  as  befm-e,  refused  to  appear  to  the  summons, 
not  from  love  of  the  Spaniards,  but  from  personal  attach- 
ment to  ('(dumbus. 

The  arrival  of  Anthony  de  Torres  with  four  shi[)l();uls  of 
provisions  improved  the  condition  of  affairs,  lie  was  the 
hearef  of  a  gracious  letter  from  Isabella,  asking  the  Admiral 
either  to  come  I'imself,  or  to  send  his  brother  Bai'tholomrw 
or  some  one  wlunn  he  judged  com])etent,  to  be  ])reseut  at 
the  final  adjudication  of  a  boundary  line  to  se])arate  th(^  ])os- 
sessions  oi  Spain  and  Portugal.     Columbus  was  still  ill  in 


124 


CIIIUSTOPIIER  COLUMBUS. 


■,n1i; 


V"; 


•:\tm 


M 


wm- 


bed,  Biu'tholoinew  could  on  no  account  be  spared,  so  Janios 
M'a.s  sent  to  counteract  as  iar  as  i)ossible  the  niisreprescnt;!- 
tions  of  Father  Boil  and  Pinter  Margarite.  He  took  witli 
lum  live  hundred  Indian  prisoners,  to  be  dealt  with  at  tlie 
discretion  of  tlii^  sovereigns. 

Isabella,  liesides  writing  to  her  Viceroy  of  the  Indies,  had 
sent  a  letter  to  the  colonists,  bidding  them  t)bey  him  as  they 
would  herself.  Tliese  two  letters  would  do  more  tlmn  niucli 
medical  attendance  to  help  the  convalescence  of  Columbus, 
and  he  rapidly  regained  his  health,  sufficiently  to  be  able  to 
take  the  held  in  person  against  the  confederate  cacicpies. 
All  the  effective  force  he  could  muster  amounted  to  two 
liundred  infantry,  twenty  horsemen,  and  a  few  formidable 
bloodhounds,  Avhile  word  was  brought  that  an  immense  imil- 
titude  from  all  parts  of  the  populous  island  was  gathered  in 
the  Koyal  Plain  within  two  day's  niarcdi,^  ready  to  burst; 
upon  the  little  town,and  swee^D  away  the  handful  of  detested 
invaders 

The  crime  of  the  Spaniards  had  put  all  conciliation  out  of 
the  question,  and  Columbus,  forced  by  self-defence  to  be- 
come a  compierer,  assumed  the  oll'ensive.  lie  marched  out 
with  his  brother  Bartholomew.  Ojeda,  at  the  head  of  his 
twenty  horse,  was  a  host  in  himself.  The  infantry  attacked 
in  two  divisions,  and  Ojeda  came  down  like  a  whirlwind. 
The  Indians,  in  spite  of  their  number,  fled  jianic-striick, 
yitdding  to  the  resolute  little  band  of  Euroi)eans  an  eiisy 
victory,  which,  if  we  are  to  compare  the  numbers  engaged 
on  both  sides,  two  hundred  men  against,  it  is  said,  one  hun- 
dred ihoi/sftu'/.  may  well  b(}  called  wonderful.  Tlie  ''lUii- 
jjaigii  was  thus  viitually  ended. 

Guacauagari  was  pi't>sent  at  the  battle  as  an  ally  of  tlip 
Spaniards,  but  lie  took  no  active  part  in  tlie  fighting.  This 
encounter  convinced  the  native  piinces  that  it  was  vain  to 
struggle  with  their  fate,  and  even  Manicaotf^x  sued  for 
])f'ace.  (tuarionex  was  a  second  time  admitt(Ml  to  pardon. 
Columbus  pas.sed  round  the  island,  crti.shing  with  the  help 
<it  Ojeda  any  lingering  spirit  of  resistance,  and  the  sul)juji;ii- 
tion  was  nearly  completed.   Only  the  most  western  province 


cmusToniER  col umbus. 


llV) 


of  Xai'Hgua  w;i,s  left  uiivlsited,  and  Belu'cliio,  avIio  ruled 
over  it.  iiuiinfained  his  ind(!i)endence  for  a,  liftle  time  long-er. 
Hi'  sister,  the  celebrated  Anacaona,  the  wife  of  Caonabo, 
had  taken  refuge  at  his  court,  but  altliongh  her  husband 
luul  been  so  roughly  handled  by  the  Spaniards,  she  bore 
them  no  ill-will. 

Columbus  had  been  forced  in  spite  of  himself  to  become  a 
('011(11  leror,  but  however  reluctantly  he  had  gone  to  war, 
HOW  tluit  tlie  war  was  over  he  recog'iV.ed  the  altered  state  of 
tliiiiirs.  'Die  Indians  were  no  longer  open-hearted  friends, 
lull  Ix'atcn  and  sullen  foes.  They  had,  under  provocation 
assiiri'dly,  but  not  on  that  account  less  truly,  intended  to 
wage  a  war  of  extermination.  They  had  been  defeated  and 
iiiiist  pay  the  penalty.  Columbus  laid  the  caciques  under 
tiiijiite,  and  fixed  a  certain  quantrty  of  gold-dust  to  be  regu- 
larly collected.  The  poor  Indians,  who  had  nevci'  known 
A\hat  real  hard  labor  was  till  then,  felt  that  an  unsupijorta- 
ble  yoke  had  been  fastened  ujion  their  necks,  and  gfoiiued 
ill  spirit  as  they  gazed  upon  the  grim  fortresses  and  knew 
too  surely  that  the  hated  strangers  did  not  mean  to  go  away 
aaain.  In  desperation  they  desisted  from  ihe  little  cultiva- 
tion of  the  soil  which  had  sufficed  to  satisfy  their  needs; 
l»ut  though  they  inflicted  s(mie  suffering  on  the  Spaiiiai'ds, 
they  suffered  far  more  themselves  from  so  suicidal  a  meas- 
ure. Out  of  this  regulai' ap])ortionmeiit  (tf  tril)ute  gnnv  in 
liineess  of  time  tlie  dreadful  system  of  r<imrii iiiUtito^^ 

:\[eaiuvhile  Fatlier  I'.oil  and  ]\fargarite  were  busily  defam- 
ing Cohinibus  to  pi-otect  themselves.  They  charged  him 
wirli  taskiuL!;  the  community  with  excessive  l;d)or  during  a 
time  of  general  sickness  and  debility,  with  stnp])ing  the 
rations  of  individuals  on  the  most  trilling  luvtext,  to  the 
pvat  (letiiuient  of  their  health  ;  with  wantonly  iiillicting 
si-vcre  corporal  punishments  on  the  common  ix'ople.  and 
with  heam'ng  indignities  on  Spanish  gentlemen  of  rank. 
Thry  said  nothina'.  however,  of  the  exigencies  which  had 
cnlli'd  for  unusual  labor,  nor  of  the  idl(>ness  and  ])rolligacy 
of  th(>  commonalty,  which  required  coercion  and  chastise- 


'  P:irlilioiis  or  (li'.ifrilnilioup,  cspociiiUy  of  hIiivcs. 


130 


emus  TOPIIER  COL  UMB  US. 


5J^ 


,  ■■* :  \ 


|i  Ife 


III  HI 


lufiit;  nor  of  the  seditious  ciibals  of  the  Spanish  eavalieis, 
%vli(t  liad  been  treated  with  indulgence  rathtu-  than  severity. 
In  addition  to  tliese  complaints,  they  I'epresented  the  stat4 
of  (.'onl'usion  of  the  islaiul,  in  consequence  of  the  absence  of 
the  Admiral  and  the  uncertainty  wliicli  prevailed  conceniino; 
Jiis  fate,  intimating  the  probability  of  his  having  perished  in 
liis  fool-hardy  attempts  to  explore  unknown  seas  and  dis- 
cover unprolitable  lands. 

tabelhi.  in  truth,  could  not  but  feel  her  sublime  confi- 
dence in  C()lund)us  somewhat  sliaken  by  llie  apparently  dis- 
interested statement  of  a  man  of  the  reputation  and  rank  of 
the   Vicar- Apostolic  seemed  clear  tliat  the  alfairs  ui 

Ilisp;iiiiola  re(|uire(l  •    gation  in  any  case,  and  if  tlie 

Admiral  had  really  perished  at  sea,  it  became  doubly  neces- 
sary to  tak(^  stringi'Pt  "leaSures.  A  lleet  was  on  the  point  of 
starting  with  supplii^s,  ;,:  ^  F  ,.io-ca  \\;is  ordered  to  ciioose 
some  trusty  ollicer  for  the  command,  and  conunission  hiiu  tu 
inquire  into  all  abuses  and  make  a  full  rejuu't  of  tlu;  saint;; 
but  if  he  found  tliat  the  Admiral  had  returned  safe  froni  his 
voyage,  he  was  not  to  sux)ersede  him  or  interfere  with  liis 
authority. 

At  this  conjuncture  Don  James  arrived,  and  not  only  boiv 
witntvss  to  the  fact  that  C()luml)us  was  alive,  but  gave  qiiiti' 
a  new  coloring  to  his  conduct.  Isabella  gladly  admitted  a 
more  favorable,  judgment,  and  the  royal  ordei-s  were  so  i'ln 
niodilied  that  instead  of  allowing  Fonseca  to  select  his  own 
(•onimission«n\  ,k)hu  Agiuulo,  supposed  to  be  an  especial 
friend  of  Columbu.s,  was  sert  to  ascertain  the  state  of  rlie 
colony. 

Aguado,  like  ]\[argarite,  had  experienced  the  markwl 
favor  of  Columbus,  and,  like  Margarite,  returned  evil  for 
good.  He  had  l)een  chosen  for  his  ollice  with  the  exprew 
object  of  soothing,  ns  hir  as  ptxssible,  the  uni)leasantness  of 
the  measures  which  it  had  been  judged  necessary  to  adojit. 
The  royal  letters  of  credit  were  pompously  vague  ;  l)ut  in- 
stead of  softening  down  their  possible  meaning,  he  puwlied 
it  to  the  extremes!,  limit. 

Columbus  was  engaged  in  sujjpressing  a  fresh  revolt  of 


CimiSTOPUER  COL  UMD  US. 


127 


iibliine  confi- 


tlie  brolliers  of  Caonabo  when  Aguado  arrived,  and  seemed 
to  liini,  in  his  pitirul  conceir,  to  be  keeping  ont  of  the  way 
in  fear  and  trembling.  lie  insolentlj^  ignored  Don  Bartlioh:)- 
luew's  presence,  causing  the  terms  oi'  liis  appointment  to  be 
proclaimed  w'tli  sound  oi'  trumpet:  "Cavaliers,  esquires, 
aiul  other  persons,  who  by  our  ordei's  ar(j  in  the  Indies,  we 
fciMul  to  you  John  Aguado,  our  groom  of  tlie  chaml)ers,  wlio 
will  speak  to  you  on  our  part.  AVe  command  you  to  give 
liim  faith  and  credit."  Instead  of  keeping  to  liis  instruc;- 
lioiis  and  collecting  information,  lie  at  on('i3  jjroceeded  to 
order  numerous  arrests,  and  had  the  pi'esuinption  to  send 
oil"  a  troop  of  horse  to  iind  the  recreant  Viceroy  in  his 
hiding-place  and  bring  him  to  jutlgment. 

Coiiuubus  needed  no  summoning.  Aguado  was  preparing 
himself  for  the  encountei',  anc^  meant  to  sliow  who  was 
master,  lie  was  quite  disconcerted  wh(.>n  his  noble  victim 
iiipekly  signilied  his  subnussion  to  the  will  of  the  sovereigns. 
Accusers  were  numerous,  for  the  star  of  Cohanbus  was 
ch'L'liuiug,  and  as  soon  as  Aguado  liad  collected  enough  evi- 
di'iice  to  achieve  the  linalruin  of  tin;  Cienoese  adventurer  and 
his  upstart  family,  hf>  i)roj)osed  to  return  to  S]iain.  Colum- 
bus resolved  to  gowiili  him.  Just  as  they  were  i)repa]ing 
to  stai't,  the  most  fearful  stoiin  in  the  memory  of  man  swept 
over  the  harbor,  and  destroyed  all  the  caravels  except  the 
t'>iiiifa  Cldr/f,'  which  boro  a  charmed  life. 

While  she  was  being  repaired  for  the  Admirars  own  nse, 
and  a  new  ves  ;el  was  building  for  Aguado  from  the  wrecks, 
an  occuii'cMice  somewluit  fortunate  and  romantic  took  place. 
One  of  the  Aduiii'aTs  yoiiug  oflicers,  I^Iichael  Diaz,  having 
woiuuled  ii  couiiade  in  a  duel,  lied  for  refuge  to  a  wild  quar- 
ter of  the  islaud.  Over  tlie  tribe  inhabiting  this  region  there 
reigiicd  a  young  Indian  fenuileof  great  beauty,  the  widow  of 
a  caci(pu\  She  fell  in  love  with  the  Spaniard,  ami  married 
liiiii ;  Diaz,  though  sincorely  attached  to  liis  dusky  bride, 
iiioiuuetl  in  secret  over  liis  own  country  and  his  lost  compan- 
ions. Anxious  to  dissipatehis  gloom,  the  afTectionate  woman 
learned  from  him  ut  length  the  passionate  ardor  with  w]u(di 


'  Formerly  the  Xifia. 


mh\ 


I!  .:!    m-it 


I :  ^  'i; 


;il  I '. 


I\a 


IL'S 


CimiSTOPnER  COLUMBUS. 


the  Sixiniards  sou<j:lit  afffr  gold,  and  the  fact  that  their 
contiiiucd  residence  in  llispaniola  was  prompted  by  the 
hi)l)e  of  dist'overing  mines  yet  unknown. 

Deliglited  at  the  thoiiglit  of  gratifying  her  lover,  she  iiu- 
mediatc^ly  i-evealed  to  hi'vi  this  source  of  inexhaustible  treas- 
ure, among  tlie  mountains.  Dia/.,  certain  of  his  ])ardon  iit 
sucli  a  [)rice,  hasteu.nl  to  Cnlum'ous  and  intrusted  liim  with 
tile  important  t-ecret,  wliicli  enabled  him  to  take  posscssioiuif 
vastwealtli  in  his  Sovereigns'  name,  lie  ^vas  iieisiiadfd  tJuu 
he  had  at  length  found  out  the  land  of  ()[)hi)'.  Tlie  grateful 
Diaz  faithfully  returned  to  his  Indian  beauty,  who  wiis 
baptized  by  llu;  name  of  Catalina.  Theii'  maiiiage  received 
the  blessing  of  the  Chr.rch,  and  he  continued  to  share  with 
h(M'  the  government  of  the  tribe. 

The  Admiral,  leaving  his  brother,  Don  Bai'tholomew,  in 
command,  set  sail  with  Aguado  on  thf.>  lOth  of  March,  J-I',)(i, 
The  two  caravels  were  crowded  with  invalids  antl  home-sicli 
c(  'onists. 

the  voyag(^  was  one  tedious  struggle  against  contrary 
winds,  so  that,  after  a  month  of  tacking  and  veering,  the 
Caribbee  islands  wcn-e  still  in  sight.  Not  only  community  ol 
intei'ests  ke[)t  the  vessels  together,  but  it  would  seem  Iluii, 
once  at  sea,  Aguado  sui'rendered  his  supremacy.  Perhajts 
he  felt  it  safei'  for  himself  to  keep  on  good  terms  withaiiuiu 
who,  slandered  and  o.itraged  as  he  had  been,  was  still  the 
greatest  of  navigators,  -■•-,  a  time  wdieu  an  ocean  voyage  was 
still  a  pinilous  enteri)rise.  They  landed  in  (luadalupe  to 
take  in  supplies,  nor  did  they  make  their  second  start  till  the 
2()th  of  April. 

Again  tln^ir  progress  was  so  slow  that  j^rovisions  began  to 
fail  when  they  had  still  far  to  go,  and  at  the  beginning  or 
dune  t!i!\v  were  reduced  to  su^'h  famine  that  only  tin;  stroii,;!; 
hand  of  Columbus  saved  vhe  Indians  on  board  from  beinii; 
killed  and  eaten.  When  he  would  by  no  means  permit  this 
atrocity,  a  clamorous  demand  was  niade  that  the  ])oor  crea- 
lures  might  be  thrown  overboai'd,  thus  at  least  to  lessen  tlie 
number  oi  useless  mouths.  Columbus  stood  iirm,  represent, 
iiig  that  Indians  were  fellow-men  with  souls  to  be  saved,  and 


cimisroniER  columbus. 


129 


that  these  Indians  in  particular  wore  h(Au<^  taken  to  Spain 
e\-]»ress]y  to  be  instructed  and  l)aptiz(>(l.  He  added  that  in 
rlin-e  dnys  they  would  sight  Cape  St,  Vincent.  Tlnjre  wero 
iiKiiiv  (experienced  sennien  with  him,  not  one  of  whom  a,!j^i'eed 
^vith  him  in  this  dechu'ation,  though  they  were  also  widely 
ai  varianci?  among  themselves. 

Once  more,  however,  he  was  right.  On  the  evening  of  the 
third  day  the  Admiral  maintained  that  tlie  land  wns  neai', 
and  gave  orders  to  take  in  sail  as  a  precaution,  nnudi  to  the 
dis))ieasure  of  all  his  weary  and  famished  men,  wlio  loudly 
protested  tiiat  they  could  not  bear  ihelr  sufferings  any 
loiiuvr,  and  Avould  far  rather  run  the  rislc  of  being  dashed 
ii-ihore  in  tlie  dark  tlmn  submit  to  any  unnecessary  i)i'ok)nga- 
;i()n  of  their  cruel  hungei-  Daylight  revealed  Cape  St. 
Ainceiit,  and,  wifli  an  involuntary  impidso  of  returning 
ivverence,  they  recognized  the  surpassing  skill  of  tluiir  won- 
di'ifiil  commander. 

The  invalids  in  the  ships  had  experic^iced  cm  the  long 
voyage  tiie  fatherly  solicatude  of  Co!um))ns,  and  many  who 
lit  lii'st  had  thought  favorably  of  Aguado  had  found  out  by 
constant  intercourse  his  vanity  and  worthlessness.  The 
poor  and  the  atllicted.  or)t>ressed  Indians  or  sick  S))aniards, 
iilwjiys  se(>med  to  be  drawn  by  some  secret  symjiathy  nearer 
111  their  distress  to  the  kind  heart  of  the  great  Admiral,  but 
ilieir  friendship  was  no  protection  to  him.  against  the  plots 
and  malice  of  powerful  enemies. 


CHAPTER    VT. 


A  YEAR  IN  SPAIN. 


t\;\ 


:'     ■!,!. 


Columhns  ah  a  mon/c — Aciltu'h/  of  Itin  enemlea — Other  d[f. 
Jlc/flifc-s' — James  Ferrer — The  Admiral  draws  up  his 
will — Belays,  and  •preparations  ff^^  another  voyage. 

Tlie  sliips  reached  Cadiz  on  the  llth  of  June.  Ciionubo 
never  saw  Spain.  The  Adniinil  had  hoped  to  win  him  by 
the  display  of  the  nia^'nilk  Mice  of  Spanish  power,  and  tlieu 
resrore  him  to  his  former  influence  to  he  a  useful  friend, 
but  lii.s  wild  nature  pined  in  captivity,  and  tlie  dusky  war- 
rior died  on  the  vovai?e. 

Tlie  wretched  condition  and  dejected  mien  of  the  starved 
crews  conllrmed  the  sinister  reports  which  li ad  been  widely 
spnnid,  and  Cobuubiis  was  once  a.U'ain  in  ])opular  esteeia  a 
visionary,  cheatin.ij;  liiniself  and  Ids  followers  with  p)!(len 
dreams.  His  sanu'iiine  anticipations  were  met  Avitli  a.  sneer 
of  incredulity.  Bt-fore  the  lirst  voyap:e  his  speculations  had 
appeared  unfounded;  after  the  second  voyage  liis  unde- 
niable discoveries  v.'ere  declai'ed  to  be  woi\se  than  useless. 

On  his  arrival  at  Cadiz,  Columbus  sent  to  inform  the  Sov- 
ereigns of  his  return  Avitli  .\guado,  and  then  waited  a  whole 
month  for  tlieir  answer.  It  was  during  this  delay  that  lie 
wore  publicly  the  habit  of  St.  Francis.  The  fact  is  incon- 
testable, and  the  motive  ecnially  so.  To  a  Protestant  like 
our  Irving,  the  idea  of  an  Admiral  walking  about  the  streets 
in  the  cowl  of  a  monk,  with  a  rope  round  his  vraist,  was  so 
singular  that  to  save  his  hero's  sanity  he  felt  himself  bound 
to  suppose  that  this  was  the  fulfillment  of  another  of  those 
extravagant  vows  matie  at  sea  under  stress  of  weather. 
There  is  no  mention  elsewhere  of  any  such  vow,  and  sensible 
Catholics  do  not  think  a  man  insane  because  he  declares 
130 


i:'iiit 


CimiSTOPIIER  COLUMBUS. 


131 


that  lie  is,  or  would  like  to  ho,  a  monk.  Coliunbn.s  lind 
juiii»!e  cause  for  l)L'ing  disgusted  with  tlie  world  and  its  in- 
j^ratitude,  and  whether  Father  John  Peiv:'.  had  just  returned 
lu  La  Kabidn,  or  had  never  left  it,  Columl  's  might  possibly 
luive  wished,  with  the  consent  of  his  wife,  to  end  his  days  in 
the  peace  of  the  cloister;  or,  if  he  believed  that  the  ungmte- 
fiil  world  still  needed  his  assistance,  or  felt  with  a  tou'-h  of 
lemorse  that  his  poor  wife  had  had  already  too  nnu!h  to 
si'll'er  on  his  account,  he  might  have  wished  to  signify  that 
]ie  was,  as  far  as  the  duties  of  his  state  of  life  pei'mirted,  a 
tiut'  sou  of  St.  Francis.  We  hear  no  more  of  good  Father 
John  Perez,  except  the  solitary  fact  that  he  died  before  his 
illustrious  friend.  The  records  of  the  convent,  as  was  said 
befoie,  have  unfortunately  perished. 

Amontirs  interval  gave  tbe  active  enemies  of  Columbus — 
I'Vither  Bernard  lioi'l,  Peter  Margarite,  John  de  Aguado,  and 
the  potentate,  Fonseca — time  to  do  their  worst.  However, 
when  the  answer  to  his  letter  came  at  length,  it  was  all  that 
coiihl  be  desired.  The  Sovereigns  expi'cssed  their  gratitude 
and  congiatulation,  and  invited  himself  to  Court  as  soon  as 
he  had  siilliciently  recovered  from  the  fatigues  of  his  voyage. 
Isahi'lla  seems  to  have  had  all  her  doubts  dispelled  as  soon 
!is  she  was  once  more  able  to  see  and  speak  to  Columbus. 
>((ir  one  word  of  blame  seems  to  have  })een  spoken  in  the 
i.iici'view  at  Bui'gos,  and  though  we  know  from  sul)S(>quent 
events  that  Ferdinand  was  even  at  this  time  unfriendly,  yet 
IsabcHa  was  incapal)le  of  dissimulation,  and  soon  after  this 
slie  wrote  to  Columl)us  an  unoflicial  letter,  still  extant, 
Vvhich  bears  witness  to  her  undiminished  veneration. 

The  time  was  almost  as  unpropitious  for  the  prosecution 
of  (lis! ant  discovery  as  the  closing  period  of  the  Moorish 
\v;u"  lu'id  been.  Isabella's  gentle  maternal  heart  was  entirely 
occiipied  with  matrimonial  projects  for  the  welfare  of  her 
children,  and  Ferdinand  was  entirely  engrossed  with  his 
European  wars.  He  cared,  indeed,  notably  little  al)oiit  his 
new  dominions,  which  hitherto  had  been  more  })urthensome 
than  lucrative  to  his  treasury.  King  Ferdinand,  though  a 
shrewd  man  of  business,  was  by  no  means  a  far-sighted 


133 


CHRIS TOPIIER  COL  UMB  US. 


ilMiM 


11 


moiiarcli.  Coliiinbiis  asked  for  eif!;ht  vessels  fo  f(»llow  up 
the  <Jiil»iin  explonitioiis,  luid  establisli  n  lii'in  footiiiu"  on  tll^' 
maiiilaiid  of  Asia.  It  was  not  till  tlie  J'ollowin.u;  spriii.i;' (14117) 
tiiiit  tile  pro[)osal  re(;eived  real  attention.  In  the  niraiiliinc, 
the  kind  f(netlu)n;i,ht  of  the  Queen  had  arranged  an  inter- 
view, wliicli  <;av(>  him  a  new  friend,  worthy  to  stund  by  the 
side  of  Earlier  Jolin  Perez,  or  to  talce  his  place. 

.lames  b'errer,  thi^  lai)idary  of  Bui'<;()s,  is  very  brielly  men- 
tioned by  Irvinu',  who  g-ivf's  the  substance  of  a  letter  written 
by  him,  at  (he  eommand  of  Isabella,  to  Columbus,  advisinif 
him  to  explore  further  to  the  South.  He  was  a  great  trav- 
eler juid  a  i:(>alous  Catholie,  much  esteemed  by  Isabella,  and 
a  jiersonal  frit.'iid  ot  the  great  Cardinal  i\Iendo/a. 

The  list  of  Ferrer's  accomi)lishnients  is  given  afttM-  the 
pretentious  manner  of  those  days,  and  ranges  over  every- 
thing knowable  in  human  science,  from  nKithemalics  to 
]ii»;'ti'y,  and,  Ixvsides,  ht^  was  a  theologian.  The  versatility 
of  his  genius  niav  be  conjectured  from  the  fact  that  the  i)ro- 
fessional  mineralogist  ar  observant  traveler  wrote  a  theo- 
logical treatist^  on  the  allegories  of  IJante,^  and  his  leain- 
ing  seems  to  have  been,  in  the  judgment  of  his  conteuipe- 
rai'ies,  not  less  deep  than  varietl.  The  fragments  of  his 
wriiings  whi<'h  remain  conlirm  this  opinion.  lie  was  a 
man  worth  kn  >\ving,  and,  as  he  had  by  this  time  I'eturned 
frniii  his  tiavels  in  the  East,  Isabella  summoned  him  to 
Court,  lie  had  formed  from  the  first  a  high  idea  of  the 
scientific  value  of  the  achievments  of  the  venerable  Colum- 
bus, and  was  one  of  the  few  Avho  shared  with  Isabella  an 
insight  into  the  religious  chfiracter  of  tlie  enterprise,  which 
he  styled  "more  divine  than  human." 

In  January  of  tlie  year  140.1i,  Ferrer  wrote  to  the  Queen, 
offering  some  advice  about  the  Papal  line  of  demarcation, 
and  in  the  letter  he  said:  "I  believe  that  God,  in  the  high 
and  mysterious  designs  of  His  Providence,  has  (;hosen  him' 
as  his  accredited  Jigent  for  this  work,  Aviiich  seems  to  me 
nothing  less  than  a  prelude  and  preparation  to  the  things 


'  Smtendas  Calolicas  del  ilivopoeta  Danta.    liarculona,  iai5, 
^  Culiimliiis, 


cinunToriiEH  vol  umiws. 


l'?3 


which  God,  acrordinf?  to  ITis  p,oo(l  Provideiico,  prn])o,ses  to 
make  known  (o  us  in  dnt*  tinus  to  W\^  ^lory,  and  to  tlic 
fialvatio'i  and  happiness  of  tlic  woi'ld." 

Ill  hi  H"  to  Ctjlnnibus  himself,  his  admiration  is  still 

Hioiv  niiirKcd.      lie  wi'ires  : 

"The  infallible  Pr(jvideiu'(»  of  God  sent  the  ^rent  'IMiomas 
from  the  \\'<'st  to  the  Kast.  to  make  knoAvn  lo  the  Indies 
dill'  holy  Catliolie  law;  and  yon,  sir,  Providence  has  sent, 
by  :in  ojjposite  path,  from  the  East  to  the  AVest,  in  order 
thaf,  by  (he  Divine  will,  yon  may  reach  the  East,  the  fnrtli- 
csr  liii'.its  of  rpper  India,  to  carry  to  tlie  nations,  which 
have  not  lieard  the  preachinu;  of  Thomas,  the  knowletliie 
of  salvation,  and  to  i'nlfill  the  words  of  the  I'lo^diet :  In 
oiiiiK'i/f  li-rram.  cxiGit  soiius  loniin. 

"Without  fear  of  error,  I  atlirni  that  you,  sir,  hold  the 
office  of  an  Apostle,  of  an  Ambassador  of  (^od,  sent  l)y 
the  Divi  >  decrees  to  reveal  His  Holy  Name  to  lands 
where  '  rnth  is  still  unknown.  It  would  not  have  been 
Ix'yoiid  .aims  of  your  mission,  in  dignity  or  inipoi'tance, 

if  a  Pope  or  a  Cardinal  of  Koine  had  shared  your  glorious 
labors  in  those  huuls.  Put  the  Pope  is  jirevented  by  grave 
concerns,  and  the  Cardinal  by  his  relish  of  the  comforts  of 
litV.  from  following  such  a  course  as  yours.  It  is  qxiHe  true, 
nevertheless,  that  with  an  object  like  yours  the  Prince  of 
the  Apostohc  army  came  to  Rome,  and  that  his  fellow- 
laborers.  v<'ssels  of  election,  went  about  the  world,  s])eiuling 
their  sti'engih,  severely  ti'ied,  with  sandals  worn  and  gar- 
ments rent,  their  bodies  exhausted  by  the  dangers,  the 
harrlships  and  fatigues  of  those  travels,  which  often  gave 
tlieni  only  the  bi'ead  of  bitterness  to  eat."  ' 

The  friendship  of  such  a  learned,  Avhole-souled  man  as 
James  Ferrer  came  when  it  was  most  needed  to  help  CcjIuiu- 
hns  in  his  old  age,  to  keep  up  his  courage  to  the  end,  through 
many  tiibulations. 

Isabella's  kind  reception  of  Columbus  somewhat  deranged 
the  plans  of  his  calumniators..    Fonseca  saw  that  it  was 


'  '•^^lis  liltcr,"  siiys  Fnthcr  Knight  S.  J.,  "shows  that  Jamoa  FcmT,  ttiic  Cattiosic  and  loyal 
eon  of  tbt  I'opf,  was  no  timid  devoit'c.'' 


fi 


'•■•{  -■!■!, 


!  ,;•  !     .:  li 


f  :i.ii^. : 


iififil-' 


i'  hUL-f: 


a  I  V. 


\:! 


134 


cnmsToriiEu  col  umbus. 


necessary  to  proceed  cautiously,  for  tlioiigli  his  unforgiven 
foe  -was  going  down  the  liill,  he  was  not  quite  near  enoiio;li 
to  tlie  precipice  yet,  and  a  premature  attempt  to  pu.sli  him 
ovei  niigiit  be  dangerous  to  the  assiiilant.  No  amount  of 
royal  favor  could  renu)ve  tlie  disagreeable  impression  pro- 
duced by  the  sallow  i'a(!es  and  w'asted  frames  of  the  unsiic- 
cessl'ul  Argonauts,  and  even  Avhen  the  Sovereigns  were  at 
leisure  at  last  to  give  all  recpiisite  orders  for  a  new  expedi- 
tion, much  reuiained  to  be  done  before  the  orders  were  cari'ied 
out,  and  tlie  state  of  things  sadly  resenil)led  what  we  have 
alri'ady  described  in  speaking  of  the  pre[)arations  for  the 
lirst  voyage,  when  sailors  hung  back  in  dismay,  and  ship- 
owners put  ;Ul  obstacles  in  the  v»\vy  of  departure.  lAmspcii 
did  not  dai'(^  to  disobey  Isabella,  but  he  could  and  did  devise 
delays  and  impediments  in  the  execution  ot"  unwelcome 
commands.  The  wedding  of  Prince  John  was  followed 
exactly  f^ix  months  later  by  his  death.  Colund)us  would 
not  break  in  upon  the  deep  grief  of  his  royal  beuefactress. 

T]u3  Admiral,  however,  employed  part  of  his  forced  leisure 
in  executing  a  1)7//,  or  deed  of  culail,  liie  terms  of  which 
reveal  to  us  his  inmost  soul,  and  expkdn  much  tluit  would 
otherwise  want  explaining. 

He  begins  this  docnment  in  the  name  of  <"he  "[-blessed  Trin- 
ity, '  to  Whom  he  refers  the  firnt  idea,  and  the  complete 
conviction  which  succeeded  it,  that  a  passage  fo  the  In-lies 
by  sailing  westward  was  possible.  He  recalls  with  gratitude 
that  by  the  grace  of  our  Lord  he  had  discovered  the  kind  of 
the  Indies  and  numerous  islands,  and,  as  ginnit  revenues 
ai'e  sure  to  come  to  him  therefrom,  he  therefore  founds  this 
M(tJorafus.^ 

He  places  the  deed  under  the  protection  of  the  Holy  See, 
because  his  only  object  in  framing  it  is  the  service  of 
Almighty  (lod.  lie  appoints  his  son,  Don  Janu^s,  his  heir, 
and  the  pro^xn'ty  is  to  descend  by  priuu>g<>niture.  lie 
recpiires  these  who  succeed  him  to  use  in  tlieir  signature  no 


■  TrviTi':  wrilos:  '  Don   Fornnndo,  son  to  ColnmlMi!',  snys  that  liis  fntlicr.  wlion  ho  tocik  his 
pen  ni  hand  usually  coniinonce'l  liy  wrilmj;  '  .h'xiis  cum  MarUi  sit  nahia  in  rid.'  " 
«  Mdjoratuf,  l,  e.,  properly  so  attached  '.■,■  uu  heivdilary  title  of  lionor  as  lu  descend  with  it. 


CURISTOPUER  COLUMBUS. 


135~ 


other  title  than  that  of  Admiml,  and  to  adiT  always  the 
forinnhi  whicli  he  had  inveiiLed,  and  \\i;i('h  was  a  prayer  in 
irscli',  namely,  "S.  S.  A.  S.  X.  M:.  J.  XPO  Ferens,'"  the 
loUons  liein^:;'  ari-anged  in  fora-  lines. 

The  llrsL  stipulation  is  in  behalf  of  the  itoor,  to  wliom  a. 
tenth  of  all  the  revennes  is  to  be  assigned,  ''for  the  honor  of 
God  Eternal  and  Almigiity."  Among  the  poor,  any  des- 
titute nieml)ers  of  the  family  arc  to  have  a  i^rior  elaim.  In. 
tliis  liust  clause'  we  may  recognize  the  Christian  virtues  of 
humility  and  well-ordered  charity. 

Then  the  Admiral  proceeds  at  once  to  the  tlionght  which 
lav  nearest  to  his  heart,  the  long-cherished  purpos*;  of  re- 
covering the  Holy  Sepulchre  from  the  Turks.  lie  )>ids  his 
son  and  heir  reniember  that  when  he  was  planning  the  voy- 
a<re  to  tlie  In.dies,  he  had  designed  to  petition  the  Sovereigns 
to  devote  all  the  prolits  to  tlie  contpie'^t  of  Jerusalem,  and 
requires  him  ac^'ordiugly  to  strive  to  amass  much  ti'easure, 
\]\  order  to  be  able  to  assist  tlu>  King,  if  he  woidd  nndertake 
ttie  enterprise,  or,  if  he  would  not,  then  to  lit  out  a  large 
army  and  go  without  him  ;  in  whicii  cas(\  he  hoped  tliat  the 
help  refused  for  the  commencement  would  be  conceded  for 
the  prosecution  of  the  crusade. 

After  having  "liberated  his  sonl"  v/ith  regard  to  the  Holy 
Sepulchre,  he  next  shows  his  keen  solicitude  for  the  tem- 
poral power  of  the  Pope : 

"Innr,  /  ordain  tliat,  if  for  the  cliastiseinrnt  of  our 
sina,  any  scliism  .should  come  to  he  in  the  Church  of  (lod^ 
and  any  per.'ion  of  au'/  rank  or  nation  ichafwerrr,  fihould 
cndcacor  hij  violence  to  deprive  it  of  its  i^rituler/es  and  pos- 
sefisioufi,  the  said,  Don  Dicgn,  or  whosocrer  shall  pos.sess 
i/ti'  said  Majoratus^  do  imniedialeli/  under  'pa in  ofdisiu- 
licritance  put  himself  at  tlie  feet  of  the  llohj  Father 
[unless,  indeed,  the  latter  should  hare  turned  htrefic,  a 
filing  wJiich  God,  will  not  permit),  and  offer  himself  and 
his  dependents  to  do  him  service  with  all  their  resources, 
%'^eli  amis  and  money,  interest  and.  principal,  to  crusli  the 
schism  and prew-nt  the  sp)olialion  of  the  Churcti.''^ 


180 


CIIllISTOPIIER  COL  UMD  US. 


1  I 


I     fi! 


That  nothing  may  be  wanting  to  the  true  Catholic  charnc< 
t?r  of  this  interesting  document,  another  obligation  is  im- 
posed of  building  in  the  llnyal  Plain'  in  Ilispaniola  a 
church  under  the  invocati(m  oi"  "St.  ]\Iary  of  the  Concep- 
tion," a  mode  of  honoring  our  Blessed  Lady  which  sup. 
poses  tlie  doctrine  of  hei-  Immaculate  Conception.  'J'hen  a 
liospital  is  to  be  founded,  and  chairs  of  theology  establislied 
for  the  instruction  of  those  v*iio  shall  devote  themselves 
to  the  conversion  of  the  Indians. 

Isabella,  during  this  interval  of  delay,  tri(\l  to  indure 
Columbus  to  accept  a  large  tract  in  llispaniola  for  his  ])ri- 
vate  property,  Avith  the  title- of  Duke  or  Mar<|nis,  but  lio 
res()lut(>ly  I'efused.  Perhai)S  ho  thought  it  inconsistent 
Avitli  liis  sublime  vocation  to  accept  a  reward  v.iiich,  wliile  it 
injured  his  position, 'might  also  teni])t  him  iii  his  old  age, 
"jindt^r  the  specious  pretext  of  attending  to  tlse  interests  of 
his  children,  to  make  a  home  for  himself  and  them,  and,  sink- 
ing into  dignified  ease,  to  give  up  the  further  prosecution 
of  hisgi'and,  but  self-sacriticing  and  eniiniMitly  "uncomfort- 
able," designs.  It  seems  scarcely  likely  that  his  sole  mo- 
tive in  refusing  Isabella's  generous  i>roposal  was  a  i^ru- 
dent  feai'  of  incj'easing  his  uni)o})ularity .  ]S'or,  on  the  other 
hand,  was  ho  ii'uiltv  of  foolish  inconsistencv  in  reiectinc: 
a  new  source  of  revenue,  since  the  wealth  whi<'h  lie  desired 
for  crusading  purposes  was  sure  to  come  sooner  or  later, 
he  thought,  from  the  "eighth"  guaranteed  to.  him  in  the 
capitulation  di'awn  up  at  Santa  F«'',  if  there  was  faitli  in 
a  royal  word  and  gold  in  the  Indies.  Unhappily.^  it  was 
loui 


m  coming. 


Fresh  causes  of  delay  now  arose.  Ferdinand  was  much 
distressed  for  monev,  but  Isabella  had  actuallv  set  a'^iilo 
certain  funds  f(U'  the  new  expedition,  when,  in  October, 
341)7,  Peter  Alon/f)  Nino  returned  from  llispaniola,  and  by 
his  foolish  boast  that  he  l)rought  much  gold  caused  the 
imniediati^  revocation  of  the  royal  grant,  for  it  .was  sup- 
posed tliat  this  A'aluable  freight  would  more  than  suflice  to 
meet  the  demands  of  the  Admiial.     When  the  unfortuu;ite 


■itll 


*  Vt'ga  Keal. 


CHRISTOPHER  COL  UMB  U8. 


137 


captain,  who  had  gone  to  visit  his  family  before  forwarding 
his  despatches,  came  to  confess  that  his  gold  was  in  the 
sliai)'.'  of  three  hundred  Indian  "pi'isoners  of  war,  to  be  sold, 
Isabella  and  Ferdinand,  for  different  reasons,  were  equally 
(lis,i;n;;ted.  Although  tlie  letter  of  the  royal  instru('ti(jtigl 
oi'iluiued  that  Indians  concerned  in  the-  death  of  Span- 
iaids  should  be  enslaved,  yet  Isabella  was  shocked  at  the 
liuinltf'i". 

Anangenients  had  to  be  recommenced.  Orders  and  coun- 
tcr-onlei's  wasted  much  time  The  anxiety  of  (."ohuubus 
increased  with  every  fresh  delay,  for  he  knew  by  sad  expe- 
rience how  much  the  colony  dei^ended  upon  imported  food, 
ami  liow  scarcity  of  provisions  increased  the  difliculty  of 
governing  selfish  and  discontented  and  seditious  men.  Yet 
even  his  sagaci(nts  mind  could  not  easily  have  conjectured 
the  extent  of  the  evils  which  Iried  to  the  utmost  ;ill  the 
grand  qualities,  the  high  courage,  the  sti'ong  endurarice,  the 
viii'ilance,  the  practical  wisdoju,  the  mingled  severity  and 
lUfivy  of  his  brother  Bartholonu'W,  the  good  Adelaniddo. 

The  more  the  Admiral  displayed  his  anxiety  to  hurry  for- 
ward the  preparations,  the  nu)re  "his  cold-blooded  enemy 
Fonsera,"  who  was  now  Ijisiu)p  (»f  Badajos,  tried  to  interpose 
vexatious  obstacles.  In  his  despair,  wheu  v{dunti'eis  could 
nut  he  found,  he  proposed  a  measure  v.hieb,  though  it  met 
Avirh  the  eager  approval  of  the  Sovereigns,  must  be  allowed 
to  havt^  been  even  in  that  dire  extremity  a  grievous  error  of 
judgment.  This  was  to  commute  the  imprisonment  of  h-sser 
criniinuls  into  a  term  of  service  in  the  colony  Alas!  there 
wtre  bad  men  enough,  and  "basely  bad,"  in  Ilispaniola 
already,  without  turning  loose  into  the  island  men  convicted 
of  every  kind  of  villainy. 

Cohuubus,  who  to  the  eud  could  never  fully  realize  the  deep 
wicbnluess  of  which  the  human  heart  is  capable,  no  dijubt 
thought  that  this  plan  might  be  regarded  as  the  lesser  of 
two  evils,  inasmuch  as  to  send  no  ships  at  all  was  to  consign 
the  colony  to  certain  destruction,  while  to  send  out  men 
who  liad  nnsHemeaned  themselves  at  lumio  was  to  give  them 
a  chance  of  becoming  honest  men,  a  chance  which  nuiny  of 


liii 


.;  i' 


=  f^:! 

.;  ,,1   S    ,    'I, 


138 


CIIRISTOniER  COLUMBUS. 


them,  under  the  comhined  inducement  of  gmtitude  and 
interest,  might  hQ  glad  to  seize.  It  was  a  melancholy  mis- 
take, and  one  which  brought  its  own  sad  punishment. 

By  the  most  strenuous  exertions,  Columbus  succeeded  at 
last  in  fitting  out  two  caravels  early  in  1498;  but  to  accom- 
plish this  it  was  necessary  for  him,  Viceroy  as  he  was,  to 
take  much  of  the  actual  drudgery  of  the  work  upon  himself, 
to  go  round  to  the  storehouses  and  deal  personally  with  the 
tradesmen,  lie  speaks  feelingly,  in  a  letter  Avritten  long 
afterward,  of  his  laborious  quest  of  provisions  on  this  occa- 
sion. The  two  vessels  arrived  in  llispaniola  at  the  begin- 
ning of  February,  bearing  to  Bartholomew  the  royal  con- 
Jirmation  of  his  appointment,  which  gave  strength  to  his 
government  at  such  a  critical  juncture,  that  perhaps  a  few 
weeks  of  additional  delay  would  have  made  reconstruction 
quite  impossible.' 


•  For  the  Inriror  portion  of  chapters  V.  OTid  VI.,  «'<  nlno  much  of  the  preceding  one,  «e  tiilio 
plenpiirc  in  u(  kiiowli.'(l;;ing  our  f.'rfat  iiulubtoiliifss  to  the  concise  and  very  accurate  "Lifu  of 
Cohimbus"  by  ratlicr  A.  G.  KuigUt,  S.  J.,  of  Kiiglund, 


I'fi 


ai'i,  i ; 


CHAPTER  VII. 


THE  Tllllin  AND  FOUIM'II  VOYAGES  TO  AMERICA. 

Cohrmhus  punishing  insolence — Crossing  the  stormy  ocean, 
in  the  name  of  the  Hoty  Trinity — Touches  the  main- 
land of  America — At  Jlispaniola  again— Q netting 
troubles — llie  din  of  calumny — Boiiadilta  and,  his 
mission — Columbus  sent  home  in  cliains — Great  schemes 
—.1  fourth,  voyage  planned —Going  to  the  relief  of  a, 
fort — Columbus  insulted  again  at  Iliypaniola— Awful 
fate  (f  a  feet  containing  his  enemies — kiearch  for  an 
imaginary  strait — Sailing  along  the  coast  of  Central 
America — Ihdtle  with  a  watersjxju^ — A  rision — Aground 
on  Jamaica — Mendez  and,  his  adventures — Mutiny  of 
Piirras—The  threatened  famine — An  h  istorical  eclipse 
of  the  mooii—A.  singular  visit — A  fierce  conJUct — Reliif 
comes — Columbus  reaches  Spain. 

Pjv  I ]i(>  assiduous  nud  watclifal  toil  of  the  venerable  Ad- 
miral, six  more  caravels  were  ready  at  the  end  of  May,  14!i8. 
lie  was  just  about  to  sail.  The  malignity  of  Bishop  Fonseca 
riml  the  insolence  of  his  underlings,  however,  pursued  tho 
Disccneier  of  AnuM'ica  even  to  the  water's  edge.  Of  Iheso 
annoying  ollicials,  (he  most  bold  and  noisy  was  one  IJreviesca, 
treasui'er  to  Fonseca,  and  a  converted  Jew.  He  grossly  in- 
snltcd  Columbus  to  his  very  face.  The  great  old  man,  in 
tlif  hurry  and  indignation  of  the  moment,  forgot  his  usual 
self  command,  and,  raising  his  hand,  he  struck  the  des- 
]i;i'al)le  minion  to  the  earth. 

It  may  have  been   another  error  of  judgmert,    f(n'  the 

wretched  Breviesca  had  an  official   character,  and  Bishop 

Fonseca  would  be  sure  to  take  the  chastisement  as  an  insult 

to  Liiiisclf.     But  even  if  the  intliction  of  this  well-merited 

139 


140 


UIIRISTOrUEU  COLUMBUS. 


punisliineiit  was  a  grave  fault  iu  dii)loniacy,  the  moral 
oli'erise  was  surely  a  very  small  one ;  and,  perhaps,  to 
Columbus  it  seemed  more  important  to  vindicate  liis  iiuiior 
and  assert  his  power  before  his  own  retainers,  than  to  con- 
sider xiivf  nic,_4y  the  eJl'ectvoL"  his  act  upon  one  w.:\o  could 
scarcely  beco!U3  more  insolent  and  bitterly  hostile  than  liy 
was.  Certainly,  Fonseca  was  not  the  personage  to  let  slip 
such  a  golden  opportunity,  and  Las  Casus  attributes  the 
decline  of  tii:^  Admh-aFs  inliuence  at  Court  to  this  incident, 
wlii.'h  was  rt^i)res:.':it:jd  in  the  darkest  colors  when  he  was  no 
luiiger  present  to  defend  himseli. 

iS'or,  indeed,  did  Columbus  himself  fail  to  foresee  the  in- 
vidious use  that  would  be  made  of  it.  It  would  be  difficult 
to  make,  with  equal  brevity,  a  more  direct  and  all'ecting  .-ip- 
peal  than  that  contained  in  one  of  his  letters,  wherein  lie 
alludes  to  this  alfair.  lie  entreats  the  Sovereigns  not  to  let 
it  be  wrested  to  his  injury  in  their  opinion;  but  to  remember, 
when  anything  should  be  said  to  Ids  disi)aragement,  that 
he  Avas  '•'ahsi-nt,  oiiued,  and  a  sfra/if/er.''' 

The  much-enduring  Admiral  set  sail  from  the  port  of  San 
Lucar  on  the  3t)th  of  ^Nluy,  with  six  vessels,  and  two  hun- 
dred men,  in  addition  to  the  sp.ilors  that  were  necessary.  It 
was  no  longer  islands  that  he  sought.  He  wished  to  make 
some  great  discoverv,  and  started  on  his  third  voyage  bv 
])hi('ing  it  under  the  special  protection  of  the  Most  Holy 
'i'riuity,  whose  sacred  name  he  promised  to  give  the  lirst 
land  hii  would  discover. 

in  thi^  course  of  this  voyage  he  Avas  obliged  to  avoid  a 
French  sip.iu  Iron,  as  Fi-ance  and  Spain  were  tlien  at  war. 
From  the  Canary  Islands  Columbus  dispatched  three  of  his 
sliips  directly  to  Tlisjianiola,  dcM-laring  in  'lis  instructions  to 
llunr  comminders.  that  ho  himself  was  going  to  the  Cape 
Verde  Islands,  and  thence,  "in  thename  of  the  Holy  Trin- 
ity," intended  to  navigate  to  the  South  of  those  islajids,  until 
he  should  arrive  nnder  the  equinoctial  line,  in  the  ho]^'  of 
being  "guided  by  God  to  discover  something  which  may 
be  to  His  service,  nnd  to  that  of  our  Lords,  the  King  and 
Queen,  and  to  the  honor  of  Christendom.''     "I  believe,"  he 


CnEIS  TOrilER  COL  UMB  US. 


la 


a'lds,  "that  no  one  has  ever  traversed  this  way,  and  that  this 
6e;i  is  nearly  unknown." 

With  one  ship  and  two  caravels,  the  great  Admiral  made 
i(»i-  the  (Jape  Verde  Islands — "a  false  name,"  he  remarks, 
;is  iKitliing  was  to  be  seen  there  of  a  green  color.  He 
Tciicii.'d  tliese  islands  towards  the  end  of  .Inne,  and  left 
tlii'in  oil  the  4tliof  July.  All  this  time  he  was  siirronnded 
bv  such  a  dense  fog  that  he  writes,  "Itmiuht  have  been 
ciU  with  a  l:nit'e." 

The  vessels  had  pushed  along  many  leagues,  when  snd- 
di'uly  the  winds  abated  and  the  heat  became  intolerable. 
>'ol)ody  dared  to  go  below  deck  to  look  after  the  wine, 
water  and  provisions.  This  lasted  eight  days.  The  lirst 
day  was  clear,  and  had  the  othei'S  been  like  it,  Co]nnil)iis 
states  that  not  a  man  would  have  been  left  alive.  'J'hey 
would  have  been  all  Imrnt  up. 

The  Admiral,  in  his  distress,  a(ldress(Ml  himself  to  Heaven, 
and,  at  last,  a  favorable  breeze  sprang  up,  enabling  him  to 
I'usiie  a  more  westerly  course.  Soon  but  a  single  barrel  of 
Matei'  remained  in  each  of  the  vessels.  The  distress  of  the 
Clews  was  frightful.  But,  "as  Uod  had  always  been  accus- 
tomed to  show  mercy  to  him" — to  use  the  Admiral's  own 
v.ofds — a  mariner  named  Alonzo  Perez  happened  to  go 
aloi'r  upon  the  maintop  of  the  xYdmii-al's  ship,  and  suddenly 
saw  towards  the  southwest,  about  lifteen  leagues  off,  three 
summits  of  mountains,  which  appeared  united  at  the  base. 
It  was  the  land  desii-edl  Wonderful  it  Avas,  indeed,  for 
it  seeniod  at  that  distance  to  exhibit  the  mysterious  emblem 
of  the  Trinity,  whose  name  Columbus  had  vowed  to  bestow 
on  it.  It  was  an  island,  and  he  called  it  Trinidad:  The 
sailois  sang  the  F^idre  Begina  and  the  Ate  Maris  Slclla, 
mid  when  the  Admiral  landed,  he  planted,  as  was  his  usual 
custom,  a  larce  cross  on  the  shore. 

On  the  following  day  he  continued  in  a  westerly  direc- 


'  The  n)il  dironioltTS  nnil  lii-^fni":  ni  nro  struck  with  nstnni.-itimoiit  nt  tliis  incident.  "  Miifloz," 
MysCnimt  fli'  LofL'nos,  '-who  liul  iiikUt  IiIh  pvo  llio  nnrrnUoiiH  mid  llio  (!ociitn('nt><,  informs  iia 
thiit  fnltimhrn  .■itlrlliiitcd  tliis  discovery  ti>  n  sipinl  fnvor  from  Ood."  Tiihiild'l  \*  Ilic  Spanish 
for  Trinity.  This  island  is  situated  oiitsid<!  the  clellii  of  the  great  river  Orinoco,  having  the  Gull 
of  P.iriii  on  the  west. 


143 


CURISTOPIIER  COLUMBUS. 


II 


8*1! '      'I 


WM 


tion,  in  soarch  of  a  port  where  he  niiglit  take  in  water 
and  relit  his  ships.  Die  extreme  heat  luid  shrunk  tlie 
timber,  a-nd  caulking  was  sadly  needed.  The  port  he  did 
not  lind,  but  came  to  deep  sotmdings  somewliere  near  Point 
Alcatraz.  Here  he  took  in  fresh  water.  Tliis  was  on 
AVednesday,  the  1st  of  August,  1498.  From  the  point 
Avliere  he  now  was,  the  low  lands  of  the  Orinoco'  nnist 
liave  been  visible,  and  Columbus  for  the  lirst  time  belield 
tJie  mainland  of  America. 

He  pushed  on  towards  the  Gulf  of  Paria.  It  was  just 
after  the  rainy  season,  and  the  great  rivers  which  How  into 
the  Cxulf  were  causing  its  waters  to  rush  with  impetuosity 
out  of  the  two  openings  which  lead  into  the  wide  ocean. 
The  iierce  struggle  between  the  fresh  Wctter  and  the  salt 
■water  produced  a  high  ridge  of  waters^  on  the  top  of  wiiich 
the  Admiial  was  Ijorne  into  the  Guli  of  such  risk,  that, 
Avriting  afterwards  of  this  event  to  tiio  S[)anisli  Courf,  lio 
says:  "Even  to-day  I  shudder  L^t  tne  waiers  should  have 
ui)si.'t  the  vessel  when  they  came  under  its  bows." 

From  the  si/e  of  the  Orinoco,  Columbus  fell-  sure  that  lio 
liad  discovered  a  continent.  Ho  called  it  Ticrra  de  Gracia, 
or  the  L:ind  of  Grace.  Mass  was  celebrated,  and  possession 
taken  of  tlienewly-discovered  territory  in  due  foi'm.  A  large 
(U'oss  was  then  raised  on  the  most  prominent  part  of  the 
beach,  and  the  holy  name  of  tho  Redeemer  resounded  for 
the  first  time  on  the  wild, unknown  shores  of  South  Animca. 

t^pace  will  not  pernut  us  to  follow  Columbus  at  every 
point  in  this  most  memorable  voyage.  In  the  midst  of 
trials,  sickness,  and  adventures,  the  great  man  added  a  con- 
tinent to  the  world's  map  ;  nor  was  the  map  more  enlarged 
than  truth,  science  and  commerce.^ 

'  Point  Alcatraz  is  situated  nt  the  S.  E.  extremity  of  Trinidail. 

^  Tlie  Orinoco  is  an  ininionse  river  wliicli  discliniso!<  itself  by  seven  great  moutlis  and  forty 
smnllcr  ones'.  Its  (lella  covers  an  extent  of  about  lifty  leagues,  divided  and  sub-divided  into 
liihmils  of  vr :  >.ns  sizes. 

^  "  Tliis  voyage  (tlie  third),  undertaken  in  the  name  of  the  Most  Holy  Trinity,"  writes  Count 
(ie  Lorgues,  "  was  no  less  iniportiinl.  Ihiin  his  first  one.  lie  made  tlie  peaceable  conquest  of  tlireo 
grand  truths,  which  will  ever  be  of  utility  to  science:  1.  The  existence  of  a  new  continent;  H.  Tho 
eq:ialorial  sv.e.ling  ;  3.  The  great  oceanic  current.  Tho  least  of  those  three  discoveries  - ■  uld 
Uuit  secured  iniuiortality  for  the  discoverer.  .  .  .  Such  was  the  importance  of  this  third  vi^ugs 


CnRISTOPIIER  COLUMBUS. 


143 


On  the  noth  of  August  the  vessels  reached  Ilispaniola. 
The  Adiniral's  liealth  was  shattered,  but  he  found  a  firm  and 
afFectionate  friend  in  liis  brother,  Don  Bartliolomew,  who 
iclated  to  him  tlie  various  calamities  that  had  befallen  the 
uuliappy  island  since  his  departure.  It  was  one  long  story 
(if  tliH  excesses  and  insubordination  of  the  Spaniard?. 
Their  cruelties  to  the  Indians  are  too  painful  and  far  too 
tedious  a  tale  to  recount  here.  It  must  suffice  to  say  that, 
on  his  recovery,  Columbus  found  his  genius  heavily  tasked 
in  the  labor  of   restoring  some  degree  of  order  and  good 

feeling. 

An  account  of  the  disturbances,  however,  had  already 
<,'()ne  to  Spain,  and  were  charged  to  the  account  of  the  ven- 
erable man  whose  sole  anxiety  had  been  to  heal  them. 
Cohuubiis  wrote  to  the  Court,  entreating  that  a  magistrate, 
empowered  by  royal  authority,  might  be  sent  out  to  rule 
the  lawless  men  who  created  such  endless  dissatisfaction. 
Hitherto  the  Spanish  sovereigns  had,  upon  the  whole,  be- 
liiived  pretty  well  to  Columbus.  But  he  had  bitter  enemies 
at  Court.  People  were  forever  suggesting  to  the  monarchs 
t  h:U  til's  foreigner  was  doing  Avrong.  The  Admiral's  son,  Fer- 
dinand, gives  a  vivid  picture  of  some  of  the  compli'.ints 
]ireferred  against  his  father,  "When  I  was  at  Chanada," 
lie  writes,  "at  the  time  the  Most  Serene  Prince  Don  Micliael 
(lied,  luoie  than  fifty  of  them — Spaniards  who  had  returned 
from  the  Indies — as  men  without  shame,  bought  a  great 
(quantity  of  grapes,  and  sat  themselves  down  in  tlie  court  of 
the  AllKind)ra,  uttering  loud  cries,  saying  that  their  fligh- 
riesses  and  the  Admiral  made  them  live  in  this  poor  fash- 
ion, on  account  of  the  bad  pay  they  received — with  many 
other  dislnmest  and  unseemly  things,  w  hich  they  kept  repeat- 
ing. Such  was  their  effrontery  that  when  the  Catholic 
Iving  canie  forth  thev  all  surrounded  him,  and  u'ot  him  into 
the  midst  of  them,  saying  'Pay!  pay  I'  and  if  l\v  chancel 


thul  then'  romuim-d  no  lonifor  any  gnintt  disfovcry  to  be  niiido.  Tlio  mcsscnL'cr  of  the  Cross  left 
Imt  few  f(jr  fiiliirc  poncratious.  Tli:inlvH  to  him,  the  whole  world  wan  tlienccforth  open  to  tho 
iiivi>t!t!i\lii)?is  of  ninn.  For  throe  ccntnrit  k  no  man  has  discovered  in  the  laws  of  natMr(^  anything; 
linmliT,  more  profouud,  or  more  fnndainentnl  for  Bcience.  Three  centuries  have  passed  awiiy, 
aiid  uo  uiuQ  baa  derived  from  any  voyiige  &o  inao;  iiitcUcctuul  ucquitjitiouii." 


144 


CimiSTOniER  COLUMBUS. 


!  :ii 


'}   .  \  '11 


and  ray  brother — wlio  were  pages  to  the  Most  Serene  Qneen 
— happened  to  pass  where  they  were,  they  shouted  to  the 
very  heavens,  saying:  ' Looli  at  the  sons  (f  the  Adiiiiral  )f 
Ilosqulto  Land,  of  that  man  who  has  discot'ered  the  lands 
of  deceit  and  disappointment,  a  place  of  sepulchre  and 
loretcJiedness  to  Spanish  hidalgos,''  adding  many  other  in- 
sulting expressions,  on  which  account  we  excused  ourselves 
from  passing  by  them." 

Tlius  clamor  and  cahimny  kept  up  an  unceasing  din  against 
the  great  Admiral  at  tlie  Si)anish  Court. ' 

Perdinand  and  Isabella  chose  Francis  Bobadilla  for  the 
invi^^-stigation  of  aiTairs  in  the  Kev/  World.  They  autlior- 
ized  %vm.  ^'to  ascertain  wliat  persons  have  raised  themseb-es 
against  justice  in  the  island  of  Ilispaniola,  and  to  proct-ed 
against  i\wm  according  to  hiw."  Amcmg  otlier  documents 
.the  foUowin^g  renmrkaljle  letter  to  Columbus  was  given  liini: 

"Don  Christopher  Columbus,  our  Admiral  of  the  Ocean: 
We  have  commanded  the  Comendador  Francis  de  Bobadilla, 
the  bearer  of  this,  that  he  speak  to  you  on  our  part  some 
things  which  he  will  t^\  you.  AVe  pray  you  to  give  him 
faith  and  credence,  and  act  accordingly. 

I,  THE  KING,        I,  THE  QUEEI^. 


J3y  their  command, 


Michael  Perez  de  Aljiazax." 


mi 


On  the  23rd  of  August,  in  the  year  1500,  Bobadilla  made 
his  appearance  at  San  Domingo,  Ilispaniola.  The  Admiral 
was  at  Fort  Conception.  Bobadilla,  immediately  summnneil 
the  Discoverer  of  America  to  appear  before  him,  sending 


'  While  Colunihns  wns  involvcil  in  n  Rprics  of  difflculties  in  Tlixpiiiiiola  his  enomips  woro  imt  too 
.sncci!ssfi)l  in  iindcrminin'^  liis  re|)iitil:oii  af  tlie  Court  of  Spam.  Bishop  Fonsini,  and  otlu'ra 
Avlio  liad  frcquont  accoss  to  tlic  Sovcri'ii:nc,  were  einil)lod  to  i)lact.>  ovcrytliinj;  iircpd  aj,'ainst  liira 
in  tlio  stronfrest  lijiht,  while  they  di'Ptroyod  Ihn  foroo  of  his  vindicalions.  Every  vonst-l  from  Ihd 
jncw  world  catno  frciKlltcil  with  complaints  and  oalanndco;  it  was  (.'vcn  alli't;cd  tlmt  Coliimhns  in- 
tended to  cast  oil  nlleuianro  to  Spain,  and  riiher  make  himself  povereiirn  of  the  romitries  lielind 
discovered,  or  yield  them  into  the  hands  of  tome  other  power,  a  slander  which  however  extrava 
gent  was  calcnlatert  to  Ptnrtle  the  jealoas  mind  of  Ferdinand.  .  .  .  The  incessant  repetition 
of  falsehood  will  gradually  wear  its  way  info  the  most  candid  mind.  Isabella  herself  tiejran 
at  leiij.'th  to  doubt.  .  .  .  Isabella  doubted,  but  the  jealous  mind  of  lerdiuaiid  felt  convinced 


CnmSTOPIIER  COLUATBVS. 


l-lo 


him  tlie  royal  letter.  Cf)liiTnbn.«  without  delay  obeyed  the 
suiiiinniis  of  this  .shallow  atul  insolent  man;  1)::t  scaic:!/ 
li:i<l  he  tijipeared  before  the.i;ates  of  8an  Domingo,  wiien  lie 
Aviis  rndeJy  seized,  put  in  iions,  and  eonliued  in  the  fortress. 
His  brothers  were  similarly  treated.  Accusations  fell 
tlilckly  cm  the  venerable  head  of  the  Admiral.  "Thr  stoneg 
lose  up  against  him  and  his  brothers,"  says  the  historian 
Herrera. 

With  a  stupid  brutality,  which  we  may  charitably  sup- 
pose he  took  for  vigor,  Bobadilla  decided  to  ship  Columbus 
and  his  brothers  in  chains  to  Spain. 

Til !  prisoners  were  given  in  charge  of  Alonzo  do  Yillejo, 
an  otiicer  in  the  emi)loy  of  Bishop  Fonseca,  who  unhappily 
is  thought  to  have  been  the  secret  instigator  of  all  those  vio- 
lent proceedings.  Yillejo,  howwer,  was  a  man  of  honorable 
clrarncter  and  generous  f(>elings,  and  showed  himself  supe- 
rior to  tlie  low  malignity  of  his  patron.  When  he  arrived 
witli  a  guard  to  conduct  the  Admiral  from  the  prison  to  the 
ship,  h(;'  found  him  in  chains,  in  a  state  of  deep  despondency, 
fearing  that  he  should,  bo  sacrificed  without  a  hearing,  and 
that  his  name  would  go  down  to  posterity  sullietl  with 
imputed  crimes. 

Seeing  the  officer  enter  with  the  guard,  Columbus  thought 
it  was  to  conduct  him  to  the  scafl'old.  "Yillejo,"  said  lie, 
niournfidly,  "whither  are  you  taking  me?"  "To  the  ship, 
yuiu'  Excellency,  to  enduirk,"  re})lied  the  other.  "To 
eml>:uk!"  (>choed  the  Admiral.  "Yillejo,  do  you  speak  the 
truth r'  "By  the  life  of  your  Excellency,"  replied  the  hon- 
est oTicer,  "it  is  true!"  With  these  words  the  Admiral 
\Yas  comforted,  and  felt  as  one  restored  from  death  to  life. 
The  caravels  set  sail  early  in  October,  bearing  off  Columbus, 
shackled  like  the  vilest  of  culprits,  ar.ndst  the  scoll's  and 
shonts  of  a  miscreant  rabble,  who  took  a  brutal  joy  in  heap- 
in"' insults  on  his  ven^able  head,  and  sent  curses  after  him 
from  the  island  he  had  so  recently  added  to  the  civilized 
•\vorld.  Fortunately,  tlie  voyage  was  favorable  and  of  mod- 
erate duration,  and  was  rendered  less  irksome  to  Columbus 
by  the  conduct  of  those  to  whom  he  was  given  in  custody. 


146 


CIiniSTOPUER  CO  L  I'MU  US. 


liil 


W  "' 


f 


Tli(3  worthy  Vilk'jo,  as  well  as  Andrew  Martin,  tlio  mnstor 
of  th(3  canivi'l,  always  ti-cahMl  liini  with  ^jruiound  rt'sjjwt 
and  iis-;i(lii()ii8  atteutioM.  They  would  havo  taken  oil'  liis 
irons,  but  to  this  he  would  not  conseut.  "Xo,"  Haid  he, 
with  Christian  diunitv,  "tlieir  Alaiesties  coniinanded  me  by 
letter  to  subiuit  to  whatever  Jiobadilla  should  order  iu  their 
name;  by  their  autliority  he  has  jjutupon  me  tliese  chains;  I 
Avill  wear  the;n  until  they  shall  tu'dtu-  them  to  be  taken  olT, 
and  I  will  afterwards  preserve  them  as  relics  and  nuuuorials 
of  the  reward  of  my  services." 

''He  did  so,"  adds  his  son  Ferdinand,  in  his  History;  "I 
saw  them  always  hanging  in  his  cabinet,  and  he  requested 
that  wliea  he  died  they  might  be  buried  with  himi" 

How  strange!  Columbus  gave  Spain  a  new  world  ;  and,  in 
return,  Spain  loaded  him  with  fetters.  Soon,  however,  tkeie 
was  a  reaction.  Tlie  nation  became  sensible  of  its  ingrati- 
tude to  its  great  benefactor.  The  nobility  were  shocked 
at  this  insult  to  one  of  their  own  order;  and  no  sooner  had 
Ferdiiumd  aiul  Isabella  learned  fi'om  Cobr.nbus  of  his 
arrival,  and  of  his  disgrace,  than  tliey  issued  irunuMlialo 
orders  for  his  liberation,  and  summoned  him  to  the  Court 
at  Crranada.  forwarding  money  to  enable  him  to  jn'ooeed 
therein  a  style  befitting  his  rank.  Ho  was  received  with  all 
l)ossible  marks  of  distinction.  The  Sovereigns  repndiatod 
]3obadilla's  arbitrary  proceedings,  and  promiseel  the  Admiral 
compensation  and  satisfaction.  To  signify  their  entire  dii- 
ap])roval  of  tlie  way  in  which  ]5ol)adilla  had  acted  under 
their  commission,  they  pointedly  refused  to  inquire  into  the 
charges  against  Colum])Us,  and  dismissed  them  as  not 
worthy  of  investigation.' 

The  aged  discoverer  of  America  now  found  the  rest  for 
which  he  had  so  long  sighed.  That  third  voyage,  v.hich 
had  seenungly  terminated  so  disastrously,  had  really  more 
than  answered  all  his  prayers.  He  had  sailed  in  search  of 
Asia,  and  had  found  America.  To  him  who  had  been  chosen 
to  discover  the  first  land  in  the  West  had  been  granted  also 


•  An  onictT  named  Don  Nicholas  do  Ovando  was  also  sent  to  supersede  Bobadilla  iu  His- 
pauioia. 


cimisroi'iiEii  COL  umijus. 


M7 


the  first  siirlit  of  tlio  p;reat  continent,  tliouii'li  this  was  in 
14 'S.  :iiiil  already  in  J4'J.7  the  royal  .sanction  had  been  ^ivcn 
t.i  private  adventure.  It  is  stian^e  indehd,  that  in  tlioso 
tlitve  years  no  bold  mariner  was  able  to  wrest  from  Colum- 
bus that  secondary  ^doiy. 

The  Adnural  was  itei'feelly  aware  of  th(^  /j:reat  results 
wliii'h  he  had  achieved,  and  his  active  and  vi,i;orous  ndnd, 
no  loader  occui)ied  witli  ten  thousand  petty  details  of 
anxious  government,  reverted  at  once  to  tlit  master-thought 
\vlii('li  .u'ave  epic  unity  to  his  entire  career.  In  deep  medita- 
ti(»n  in  tlit;  Franciscan  convents  at  Ch-anada  and  Zul)ia,  he 
traced  tlie  connection,  to  him  so  natural  and  so  intiniat(>, 
between  the  discovery  of  new  natif)ns  and  tlie  re-conquest 
of  Jerusalem,  lie  had  stroui-'ly  grasped  the  fundamental 
truth  that  the  actions  of  men  liave  their  meaninu;  and  value 
I'l'dUi  rd'erence  to  the  life  of  dt^sus  Chiist.  The  only  thing 
leally  worthy  of  Ch.ristian  anil)ition  was  to  sj)read  the  king- 
('iDiunl'  Christ.  Dynastic  wars  were  not  wortlione  thought; 
out  when  it  was  projiosed  to  rescue  the  lioly  j^laces  from 
tlie  iulidel  Turk,  a  Christian,  Cobnnbus  su])pos(>d,  ndglit 
well  be  glad  to  spend  money  and  labor  and  lil'e  itself.  He 
was  filled  Avith  zeal,  lie  saw  in  his  own  name,  the  "  Christ- 
bt'arer,''  a  symbol  v)l'  his  work.  AVhetlier  he  strove  to 
extend  the  boundaries  of  the  Chui'ch,  or  to  restoi'e  to  tlie 
Cliiirch  her  former  possessions;  whether  he  labored  to  con- 
vert jioor  ignorant  i)agans  to  the  knowledge  of  Christ,  or  to 
wre.it  from  obstinate  enemies  the  objects  of  Christian  reve- 
rence, he  was  always  thinking  how  to  advance  the  cause 
of  lliui  wliom  in  more  than  name  lie  carried. 

That  this  is  no  fancy  of  his  Catholic  admirers,  the  Ad- 

niiral's  'wn  \\ .     iigs  abundantly  prove.     The  wealth  of  the 

•()  folh)u-  his  train  of  thought— would  insure  the 

>iy  of  the  ^' dy  Sepulchre;  the  recovery  of  the  Holy 

iiulchre  woulu  increase  charity,  and  s(Mid  evangelists  to 
i..  liul'  ..  Distant  nations  must  be  added  to  the  fold,  and 
Christi;,  is  must  be  fi'ee  once  more  to  worship  Christ  at 
Bethlehem  and  Calvary,  ''"he  grand  idea  which  tilled  the 
mind  and  claimed  the  whole  soul  of  Columbus  was  to  make 


lyii 


III 


nW' 


-vi-fr 


m 


148 


CIIllISTO rilER  COL  UMB US. 


a  liiL'-liway  round  the  earth,  and  brinu;  the  nations  in  willinn 
horuagi>  to  the  feot  of  Jestis  Christ,  reigiiin!^  once  more  in 
Jerusalem  of  the  Cluistians. 

11(5  ;'ouM  uot  yet  luaroli  n.i^ainst  the  infich^l  Turk,  l)ut  he 
could  coutinue  Ids  pro;;-ress  round  the  world,  and  thus  very 
tOiortly  we  find  hiru  again,  before  lie  had  recruited  his 
fjtrength,  milking  api)licati;>n  to  the  Sovereigns  to  be  sent  on 
a  I'resli  expedition.  The  indomitable  old  man  woul'l  rather 
die  in  liariiess  than  lead  an  idle  life,  I'rotcstant  histdiians 
show  their  inal)ility'  tj  ai>i)reciate  that  profoundly  ri'liiiious 
character  winch  thoy  universally  ascrilx;  to  Columbus,  w luu 
they  can  only  see  i\\  this  desire  cf  a  fouiHi  voj-age  the  lov) 
ef  glory  and  the  fear  of  being  ecliivsi'd  by  rival  navigators, 
He  himself  solemnly  aL  erts  that  these  were  net  his  motive.s. 

In  t1ui  :;oui'S!.>  cf  his  ir.editafons,  a  great  idea  ilashcd  upon 
the  mind  oi  Columbus.  His  conclusions,  it  may  be  said, 
were  sometimes  more  correct  tlian  his  pi'emiscs.  The  gre;i, 
current  si'tting  westward  Iroin  ilu;  Gulf  of  l*aria  must  liuil 
an  outlet  somewhere,  he  supposed,  to  the  west,  and  Irving 
as-'serts  tha,t  he  fixed  in  his  mind  he  region  -  f  the  J.s'/i/nus 
of  Darii'/i  iov  the  ])r()bable  loeality.  Ib>  was  mistakeii^  as 
it  hai)pencd,  but  //ic  <///c.v.v  /((u  siKHujdij  near  the  IndlL 
It  was  to  lind  this  strait,  and,  having  i)assed  through  it, 
to  continue  his  vovage  ((round  the  n^orld^  that  he  now  I'ro- 
pose.'^  to  resume  th(^  thread  of  his  discoveries  The  (li'sii;T. 
1  umd  much  favor  with  Ferdinand,  for  he  einied  l'(ii'tii,i;'al 
lier  lucrative  Ashitic  expeditions. 

Columlms,  however,  thoroughly  distrusted  Fei'dinaiKl 
He  felt  that,  in  t.ie  event  of  Isaliellas  deatli,  all  his  piLSi 
jcrvices  would  be  iorgotten,  and  all  solemn  conventions 
would  be  disregarded,  as  far,  "t  least,  as  publin  opinion  iiiij^ht 
permit:  and  that  if,  as  was  not  i  aprol)al)k^,  he  hiiusolf 
sliould  lose  his  life  on  this  voyagr-,  his  children,  vith  a 
crowd  of  loud  t\nd  bitter  enemies  o"  their  father  round  them, 
wcuhl  be  delrauded  of  their  rights,  and  that  in  consequence 
liis  <i,rand  designs  for  the  service  ol  the  Church  woidd  perish 
with  himself.  lie  took  the  m:)s'  extraordi..ary  precai'tions, 
At  this  'dr^d  he  was  in  actual  poverty,  living  nm.:  his 


cmusToriiER  vol  iMr.us. 


i:,') 


•nco  more  in 


"(■vpectationG"  of  justice,  and  his  claims  of  unpaid  icn'iu!  >. 
lie  wi'otc  an  anxious  Iftler  to  tlie  Sovereig'ns,  recoiiiiiicinlin;; 
to  tiit'iii  lin  cliildniu  ;nid  his  brotliers  nj^:..:  his  death. 

His  evid(Mit  sohcitiido  i^uve  real  pain  to  Isabe.ia,  and  oncc^ 
mure  all  liis  n.^,hts  were  solemnly  guaranteed  liy  a,  j-iiut 
Ifttrrof  the  Sovereigns,  But  even  iLis  could  no';  ca'iu  his 
IVius.  Isabella's  i)r()tes!ati()ns  wei-e  sui);'i'!]uou.s,  Ferdinand's 
worthless,  Columbus  '.'(;nsign(ul  a  copy  of  aJ.  thoi  rights 
(oiicedt  d  to  himself  and  his  heirs  to  the  care;  of  the  (it^noese 
jY.,>i>-,;s;i,doi';  and  asked  him  to  let  his  eldo;.'.  son,  Don  James, 
know  \vlu''e  It  was  to  be  foun: ..  Another  copy  he  left  with 
the  Fi'aDciscans,  and  another  with  th.'  nrjuks  of  ^-Ji.  .b-rome. 
lli;  dr(,'\\'  up,  rAoreover,  written  insti'uctions  to  hilp  .banes 
in  making  good  his  claitns,  which  './enj  sure  to  be  cdilcstcd. 
ilc  also  wrote  to  t!u;  Holy  leather  at  (his  lini',  expr<;ssing 
Lis  regret  at  ha'dng  been  nnable  to  I'dati;  to  him  v.ith  his 
own  lii's  the  stojy  of  the  enter})rise,  originally  undertaken 
and  consistently  ju'osecub^d  i'or  the  gloiy  of  (iod  and  Iho 
(li!fiisi(m  of  the  faith,  lb;  speaks,  of  course,  of  the  Holy 
S'piilclire,  and  is  sure  that  Satan  is  to  Ijlaniii  for  the  tl.wart- 
iui;,-  of  his  pioirs  puri)ose,  whuh  will  i'e(piir(!  moii"y  and 
iHjwer,  and  that  now  he  is  possessed  of  n(u;:her. 

lie  prayed  that  his  son  Ferdinaml  might  ])e  permitled  to 
poct.inpany  him  on  tht^  expedition,  and  Isabella  gav(?  iln;  boy  a 
naval  coiuinission.  Don  Bartholomew  was  vt  iirst  disposed 
to  hold  back.  Ci'ood  Christian  tliough  he  was,  lav  thought 
that  <:h:  ill-nsage  which  they  had  .'xi)er;enced  v.-ent  bey<ind 
jiunum  eiKlurance,  and  In^  was  m  no  mood  to  continue  to 
serve  uiigratefid  Spain.  But  the  sight  of  his  nol)le  brotlier, 
still  Rere!i(>  and  bravr-,  untamed  by  disappointment,  uncon- 
qu";'(l  by  (!p])osition,  faithful  to  the  end,  made  him 
iisliaiiied  of  his  weakness.  He  would  not  let  the  Admiral  go 
aloni',  just  w'eju  most  he  needed  the  help  (d'  a  strong  arm 
iuul  a  lo'";ig  heart.  Don  James  obeyed  anotiier  vocation. 
Ik'liad  led  in  all  the  turmoil  of  Ifispaniola  a  life  worthy  of 
'a?  most  sacred  calling,  and  he  now  recognized  the  will  of 
God,  and  began  his  L;tudies  for  the  priesthood. 

Ill  liis  fourth  voyage,  Columbus,  as  already  stated,  pro 


150 


CnniSTOPIlER  COL UMBUS. 


3       :', 


!»■  ; 


:i     :!. 


W    I 


posed  to  cin^nmnavigate  the  globe."  lie  jiressed  the  Sovor- 
ei\;^ns'  to  provide  him  with  lour  vessels  and  provisions  for 
two  years.  On  the  !)th  of  "^^ay.  l.")02,the  preparations  wei'e  com- 
plete, and  he  set  sail  Irom  Cadiz,  having  whn  him  his  brother, 
Bon  Bartholomew,  and  his  son  Ferdinand.  As  an  instance 
of  the  great  old'  Admiral's  chivalrous  love  of  adventure, 
it  may  be  mentioned  tliat  upon  hearing  that  the  P(n-tuguese 
fortress  of  Arzilla — on  the  African  coast — was  besieged  by 
the  Moors,  he  at  once  proceeded  to  its  relief.  When  he 
reached  it,  howevej-,  tlie  siege  was  raised. 

Turning  the  prows  of  his  ships  towards  the  New  "WorLl, 
he  nit^t  with  a  prosperous  voyage  until  near  Hisi)ani()la.  He 
arrived  oil"  the  liartKU'  of  San  Domingo  at  an  unfavoirlile 
moment.  Tlie  phice  was  tilled  with  tiie  most  virulent  .if 
his  enemies.  In  the  hiirlior  lay  the  lieet  which  iiad  lirouiiili; 
out  Ovando.  It  was  ready  to  jjut  to  sea,  Tiie  experienced 
eve  of  Cohunbus  beheld  in  the  distance  an  aT)i)i'<)achinu 
liurricane.  lb' w;is  anxious  to  shelter  his  own  scpuubnn  in 
the  harbor,  and  sent  a  message,  asking  permission  tu  do 
so,  and  advising  (^.aiido  of  the  coming  storm,  and  tiie 
danger  of  letting  the  Meet  sail  for  S])ain. 

Ovando  sternly  forbade  the  Admiral  to  enter  the  har'iw 
on  any  account;  and  he  retired  from  the  river  in;lign:iiii  a; 
being  refused  slielter  in  the  very  island  which  he  liad  discuv- 


'  Coliimlms  rnncelveil  an  opinion  Ih.ii  iK^yonil  the  continent  of  Amcricn  tlurc  was  a  I'f  i  vinca 
oxtenilcd  to  tlic  Kast  Imli.'s,  anil  lioin'il  to  Ihid  i«onu'  Klrait  or  narrow  nci'li  of  land,  'jy  wliulia 
conimiinii'Mtion  inlL'lit  lie  n|ii'n,'ii  witli  it  and  tlic  part  of  the  ocean  already  known.  Ity  !i  wry 
fortiniale  oonjeclure,  ho  [■iipiH)>ed  ihis  .-.trait  or  icthmus  to  tj  ...tuated  near  t.'.i,'  '.iiilf  ol'  Jarau.- 
Jl(-oi'rtfUii. 

".Inst  l)ifor'>  petlini  out  on  liis  ff.nr'li  voyaire,  Colnmbn!'  wrote  a  ftroiiL,'  lel'er  to  rcrilimV'J, 
reproacliiiiir  liie  Kini;  will)  llie  Irealnient  wliicli  lie  had  receivrd,  and  Willi  the  want  iil'  loiill.li'iirt 
niiini.'ested  towards  iiim  now,  IVr.iinand,  wiio  well  knew  the  nso  of  words,  cent  a  soullung 
reply. 

•  Von  oii-jht  to  111'  convinced."  wrnle  Die  Spanisli  Kinp:,  "  of  our  displeasure  at  your  ciiilivjly, 
foi  we  lo.st  not  A  luonieni  in  sriiiii;.'  yon  free.  Vonr  innocence  is  well  known.  Von  are  aw;u!;  of 
the  eoiisiilerilion  and  friendship  with  which  we  have  treated  yon.  The  favors  which  yoa  liav« 
received  from  ns  sh  ill  not  lie  the  last  that  yon  will  receive.  We  assure  to  yon  yonr  iirlviiep-s, 
and  are  den'rons  that  yon  and  your  cliildren  may  en.iov  them.  We  olTer  lo  ontlrni  them  lo  ''-tt 
a(;ain.  and  ti>  pat  yonr  eldest  -oa  in  possession  of  ail  your  ollices,  whenever  you  \\i.~li.  .  .  .  hi 
bejr  you  to  set  out  as  soon  u»  possilile." 

'  ".\:;e,"  writes  Irvinir.  ''  was  rapidly  inakinc  its  advances  upon  Cohnnhus,  when  ho  nndcrtnolt 
iais  fourth  voyaiie  of  diyeovery.  lie  was  iio'v  aliout  fLrtij-yi.e  years  of  a;:e.  His  cnustil'ilien, 
oriudnally  vii'orons  in  the  extreme.  I.iul  heen  impaired  by  hardships  iii  every  "Uine,  and  I'j  dit 
menl;d  snlTerinL's  ho  hud  uuderyuui;.' 


CEBISTuniER  COL  UMB  US. 


IDl 


ered.  Feolinci:  confident,  however,  that  a  terrible  storm  Avas  at 
liaiul,  lie  kept  close  to  the  shore,  thinking  to  shelter  hiniseli; 
in  some  wild  bay  or  river. 

But  scarcely  a  ripple  j)assed  over  the  sea,  scarcely  a  breath 
stuTed  the  luxuriant  foliage  on  the  shore.  Ovando,  tilled 
with  haughty  ignorance,  scorned  the  Adniiral's  suggestion  in 
rei^ard  to  delaying  the  departure  of  the  ships  for  Sjjain. 
This  licet  was  the  richest  in  cargo  that  had  ever  left  the 
islands.  It  contained  all  the  gold  Avhiclr  had  been  v/rung 
out  of  the  natives  by  Bobadilla's  harsh  measures.  Of  one 
nuuuet,  especialh',  the  old  chroniclers  si)eak  in  tiie  most 
flowing  terms,  According  to  them,  it  was  the  largest  piece 
of  vii'uin  gold  ever  discovered,  it  Ams  accidentally  found 
bv  an  Ind.tin  woman  at  :he  mines,  while  careh\ssly  moving 
her  rako  to  and  fro  in  the  water  c:i3  '.lay  during  diuncr-iime. 
Its  value  was  estimated  at  l,3ii0,000  nuiravedis  ; '  and  in  the 
tcstivitles  which  took  X)^ace  en  tac  occasion  it  was  used  as  a 
dish  Icr  a  roast  pig,  ^Iio  miners  saying  that  no  King  of  Cas- 
(ilo  had  ever  feasted  ii  om  a  dish  oi  such  value.  AVe  do  not 
find  that  'he  poor  Indian  woman  had  any  pari  in  the  good 
iui'tuuo.  Indeed,  as  Las  Casas  observes,  she  was  luqipy  if 
slie  Jiad  even  any  portion  of  the  meat,  not  to  speak  of  the 
dish  Bobadilla,  though  a  scoundrel,  was  not  a  blockhead. 
He  pni'cdiased  the  nugget  for  Ferdinand  and  Isabella,  and 
faivfuiiy  shipped  it  with  other  treasures  valuable  enough  to 
KoaJ-Jiigway  towards  compensating  the  8])anish  Sovereigns 
i-:r  all  their  expenditure  on  the  new  Colony — //  Jie  iieet 
could  only  reach  Spain  in  safety. 

]]ut,  on  the  second  dry  alter  :'ts  departure,  the  prcMliction 
c:'  Columbus  became  terribly  verified.  A  tornado  of  nnex- 
anipl'^d  fury  swept  the  seas.  Those  on  shore  ctmid  judge  of 
ilio  fate  ilnt  was  likely  to  befall  the  doomed  squadron,' as 
many  of  tlie  buildings  and  trees  of  the  island  were  leveled 
with  the  ground  by  tlie  cutting  force  oi'  the  wild  tem})est. 
Of  all  the  ships,  only  one — and  that  the  fraih'st  of  the  ileet 
- -ever  reached  the  shores  of  sunny  Spain.     It  was  the  one 

'About  $«,000.       '  It  coiiBletod  of  tightecn  sliips. 


152 


emus  ropiiER  col  umb  us. 


r:  V] 


tlini  carritnl  tlio  Adininirs  iiropcrty."  Bobadilja  and  ]ii;i  ill- 
gotten  g'.>ld  i^erislied  in  tliti  niiglity  deep;  and  it>  wunld.iiot 
be  zzlc  to  think  tlnit  tlie  famons  nugget  went  far  to  plead 
his  cause  before  the  Judgment-seat  of  God. 

Uolunibu.s  and  Lis  four  little  vessels  bi'aved  the  furious 
tempest  on  the  coast  of  llispaniola;  and,  tlioiigh  three  of 
them  lutd  been  severely  strained,  tiie  Adniirars  own  ship 
received  no  danuige  of  any  Ivind.  lie  succeeded  in  reiitliiig, 
and  set  sail  for  .Jamaica  on  the  14th  of  July.  He  pasa-d 
thaj  island,  meeting  with  light  winds  and  contrary  currents. 

For  about  nine  weeks  the  Admiral  made  so  little  progress 
ihat  his  crews  began  to  clamor  for  the  abandoiinu  nt  of  tli9 
cxpL>dition.  The  slii[)^  were  leaky  and  worm-eaten,  j'ro- 
visions  were  running  short.  The  seamen  had  seen  their 
commancTer  thrust  away  from  what  might  be  called  his  own 
do(,)r,  and  the  sight  of  his  powerlessness  had  sti'engtheiicd 
their  independence  until  it  amounted  to  insubordinaliou. 
Ilapj/ily,  however,  before  the  discontent  broke  out  into 
oi:)en  mutiny,  a  breeze  sprang  up  from  tlu;  cnist,  and  the 
Admiral  easily  persuaded  his  unruly  crews  that  it  vras  ) let- 
ter to  prosecute  their  voyage  than  to  remain  beating  abmit 
the  islets  waiting  to  return  home.  Yet,  from  thai  time  f(!i'- 
ward,  it  was  one  long  battle  with  winds  and  waves.  Old 
age  was  Ijeginning  to  make  itself  felt,  and  the  discovei-cr  oi: 
America  became  very  ill;  but,  full  of  the  sense  of  deep  re- 
.  sponsibility,  he  had  his  bed  placed  in  a  house  on  deck,  from 
which  he  could  direct  the  course  of  the  ships,  and  superin- 
tend all  arrangements  which  the  public  safety  required. 

They  were  soon  ghiddoned  by  the  sight  of  the  pine-clad 
rjiOpes  of  the  little  island  of  Guanaja,  which  lies  oil  tho 
eoasfc  oi  ILr.diLvas.  Here  there  appeared  a  canoe,  imicli 
more  like  the  ships  of  t];e  Old  "World  than  any  they  had 
KJcen  before,  manned  by  twenty-live  Indians,  wlio  had  come 
u\,m  the  ma.inland  on  a  trading  v(  yage  among  the  islands. 
Their  cargo  consisted  of  cotton  f'ibrics,  iron-wood  swords, 
flint  knives,  copper  axe-heads,  and  a  fruit  called  by  the 

■  This  littlo  vi'ssi-1  hail  on  bnard  of  it  4,000  pieces  of  gold,  the  property  of  tho  Admiral,  remitted 
to  Spain  by  his  .i|j;cut.— /;'i'iHg. 


CIIRISTOriTER  COLUMBUS. 


153 


natives  cncao,^  to  wliirli  the  Sininiai'ds  were  now  introduced 
for  the  ilrst  time.  Nor  were  they  slow  to  aiJpreciale  its 
nierts.  The  venerable  Admiral  treated  these  peopl(?  with 
gi-eat  l^intlness,  and  Avon  their  conlideiiee  at  once  by  pre- 
scntinu'  tliem  with  some  of  the  glittei'ing  toys  which  never 
fail  t:)  dazzle  the  childish  eye  of  the  barl)auan. 

Columbus  by  his  interpreter  made  numy  in(pnries,  and 
was  deeply  interested  in  the  account  he  received  of  the  great 
and  rich  country  to  the  west.  But  not  even  that  golden 
pi'i/.e  could  tempt  him  to  renounce. the  predetermined  object 
of  liis  voyage,  and  surrender  so  soon  his  search  after  the 
iill-iinportant  sti'ait  which  was  to  disclose  to  Spain  a  path- 
way ro'ind  the  Avorld,  and  give  a  shitaljle  completeness  to 
his  own  lIeaven-ap])ointed  work.  AVithin  a  day  or  two, 
says  Irving,  he  wcaild  have  arrived  at  Yucatan.  1"he  dis- 
covery of  Mexico  and  tlie  other  opulent  countries  of  ]S'ew 
tSpain  Avoidd  have  necessarily  followed  ;  the  Southern  Ocean 
would  have  been  disclosed  to  him,  and  u  succession  ot  si)len- 
did  discoveries  Avoukl  have  shed  fresh  glory  on  his  declining 
ap',  instead  of  its  sinking  amidst  gloom,  neglect,  and  disap- 
pointment. 

Steering  along  the  coast  of  Honduras,  he  reached  a  cape 
to  M  liich  he  gave  the  name  Gracias  a  Bios'  in  pious  thanks- 
siiviiig  for  the  southerly  turn  taken  by  .the  land  at  that 
jioint.  i'he  east  winds,  which  had  hitherto  obstructed  him, 
Mi'ic  now  favorable  to  his  course  along  the  c<iast.  The 
Adiiiiral  himself  Avas  unable  to  move,  but  as  it  Avas  Sunday, 
and  the  eve  oi  the  Feast  of  the  Assumption,  Don  Bartliolo- 
nii'w  and  tJie  captains  and  numy  of  the  men  Aveiit  aslmre  tu 
hear  Mass,"  Inen  there  soon  followed  a  Aveary  struggle 
against  head-Avinds  and  contrary  currents,  Avith  continual 
rain  and  water-spouts,  and  such  dreadful  lightning  that  deatli 


'  The  diorolate  tr(!c;  it  growB  to  (lie  height  of  twenty  or  thirty  fci't,  with  ii  lirownisli  barU.  and 
bcnrs  ii  jiiiljiiiih  fruit,  coutniniiig  seeds  of  a  Hut,  oblong  shiiiio,  from  wliicli  cliocoliiti)  W  iikkR'. 

'  "TlKiiiku  lie  to  Ooil."  This  cjipe  yet  retains  the  niuue  given  it  by  ilie  gnat  Adniiriil.  See  a 
map  of  Central  Anierien. 

'  Tlio  first  Mas*  on  the  mninlnnd  wns  snid  on  the  ennst  of  Pnrin  in  the  ptevlons  voyage.  Tliy 
boiiurof  haviiiir  plnnled  thi  first  cross  in  the  New  A\'nrlil,  liv  wliieh  possibly  tlie  niaiiilaii^  ;\| 
imcrica  is  meant,  is  claimed  for  u  father  of  llie  Order  of  iler'.  y.—Fa!/itr  Knight,  .b'.  J. 


154 


CHRISTOPHER  COLUMBUS. 


t.w   i-jl 


and  the  end  of  the  world  were  in  the  thoughts  of  all.  Fatlier 
Alexander,  a  Franciscan,  tlie  only  priest  on  board,  adminis- 
tered tlie  sacraments  to  all  on  the  same  ship  witli  hiiU;  and 
in  the  other  vessels  the  men  made  their  confessions  to  one 
another,  and  waited  lor  death." 

The  Admiral  says  that  the  stoutest  hearts  quailed,  and 
that  he  had  never  known  a  tempest  so  violent  and  so  long 
endurin,ii',  and  that  in  sixty  days  tliey  iiad  advanced  only 
seventy  leagues.  He  telt  iiis  own  end  approaching,  and  was 
distressed  to  think  that  he  was  directly  responsible  for  t\w 
death  ;;f  Ins  brother  and  his  son,  whom  he  had  persnaded 
to  bear  him  company, 

]3ut  though  they  had  been  pursued  by  rain,  and  storm, 
and  liglvtning,  the  greatest  danger  was  now  at  hand.  On. 
the  l.-ith  of  December,  while  the  Admiral  was  still  in  lied, 
and  seemingly  in  his  last  agony,  wild  shrieks  came  from  one 
of  tlie  vessels.  The  sounds  of  terror  were  re-echoed  from  tht; 
olliers.  These  cries  of  des])air  resounded  in  the  sad  but 
brave  soul  of  the  aimost  tlying  Columbus,  lie  oi)cned  his 
eyes,  lie  shuddered.  He  struggled  on  deck.  "What  did 
he  see  ? 

At  a  certain  point  the  ocean  seemed  to  be  agitated  by  vio- 
lent movements.  It  swelled  with  the  waves,  which  it  at- 
tracted ro  this  centre;,  and  a.^'ose  as  a  single  mountain.  Dark 
clouds  descended  in  the  form  of  a  reversed  cone,  and  stretcli>^:l 
themselves  down  to  th'->  whirlpool,  which  gradually  arose  to 
meet  the  atiuos})lier\3  cone.  These  Uvo  huge  forms  of  cloud 
antl  sea.  suddeni)"  met,  and  we-\'3  soon  locked  together  in  tlid 
form  of  a  whirling  X.  '  it  was  one  of  t}iesewater-si)outs,' ' 
Avrites  Charlevoix,  "which  seamen  call  fronJis,  which  were 
then  HO  little  known,  au-l  which  have  since  submerged  so 
nia.ny  vessels."'  A  sharj),  hissing  noise  preceded  the  latai 
Vvliilf  of  this  frighiful  form — thon  without  a  name  in  o;'i 
iangutige — now  known  as  the    .iphouii. 

Columbus,  wIk)  was  always  greatest  in  danger,  and  e(pial 


•  '  For  rifflit.v-c:ij;ht  d/iyp  the  (Iroiidfiil  tonipcst  iii'vor  left  m^' ;  my  i)00))lc  wcrn  very  fickly,  nl' 
eontrilc  for  'luir  ,4iis,  and  iiiaiiy  vvitti  nroii.i-CK  tn  niter  rclliiion.  iind  imt  »ino  withuut  vows  oi' 
pil!jriiii:i;,'c  aiii".  '.hL'  liku. "—/<://(';■  vj  Volu,n!jiis  tu  FinliMUiil  and  huMUt, 


CnrdSTOPIIER  COLUMBUS. 


loo 


vo  anv  emergency  wlun  battling  with  the  unruly  elements, 
became  suddenly  re-nniniated.  He  sa\y  the  monstrous  foriu 
aTiproaching.  Tlie  ,seii  apneared  to  be  fuu'ked  up  toward:? 
t!iH  very  shy.  AVhat  was  to  be  do.ne?  It  was  a  new  danger. 
Art  was  useless,  navigation,  powei'less;  exi)erienee,  nothing. 
To  that  noble  mind,  lull  of  a  grand  and  holy  faith,  there  was 
yi't  one  resource,  and  only  one.  lie  would  call  on  Uod.  He 
iiad  blessed  candies  at  ou'/e  lighted,  and  placed  in  tlu;  lan- 
f/'i'ns.  Tliough  scarce! '■  able  tc  standi  the  venerable  Ad- 
aiiral  girded  his  feeble  frame  with  his  sword,  over  the  cord 
of  St.  Francis;  ami  "nastily  seizing  the  jSew  Testament,  he 
stood  boldly  on  the  prow  of  his  shipj  facing  the  water- 
spout, which  was  coming  near,  iie  began  to  ivad  the 
(fospel  of  St.  John,  trying  to  raise  his  von.'e  above  die  Howl- 
.iiu'  oi  the  awful  tempest.  When  he  came  to  the  expression, 
'•'And  'he  Word  icas  maae  flcsJi  and  dicelt  utiion<f:<t  i/.t,"' 
till-  au'cd  Christian  hero  commanded  the  water-spout  to  sj)are 
tlio. children  of  God  who  were  laboring  ■';o  cari'y  the  Cross  to 
;he  cads  of  the  earth  ;  and,  fun  of  faith,  hw  drew  lorih  iiis 
3Kord  and  traced  in  the  air  tlie  holy  sign  which  onc(!  met 
■^liC  eyes  of  Constantine,  and  gave  him  the  promised  viciory. 
The  water- spout,  which  was  coming  straight  towards  tlierai- 
avels,  suddenly  appeared  to  change  its  direction,  ]iassed  be- 
tween them,  and  Avent  off  bellowing,  to  lose  irself  in  the  ini- 
iiHMisity  of  the  Atlantic  ! 

^V!len  we  come  vo  consider  tlie  smallness  of  the  caraveis, 
iuul  the  fearful  force  of  a  ti'opicai  cyclone,  we  are  quire  |usti- 
ned  in  feeling  that  the  escape  of  Columbus  and  his  crews 
was  nothing  short  of  a  miracle.  At  last,  after  eight  d;iys' 
tossing  to  and  fro.  the  nu)uth  of  a  river  was  gained.  The 
Admiral  named  it  Bcl/tlche/ii,  because  he  entered  it  on  the 
iny  of  the  Epiphany. 

Pains,  trials,  and  di.- appointments — too  numerous  to  re- 
late here — now  crowded  around  the  thorny  pathway  of  the 
great  Admiral.  His  own  strength  was  exliausted  by  sick- 
ness. His  ships  were  leahy  and  very  unsafe,  riie  sea  and 
the  heavens  jiersisted  in  their  inclemency:  and  he  saw  only 
gloom  and  heart-rending  anguish  among  the  sailors.     One 


i'i  i  :i 


156 


CUIUS  TOPHER  COL  UMU  US. 


"1: 


(lay,  in  tlic  midst  of  lliis '(losolafion,  sl(i(>p  closed  his  cj^os. 
}[is  alUit'ted  soul  heard  a  "  render  voice'    say  : 

''Oh,  fhoii  fool,  slowti)  believe  and  to  servo  thy  God  -  (lio 
God  of  all:  AVhat  more  did  lie  i'or  I^loses,  or  for  his  sej- 
vant  David,  than  He  has  done  I'or  theeJ  From  tliy  birtli  He 
has  taken  tlH>  .greatest  care  of  the(\  ^Vhen  lie  saw  ilic; 
com(;  to  a.  lilting  age,  lie  made  thy  name  to  ivsoiukI 
Avondrously  thron.uhout  the  earth.  The  Indies — thoso 
Avealihy  regions  of  the  world — lie  gave  thee  lor  thine  own, 
nnd  empQwei'ed  tb'^e  to  disjxise  of  thenr  aeeording  to  lliy 
pleasure.  'IVj  thei^  \h)  delivei'ed  the  keys  of  the  ocean,  gates 
\vhieli  were  closed  with  mightv  chains.  Thy  orders  wen; 
obeyetl  in  many  countries,  and  among  Gliristitrns  tlioii 
didst  acipiire  honorable  fame.  What  moi'e  did  Tie  for  t!ie 
people  of  Isi'a(4  when  he  led  them  from  Egypt?  Or  even 
for  David,  whom,  from  being  a  sln^pherd,  he  nnuhi  King  of 
Jirde'jii  Tiii'ir,  tlieii,  to  llim,  and  acknowicMlge  thy  eii'e;-. 
His  mei'cy  is  iidinile.  Thy  age  shall  be  ii<;  '!m{)edim<'nr  to 
any  great  undertaking.  Thou  ui'gest  for  succor  d(\-:t;()ii(l- 
ingly.  Answerl  who  hath  atllicted  tiiee  so  rirucli  and  so  many 
times — (rod,  or  the  world:'  Tin;  privih'ges  and  ])roniises 
wliich  God  hath  iimde  to  thee,  He  liath  never  bi()];en; 
neither  hath  he  said,  after  having  received  tlie  services,  lliat 
Ills  meaning  was  dilTt'i-ent,  and  was  to  be  irnderstood  in  a. 
di!V(M'ent  sense,  ^'ever  doth  he  intlict  pain  in  order  to  show 
forth  His  ])ower.  lie  performs  to  the  verj'-  letter.  He  fidlills 
all  that  h(^  promises,  and  with  increase.  Is  not  this  His  cus- 
tom^ I  have  shown  thee  what  thy  Creator  hath  done  i<rr 
thee,  and  what  he  doth  for  all.  The  present  is  the  reward 
of  th(;  toils  and  perils  thoir  hast  endured  in  serving  others,"' 

"In  hearing  this,"  writes  Columbus,  "1  was  as  one  al- 
most dead,  aird  liad  no  power  to  reply  to  words  so  true.  I 
cordd  only  bmvail  my  err'ors.  Whoever  it  was  lliat  sjiol^e 
to  nre  iinished  ))y  saying:  'Fear  not!  Have  coniidenc(\  All 
those  tribulations  are  graven  in  marble,  and  it  Is  not  Vvith- 
out  cause.' '" 


'  "  In  trnnsoriliim;  these  words,"  pays  Count  <Ic  Lorsiuis, "  ropuateil  by  Columbua  himself,  wifc'^. 
■Dch  charming;  artloijt<uuss,  no  are  seized  with  uu  iudelluablu  respect." 


ciinisTOPi/h'n  COL  umbus. 


ir.7 


(IIIC 

lor 

rcw 

urJ. 

)tlun'.s;' 

(lUl^ 

a!- 

Iruc 

.    1 

f    SI 

()l;e 

•(>. 

All 

)1    V, 

ith- 

A ffer  various  trials  and  advent'iires  aloii^-  the  Istlinms  i.i 
rmiaivia,  and  havini;;  susfaiiKMl  the  loss  of  two  caravels, 
('iiliniil)us  I'clt  obliged  to  ,u,'iv(!  up  linntinij;  after  tlic  .sdait 
Avhicli  lie  fancied  led  to  tin;  i*acili(^  ]le  steered  noi'lii- 
v.nrds  towards  Cuba.  A  collision  between  his  two  reniaiiiint^ 
v'ssels  rendered  them  still  more  untit  to  cope  with  the  \n>\v- 
r!  fal  s(pialls  and  breakers  of  the  West  Indies.  In  the  mid- 
dle of  ,I(ine,  however,  with  his  c!'(!ws  in  despair,  nearly  all 
his  anchors  lost,  and  his  vessels  worm-eaten  so  as  to  be  "ay 
full  of  holes  as  a  honey-comb,'  he  arrived,  oil'  the  southern 
C(i;ist  ol'  {.'uba,  where  he  obtained  supplies  of  cassava  bread 
ficni  soini^  friendly  Indians. 

The  Admiial  now  steered  for  Ilispaniohi,  but.  failin,!:^  to 
ni;ike  head  a<:ainst  the  wind,  he  shaped  liis  course  for  .la,- 
niaica.  He  rea(;hed  the  por^  winch  on  a  former  visit  lie 
niimed Santa  Glor':;.  'J'his  was  to  be  the  end  of  his  voyMp\ 
As  rlinshi))s  coidd  not  float  any  lon/j:(^r,  he  ran  tlieui  onsh(jre, 
side  by  side,  and  built  huts  upon  the  decks  for  housinu'  the 
crews.  Such  a  habitation — like  the  Swiss  lake-dwellings — ■ 
aUVirded  I'emarkable  advantages  of  p(:sitiori  in  case  of  attack 
by  a  hostile  tribe. 

The  AdnnraUs  first  care  was  to  prevent  any  oirens(>  Iteing 
given  tc  tiie  natives  ^\hich  migtit  give  cause  for  attack. 
He  knew,  by  sad  e.\perience,  the  I'esult  of  permitting  free 
hitercourse  between  the  Sjianiards  and  the  Indians,  and  now 
he  strictly  enforced  a  rule  forbidding  any  seaman  to  go  ashore 
without  leave.  ![<>  also  took  wis(;  measures  for  regulating 
vhe  traffic  ior  food,  :;o  as  to  jirevent  the  occurrence  of  any 
quarrci, 

James  Mendez,  whc  had  been  his  lieutenant,  and  who  had 
shown  himselt  Uw  boldest  ot  his  tllicei's  throughout  this 
v(iy;ige,  volunteered  to  proceed  into  the  interior  of  the  islaiid 
to  make  arrangements  for  the  regular  su»)])ly  of  provisions 
from  some  of  the  more  remote  tribes,  as  it  was  certain  that 
such  a  sudden  addition  to  the  population  would  soon 
oxliaust  th(>  resources  of  the  immediate  neighborhood.  This 
service  Mendez  performed  with  great  skill,  and  a  regular 
muiket  was  established,  to  which  the  natives  brought  iish, 


1.58 


CURIS  TOPIIER  COL  UMB  US. 


m\ 


ill 


PI 
mm 


'^iw. 


sjrinip.  mill  cassava  breatl,  in  excliango  for  Spanish  toys  and 
ornaiiu'Uts. 

The  iiiimcdiivfo  wants  of  his  people  being  tlnis  jirovidtMl 
for,  tlio  venerable  Admiral  revolved  in  his  anxious  nuiid  tlio 
means  of  getting  from  this  island.  His  ships  were,  beyond, 
the  ])ossil)ility  of  rejiair,  and  there  w;is  no  liope  of  a  o]iai)t'(; 
sail  arriving  to  his  relief,  on  the  sliores  of  a  savage  land-  in 
an  nnfrcMpiented  sea.  In  this  awful  position,  feeling  iiis 
respcmsibilitv  for  tiie  lives  of  those  wiio  were  under  him.  he 
clepjored  tlie  mortal  destiny  of  Ciiristoiihcr  Columbus.  '1 
liave  hitherto  wept  for  others,"  he  exehiimed,  but  now 
Heaven  have  pity  on  me;  and.  U  Kartlil  weep  for  nnj*  .  .  , 
AVeep  foi-  me,  wiioever  has  charity — truth — justice  I'' 

AVliat  other  mortal  ever  nttered  sucii  language?  AVliat. 
pnet,  wdiat  propliet,  what  hero  of  the  {f()S[)i'l,  in  spealdng  of 
liimself,  ever  nsed  a  more  enc^rgetic  l,ioldue:ss  of  imageiy,  or 
clotlied  with,  a  grander  dignity  the  accents  that  arose  i'lom 
Ins  troubled  heart  i  Here,  indeed,  avo  feel  that  ''th.e  style  is 
the  man."'  (Trandenr.  simplicity,  sadness  and  boldness  are 
found  l)eautifully  harinoni;:ed,  as  if  tliey  were  a  single  nltei'- 
ance  oi  the  great  soul  of  Cobunhus. 

For  nine  days  the  Catholic  dis(!ovcrer  of  America  medi- 
tated anil  remained  in  the  presence  of  (:Tod.  For  light  luid 
guidance  in  his  unexampled  distress  he  looked  np  to  Heaven, 
(h^termlned  to  know,  according  to  the  expressi(m  of  Vvtcx 
Jdartyr,  what  the  JVIost  High  had  decided  in  his  regard.  At 
length,  a  nn)de  of  relief  Hashed  on  his  mind.  He  thonulit 
of  the  noble  James  JMendez,  whose  loyalty  and  daimtless 
courage  he  had  so  f)ften  proved.  He  took  him  aside,  to 
sound  him  on  the  subject,  and  Mendez  himself  has  Avritti'n 
an  account  of   this  conversation,  which  is  full  of  interest. 

"Mendez,  my  son,  "  said  the  venerable  Admiral,  "of  all 
those  who  are  here,  yon  and  I  alone  know  the  great  peril  in 
which  we  are  placed.  AYe  are  few  in  number,  and  these 
savage  Indians  are  many,  and  of  iickle  and  irritable  natures. 
On  the  least  provocation  they  may  throw  firebrands  from 
the  shore,  and  consnme  ns  in  onr  straw-thatched  cabins. 
The  arrangement  which  you  have  made  for  provisions,  and 


if'i' 


eimisToriiEii  columbvu. 


im 


\vliitli  nt  ])rosont  tliey  fiiHill  so  cheerfully,  tliey  may  capri- 
ciously bicalc  ti)-nioiTovv,  and  may  rel'iuse  to  bring  us  any- 
tliiuu;;  uor  liavf  we  the  means  of  conipellini;' tlifsni.  i  li;ive 
thought  of  a  remedy,  if  it  meets  your  views.  In  this  canoe 
which  you  havi?  purchased  some  one  may  jiass  ov(>r  to 
liispiiiiiolii,  and  ])i'ocui'e  a  ship,  by  which  we  shall  all  l)e 
(leiivt'ivd  from  this  great  i)eril.  Tell  me  your  opinion  on 
tlie  matter." 

"Sefior,"  replied  Mendez,  "I  well  know  our  danger  to 
he  fiiv  greater  tluin  is  easily  conceived;  l)Ut  as  to  passing  to 
]Iispiini(;la  in  so  small  a  vessel  as  a  canoe,  I  hold  it  not 
merely  diflicult,  but  impossible,  since  it  is  necessary  to  trav- 
erse a  gulf  of  forty  leagues,  and  between  islands  where  the 
sea  is  inipciuous  and  seldom  in  re])ose.  I  know^  not  who 
there  is  Avould  venture  upon  so  extreme  a  peril." 

Celumbus  made  no  rejily;  but  from  his  looks,  and  the 
nature  'A  his  silence,  Mendez  plainly  perceived  himself  to 
he  tlie  person  whom  the  Adnural  had  in  view.  ]lesuming, 
therefore,  the  conversation,  "Hehor,''  said  he,  "i  have 
many  times  put  my  life  in  peril  to  save  you  and  my  com- 
rades, and  (rod  has  hitherto  preserved  me  in  a  uiirriculous 
manner.  There  are,  nevertheless,  niurmurers,  who  say  that 
your  Excellency  intrusts  to  me  every  alfair  wherein  honor 
is  to  be  gained,  while  tliere  are  others  in  company  who 
would  execute  them  as  well  as  I.  I  beg,  tluM'efoi'e,  that  you 
Avoulil  assemble  the  people,  and  propose  this  enterprise,  to 
tee  ii  any  cne  will  undertake  it,  whicli  I  doubt.  It  all  de- 
dine,  I  will  then  comt^  forward  and  risk  my  liie-in  your  ser- 
vice, as  I  have  nu'.n}'  times  done  alread}-.'' 

The  Adnnral  willingly  humored  the  Avishes  of  the  worthy 
JI(  ndez.  On  the  following  morning  the  crew  was  assem- 
bled, and  the  proposition  made.  Every  one  drew  back,  pi-o- 
iionncing  it  the  height  of  raslmess.  Upon  this  Mendez 
'teijped  forward.  "Sehor,'"  said  he,  '*Ihave  but  one  life 
to  lof'e,  yet  I  am  Avilling  to  venture  it  for  your  service,  and 
for  the  good  of  all  here  present;  and  I  trust  in  the  jtrotec- 
tion  of  God,  which  I  have  experienced  or  so  many  other 
occasions.  *' 


100 


CUUISTOI'IIEU  CO  I.  l'Mlii'8. 


■i'A.  11' 


Colimibus,  having  licnnl  this  iinnoiincomont,  arose  fro n 
liis  scat,  and  calliiiij;  tlie  l)i'!iv('  .Mcndc/,  to  liiin,  oinbrac  l 
liini,  siiyiiiij:  aloud:  "I  ucU  knew  tliiit  there  \v;is  ndltinly 
liei'c  but  yon  who  wouhl  undortakc  this  acliit'venu'ul.  i 
have  a  liiin  conlidcnci;  (liat  our  Lord  (iod  will  enable  you  to 
overcome  the  <lanpi;'ers  th;it  threaten  yon,  ;is  He  has  (htne  (ni 


so  many  other  oeL'asn)ns. 


]\Iende/,  at  once  set   about   to 


l)repare  for  the  ex[)edition.  Xo  jjrecaution  oi'  human  iini- 
dencc!  was  n(\i;']e('ted.  Drawimj;  liis  canoe  on  shore,  he  juir 
OI)  a  false  keel,  and  naileit  weather-boards  along  the  bownn.l 
stern,  to  pr«n'ent  the  sea  l'rou\  biVcKi'iu;  over  it.  He  thiii 
pnye(l  it  with  a.  coat  of  tar,  furnished  it  with  a  mast  ami 
sail,  and  [)Ut  in  provisions  for  himself,  a  h^panish  conu'ade, 
jand  six  Indians. 

In  th(^  nieanwliile,  Cobim])us  wrote  a  letter  to  Ovando, 
CJovernor  of  Tlispaniola,  begging  that  ti  ship  might  iMiiiii>- 
diately  be  sent  to  bring  iiini  and  his  men  to  llispaniola:  ami 
he  wrote  another  to  the  Sovereigns,  enti'eating  I'oi- a  shiji  to 
convey  them  from  llispaniola  to  Si)ain.  In  this  letter  Ik; 
gave  a  comprehensive  account  of  his  voyage.-  He  supiio-.cil 
himself  to  have  r(>ached  the  contin(^s  of  the  dominions  ol' 
the  (ii'and  Khan,  and  offered,  if  lu;  lived  to  return  to  Spain, 
to  conduct  a- nnssion  thitherto  instruct  that  yiotentate  in 
tlie  Christian  faith.  What  an  instance  of  soai'ing'  Catliolio 
enthusiasm  and  irrejiressilVIe  enterpi'ise  is  liere  exlnbitod! 
At  the  time  he  was  indulging  tliese  visions,  and  ])roposin,i,' 
new  and  romantic  enterprises,  lie  was  broken  down  by  ago 
and  inlirmities,  racked  b}-  pain,  contined  to  liis  bed,  and  shut 
lip  in  a  wreck  on  the  coast  of  a  remote^  and  savage  island. 

The  dispatches  being  ready,  James  ]\rend(V,  end)avked  with 
ids  Si)anis]i  comnuh^  and  liis  six  Indians,  and  coasted  tlio 
island  eastward.  'Pheir  voy.'tuv  was  toilsouK^  and  ])eiiloiis. 
Wlien  arrived  at  the  end  of  tlu^  island,  they  wer.>  suddenly 
surrounded  and  taken  piisoneis  hy  the  Indians,  who  carried 
th(Mn  three  leagues  into  the  intei-ior,  where  th(\v  determincil 
to  kill  them.  A  dispute,  however,  arising  about  the  divis- 
ion of  tlio  spoils,  they  agreed  to  settle  it,  aftt>r  the  Tndinn 
fashion,  by  a  game  of  ball.     While  thus  euirarred,  Mendoz 


III 

M 


fhnisTorin<:ii  col  UMnus. 


JOl 


esr;ipf'(l,  rcu'iiiiit'd  his  ciiiux',  jitk).  nindo  liis  way  buck  to  tlio 
liMilior  in  it  iiii>ut\  al'ti-r  lifti'L-ii  days'  !ilis('iic('. 

Xotliiiiy;  (latiuted  l)y  tlui  perils  and  liatdsliips  \\v  liail  iin- 
ddi^olit',  lie  olVtM'cd  to  depart  iniiiie(liafely  on  a  srcdiid  at- 
Iciiipt,  pi'ovided  lie  could  bo  escMUted  to  the  end  ol'  the 
Island  by  an  armed  I'oi'ce.  His  olFer  was  accejjfed,  and  ]5ar- 
tlidioMiew  Fiesco,  a  (ienoese,  who  had  coinuianded  one  of 
llu'  <'aravels,  and  was  strongly  attached  lo  tlu'  Adnural,  was 
associated  with  him  in  this  second  expedition.  Each  had  a 
caiiee,  with  six;  Spaniards  and  ten  Indians,  under  his  roni- 
Tiiaiid.  On  rea<:hi!i,i,^  llispaniola,  l-'icsco  was  to  return  iiu- 
miMJiately  to  Jamaica,  to  bring  tidin.us  to  (he  Adniii'al  of 
the  saf($  arri\al  of  ins  messenger;  while  .lames  Meiide/.  wuh 
ti)i)r()ceed  to  San  I)(jmingo,  and,  after  purchasing  i;ud  dis- 
]iatchiiig  a  ship,  Avas  to  depart  for  Si)ain  with  ilie  letter  to 
the  Sovereigns. 

All  ari'angements  being  made,  the  Indians  ]>laced  in  the 
ciiiKies  a  sui)i)ly  of  cassava  bread,  and  (  ach  his  calal>ash  of 
^vafcr.  Tlie  Spaniards,  beside  theii-  ]'io\isions,  had  each  IiIm 
sword  and  target.  Don  Bartholomew,  with  an  armed  baial, 
kcjit  [)ace  with  them  along  the  coast,  until  they  j'eached  il,o 
end  of  tli(^  island,  whert;,  waiting  for  three  days  nntil  tll(^ 
neither  was  pei'fectly  serene,  they  launched  forth  on  tlui 
)irn:id  bosom  of  the  sea.  Don  Bartholomew  remained  watch- 
iiii:  tluMU  nntil  they  became  mere  s])ecks  on  the  ocean,  and 
the  evening  hid  them  from  his  view,  aiid  tiien  returned  to 
the  liarl)f)r. 

P;iy  after  day,  and  week  after  ■week,  did  the  poor  Span- 
iinds  keep  a  wistftd  look-out  n]ion  the  sea  for  tlie  exjxM'tcnl 
rctiun  of  Fiesco,  1'attering  tluunselves  tliat  every  canoe, 
.uliilingat  a  distance,  miglifc  be  the  harbingei-  of  deliverance. 
Months  elaps(^d,  liowever,  withont  his  arrival,  and  tliey 
hi'iVM\  to  fear  that  he  and  Mend(>z  liad  perished.  Enfeebled 
l\v  past  sufferings,  present  confinement,  and  low  did,  they 
hccame  pxti'emely  sickly,  and  their  ma]:;di(>s  were  height- 
cnod  by  anxiety  and  suspense.  Some  gradually  sank 
into  despondency;  others  became  peevish  and  impatient, 
and,  in  their    nnreasonable"  lieat,    railed   at    tlieir  vener- 


f  1 


h,  ^ 


1G3 


ciinis  ToriiEit  COL  umd  us. 


al»l(3  niul  inrirni  commander  as  the  cause  of  all  their  mis- 
fortunes.' 

Ac  lust,  in  January,  1504,  the  loud  murmurs  broke  out 
into  open  mutiny.  Francis  Porras,  the  captain  of  one  of 
tlie  caravels,  he;i(led  the  howling  mob.  Tliey  j^roceeded  to 
tne  sick  coucli  of  the  Admiral,  who  was  confined  by  a  yn-ern 
attack  o'i  tlis"!  gout.  Porr.is,  with  bold  effrontery,  told 
Columl)ns  t^lat  he  was  afraid  to  I'etui'u  to  Sp;nn,  'out  that 
the  seamen  had  sworn  to  reinaiu  no  long.r-r,  and  intended  to 
depart  at  once.  On  tiiis  there  arose  shouts  from  the  folluw- 
ers  of  IN.rras:     '-'I'o  Castile:     To  Castile!     We  follow!'' 

Tii!^  Admiral,  with  wonderful  patience  and  dignity,  made 
a  speech,  in  wii'ch  he  pointed  out  tiie Hanger  of  attempting 
to  leave  the  island  in  nu're  canoes,  ile  said  it  was  ai)surd 
1o  su])pose  tliat  he  ha.d  not  a  common  interest  Avilii  tlieai  in 
all  resjji'cts.  i)Ut  I'orras  was  as  obstinat(^  in  his  desire  to 
go,  as  Columl)us  in  his  determiaation  to  stay;  ami,  takin:,' 
jiossession  of  the  canoes  -which  had  been  purchased  from  tlie 
natives,  the  mutineej'S"  set  out  on  their  journey  towards  llis- 
l>,inio]a,  le;iviiig  tli-.^  .Vdmiral  and  Don  Bartlioloiaew  wiili 
scaj'cely  any  a.uherents  except  tiiose  whom  sickjiess  }uv- 
vented  from  underLakiug  tiie  iournev. 

Tiu:i  uuft)rtunate  progress  of  Porras  and  his  foJlowers 
tlu'ough  the  island  was  nun  ked  by  a  series  of  outinges  on 
the  lalians.  This  completely  neuti'alized  the  elfect  of  the 
Ai'iuirars  excellent  policy.  I'he  mutineei's  forcibly  seized 
on  whatever  ])rovislons  could  be  found,  and  mockingly 
referred  the  simple  owners  to  Colund)Us  for  payment.  Tlutv 
attempts  to  cross  over  to  His})anio]a  failed  in  consetpience 
of  rough  weather.  On  on-^  occasion,  the  canoes  were  in  so 
much  danger  of  being  swamped  that  the  Spainards  cast 
everything  on  l)oard  into  the  sea;  and,  as  this  did  not  lighten 
the  canoes  sufficiently,  they  then  jn'oceeded  to  force  over- 


'  Irving. 

5  I'oiTis  aiul  liis  liiuiil,  it  HPe'.iiK,  nin'iljcrcd  forly-i-islit.  They  moditnto'l  Idllinc  Colmiiliiis  mid 
hi-i  fri'Miils,  hilt  liciiift  assurcfl  liy  some  (ilHrcrs  that  thry  wniilfl  lints  iiu-iu  tho  vi'iicraiicc  of  tlio 
Si)V','ivli.'iis,  tliry  for  llic  prosfut  otmti'iitcd  thi-mselvfis  with  taldii;.'  six  cnnops,  wliicli  lli'-  Ailminl 
Ii:i(l  piircliasod  fr.im  the  Iiiilians,  niul  wifli  llu'si'— riffcr  lii'liiin-  (Iumuju'Ivcs  to  iirin-^  Miid  jirovis- 
ions— tln'y  v.-cnt  away,  slioutins  dfilaiicc— ZV  Lir/j>U!.. 


CmUSTOPIIER  COL  UMB  US. 


1G3 


1 . 


I),i:ii'(l  tlie  iiuhap]\v  Indians  hy  whom  iLey  were  arcompn- 
iiinl.  I^Iaiiy  ui'  til'-'  poor  savagi's  swani  alter  them  for  a  ]on,<^ 
time,  but  sank  one  by  one,  us  tlie  swoccfe  of  the  cruel  muti- 
iuM'is  prevented  thein  from  approaching  tlie  boats.  They 
^vl'r^'  linally  obliged  to  abandon  the  design  of  reaching  Tlis- 
]);nii()!a,  and  begtui  to  roam  over  the  ii-iar.d,  quartering 
riieinselves  on  the  Indians,  and  committing  every  pos;silile 
excess. 

(.)!'  course,  tin  influence  of  this  scoundrelism  on  the  rela- 
tiuiis  between  Cobunbus  and  the  natives  v;as  soon  appai'eut. 
Tlie  trinkets  and  beads — once  so  precious  in  their  eyes— had 
lirsi  lost  the  cli.irm  oT  novelty,  thini  the  value  of  rai'ity.  The 
circiilating  medium  O'imuk,^  so  depreciated  (liat  provisions 
were  scarcely  to  be  o'viained  at  all.  An<],  nnfortunately,  the 
piMsoiial  veneration  winch  the  nntutoied  Indians  had  Ib'st 
evinced  for  the  white  men  had  gradually  given  way  to 
hatriMl  and  contonpt.  Familiarity  liud  shown  how  v. orlhh 
vei('  tlies(>  '•suiieri(jr  beings."  The  Indians  refused  to  niii 
isti'r  to  their  wants  any  longer;  and  tlnrs,  while  T)ain  aiid 
siclviiess  gnawed  the  lie;irt  of  the  aged  Admiral,  gannt  limine 
iulded  itself  to  his  bittei"  <Mie!nies. 

But  the  great  man — aided,  no  dbubf,  by  lighJ;  from  lleiivcii 
—was  equal  C'l'n  to  tliis  (Muesgiucy.  Piirriy  fi'otn  his  scicntilic 
Icnowledge,  anil  partly  from  insi)Ii'ation,  he  became  a.wai'e 
that  on  a  certain  night  an  eclipse  of  the  menu  would  occur, 
j'u  this  event  his  fertile  mind  l)eheld  tlie  means  oC  escaping 
fiom  starvation.  lie  judged—and  rightly  judged,  as  the 
',-vcut  proved— 'hat  by  pi'cdicting  the  eclipse  he  would  gain 
a  re])utationasa  prophet,  and  command  the  resjMM't  and  olie- 
(lience  due  to  a  pei'son  invested  with  supernatural  powiMs. 
lie  nssenibliMl  tin*  chiel's  oi'  the  ni'ighiioi'ing  tribes.  Theii, 
l>y  means  of  an  inlei'pri^ti'i',  he  r(>ii!'oachod  tliem  Avith  rel'iis- 
\\v^  to  cimtinue  ro  supply  i)rovisionH  to  the  Spaniards, 

"Tlie  (led  who  pi'otects  nn^"  lie  said,  "will  inmish  you. 
You  know  what  has  hap])en(Hl  to  thf)S(^  of  my  followeis  who 
have  rebelled  against  me,  and  the  dangtn's  whidi  tlcy  cu- 
countercd  in  their  attempt  to  ci-oss  to  llayli  ;  while  thosi' 
who  weiit  at  my  command  made  the  passage ',"th.out  dilli- 


¥% 


•iV 


n^- 


ii 


CIirjSTOrilFAl  COL UMBUS. 


s. 


oon, 


too,  sliall  tlie  Divino  vriiirr'-.uice  fall  on  \ 


oil. 


1G4 

cully 

Tills  very  night  sluill  the  nioou  change  her  color  ai)il  lose 
lier  light,  in  testimony  of  the  evils  which  shall  be  sent  \\[w,\ 
you  from  the  skies." 

Of   the  Indians,   many  were   alarmed  at  the  predict i(jii. 


Others  went  away  sluuiting  in  mocherv.     Night  cam 


It 


was  lijie.  'rh(>  moon  shone  down  in  full  l)rilliancy.  I3iit  at 
the  appointed  time  the  ])redicted  phcncmeiion  took  itlaco, 
and  the  wild  howls  of  the  savages  proclaimed  their  abject 
tej'ror.  In  a  body  they  ran  to  Columbus,  inijiloring  lii;^ 
inteiression.  They  promised  to  let  liiin  want  for  notli- 
ing,  if  only  he  vrou'd  avert  this  jmlgmcnt.  As  an  cniii- 
est  of  their  sinceritv.  thev  hastil\-  collected- a  qiiai!ii!v 
of  food,  and  l;iid  it  at  his  feet.  At  first  lui  Keemcl  to 
hesitate,  but  in  a  little  while  he  was  softened  ])y  their  (i;- 
treaties.  He  said  lie  would  go  and  speak  to  his  (iod.  nji.l 
retired  to  the  cabin.  That  he  prayed  to  Heaven  for  the  k\]- 
vation  of  those  jxior  Indians  there  can  be  no  doubt.  As  I  Ik.) 
venerable  Admiral  returned  from  his  cabin,  the  ecli|ise  be- 
gan to  decj'ease.  Soon  the  terril)le  sh:ulow  passed  awiiy 
from  the  face  of  the  moon,  a)id  tin' gratitude  of  the  dusky 
riati\"es  was  as  dee[)  as  tluMr  fnrmer  tei-ror.  I'ut,  b.iji;^ 
blended  with  awe,  it  was  not  so  brief  nsgratitmle  often  is. 
Ilenctd'orward  tliere  was  no  failure  in  the  regular  supply  ef 
provi^5ions. 

EiiVhl   mentlis  lind  passcnl  .-avay  without  any  tidings  of 


Mende/,  when  one  cvi 


tin  re  une\[)(>cfe.ily  hove  in  siul 


n  small  carav(>l,  which  stood  in  towards  the  Imrboi-  of  S,uii;i 
(rloria,  and  anchored  just  (  a'side.  A  boat  was  seen  to  [nit 
off  from  the  caravel.  It  broiigb.t  on  shon^  her  comm:inder, 
a  certain  Jnmes  de  Ivscob-.n'.  Columbus  recou'ui/ed  in  tlii.s 
j)erson  a  man  whom  lie  had  once  senteiu'cd  to  be  hiingcd 
for  mutiny  in  IIis])anio!a,  but  who  had  been  ])ardoiied  !>y 
EoI)adilla.  The  proccn-dings  of  this  mnvcomer  were  singular 
enough.  Standing  at  a  distance  from  Columbus — as  if  tlie 
Admiral  were  In  qiiarantine-de  Escobar  shouted  at  the  top 


II 


f  h 


nice  a  mes,sagtvfrom  Ovando,  the  acting  (ilovernor  of 
spaniola.     Ovando,  he  .yaid,  r(*gretled  the  Adniirars  mis- 


cnuisToriiER  col  umbus. 


ifi.l 


forrnnes  very  Iceenly,  and  hoped,  before  loni^,  to  send  a  ship 
of  siitticient  size  to  talvo  liiiu  oil".  In,  tlie  meantime,  ]i<> 
iul(l<^l,  Ovantlo  be,u:i,i'<l  liiiu  to  ace*  [)t  a  sliglit  mark  of 
IVieiidsliij).  The  '^sli-■ht  mai'is.  of  I'rieudisliip"'  was  notliing 
le  s  tluin  a  side  of  bac.'on,  a  small  cask  of  wine,  rnd  a  lettej'! 
These  he  delivered  to  riie  Admiral,  iiiid  at  oiu;' rowed  jff 
as  fast  as  possible.  The  feelings  of  the  great  old  man  may 
ill  jKirt  be  iiiri'-iined. 

Dillic'dtii'  .Adri.  but  grew  with  time.  I'orro^^  and  his 
reckless  l):i!id  of  mutineers  soon  pnt  in  an  apj^arance.  The 
lender,  feeling  sure  that  he  had  sinned  beyond  forgiveness, 
w;is  resolved  that  Jiis  mf^i  should  shnre  his  desperation.  In 
sliort,  he  had  r(>sii'\i  to  attack  the  Admiral.  Columbus, 
in  the  gootlness  of  his  great  heart,  made  overtures  of  p(,'iic.<*, 
aiid  sent  an  olfer  of  forgiveness  to  Porras  and  all  his  men 
on  condition  (^f  iinmediatii  surrender.  Bui  thv'  insolent 
rulli;ui  laugh  m1  ai  the  offer,  and,  in  return,  made  siicli 
huuglUy  dema.i.i ;   that  any  reconciliation  was   i:n])0ssible. 

One  I'ay  the  mutineers  mai'ched  to  the  harb(»r,  lu'adcd  l)y 
the  bold  Porras.  It  was  Ihi'ir  intention  to  seize  tiinm  the 
stores  remaining  on  the  wrt:,  k,  and  to  get  the  Admiral  in 
their  power.  TJi(>  latter,  however,  heard  of  tlieir  approach, 
hut,  being  coniined  b\'  his  inlirinilies,  sent  his  brotlmr  to  rea- 
son with  them,  and  endeavor  to  win  them  to  obedi(Mice.  Don 
Rirtliolomew.  A\ho  \vas  generally  a  man  ratiier  of  deeds  than 
words,  took  with  him  a  ]iuml)ei'of  m(>nwcll  arnierl.  Ai'iiv- 
inu' near  the  j'ebels,  he  sent  messengers  to  treat  with  them; 
jtut  Porras  ivrl)ade  them  to  approach.  He  cheered  his  fol- 
lowers by  ])ointing,  with  derision,  to  the  pale  countenances 
of  tli/ir  opponents,  who  were  emaciated  1)y  r"cent  sickness 
nnd  long  continement  in  the  wrecl:;  whereas  his  men,  for 
the  most  ]»art,  were  hardy  sailors,  rendered  robust  by  living 
in  the  (Kien  air.  He  assured  them  the  followers  of  Don  liar- 
tliolonnnv  were  mere  househoid  men,  fair-weather  troo])s, 
who  could  never  stand  before  them. 

Deluded  by  this  harangue  into  a  transient  glow  of  conr- 
aL'P,  th(^  rebels  did  not  wait  to  1)6  attac]v<Ml,  but  ruslied  with 
yliouts  upon  the  enemy.     Six  of  them  had  made  a  league  to 


'H! 


166 


CIimSTOPIlKR  COL UMBUS. 


m-\ 


nssault  Bon  BiU'tholomew,  but  were  so  woil  roceived  tliiitlio 
];iitl  Hovcra]  of  tluMii  (le;ul  ;it  liis  feet,  ninonii;  wliom  was  .IdIhi 


Sanchez,  a  Dowerfiil  luaiiner  avIio  had  oace  rarried 


an 


Ind 


iaii  eh  id'. 


In  the  midst  of  th"  fearful  affray,  Doi  ]?artholomew  was 
savagely  a:;sai](5d  by  the  now  desperate  Torras.  wlio,  witli  a 
blow  of  his  sword,  ch'ft  liis  Inielvler,  and  wounded  tlie  luuid 
which  grasped  it.  Tln!  swor^l  remained  wedged  in  the  shield, 
and  before  it  could  be  wilhdrawn,  the  Ailuiirar.s  fearless 
brother  closed  u}>on  the  chief  of  the  nmtiiu'ers,  graiijilcd 
him,  and,  being  assisted  by  others,  •succeeded  in  takin;';  hiui 
jnisoner. 


Tiie  rebels,  seeing  t'leir  leader  a  caprive,  fled  in  confus 


ion. 


but  wei'e  not  i>ursued,  through  fear  of  an  attack  fi'oai  tlu? 
Indians,  who  had  remained  drawn  uniii  battle  array,  gazing 
with  astonishnuMU  at  tliis  liglit  between  white  men,  but 
Avithout  olVci'iug  to  aideiiher  party,     Don  Bartholomew  re- 


turned in  ti'iunitih  lo  the  wr 


ecic. 


vvitli.  i'oiras  and  shvi 


otlu^r   prisoners.      Only   two   of    his    own    men   had   Ii'-.'n 
woniuled,  one  of  whom  died. 

On  tlie  following  da\\  the  rebels  sent  a  letter  to  th(\  Ad- 


niiral,  signed  with  all  their  names,  confessing  their  mis- 
deeds, imploring  panlon,  and  making  a  solemn  oalh  of  olie- 
di(Mice,  imprecating  the  most  awfid  curses  on  their  lieads 
should  they  break  ic.  The  Admiral,  seeing  tlie  abj(M't  na- 
ture! of  tlie  letter,  how  completely  the  spirit  of  tliese  mis- 
guided men  was  broken,  with  his  wnnttd  magnanimity,  lie 
pardoned  their  offenses,  merely  reiaining  !li<'ir  ringleader, 
Francis  Porras,  a  prisonei-,  to  be  tried  in  !Si)aiii  for  his 
misdeeds.' 


It  was  not  until  the  2Stli  of  dune,  ],")01 — just  a  V(\ir 


ii(T 


theirarrivalatSanIa  Gloria — that  Columbus  and  his  men  were 
gladdened  by  the  sight  of  the  two  caravels  v«  hicii  iiad  1 


I, 'en 

(he 


sent  to  their  rcdief.     Oiie  was  from  the  faithful  .Meiidez, 
oilier  from  Ova U'lo.     The  embarkation  of  the  castaways,  as 
ni;iy  be  supposed,  was  quickly  eU'ected;  but  adverse  winds 


I  "  The  yoiiivj 
covcrtT.  Ill'  lit' 
eiuBpie."— /■(*< 


|*i*::r 


Irviii'T. 


:al 


m' 


m 


CnRISTOPIIER  COL  UMB  US. 


1G7 


miule  tlie  voyage  to  Ilispaniola  a  long  one.     Tlio  two  vessels 
(lid  not  reach  ^an  Domingo  before  the  15th  of  Angiist.' 

The  venerable  Ad  mirar.s  stay  was  sliort,  bnt  far  from  pleas- 
ant, in  the  beantiful  island  whieh  lie  had  onee  disoovered,  and 
in  which  so  many  of  his  liopes  rested.  He  was  all  anxit'ty  to 
rt'tiun  to  Spain,  and  boarded  a  earavt'l  whose  prow  ">v:.s 
dirfett'd  towards  Euro])e.  AlasI  even  in  this  last  voyage 
lie  was  forced  to  "nuike  head  against  a  sea  of  troubles.''  His 
evil  Si'a.r  was  in  the  ascendant.  Twice  his  vessel  nearly 
iouudered.     Twice  her  masts  were  sprnng  in  successive  tem- 


pests. 


His  own  shattered  constitution  was  gradual  I  v  giving 


way  to  acute  attacks  of  the  gout,  which  had  become  more 
and  )iiore  fi'equent  for  the  last  few  years.  And  thus,  prcjs- 
ti'uted  by  sickness,  nc^arly  ruined  in  means,  and  now  hope- 
less of  any  enconragenient  from  Ferdinand  and  h;abella, 
the  discoverer  of  the  New  World,  the  great  old  Calholie 
}i.  ro  who  had  dorlded  the  size  of  the  Avorld's  map,  arrived 
ai  Seville  on  the  .th  of  iS^oveinber,  ^^)0\,  in  as  miserable  a 
])!iglit  as  even  his  vilest  enemy  could  have  wished. 


1  "Till'  yniui',' Hcrnniu.n  rorfc'n  Wiis  in  llip  rnnvd  wliidi  rri'lcd  Hir  ri'Mini  of  *\,f  vi'lcr;'-'  lii*. 
covcriT.  Hi'  lu'viT  lost  lii<  iKliuiriitiou  of  Columbus,  auU  in  luuuy  lUiiigj!  tlrovu  to  I'olluw  Jus 
eiumpie."— i'i*</ie)'  Knight,  H.  J. 


'I 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE   SETTING  SUN   OF    A   (JT.OKIOFS   LIFE. 

PoTcrii/  and  old  arje  assail  Cohiinhiis — Death  of  Isdhilhi 
the  Catholic — Extracts  from  the  AdrniraVs  letters — T/ic 
dealtt-hed  of  a  hero — Confinni^nj  his  icill — Th(  last  mo- 
'Dieids  of  A)n(ricas  Dlscocercr—IJis  iuaii[i  tombs — ///.!,■ 
Character — Afiracles. 

We  liaslen  to  the  end  with  feelings  of  inin^'hul  f.onow 
and  iulinii'ation.  The  iniuniities  of  the  great  Adiriiml 
were  too  many  to  permit  him  to  proceed  to  Coui't.  ile 
therefore  passed  the  winter  at  Seville,  in  a  sad  stale  of 
bodily  auil  nieri.al  snlfering.  Ciire  and  niisfortnne  were 
destined  to  foUow  liim  bv  sea  an(  land,  and,  in  chaniiinu'  the 
scene,  he  but  chnnged  the  natnre  of  liis  ahiict3'^>ns.  liis 
aifairs  were  all  in  eonl'usion.  Such  had  been  the  case  rvci' 
since  nis  arrest  by  Bobadilla.  His  revenues  arising-  in  lli.s- 
paniohi  were  not  sent  to  him  ;  and  his  recent  disastrous  voy- 
age had  involved  him  in  expenses,  for  the  greater  jtart  of 
which  the  Crown  remained  his  debtor. 

Writing  to  his  son,  J)on  James.  h<^  urges  him  to  econeuiy. 
"Of  tlu!  revenue  due  to  me,''  says  th(»  aged  Adniii'i!l.  •  I 
receive  nothing,  l)ut  live  l\v  borrowing.  Little  have  J  prof- 
ited  by  twenty  years  of  toils  and  perils,  since  at  present  I 
do  not  own  a  roof  in  Sjtain.  T  have  no  resort  bnt  an  inn, 
and  for  most  of  the  time  f  am  unable  to  meet  my  lulls." 

Ili^o^vu  sorrows  and  uusfortunes.  l:owevt>r.  alHicted  liim 
less  than  thos(»  <d'  his  friends  and  followers,  whose  ruin  w.is 
involved  in  his.  Tn  their  behalf  he  warmly  -jjleaded  with 
the  Sj)aiiish  Sovereign.;.  ]?ut  the  cold  and  jealous  Fei'dinand 
still  had  his  ears  open  to  the  false  accusers  who  were  ever 
ready  to  malign  Oolumbns  :  and  although  the  fas^or  of  the 
noble  Isabella  had  never  failed  him,  she  was  now,  alas !  on 

168 


It 


CIIRLHTOPllER  COL  UMB  US. 


1G9 


the  confines  of  eternity.  'M  have  served  your  Majesties,  ' 
wrote  the  in('onip;iral)l(3  liei'o,  "vvithas  miicli  /,e;il  and  con- 
.sliuicy  as  if  I  liad  bi'en  seeking  after  Paratlise,  and  if  I 
liuve  fallen  short  in  anything,  it  is  because  my  mind  and 
strength  were  uneqiuil  to  the  elfort."' 

"May  it  please  the  Holy  Trinity,"  he  exclaims  in  a  letter 
to  his  son,  "to  restore  our  Sovereign  Queen  to  her  health; 
i'di'  by  lier  everything  will  be  adjusted  that  is  now  in  con- 
iiisioii."  Alas!  before  he  had  penned  tliese  words,  the 
uicat  and  saintly  Isabella  the  Catholic  was  no  more  in  this 
\\(.rld.' 

'•()  my  dear  son  James,"  wrote  the  heavy-hearted  Colum- 
hiis,  when  he  heard  of  this  sad  event,  "let  this  be  a  lesson 
to  you  as  regards  your  present  duty.  The  first  thing  is  to 
recommend  the  soul  ol'  our  sovereign  the  Queen  to  God, 
with  pit'ty  and  affection.  She  was  so  good  and  so  holy  that 
\vt'  may  r<"-t  assured  of  her  eti-rnal  happiness.  She  i^  now 
sheltered  from  all  the  cares  and  tribulations  of  this  world  in 
the  l)i)som  of  God.  The  next  thing  I  recommend  to  you  is  to 
watch  and  labor  with  all  your  strength  for  the  service  of  the 
King.  It  is  the  duty  of  all  to  pray  for  the  comfort  and 
preservation  of  his  life  ;  but  it  is  ours  in  an  esi>ecial  man- 
ne!'.  since  we  are  his  servants." 

What  chivalrous  loyalty  and  devotion,  even  in  the  very 
extremity  of  misfortune ! 

During  a  gi'e'at  part  of  the  spring,  Columbus  was  detained 
at  Seville  by  his  maladies.  Don  Eartht)lomew,  in  tht>  mean- 
tiiiie,  proceeded  to  Court  to  attend  to  the  Admiral's  ccm- 
cerns.  lie  was  accompanied  by  the  young  Fernando  Co- 
hiinhus,  then  al)out  seventeen  years  old.  In  a  letter  to  his 
elder  son,  James,  tlu;  illustrious  discoverer  ol"  America  in- 
culcates the  strongest  brotliei-ly  attachment,  lie  refers  to 
his  own  noble  brothers  with  one  (jC  those  warm  and  alfect- 


'  After  four  month:*  of  IllncHS  slio  diml,  in  tlic  fifty  fonrdi  yonr  of  lior  use:  >int  lon^  licforc  lior 
ovpa iliis"!  upon  >\w  vvirM,  luT  lii-iirt  litui  clos.'il  np'iii  nil  it'*  jximps  and  vaiiitii's,  .  .  .  Slio  mm 
oro  of  till'  pnrost  spirits  that  over  rnlcil  over  tlu?  (U'stinic'i  of  a  nation.  Had  slw  lii'cn  spnn'd, 
li"rli('iil,'nant  vii;il.incn  wonld  lia'.v  prcvrnti'd  iiKiny  a  fci'w^.  of  homir  In  tlic  New  World,  and 
miL'lit  liiiv"  r^ofiini'd  tlio  lot  of  it"  nativo  inlialiitantv.  As  it  is.  her  fair  name  will  I'vcr  shinu 
with  ct';>  stial  radiance  hi  the  early  dawning  of  its  UUtuTy.—Inliiff. 


i     h 


170 


CHRIS  TOVIIEll  COL  UMD  US. 


IL 


III 


T   i 


iii,2;  fouchos  wliich  besjieak  the  kindness  of  liis  heart.  "To 
your  lu'otlier,"  Avi'ole  tlie  aged  liero,  "conduct  yourself  as 
tlic  cldci-  Profiler  shouhl  unto  the  younger.  Y<mi  luive  no 
other,  and  1  i>i'aise  (rod  that  this  is  such  a  one  as  you  need. 
Ten  brothers  would  not  be  too  many  for  you.  iS'ever  have 
I  found  a  better  friend,  to  right  or  to  left,  than  my 
bi-others." 

It  was  not  until  the  month  of  May  that  Columbus  was 
able  to  a('('()in])Iish  his  journey  to  Court.  1I(^  who  but  a  few 
years  before  had  entered  the  city  of  ]3arcel(jna  in  triuini)h, 
attended  hy  the  chivalry  of  Spain,  and  hailed  with  ia])tare 
by  the  multitude,  now  arrived  at  the  gates  of  SegoM'a  a 
neglected,  way-worn  and  melancholy  man.  lie  was  weighed 
down  by  soi'rows  even  more  than  by  years  and  inlii'iniiies. 

To  the  cold  but  coiirteDUS  Ferdinand  the  presence  of  the 
Adinii'al  seemed  to  be  importunate,  and  his  ])overty  was 
regarded  as  a,  keen  though  tacit  reproach.  Coniinissioncis 
were,  it  is  true,  appointed  to  inquire  into  his  cuuduct,  and 
the  d(\gree  of  justice  with  which  he  claimed  tlie  I'estilutioii 
of  his  proi)erty  and  his  privileges.  They  found  no  reason 
to  deny  his  rights,  l)ut  they  wasted  his  jisstience  ]iy  their 
delays.  Nor  was  this  all.  Anxiety,  and  tlie  (\n\\(\  he  felt 
of  leaving  his  sons  and  his  brother  unpro\id('d  i'oi',  added 
to  his  l)odily  sudVrings. 

"Your  ^Nfajesty,''  he  wrote  to  the  King  fiom  his  sick 
couch,  "conceivesit  inexpedient  to  fulfill  tli(>  lu'ouiises  wliicli 
I  received  from  you,  and  from  the  Queen  wlio  is  now  in 
glory.  To  struggle  against  your  will  would  be  to  Avrestle 
with  tli(^  wind.  I  have  done  my  duty.  l\i\\  (rod.  who  has 
ever  shown  me  mercy,  order  the  rest  according  to  His  divine 
justice!" 

Alas!  it  was  the  hero's  life  rather  than  his  dauntless 
spirit  that  (wen  then  Avas  siidving  under  him.  At  his  own 
request,  his  brother.  Don  P.ai'tho]om(nv,  and  his  son  .Tirmes, 
Avere  at  that  very  time  abstMit  to  imi»l(n'e  aid  fiom  Queen 
Juana,  Isabella's  daughter,  who  Avas  on  her  ^ay  from  I'lnn- 
ders  to  Castile.  Everything  seinued  to  conspire  against  him 
in  his  last  hours.     Physical  suffering,  mental  anguish,  and 


the  f. 


Cniil€'£JPIIEli  COLUMBUS. 


171 


tlip  f(>oling  that  liis  life  was  about  to  be  cut  short  before  he 
could  hope  to  see  himself  honorably  justified;  the  triumph  of 
liis  bitrerenennesat  Court,  the  courtiers"  derision,  the  King's 
coldness,  the  shadow  of  death, which  he  saw  daily  ap])roa('li- 
iug,  and  the  sad  loneliness  in  which  the  al)sence  of  his  son 
and  his  lu'other  left  him  in  a  forgetful  and  ungrateful  town ; 
till"  iccolleciions  of  a  lir<!  spent,  the  one  half  in  the  expecta- 
tion of  a  gloi'ious  destiny,  the  other  in  dei)loring  the  un- 
li:il»py  fate  of  genius  desi)lsed;  the  thought  of  liis  brothers 
\\iilH)Ut  provision,  his  son  without  a  heritage,  and  the 
uncertain  fate  of  his  incnioiy  among  future  generations — all 
these  li'il)idatlons  of  limbs  and  mind,  of  body  and  soul,  of 
past,  pi'esent  and  futuie,  weighed  in  one  lutter  -noment  on 
the  venerable  Adnnral. 

Let  us  reverently  approach  the  dying  hero.  Let  us  behold 
his  last  hours.  It  may  teach  us  how  to  die.  We  can  imag- 
\\\{^  what  a  hotel  must  have  been  at  that  day  in  Spain.  In 
a  lonely  duuuber  lay  the  Oiand  vVdmiral  of  tlui  Ocean  on 
liis  bed  of  suffering.  The  bare  walls  wvvo.  (n-namented  with 
nanglit  but  his  chains.  He  requested  one  of  his  attendants 
—an  (lid  and  faithful  companion  of  his  voyages — to  bring 
to  his  bedside  a  pen,  ink  and  writing  materials.  Several 
years  before  he  had  made  his  will,  but  ho  wished,  in  his 
last  hours,  to  conlirm  what  he  had  already  done,  and  to 
give  a  linal  impress  of  indisputable  authentieity  tothedcjcu- 
inent.  What  a  strange  sight,  to  behold  a  man  shunned  by 
the  great,  abandoned  l)y  the  world,  and  str<^tched  on  a  bed 
of  poverty  in  a  miserable  little  room,  distributing  seas, 
islands,  countries. 

As  already  stated,'  he  made  his  son  Don  James,  his  chir'f 
heir.  "I  beseech  my  Sovereigns  and  their  successors," 
wrote  Columbus,  "to  uphold  forever  this,  my  last  will,  in 
the  (listrilnition  of  my  rights,  my  goods  and  my  ofTices— I 
who.  although  liorn  at  G(!noa,  came  to  Castile  to  serve 
them,  and  who  haA^e  discovered,  in  the  West,  mainland, 
islands  and  the  Indies,     !^^v  son  shall  held  mv  ofhce  of  Ad- 


'  SlT'  p.  1^1. 


173 


CUmSTOPlIER  COL UMBUS. 


■^1 


I  ;1|  'I 


i: 

1 

inii'iil  on  null  [lart  of  tin;  (xv^un   westward  of  a  lino  di'awn 
IVoni  ono  polo  to  tlie  otlier." 

Tlie  grand  old  man  then  passed  to  the  use  of  the  revenues 
sccnred  to  him  by  hi,s  treaty  with  Ferdinand  and  Isabt'lhi. 
Wisely  and  ]ib(>i'ally,  he  distributed  tlie  millions  which  of 
riglit  w(n'o  his  between  his  sou  Don  James  and  his  brother 
Don  Bartholonunv.' 

Then  tnrning  a  last  lingering  look  toward  that  dear  na- 
tive land,  vvhieh  no  adoptod  country  can  ever  blot  from  the 
heart  of  man,  his  soul  yearned  towards  the  city  of  Genoa, 
wherein  tlu^  home  of  his  fathers  had  already  crumbled  at 
tile  touch  of  time,  but  in  which  there  still  dwelt  some  dis- 
tant relative,  like  an  old  root  clinging  to  the  soil  when  flu 
forest  trunk  had  been  leveled.  "  I  desire  my  son  .Tames," 
he  wrote,  ''always  to  maintain  in  the  city  of  Genoa  ono 
member  of  our  family,  who  shall  reside  there  with  his  wife, 
and  to  s(Mi  that  the  allowance  made  to  him  is  libei'al,  that 
he  may  live  in  a  style  belitting  one  who  is  allied  to  us.  I 
di'sire  that  this  relation  n^tain  his  property  and  citizenship 
in  that  town,  for  it  was  there  that  I  was  born,  and  it  was 
thence  I  came."' 

"May  my  son,"  he  added,  Avith  that  chivalric  sentiment 
of  fealty  which  was  the  second  religion  of  those  tines, 
"may  my  son.  in  memory  of  me,  serve  the  King,  the  Queen, 
and  their  successT)rs,  even  to  the  forfeiture  of  life  and  goods 
— since,  next  to  G(jd,  it  was  they  who  supplied  me  with  the 
means  of  making  my  discoveries." 

"It  is  true,"  he  went  on,  in  a  tone  of  half-stiHed  reproach, 
arising,  as  it  wiM-e,  from  the  de])ths  of  memory,"  that  T  canio 
fi'om  a  long  distance  to  make  an  offering  of  them,  and  that  a 
tedious  length  of  time  passed  away  liefore  any  credit  was 
given  to  the  gift  I  brought  their  Majesties;  but  that  was 
only  natiiral,  for  it  was  a  mystery  to  all  the  v.'orld,  and 
could  only  \w  regarded  at  first  incredulonsly.  For  that  very 
reason,  I  ought  to  share  my  triumphs  with  those  Sovereigns 
who  were  the  first  to  trust  my  word." 

'  Bon  J.imea,  the  Admiral's  son,  states  tint  he  wag  charged  to  pay  the  devoted  Beatrix  10,000 
tnaravedies  a  yvar.—Irfiitr/. 


CUIilSTOriiER  COL  UMBUS. 


171? 


This  liistoiic  will  also  contained  ninny  lecrnries  for  the 
riimidiilion  of  dilft'ivnt  cluirclies,  aiui'niiule  sjiccial  provis- 
ion for  tlic  realization  of  a  grand  desi:j:n  wliicli  had  always 
(iccu[)i('il  ills  thoughts — the  deliverance  of  the  Holy  Sej)ul- 
fhre.  Long  had  it  been  his  desire  to  undertake  a  new  crn- 
side;  bnt,  nnable  himself  to  raise  aloft  tlie  conciuering  cross, 
he  directed  that  a  part  of  his  revenues  should  be  annually 
reserved  in  St.  d'eorge's  Pjank  at  (.jenoa.  for  the  fultillincnt 
(if  his  cherished  design,  and  that  it  should  thei'e  accunnilah^ 
until  a  sulhcient  sum  was  i-aised  to  lit  out  any  army  of  ci'u- 
sadcrs.  lie  solemnly  bt)und  his  heirs  to  interest  tlieniselvea 
pci's()u:dly  in  the  snccess  of  this  ]->ious  mterjirisc.' 

Having  thus  scrupulously  acquitted  himself  of  all  earthly 
duties,  Columbus  turned  his  tlioughts  to  Heaven — the.t 
beautiful  Heaven  which  had  always  occupied  so  large  a  ]iait 
of  his  bright,  heroii;  ndnd.  Agreeably  to  the  usage  of  the 
time  and  the  particular  inclination  of  his  [liety,  he  put  en 
the  habit  of  the  Third  Order  of  St.  Francis.  Hethcnmade^ 
a  last  humble  confessi(m,  and  received  the  IToh/  Violicuin. 
His  chains,  hy  Ins  Avishes,  were  to  descend  with  him  into  tlu; 
loiiil).  Mournfully  standing  around  his  bed  were  his  two 
sous,  his  olUcers,  some  friends,  and  a  few  Fjaiiciscan  fathers; 
while  hourly  the  gn^at  Admiral  of  the  Ocea.n  felt  him- 
self advancing  to  that  mysterious  ])o]'t  which  opens  into 
(•rcinity.  Full  of  faith,  and  hope,  and  love,  ho  asked  for 
tliesacrament  of  Extreme  T'nction  as  a  prepaiation  for  this 
last  great  voyage — a  voyage  in  whi(di  tlu;  peasant  who  has 
seen  l)Ut  the  little  district  arouml  his  home,  and  the  nnghty 
travelers  in  thought  and  deed,  ai'e  alike  to  find  Ihemselvos 
apon  the  unknown  waters  of  that  life  beyond  the  tomb, 
Lddked  at  in  this  Avay,  Avhat  a  givat  discoveivr  each  of  us 
is  te  be ! 

The  dying  hero  was  able  to  join  in  the  prayers  that  weie 
said  for  him,  and  answered  th<^  Fi'anciscan  I'atber  who  read 
the  reconunendaticm  for  the  departing  soul.  To  the  end. his 
wonderful  intellect  shone  out  clear  and  vig(jr(uis.     A  true 


I  For  llu'  tf.t  of  fills  vil!-|)frlinp«  tl\i'  mos!  rfiiiMi-kDlilc  ever  wfitti'ii--sei'  Irving'.-;  ■•  Mic  ai.d 
Voviift'sof  Cciluiubiis,"  Vol.  3;  and  Mc(K'o"s  '  C'iUliolic  Ui.-firy  of  Aiuonca,"  iHJi-'i'SuUx. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  145B0 

(716)  872-4503 


174 


CHRISTOPHER  COL  UMB  US. 


poet  by  nature,  as  we  liavtseenby  his  language  and  writings, 
lie  clothed  the 'last  aspiration  of  his  spirit  and  the  dying 
murmurs  of  his  lii)s  in  the  sacred  poesy  of  the  expiring  Re- 
deemer of  mankind,  "Into  thy  hands,  O  Lord!  I  commend 
my  spirit.''  Thus  died  Christopher  Columbus,  the  saintly 
and  iu(!oinpara1)le  man,  the  Catholic  discoverer  of  America, 
and  the  greatest  of  Admirals,  on  Ascension  Day,  the  2()t]i  of 
ISIay,  in   the  year.  1006.     He  was  about   seventy  years  of 


age. 


Even  death  ilid  not  end  thf  voyages  of  the  venerable  hero. 
His  body  was  lirst  deposited  in  the  Franciscan  convent  at 
A'allndolid.  On  his  tomb  was  jilaced  the  inscripti(m:  ".1 
(hist ilia  y  a  Led  Ki'tvo  Mnndo  dio  Cohm'''' — To  Castile 
and  Leon  Colum)  iis  gave  a  New  World.  Ilis  remains  wero 
afterwards  taken  to  the  Carthusian  convent  of  Seville. 
Xor  did  they  there  rest  long.  In  1530  they  were  removed 
to  1  lis] )ani()ln, and  interred  in  the  Cathedral  of  San  Domingo; 
and  in  1  ?.).'>  tliev  were  conveved  to  the  Cathedral  of  Ilavanna, 
where  tliev  now  repose.  And  there,  not  far  from  the  scenes 
of  liis  many  toils,  and  dangers,  and  humiliatiims,  rest  the 


'  Wu  will  disclose  llic  iPiofDiiiul  coiiviitiim  of  our  iiiiiid.  We  dclarc  before  (iod,  who  knows 
it,  and  liefore  tucii,  wlio  do  not  know  it.  tli.it  ('hrlntopher  ('lUnmhiix  irii.i  «  lahif.  We  use  ihe 
word  .idhil  in  us  far  as  It  is  pevinltled  tlie  snliinissiveni^ss  of  ii  Catliolie  to  employ  it,  us  a  ll;;uro 
of  cpeeeli,  for  wan;  of  a  more  exact  term  to  apply  to  a  mnn  whom  the  Church  has  not  yet  canon- 
i/.ed;  for.  in  onr  eyes,  noloily  nnlil  then  is  a  saint.  And  when  we  ileclare  with  full  cotivictioa 
thai  Cohnnhns  was  a  .-ainf.  we  mean  to  say  that  Ihe  nieKseii;;er  of  the  Cross  is  found,  as  ri'^runb 
liistory.  in  the  posilion  of  a  hero  of  the  (iospel,  ami  of  a  f,'reat  servant  of  the  Church,  upon  the 
nii'rits  of  whom  the  chnrcli  has  not  yet  pronounced.  Some  ^reat  liishops,  muriyrs,  and  founders 
of  rellL'ions  (jrders,  who  are  now  llhislrlous  canoid/ed  saints,  have  remained,  for  u  lime,  in  uri 
iijual  .>-ltnatl(in,  awaitlii;:  the  daj  of  their  car.onl/at  ion.— (.'»»///  lii  Ijirr/iKK. 

That  Cohimlius  was  a  saint,  in  a  less  strict  sensii  of  the  word,  seems  to  he  fairly  certifiiMl  by  the! 
careful  ri'senrchcs  of  Count  Koselly  dc  Lvirjines.  Whether  he  was  a  saint  in  that  hi^'hot 
hense  which  is  ineaiil  whi'U  we  spi>ak  of  formal  canonization,  must  be  delermiiied  by  evldeiuo 
of  a'Kither  order.  I'eiidini,'  the  proof  of  miracles  wj-oui;ht  after  his  death,  and  by  bisdirecl  inter- 
I  essioii,  and  pending:  also  any  diclaralion  of  the  Church  In  his  cause,  we  can  oidy  say  that  llic 
j;reat  work  ^fiven  him  to  do.  his  own  deep  sense  of  a  Divine  vocation,  his  life  worthy  of  that  //('/A 
conunisshni,  liis  huinhlereadijiess  to  ascribe  all  his  acliicvemefits  to  Ihe  helpini;  hand  of  (iod, 
Ills  edif.vhi).'  foiylM'iiess  of  the  most  niali)rnant  ouliaf:is,  bis  chlldlilvc  trust  in  the  protection  of 
neaveii,  repaid,  as  we  i.  ive  seen,  by  the  slamlliiL'  miracle  of  a  special  I'rovldence  visibly  excrtiil 
in  his  bi'half,  ami  carryini;  him  safely  tliroiiuha  lliousaml  dan^rers  in  ion;.',  tempestuous  voyau'C!', 
V.  ith  ships  scarcely  seaworthy  at  their  be-t,  l.nt  still,  with  ;;apini;  seams  ami  tcri'do-pierccd  pl.iiiks, 
ever  keeping'  above  water  till  lainl  w.is  reached,  aiyl  tneu  falling  to  pieces  on  shore  ;  his  wcnider- 
fil  predi<'tioiis,  the  vl -Lmis  in  which  he  liimsi'lf  put  faith  ;  above  all,  his  surpassing  'libnlaliona 
patiently  endured,  and  his  ihath  in  deep  obscurity  ami  cont<'nipt,  without  one  vindictive  word, 
(  ert.iinly  favor  the  Idea  that  ClirUtopher  Columbus  U  n  suhit  hi  tht;  utrlctcst  sense  of  the  word.-  - 
I'lit/ur  h'lii'j/it,  ^.  J. 


cmusTornEB  columbus. 


175 


ashes  of  tl'e  iiiif,^hty  Conqueror  of  the  ocean  and  the  Re- 

veiiler  of  the  globe.' 

The. life  of  Columbus  is  liis  best  eulogy.  It  is  one 
of  the  most  holy,  heroic  and  wonderful  on  record. 

Like  everythint?  that  is  not  of  this  earth,  he  stands 
alone,  grand  and  mysterious.  The  dramatic  and  the 
l)'X'tic  enter  into  his  existence ;  antl  every  thing  that 
comes  in  contact  with  him  acquires  <iignity  or  confers 
dlstinctiim. 

His  virtues  Avere  as  shining  as  they  were  numerous.  IIow 
publime  was  his  faith!  Everything  was  done  in  the  name 
of  (loll.  All  his  great  entei-prises  were  undertaken  by 
invoking  tlie  ^fost  Holy  Trinity.  When  his  genius  dis- 
covered a  new  land,he  r.used  his  voice  and  his  heart  in  praise 
and  gratitude  to  Heaven.  For  him  the  star  of  liope  shone 
with  a  celestial  brilliancy  unseen  by  conunon  eyes.  It  never 
fc;et.  His  charity  was  exhaustless.  Piety  held  the  llrst 
iilace  in  his  bright,  unt?quahMl  nund,  and  all  else  came  after. 
Keligion  mingled  with  the  whole  course  of  his  thoughts  and 
actions,  and  shone  foi-th  in  his  most  jjrivate  and  unstudied 
wiitings.  It  cronned  the  h)fty  integrity  of  his  manly  char'- 
acter. 

A  Catholic  of  Catholics,  if  he  -(le-sired  to  open  the  way 
to  unkn(»\vu  c(intinents,  and  to  raise  larue  sums  of  monev, 
it  was  n<»t  through  any  motive  of  gras]ping  st'llishness.  ]^e- 
fore  8t.  Ignatius  a<lo])ted  the  maxim.  Ad  ihu'iorcni  Del 
ijloriaiii,  Columbus  i)Ut  it  in  practice.  To  caijy  the  light  of 
the  Gospel  to  the  heathen,  to  connect  the  ends  of  the  earth 
for  the  glory  of  Cod,  to  rescue  the  Holy  8e})ulchre  from 
the  hands  of  th<^  intldel  Tui'k — such  were  the  lofty  mo- 
tives that  guided  his  life's  labors.  Nor  was  he  simply  a 
saintly  iiero  and  a  great  Adndral.  Though  a  layman,  he 
WHS  one  of  (h(^  grent(>st  of  missicmaries.  Hin  discoveries 
fipi'TKMl  Heaven  to  millions  of  souls.  This  messenger  of  the 
Cross  rivals  tlie  most  illustrious  of  the  saints  in  Iteing  the 


'  Ndl  Imi'i  ;i'.'o  llic  iicwspnpiTH  di'Mi  rilicil  lli<'  llmlinu'  of  '!"'  rciiiiiiiiH  (if  Coliiinbiix  in  (he  Calho 
drill  iif  Sim  '>iiiiiiMi:(>.  TlrTc  N  no  Irutli  In  "iii'li  ^(•|)<>rf^'.  Ills  usUi'S  rest  at  Uavaiiii.  800  Col- 
uiuiro'b  irciiilly  ptlblUlicil  iuonoi,'nii)li,  Zo«  llimtcn  lie  Colon. 


176 


CIIRISTOPUEli  COLUMBUS. 


n 


means  of  unlocking  the  portals  of  Paradise  to  countless 
nmltitucloH. 

Wlio  slinll  Ave  name  braver  than  the  immortal  Dispoveror 
of  America?  His  victories,  lilve  his  liie,  staiul  alone  in  liis- 
tory.  By  his  dauntless  spirit,  the  unaided  force  of  liis  ge- 
nius, and  tlie  blcssinj^  of  Heav(>n,  he  rose  superior  to  every 
dangcu'  and  every  dlflicidty.  W'itli  liim  oi-iiiiiiitteil  tlie  convic- 
tion tluit  tlie  Atlantic  could  be  nuide  a  ]);iflivvMy  to  the  In- 
dies; and  in  spite  of  bitter  opposition  atui  t  lie  most  heart- 
less persecution,  he  su(!ceeded  in  impressing  the  truth  of  his 
idea  upon  others.  Ills  poverty  nuule  the  aid  of  a  rich  pa- 
tron essential  to  the  carrying  out  of  his  vast  juojects.  He 
despaired  not  wiu^n  all  seemed  hopeless.  AViih  unheard-of 
energy  and  matcldess  persevei-ance,  he  toiled  for  nearly  a 
fifth  of  a  cent ui-y  before  he  could  obtain  even  a  successful 
hearing  His  hair  was  white  at  thirty,  froui  deep  rellection 
on  tlie  subject  oL"  discovery.  For  years  he  mane II y  bore  \\\) 
against  scorn,  dcljiy,  poverty,  aral  vilecojifeiuiit;  aiul  linally,, 
battling  with  man  and  teriipest,  Ik^  triunii)hed  over  the  terrors 
of  the  vast  and  gloomy  ocean !  He  was  hi'ty-sin'en  w  hen  he 
planted  the  Cntss  on  the  wild  shoi-es  of  San  Salvador.  But 
never  for  a  moiueut  was  he  deserted  by  subliuu3  courage 
and  maguauimify  of  soul.  On  no  oc(!asion  do  we  see  iiini 
descend  to  luiukerings  for  eai'thly  glory,  or  yic^ld  to  any  am- 
bition for  ^lopularity,  or  truckle  for  the  favors  of  tlu^  Spanish 
(yourt.  His  C'liristian  dignity  stood  far  jibove  all  those 
things.  His  noble  forbearance  in  the  wi-ougs,  and  insults, 
and  countless  injuries  heaped  on  liis  declining  years  reveals 
a  rounded  character  of  crystal  beauty  and  unrivaled  gran- 
deur. 

How  shall  we  delbn^  true  rfrrafnrss?  Hy  what  standard 
can  we  judge  nu'u  so  as  to  Ix!  abh%  with  some  justic(5  and 
precision,  to  point  out  the  greatest?  It  may  be  safely 
asserted  that  he  is  the  greatest  man  to  whom  the  worhl  is 
most  iiifJfhfr'J.  Measured  by  his  achievements  and  their 
results,  Christopher  Columbus,  we  venture  to  assert,  stands 
lirst  on  the  roll  of  the  truly  great,  heading  th(>  list  of  the 
most  illustrious  men  of   all  time.      Compared  with  this 


cmusroriiER  col umbus. 


177 


Catliolic  hero,  what  are  Alexander,  Hannibal,  Ca)sar,  and 
Niipok'on^  What  does  the  world  owe  them  ?  For  what  are 
wo  Americans  indebted  to  them  ?  How  different  from  Co- 
liimlnis !  To  lura  science,  commerce  and  religion  owe  more 
than  to  any  other  man.  The  New  World  reveres  him  as  its 
discoverer.  The  Catholic  Church  recognizes  in  him  one  of 
her  ureat  and  holy  sons.  In  short,  viewing  his  unparalleled 
achievenients  and  their  boundless  results,  the  whole  earth 
autl  all  maid\ind  are  his  debtors.  His  beautiful  character 
tianscends  i)raise,  as  his  heroic  deeds  baffle  description  ;  and 
as  there  is  but  one  America  on  the  map  of  the  world,  so 
there  is  but  one  Columbiis  among  the  sons  of  men.' 


1  All  account  of  scveriil  miracles'  iiiilircctly  .iltritiiitatilc  to  llio  <lincnvcr(T  of  America  ispivpn 
by  llic  Coiirit  clc  l,()rj,'m's  in  liis  '•  Clirisloiilic  t'olonib."  TUo  following  ruliites  to  u  cross  wliicli 
ht  cnilid  In  lIi>|ianlola,  at  Fort  Conception; 

At  llic  bc^iinnini,'  of  April,  I  I'.l."),  t'olntnlms  visited  for  tho  second  tin..'  the  Royal  I'lalii,  where 
till-  >(  ar  licfore  \w  had  panned  In  Mdiniration,  lilcssing  fiod  aioiid  in  tlie  jiresence  of  his  soldiers, 
anil  111  inking'  Ilini  for  ina'.iln;,'  known  u  land  so  heanlil'ul.  After  the  suhiiiissiim  of  vlnarionex, 
tliu  chief  of  llial  part  of  thi'  <-onntry,  the  Admiral  had  received,  in  the  terms  of  IIh'  tri  aty.  anllior- 
ity  til  constrnci  a  foil  at  111  ^  entrance  to  this  ma«nilicent  rei:ioli.  Wishing'  to  pay  honor  to  tho 
fiira  of  salvation  in  tliis  chamiinu  place,  he  onlered  the  nuite,  Alon/.o  de  V.'ilcncia,  to  take  a  troop 
of  iwcnt;'  men,  and  witli  this  escort,  consislin^;  principally  of  sailors  and  carpenters,  to  cut  down 
a  line  tree  wliicli  he  had  marked  for  nnikint;  a  ('ro«s.  The  Irnnk,  cut  sipiare,  formed  the  shaft, 
mid  llie  l,.r;;est,  ot  the  lionylis  was  laid  transversely  for  the  arms.  It  m:iy  liave  lieen  eighteen  or 
twenty  palms  in  heit;!it.  This  };riMt  <'ros<,  eonspiciioii-ly  tall,  was  creeled  hy  the  .Vdmiral  on  ii 
hiil  lit  the  hase  of  the  mointiins,  from  which  might  be  seen  overall  iminensu  expanse  the  most 
sii|icrli  view  of  this  superb  plain 

niirlii^'  the  prosecution  of  the  work«,  havinc  no  iiriest  or  church  at  hand,  lu^  made  his  dail.v 
pruviT  before  this  Cru-s.     He  there  assembled,  morning  and  evening,  the  workmen  and  soldiers. 

lie  said  his  otlld'  re:;nlarly  beside  the  sacred  symbol Fort  (.'oiicepiion  is  that  spot  in  UIk. 

piiiiiola  where  he  spent  the  longest  time Sloreover,  liiMvished  to  sanctify  this  privileged 

Iil:ice  by  building  a  church  for  the  daily  celebrathm  of  three  Masses 

When  the  revealer  of  tin?  globe,  in  reward  of  bis  dis<overies,  hail  been  torn  from  his  govem- 
niinl,  loaded  wilh  chains,  sent  to  Spain,  the  Spaiiierds,  following  his  example,  continued  to  as- 
unilile  there  to  say  their  prayers  standing.  One  day  llieC'ros.^,  invoked  wilh  honest  raitli,wroiighl; 
u  niiricle.  Some  per^^ons  were  cured  of  a  fever  by  touching  it.  oiiier  sufferi  rs  were  attracted  to 
lt.,iiii|  •■■■commended  themselves  eaniesily  to  Cod.  Many  of  them  were  cured.  Tho  Cross  was 
railed  the  Tnit'  Cnxr.,  for  it  was  distinguished  by  working  minicles. 

The  name  and  the  wonders  of  the  7'nit  Cmni  were  nolse<l  abniad.  The  Indians,  oppressed  by 
tile  Spaniards  afti^r  Uobadilla's  as-iimplion  of  olllie,  having  observed  the  respect  paid  by  their 
iiiii'leis  to  the  sacred  symbol,  determined  to  d'--lioy  It.  They  came  in  force  to  the  assault,  and 
fiislrning  sirong  cords  of  tv.isled  llbre  to  the  shaft  of  the  f'o-^s.  tried  to  pull  it  down;  but  in  sjiito 
of  iheir  numbers  all  their  ciTorts  were  unavailing.  The  Cross  dclb^d  their  strength  and  stood 
imiiiMVable.  Discontented  by  their  illsnccess,  they  tried  (o  reduce  ,t  to  a^he-.  (ialhiTing  largo 
liiip-  of  dry  briisbwooil,  they  snrronndeil  tlieni  at  iiiirht  with  fagL'ots  of  inllaminable  material  to 
nu'iiiit  lieludit  and  set  tlu'iii  on  lire.  The  llames  broke  out  with  violence.  The  cross  soondisap- 
tie.-Tid  in  lire  and  smoke.  The  idolaters  with  their  prie^-ts,  the  Uiih'iti',  retired  well  pleased.  Hut 
next  tuiirniiig  they  s.iw  the  Cross  standing  in  pi^rfeet  preservation  amid  the  smokieg  heaps.  Not 
ev.'ii  the  (i)lor  of  the  wood  was  changed,  except  that  at  the  fool  it  was  slightly  blackened,  as  if  ik 
IIlIiIi  d  candle  had  been  applii'd  to  it. 

DilcrredimU  ilism;i)ed  by  this  inlraculoub  manifestation,  they  fled  trembling,  and  afraid  that 


178 


CJiniSTOPIIEIi  COLUMIWS. 


t!u\v  liiid  inciirrcil  tlio  rosontmcnt  of  tin-  C'ro.-H,  wliicli  they  wcrci  ppronnrti-d  came  from  TIciM-n, 
Is'cvi'rtlu'if-  llic  viiuiiclivt'  viDlciicc  of  llicir  Hiihuti<  made  tlu'iii  ri'tlirn  In  llii!  iittiu'k,  lo  try  lociit 
il  down  Willi  llicir  haklK^s  of  hliiirpt'iii'd  hIomo  and  lli<-  kliivi'H  wliich  had  liirii  prociircd  liy  cv 
clian;^!'  from  tlii'  Spaniards.  Tliu  wood  olIiTcd  an  unusual  rr-lMtaiici',  and  llii'V  oliMTvcd  llmt  iho 
inonu'tit  tlicy  liad  chipped  olT  a  fra;,'in"iit  tlic  cavity  was  lllli'd  in  ininu'dialcly,  and  llicir  work  Imd 
to  rcconiiiK'ncc.  Tiii'ir  frintic  ohflinacy  kuvc  way  l)cfori!  Ilii.i  new  wonder.  Hitliinkinj;  ilicm. 
Helves  lliat  tlicir  united  strciintli  had  been  unable  not  only  to  pull  down  tlic  I'ross,  but  even  lo 
move  it,  and  sceiiig  the  Christiana  paying  ruvuruucu  tu  it,  they  from  thut  time  prostrated  theni- 
«elves  liofiire  it. 

To  lliis(t  pro,lii;ics  was  added  another,  permanent  and  si.'U  by  all,  wiiicli  bcoaino  each  jear  a 
greater  siib,j<'et  of  astonislnneiit,  iminely,  tlu'  complete  preservation  of  the  wood,  wliicli,  without 
any  eoalin;;  of  tar  or  chciulcal  ai)plieatioii  of  any  kind,  delled  llie  dainji  anil  ilie  heal,  wlii.h  in 
that  climate  prodllcl^  rapid  decay.  The  Cross  was  not  tlssured  or  warjjcd  or  worni-eaten.  It 
liiisjht  have  been  just  set  up.  Kifty-eit,'lit  years  after  it  liad  been  erected  it  was  as  pirfirt  as  lliu 
first  day.  Another  wonderfid  eiTect  made  a.  deep  impression  upon  the  people  of  that  part,  and  it 
V  as  lo  see  the  ( 'ross  standini;  safi'.  iintoiiclied  by  hurricanes  and  whirlwinds,  which  liad  torn  from 
their  place  and  lliiiii;  down  to  the  earth  trees  and  liousi>s  all  around. 

The  miiachs  increasid  in  number  and  notoriety.  Ovledo,  who  was  Governor  of  San  Dominpo, 
though  ho.-lHe,  as  xve  have  sicn,  lo  Coliinil)us,  attests  tiiat  the  iniraculoim  Cross, which  at  liie  timu 
111!  wrote,  i.").X),  was  slandiiif;  inside  the  Cathedral,  had  been  ervcted  by  Columbus  himscir  at  I'ort 
CoiH'cp'ioii. 

In  l.Vkl  tlii^  Cathedral  was  lilowii  down  fn  a  hnrricano,  tlin  chapol  of  the  Trvi'  Crnns  almie  e»- 
capiiii;.  Tile  whole  town  was  a  heap  of  ruins,  except  tne  Fr.mciscin  convent;  Imt  many  of  the 
iiihabiiaiits  liad  in  tlieir  liouses  or  on  their  person;,  a  relic  of  the  True  Crots,  and  of  these  not 
one  was  injured.  The  population  liad  to  .seek  anotli"r  home,  and  the,  ("ross  is  heani  of  no  mure. 
Hoiiie  liad  never  publicly  sanctioned  tlie  devotion  lo  this  True  Cram,  liiit  an  ail-'sullicieiit  rcnsdu 
would  seem  to  be  the  desire  to  avoid  all  clashiiij;  with  the  more  ancient  claims  of  a  far  iiolitf 
Tkl'b  C'iios:j.    The  uiiruculuu^jcurus  nvmm  well  curUfled.— i'VlMer  KnlyUd  trundalUm, 


i 


ALONZO   DE   0J6DA, 

THE  WARRIOR  PROT^Gfi  OF  THE  BLESSED  VIRGIN.' 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  YOUNG  CAVALIER. 

Youth  of  OJcda — Spain  in  the  fifteenth  century— A  reck- 
less feat — Description  of  our  hero — A  famous  painting 
— Adventure  in  Guad(doupe — Exptorinff  Jlispaniola — 
aS'/Vv/W  of  Fort  St.  Thomas  —  Takiiiff  Vaonaho  prisoner — 
Battle  of  the  lioyal  Plain — OJeda  returns  to  Spain. 

AV(^  no  sooner  mention  the  name  of  Alonzo  de  Oj6cla,tlian 
niKiiriniition  outlines  the  iigiiie  of  a  famous  cavalier  whose 
brave  heart  and  chivalrous  nature  were  strangers  alike  to 
fear  and  malice.  He  belonged  lo  a  respectable  family,  and- 
Avas  born  at  Cuenca,  in  Spain,  about  the  year  140.").  Alonzo 
was  brought  up  as  a  page  in  the  service  of  the  Duke  «jf 
Medina. 

Catholic  and  Moor,  in  those  days,  met  in  tierce  conflict. 
S])ain  was  like  one  vast  scliool  of  war.  It  was  a  hist  life 
and  death  struggle  between  the  Cross  and  the  Crescent,  in 
the  land  of  Isabella.  The  youth  were  trained  to  arms  and 
hardy  exercise;  and  every  princely  houselu)ld  was  a  mil- 
itary establishment.  In  such  a  school  was  Ojeda, formed, 
his  daring  character  and  iron  constitution  increasing  with  his 
yeai's. 

The  very  first  notice  we  have  of  him  is  a  reckless  feat  per- 


'  chief  niithnritloR  iisod;  Irving,  "The  IJvps  nnd  VoynKCs  of  th(^  Cotiiimiiions  of  Coliitnliiii';" 
Irvine,  '  Tlio  I.ifi'  nnd  Vi>.viitl''s  "f  Christopher  Columbus;  "  ItobiTUou,  "  Ilialory  of  America;  " 
uiiU  be  vera]  other  worliH  uf  lens  luiportunce. 

170 


180 


ALONZO  DE  OJ^DA 


ill 


formed  in  the  presence  of  Isabella  the  Catholic,  on  the 
Moorish  tower  of  the  Cathedral  of  Seville.  Thoui^h  a  tri- 
lling incident,  it  gives  us  a  glimpse  at  the  peculiar  character 
of  the  man.  At  an  immense  height  from  the  ground  a  grciit 
beam  pi-ojectinl  jibout  twenty  feet  from  the  tower.  The 
bold  Ojeda,  wishing  to  amuse  the  Queen,  walked  along  this 
beam  with  as  much  conildence  as  if  ho  were  moving  across 
his  chamber.  Arriving  at  the  end,  he  stood  upon  one  leg, 
and  laised  the  other  in  tlie  air;  then,  nind)!}^  turiung,  he 
wallved  back  to  the  tower,  placed  one  foot  against  it,  and 
threw  an  orange  to  the  summit.  This,  remarks  Las  Casas, 
was  a  j)roof  of  wonderful  muscular  strength.  Throughout 
all  this  exploit,  the  least  giddiness  or  false  step  would  have 
cost  him  his  life.  A  fall  to  the  earth  would  have  dashed 
him  to  pieces. 

Ojoda  had  a  cousin-gei-man  of  his  own  name,  a  distin- 
guished Doniiiucan,  Father  Alonzo  de  Ojeda,  who  was  in  higii 
favor  at  the  Spanisli  Court,  and  a  ])articular  friend  of  13isho[) 
Fonseca.  Through  tlie  good  offices  of  th(^  i)riest,  the  youi'g 
cavalier  was  introduced  to  the  powerful  Uishop.  At  once 
he  became  such  a  favorite  that  the  prelate  made  him  a  pres- 
ent of  a  little  F](Muish  painting  of  the  most  holy  Virgin. 
Tiiis  picture  rises  to  fame  in  the  story  of  his  adventurous 
career;  for  he  was  pious,  and  dearly  loved  tlie  Immaculate 
!Motlier,  and  to  her  "especial care,"  says  Irving,  "heattril)- 
uted  the  remarkable  circumstance  that  he  had  never  been 
wounded  in  any  of  the  innumerable  brawls  and  battles  into 
which  lui  was  continiudly  betrayed  by  his  rash  and  fiery 
temperament." 

Among  the  noted  ones  who  joined  the  second  voyage  of 
Ccdiunbus,  we  find  th(>  name  of  Alonzo  de  Ojeda.  He  is 
then  described  as  a  young  cavalier  of  about  twenty-eight 
yeaivs  of  age,'  small  in  stature,  but  well  made,  and  of  such  in- 
credible stHMigth  and  agility,  that  he  st^emed  a  human  con- 
densation of  muscular  power.  A  daring  eye  lit  up  his  dark, 
handsome  and  expressive  countenance.     He  was  an  admira- 

'  Twins  Piiys  "nlinnt  twonty-ono  yours  of  ncc"  but  lie  doi's  not  give  tlie  date  of  Ojcda's  birtll< 
Afur  Biiuic  rcticurcli,  wc  tliiiili  tlic  iiljovc  is  iicmer  lUf  iriitli. 


ALONZO  BE  OJf:DA. 


181 


|)lo  horsemnn,  and  possossed  nnmatched  skill  in  handling 
;ill  kiiida  of  wea])(>ns.  Bold  of  lieait,  free  of  spirit,  open  of 
band,  lierce  in  iiglit,  quiclc  in  (luarrel,  but  ever  ready  to 
f()ri,n't  and  for^ivcj  an  injury,  lie  was  destined,  for  a  long 
time,  (o  be  tlu;  admiration  of  the  wild  and  roving  youth  who 
tlocked  to  the  New  World." 

His  first  exploit  in  America  was  performed  in  Gnadaloupe, 
one  of  the  Leeward  Islands.  It  htis  been  already  referred  to 
in  the  lifn  of  Columbus.  While  stopping  at  (ruadaloupe  on 
his  second  voyag(?,  the  Admiral^  was  sorely  annoyed  one 
eviMiing  at  linding  that  a  captain  and  eight  men  had  strayed 
into  the  dense  woods,  and,  as  they  did  not  return,  liad  prob- 
ably got  lost.  Next  day  Ojeda  volunteered  to  hunt  them 
u)).  With  a  party  of  'forty  men  he  set  off  into  the  interior 
of  this  abode  of  cannibals,  bv?r.ting  up  the  forests,  and 
making  the  mountains  iwvX  v-.Pjys  resound  with  trumpets 
and  lire-arms.  In  spite  of  a  long  and  toilsome  search,  how- 
eve:,  he  was  obliged  to  rel  ui-n  without  the  stragglers. 

When  Columbus  arrived  in  Hispaniola,  one  of  his  first 
designs  was  tc  have  t'le  interior  of  the  island  explored.  lie 
had  heard  from  the  natives  of  a  rich  region  called  Clhao, 
whose  famous  cacique  was  Cnonabo,  or  the  ''Lord  of  the 
(Jolden  House."  Ojeda  was  chosen  to  lead  this  enterin'ise. 
Early  in  January,  1494,  he  set  out  with  a  small  band  of  de- 
termined foUowei's.  He  struck  into  the  interior  on  his  toil- 
some march.  Not  an  Indian  was  seen.  Terror  had  given 
Heetness  to  their  legs. 

On  tlie  evening  of  the  second  day  the  Spaniards  came  to  a 
lofty  mountain  range.  Ascending,  they  passed  the  night  on 
the  sununit.  When  morning  came  the  sun  revealed  a  sight 
glorious  and  picturesque.  Vast  plains,  noble  forests,  vil- 
lages and  shining  waters  met  the  astonished  gaze  of  OJoda 
and  his  men. 

The  Siianiards  passed  down  the  mountain-side,  and  en- 
tered the  Indian  towns.  Hospitality  was  showered  on  the 
newcomers.  Five  or  six  days  more  were  spent  in  reaching 
the  chain  of  hills  that  guarded,  so  to  speak,  the  golden  land 


'  IrvlnK. 


183 


ALONZO  HE  DJDnA. 


\ 


I 


of  Cil)MO.  Tliey  entered  tlie  famed  territory,  nor  did  any- 
tliiiiL;  ai)j)ear  to  dispute  their  ]ir(»,u,'i'<'.ss.  The  ferocious 
Caoiiabo  was  very  probably  in  some  distant  part  of  his 
dominions. 

Ojeda  and  his  adventurons  companions  saw  amjjle  sii^ns 
of  natural  wealth.  The  sands  of  the  nwMintain  str«  ams  flit- 
tered with  particles  of  gold,  these  the  natives  woidd  skill- 
fully  seinrate,  and  give  to  the  S^ianiards,  without  expecting 
any  I't'coinpense  In  sonui  i)laces  they  picked  up  largo 
8pecinK'!is  of  virgin  ore  from  the  bed  of  the  torrents,  aii(l 
stones  streaked  ami  richly  impregnated  with  it.  Peter 
Martyr  affirms  that  he  saw  a  mass  of  rude  gold  weighing 
nine  ounces,  which  Ojeda  himself  had  found  in  one  of  tiie 
brooks.  Tile  object  of  the  expeditiou  Avas  now  attained,  and 
all  returned  to  Columbus  with  glowing  accounts  of  what 
they  liad  seen. 

Some  time  after  this,  Ojeda  was  appointed  commander  of 
Fort  St.  Thomas,  where  he  was  to  succeed  Peter  Margaiite. 
He  set  out  for  tlnit  station  at  the  head  of  about  four  liiiu- 
dred  men,  sixteen  of  whom  were  liorsemen.  ^Vhen  he 
reached  the  Royal  Plain,  lie  learned  that  three  Si)ani-.irds 
had  been  robbed  of  their  effects  by  some  Indians  who  had 
undertaken  to  carry  them  across  a  river  At  the  same  time, 
he  heard  that  the  delinquents  had  been  sheltered  by  their 
cacique,  who  shared  the  booty.  Ojeda  was  a  soldier  of 
quick  temper,  and  had  a  rather  summary  mode  of  dispens- 
ing justice,  lie  seized  one  of  the  thieves,  ordered  his  ears 
to  be  cut  off  in  the  public  square  of  the  village;  and  he 
sent  the  oifendimr  cacique,  together  with  his  son  and  nephew, 
in  chains  to  the  Admiral. 

It  was  not  long  before  the  Spaniards  were  made  aware 
that  their  most  formidable  enemy  was  Caonabo,  the  tierce 
cacique  of  the  golden  mountains.  Enraged  at  seeing  Fort 
St.  Thomas  erected  in  the  very  centre  of  his  dominions, 
and  finding  by  his  s])ies  that  the  garrison  was  reduced  to 
fifty  men,  he  thought  to  strike  a  signal  blow,  and  to  repeat 


Irving, 


ALONZO  DE  OJEDA. 


183 


tliP  liorrors  wliicli  he  had  fornu'rly  wreaked  upon  La 
Kiividiul." 

The  wily  raci(|ue,  Iiowover  had  an  able  enemy  to  deal  with 
in  AloiizodeOjeda.  Tlie cavalier's  Ion*;' schooling;' in  th(.'  Moor- 
ish  wars,  and  ids  deep  l>:no\vletl,i^e  of  military  stratagems,  now 
servt'd  liim  well.  Jiesid(!S,  piety  ]iei^liten»'d  liis  e<)ura,i;e.  In 
trurii,  lie  feared  no  danger,  for  he  consiflered  himself  always 
(iiidcr  tlie  si)e<'i;il  jiroiection  of  the  most  holy  \'ir^in.  lie 
constantly  carried  her  pictnre  in  his  knapsiick,  and  wonld 
ufK'n  take  it  ont  and  lix  it  a;L^ainst  a  tree;  and  there  on  his 
knees,  with  tears  in  his  eyes  and  love  in  his  heart,  the  fear- 
less soldier  wonld  pour  forth  his  devotions  to  his  Heavenly 
Fiitroness.  lie  invoked  her  aid  in  battle,  and  under  her  pro- 
tec:  ion   he  was  ready  for  any  enterprise. 

Caonabo  assembled  10,00:)  warriors  and  led  them  secretly 
tlironi'"h  the  forest,  thinkin,:;  to  surprise  Ojeda ;  but  he  found 
the  Spanish  commander  carefully  drawn  up  within  his  for- 
tress, which  was  built  upon  a  hill,  and  nearly  surrounded  by 
a  river ''  The  warlike  cacique  jjivssed  on  the  sieue  for 
thirty  days,  and  reduced  tlie  Spaniards  to  great  distress. 
He  lost  many  of  his  bravest  warriors,  however,  by  the  bold 
sallies  of  Ojeda;  and,  in  the  end.  he  was  glad  to  reliiupiish 
the  siege.  Caonabo  retired,  tilled  with  admiiation  at  the 
piowess  of  him  who  carried  a  painting  of  the  Blessed  Mrgin 
in  his  knapsack.' 

It  soon  became  clear  to  Columbus  that  it  would  be  vain 
tn  think  of  extending  settlements  in  Hispaniola  so  long  as 
the  lierce  Caonabo  retained  his  i)ower  and  his  hostile  attitude. 
To  make  war  on  the  savage  ruler  of  Cibao,  however,  in 
the  midst  of  his  mountain  fastnesses  would  certainly  be  a 
work   of    time    and    peril.     The  Admiral  was    perjjlexed. 


'  It  will  he  rnmcmhorfd  thnt  it  was  Caoiinbo  who  destroyed  La  Niivldiid— tlie  little  fortress  in 
wliirli  C'oliiMil)ii:<  liiid  left  ltiirty-ei<;lit  men  on  his  llrst  voyage, 

'  Traces  of  the  old  fortress  of  St.  Thomas  stfli  exist.  .  .  .  The  sqnnre  occupied  by  the  fort  is 
BOW  coinjiletcly  covered  with  lorost  tree's. — Irving. 

'  Diirini  the  sie^c  Ojedu  displayed  the  createst  activity  of  spirit  and  fertility  of  resource.  IIo 
P".nieil  all  tlie  arts  of  (he  C'arih  chlcflain,  concertln;;  siralaj;(nis  of  various  kinds  to  relievo  the 
pirriMiii  anil  annoy  the  foe.  Ue  sallied  forth  whenever  the  enemy  appeared  in  any  force,  loadini} 
the  van  with  that  headloni;  valor  for  which  he  was  noted,  making;  ureal  slaughter  with  liie 
ningle  arm,  and,  as  usual,  eBCupinj;  unhurt  from  umidbt  ishowers  of  darts  and  arrows.— y/ii/iy. 


184 


ALOyZO  DE  OJflDA. 


OjV'dii  h(\iril  of  tlie  ditliculty,  and,  following  the  bent  of  his 
darinij;  natm<s  he  at  once  olfered  his  services.  S^in^iilar  as 
it  may  npix^ar,  he  promised  to  brin<^  the  Carih  cldertiuii 
ulive,  and  place  him  in  tlio  hands  of  the  Discoverer  of 
America. 

(Jlioosinf?  ten  bold  and  liardy  folk)\vers,  well  armed  and 
well  mounted,  and  involdni;?  the  protection  of  his  Patroness, 
the  Holy  Viri^nn,  wiiose  ima;j;e  as  usual  he  bore  with  him  as 
a  safeguard,  Ojeda.  pluniijed  into  the  foi'est,  and  made  his 
way  above  sixty  lea,u:ues  into  tlie  wild  t<'riitories  of  ("ao- 
nabo,  whom  he  found  in  one  of  his  most  pojiulous  towns,  the 
same  now  called  Ma,ij:uana,  near  the  town  of  8an  Juan.  \\^^ 
])roachin<]f  \\w  caciipu!  with  ^reat  deference  as  a  sovereign 
piinc(^,  he  ])rofessed  to  come  on  a  friendly  embassy  from  \\u\ 
Admiral,  who  was  chief  of  the  Spaniards,  and  who  iiad  sent 
him  an  invaluable  present. 

Caonabo  had  tried  Ojeda  in  battle;  lie  had  witnessed  his 
fiery  prowess,  and  conceived  a  warrior's  admiration  of  him. 
lie  r(>ceived  him  with  a  de,<;ree  of  chivalrous  court(!sy.  if 
such  a  plirase  may  a]>ply  to  th(^  sa,vap:e  state  and  rude  lios- 
pitality  of  a  wild  warrior  of  the  forc'st.  IMie  free,  fearless 
depf)rtment,  the  great  personal  strenfi;th,  and  the  sui'])risiiig 
agility  and  adroitness  of  Ojeda  in  all  manly  exiM-cises, 
and  in  the  use  of  all  kinds  of  weapons,  wei-e  calculated  to 
delight  a  savage,  and  he  so(m  became  a  great  favorite  with 
Caonabo. 

Ojeda  now  used  all  his  influence  to  prevail  upon  the 
cacique  to  repair  to  Isabella'  for  the  puri)ose  of  making  a 
treaty  with  Columbus,  and  l)ecoming  an  ally  and  friend  of 
the  Spaniards.  It  is  said  that  lie  offered  him  as  a  lure  the 
bell  of  the  chapel  of  Isabella.  This  bell  was  the  Avonder  of 
the  island.  "When  the  Indians  heard  it  ringing  for  iMass, 
and  biiheld  the  Spaniards  hastening  towards  the  chapel,  they 
imagined  that  it  talked,  and  that  the  white  men  obeyed  it. 
Kegarding  with  superstition  all  things  connected  with  the 
Spaniards,  they  looked  upon  this  bell  as  something  snper- 


'  Tho  new  town  foundud  by  Columbtn 


ALOyZO  I)E  OJfjDA. 


185 


niituviil,  and,  in  their  usual  jHiraso,  said  it  had  oomo  Tiom 
Tun  I/,  or  tin*  skies.  Caonabo  liad  heard  tlie  bell  at  a  (lis- 
tiiiicr,  ill  Ills  i»r()\vliiigs  about  tlm  settk-nient,  and  had  longed 
to  see  it;  but  when  it  was  proll'eied  to  him  as  a  pi'esent  v  i. 
pciicr,  lit^  found  it  iinpossilde  to  resist  the  teniiitation! 

lie  agreed,  therefore,  to  .set  out  for  Isabella;  but  when  the 
time  came  to  depart,  Ojeda  beheld  with  sui'j)!ise  a  powei-ful 
fi lire  of  warriors  assembled  and  ready  to  niaich.  lie  asked 
tjie  ineiining  "f  taking  sueh  an  army  on  a  friendly  visit;  tho 
caciqur  jiioudly  replied  that  it  did  not  belit  a  great  iirince 
like  himself  to  go  forth  scantily  attended. 

Ojrda  was  little  satisfied  with  this  reply;  lu^  knew  the  win- 
like  cliaraeler  of  C'ainiabo,  and  his  deej)  subtlety;  lieftand 
seme  sinister  design;  a  suri)rise  of  the  fortress  of  Is  i  ella, 
111'  even  an  attempt  u])on  the  person  of  the  AduiiraJ.  lie 
knew  also  that  \i  wa.  the  wish  of  Columbus  either  io  make 
jicace  with  the  ('aei([ue, or  to  get  possession  of  his  peison 
willioiit  the  alternative  of  open  warfare. 

lie  had  recourse  to  a  stratagem,  therefore,  Avhicli  lias  an 
nil' of  fable  and  romance,  but  whidi  is  recorded  ])y  all  con- 
li'iiipniiiiy  historians  with  trivial  variations,  and  which  Las 
Ciisas  assures  us  was  in  current  ciirulation  in  the  island 
wiicii  he  arrived  there,  about  six  y(>ars  after  the  event.  It 
accords,  too,  with  the  bold,  adventurous  character  of  the  man, 
and  with  the  wild  stratagems  and  marvelous  exploits  inci- 
dent to  Indian  warfare. 

In  the  course  of  their  march,  having  lialted  near  the  Little 
Yagiii.  a  considerable  branch  of  the  Neyba,  Ojeda  one  day 
]ir()duced  a  set  of  manacles  of  p(dished  steel,  so  brightly 
huniished  that  they  looked  like  silver.  These,  he  assured 
Cannnbo,  were  royal  ornaments  which  had  come  from  Heaven, 
or  the  Tiirc>/ oi  Biscay;'  that  they  wei'e  woi-n  l)y  the  mon-' 
archs  of  Castile  on  soleani  dances  and  other  high  festivities, 
and  were  intended  as  i)resents  to  the  cacique.  He  proposed 
liiat  Ca(thabo  should  go  to  the  river  and  bathe,  after  which 
he  should  be  decorated  with  these  ornaments,  mounted  on 


'  Some  of  .he  clik'f  iron  mauufactoncs  in  Spain  arc  at  Biscay. 


180 


ALO:iZO  BE  OJEDA. 


the  liorse  of  Ojeda,  and  should  return  in  the  state  of  a  Span- 
ish monarch  to  his  astonislied  subjects. 

The  caci(iue  was  dazzled  witii  the  glitter  of  the  manacles 
and  llattered  with  the  idea  of  bestriding  one»of  those  tre- 
mendous animals  so  dreaded  by  his  countrymen,  lie 
rei)air(Ml  to  the  river,  and  liaving  bathed,  was  assisted  t(j 
mount  behind  Ojeda,  j'.iid  the  shackles  were  adjusted. 

Ojt'sla  made  several  circuits  to  gain  space,  followcnl  by  his 
little  baud  of  horsemen,  the  Indians  shi'iukiug  back  I'loiu 
■the  prancing  steeds.  At  length  he  made  a  wide  sweep  into 
tlio  forest,  until  tli3  trees  concealed  hiiu  from  the  sight  of 
tlu;  army.  His  followers  then  closed  around  him,  and 
drawing  their  swords,  threaten(>d  Caona])o  with  instant 
death  if  he  made  the  h'ast  noise  or  resistance.  Binding  hint 
with  cords  to  Ojeda,  to  prevent  his  falling  or  elVecting  an 
escape,  they  put  spui's  to  their  horses,  dashed  across  the 
river,  and  made  oft  througli  the;  woods  with  their  ])r;ze. 

Tlu'V  had  now  iiftv  or  sixty  leagu<>s  of  wilderness  to 
traverse  on  tlieir  way  homewards,  witli  In^re  and  there  lajgo 
Indian  to\\ns.  They  h^id  borne  off  their  captive  far  beyond 
the  piu'siiit  of  his  subjects;  but  the  utmost  vigilance  was 
rec^uisite  to  prevent  his  escape  during  this  long  and  toilsome 
journey,  and  to  avoid  exciting  the  hostilities  (A  any  confed- 
erate cacique.  They  had  to  shun  the  populous  pai'ts  of  tlio 
country,  therefore,  or  to  pas',  througli  the  Indian  towns  at 
full  gallop. 

They  sud'ered  greatly  from  fatigue,  hunger  and  watchriil- 
ness,  encountering  many  perils,  foi'ding  and  swimnnng  tln' 
numerous  rivers  of  the  plains,  toiling  through  the  deep, 
tangled  forests,  and  clambering  ov(H'  tin;  high  and  rocky 
mountains.  They  accomplished  all  in  safety,  and  Ojrdii 
entcied  Tsabcdla  in  triunr(  h  fi'om  this  most  daring  and  char- 
acteristic enterprise,  with  his  wild  Indian  bound  btdiindl ' 

Columbus,  it  appears,  was  both  astonished  and  gradi^iel 
wlum  he  beheld  the  fierce  Carib  ruler.  He  treated.  Caonaho 
with  mu(di  kindness  and  respect,  but,  for  the  peace  of  tli" 
island,  he  thought  it  better  to  send  the  chief  to  Spain  for 

1  Irving. 


ALONZO  DE  OJEDA. 


187 


atinio,  that  he  might  be  instructed  in  the  Cafholic  religion. 

( 'aonabo  always  nuiintained  a  haughty  deiHUtUKMit  tcnvards 
ihc  illustrious  Discoverer  of  America,  while  lie  never  evinced 
111!'  least  animosity  against  Ujeda.  He  rather  admired  the 
liitter  as  a  c<jnsummate  warrior,  for  having  jiounced  \\\m)\\ 
liiiii  and  borne  him  olf  in  this  hawk-like  manner,  from  the 
V  ■  V  midst  of  his  fighting-men.  When  ColumbuM  entered 
till'  apartment  where  Caonabo  was  conlined,  all  present  rose, 
a  cording  to  custoni,  and  i)aid  him  reverence;  the  cacique 
alone  neither  moved  or  took  any  notice  of  him.  On  the  con- 
tniy,  wiien  Ojeda  entenMl,  though  small  in  person  and  with- 
(lur  external  state,  Caonabo  rose  and  saluted  him  with 
lirol'imud  respect. 

On  being  asked  the  rcvison  of  this.  Columbus  being  thegroat 
(•lii(>f  overall,  and  Ojeda  but  ont^  of  his  snl  jicis,  ilie  proud 
(':nib  replied' that"  the  Admii'al  had  neverdared  to  come  per- 
t;nnally  to  his  house  and  s(Mze  him;  it  was  oidy  through  tlui 
valor  of  Ojeda  he  was  his  prisoner;  to  Ojeda,  therefore,  he 
owed  reverence — not  to  the  Adnnral."  ' 

We  next  catcli  a  glim[)S(>  of  our  hei'o  in  the  battle  of  the 
lioyal  Phiin,  aln^ady  rel'cM'red  to  in  tlu;  life  of  Columbus. 
Tii^  chief  caci(pies,  head'^l  by  tin;  brother  of  the  captured 
('Monabo,  had  formed  a  ])owerful  combination.  Resolved  In 
niikt' a  gr.iudassiiilt  ii;')  ):i  the  Spuiish  settlement,  theyas- 
,«(';)i!)led  their  forces  in  the  Royal  Plain.  The  Admiral  de- 
tiiiuinetl  to  meet  them,  though  he  could  muster  but  two 
liinidred  and  twenty  men.  Twenty  of  these  were  cavahy. 
There  were  also  twenty  bloodhounds. 

With  this  force  the  Discoverer  of  America  sallied  fcu'tli 
fiDin  Isabella,  accompniiied  by  his  brother  D(ui  Rartholo- 
iiiew  and  Alonzo  de  Ojed.i.  The  alli(  d  Indians  in  the  Plain 
nil'  said  to  have  numbered  100,000,  armed  with  clubs,  stones, 
huices,  and  boAvs  and  arrows. 

The  plan  of  attack  was  arranged  by  Don  Bartholomew. 
Divided  into  small  detachments,  the  infantry  advanced  sud- 
denly from  various  quarters  with  gi-eat  din  of  <lrums  and 
tiuinjiets,  and  a  deadly  volley  of  fii-(»-ai'ms.     Panic  seized 


'  Irviiig. 


188 


ALOXZO  DE  OJBDA. 


on  tlio  l;rave  but  terrified  savages.  A  miglity  force  seemed 
moving  down  upon  them.  In  the  very  height  of  tlieir 
confusion,  Ojeda  and  liis  liorsemen'  charged  fnriously, 
trampling  them  under  foot  and  dealing  fatal  blows  wltli 
lance  and  sword.  The  bloodhounds  were  also  let  loose, 
and  rushing  upon  the  naked  Indians,  they  tore  them  in 
pieces.  It  was  a  short  battle,  and  a  comijlete  victory  for 
the  Spaniards. 

This  victory  was  followed  up  hy  reducing  all  parts  of  the 
island  to  obedience.  Any  attemi)ts  at  opposition  Avere 
8])eedily  checked.  Ojeda's  troop  of  cavalry  was  of  great 
eliicacy,  from  the  rapidity  of  its  movements,  the  active  in- 
trepidity of  its  commander,  and  the  terror  inspired  by  the 
liorses.  There  was  no  service  too  wild  and  hazardous  for 
Ojrda.  If  any  appearance  of  war  arose  in  a  distant  part  of 
tlie  counti'v,  he  would  penetrate  with  his  little  squadron  of 
cavalry  through  the  depths  of  the  forests,  and  fall  like  a 
thunderbolt  upon  the  enemy,  disconcerting  all  their  combi- 
iiatiinis  and  enfoi'cing  implicit  submission." 

But  for  our  hero  the;  scene  now  changes.     Tie  was  among 
th(;se  who  sailed  with  Columbus  for  Spain  in  149(3.     Three, 
stirring  years  in  Hispaniola  had  greatly  enhanced  his  rejm- 
tation  as  a  soldier  of  unrivaled  skill  and  matchless  braverv. 


■  '  s  tliose  wore  the  Hr^t  horpos  wliich  npiioared  in  tlic  New  World,  tlioy  wore  ohjocts  of  terror 
no  U-.'is  lliaii  of  iidniiralion  to  llie  Iiiciiuirt  who  havin;,' no  tmiie  animaU  thcinsrl vis,  were  iiiuu'- 
quaiiili'il  with  tliut  vast  arcesirio!)  of  jiowcr  which  man  lias  acquired  by  suhjecling  tlicni  to  liis 
doiniiiiim.  'I'hey  supposed  ihein  to  lie  rational  creatures.  They  imiiRined  that  the  horse  and  tlio 
rider  formed  o;ic  animal,  with  whose  .-^pecd  they  were  astoniiihed,  and  whose  impetuosity  und 
ilrength  they  considered  as  irri'siitible.— it'oit/'iswi. 

'  Irving. 


r  coni!)i- 


CHAPTER  II. 

ACROSS   THE  ATLANTIC   AND  BACK. 

Gjtda  CIS  a  navigator — Amerigo  Vt'spurci — Tl.rjyedltion  to 
^outh  America — A  hattte  icith  the  cannibals — Explores 
the  coast  of  South  America — Makes  trouble  at  Uispan- 
iula — Returns  to  Spain. 

Oji'dii  did  not  sail  with  Columbus  in  his  third  voyatrp. 
Wlh'U,  liowever,  accounts  from  the  Admiral  readied  Spain, 
k'Hini;  of  Pariu  and  its  p:>arl  coast,  a  great  sensation  Av;is 
pidduced.  It  increased  the  growing  spirit  of  adventiiie, 
'\w\  none  cast  more  anxious  looks  towards  the  New  AVorlil 
than  the  conqueror  of  Caonabo.  His  desire  to  lit  out  an  ex- 
[iiMlition  himself  found  ready  encouragement  from  his  i»a- 
tinii.  Bishop  Fonseca,  who,  as  will  be  remembered,  cared 
bur  little  for  Columbus  and  his  rights. 

With  a  commission  signed  by  Fonseca  in  his  pocket, 
Oj'Mla  looked  about  for  means  to  fit  out  a  little  fleet.  A 
iiii'ic  soldier  of  fortune,  he  was  far  from  rich,  but  some 
uialthy  merchants  of  Seville  came  to  his  assistance,  and  in 
[I  shoi't  while  he  found  himself  the  commander  of  a  scpiadroii 
(if  t'niir  vessels.  His  chief  associates  were  .lohn  (U*  la  Cosa, 
ail  nld  disciple  of  Columbus  and  a  very  skilled  navigator,  and 
Amerigo  Vespucci,  a  merchant  of  Florence,  who  souglit,  it 
st'(>ins,  in  tlie  New  World  for  that  fortune  which  he  had  not 
bi'cn  able  to  find  in  the  Old.  Whether  .le  had  any  pecu- 
niai'v  interest  in  the  exptnlition,  and  in  what  cajjacity  he 
sailed,  does  not  appear.  His  importance  has  entirely  arisen 
fidiu  subsequent  circumstances— from  his  having  written 
and  published  a  narrative  of  his  voyages,  and  from  his 
name  having  eventually  been  given  to  tlie  New  World.' 


AiiuriLro  Vospiicri.  n  FlnrcnlinL'  ccntli'Miiin,  arronip:iiiic<l  Oji^dn  in  tliis  voyiisc   In  wlia'  (-lation 
Vt  s(rvwl  is  iiiicurUiii;  but  uh  liu  was  uii  oxpcriciictd  suUor,  und  (.■mliiuntly  skillfiil  in  all  the 

189 


130 


ALONZQ  BE  OJf^DA. 


On  the  20tli  of  ISIay,  1490,  Ojedii  sailed  from  Port  St.  Mary, 
and  twenty-l'onr  days  after  lie  touched  South  America,  at  a 
])()int  about  two  hundred  leagues  south  of  the  Orinoco.'  lie 
then  coasted  northwards.  At  a  convenient  harbor  he  built 
!i  briiiantine.  The  Indians  Hocked  to  see  the  strangers,  aided 
them  in  evnry  way,  and  supplied  iisli,  venison,  and  cassava 
bread  in  abundance.  It  was  soon  found,  however,  that  they 
Avislied  to  gain  the  protection  of  the  Spaniards  against  the 
cannibals  of  the  (.!aril)bee  islands,  who  often  invaded  tlieir 
coasts  and  carried  oil  people,  whom  they  afterwards  inhu- 
niaidy  devoured. 

Ojeda  was  asked  to  attack  the  man-eaters,  and  he  could 
not  lind  it  in  his  hardy  nature  to  refuse.  With  a  number  of 
Indian  guide's  he  sailed  for  seven  days  before  he  came  t(»  tlw 
luibiration  of  this  unnatural  race.  The  shore  was  thronged 
witli  hideously- painted  savages,  who  yelled  defiance.  They 
luid  not  long  to  wait.  The  commander  ordered  out  his 
boats,  and  ]n()vided  each  with  a  small  cannon.  Arrows  ilew 
•  !ii<'k  and  swiftly  as  the  Spaniards  pulled  towards  the  shoiv. 
Tlu;  cannibals  even  dashed  into  the  watei  to  meet  the  invad- 
ers. Ojeda  opened  lire.  The  wSavages  staggered  undt'r  tli'3 
destructivtr  punishment,  and  soon  took  to  their  heels.  AVlieu 
the  connnander  and  his  men  leaped  ashore,   however,  the 


(<cic'nc("i  suhsorvii'Vit  to  iiMviiiiition,  li(^  scenic  to  liiivo  (u'-niircd  such  iiiitliority  nmnnst  lii^  Odinfin- 
Imiw  that  tlicy  willinnly  iillowid  liiin  to  liavc  n  chief  share  in  direeliii;;  their  ojiiTatioiis  iluiiiiK 
tlie  V()yai;e.  Soon  after  his  return  lie  transmitted  an  neeount  of  his  adventures  and  diseoveric-  Ui 
one  of  his  rdiintryiiien;  and  laluirins,'  v.i'li  tlie  vanity  of  ii  traveli  r  to  inaL'iiify  liis  own  (  x|il"ils, 
he  had  llie  address  and  eomldeiiee  t(,  frame  his  narrative  so  as  to  make  it  appear  tiial  lie  had  tin) 
jj'ory  of  liavin^  diseover'ed  the  eontinent  in  the  New  World.  Anierico's  aeeoniil  was  drawn  up 
not  only  Willi  an,  lint  with  eleiranee.  It  coiilained  an  aiiinsiiiL;  lii-^tory  of  his  voyaire  and  jiiili- 
cioii;'  oliservations  upon  the  iiauiral  prodiictioiin,  the  inlialiilants,  and  tlio  eiistonis  of  tlii'  eoiiii- 
tiieswhieh  he  hail  visile<l.  As  it  was  the  first  deseripliini  of  an,' jiart  of  the  New  World  MmiI 
vas  pnlilished.  a  perforniaiiee  so  well  ealeiilaled  to  L'ratifv  llie  pas-ion  of  inaiikinrt  for  what  is 
Hew  and  iiiarvelims,  it  I'irenlatod  rapidly  and  was  read  with  adniiralion.  The  eoiinlry  of  wliicli 
Ani<>iii.'o  was  supposed  to  lu'  the  discoverer  caino  trracinally  to  he  calleil  hy  his  name.  The  caprict" 
ol  mankind,  often  as  iiiiacconntable  as  nn.jnst,  has  perpetuated  this  error.  Hy  the  universal  coii- 
fent  of  nations,  Ainiih-a  is  the  name  bestowed  on  this  new  tjnarter  of  the  irhihe.  The  liolil  pre- 
(eiisioiis  of  a  forhiiiate  impostor  have  rohlied  Ihe  Discoverer  of  a  Now  World  of  a  distinclina 
wliicli  l)eloni;ed  to  liiin.  The  name  of  Aineriso  has  supplanted  lliat  of  Columlms;  and  mankind 
nay  reuri't  an  act  of  injustice  which,  having  received  the  sanction  of  lime,  it  is  now  loo  late  t» 
redres*. — Holitrlfon . 

'  On  th!.s  expedition  Ojedii  jinrsned  the  route  of  Coliimhna  in  his  third  voyagr.  belnp;  piided  by 
the  (liart  which  the  venerable  Admiral  had  sent  home,  as  well  as  by  the  mariners  wlio  Imd  accon* 
paiiied  him  on  that  occusiuii.— // ti/i^. 


l^H 


^^- 


^:^.   ^^ 


//  *^  r^ '  ':^zSli-''' 


^     — ^   ^      ^      \ 


•  icE>r 


OJEDA  CUTTING  HIS  WAY  TH??OUGH  THE  INDIAN  RANKS 


ALONZO  BE  OJ^DA. 


191 


\ 


M- 


m  k 


■=:r'  -  > 


Carib  warriors  rallied,  and  in  a  sliort  time  it  became  a  Hcrce 
luind-tu-luind  coniiict.  Jitit  the  deep  and  deadly  blows  of 
tlie  Si)aiiiard.s  told  ou  the  wild  multitude,  and  at  the  jioint 
oi'  the  sword  the  man-eaters  were  linally  driven  lo  the 
woods.  On  the  following  day  the  shore  swarmed  with  hos- 
tile Caribs,  naked,  armed,  and  painted.  Ojeda  again  landed 
with  lifty  seven  men,  and  rushing  on  the  savages,  he  routed 
them  with  fearl'id  slaughter,' 

After  allowing  his  erews  twenty  days  of  rest,  he  sailed  for 
the  mainlantl,  once  more  pushing  his  way  along  tlie  coasts. 
lit'  ai-rived  at  a  vast,  deep  gulf,  resend)ling  a  tranquil  lake; 
entering  which,  he  beheld  on  the  eastern  side  a  village,  the 
cinisl ruction  of  which  struck  him  withsui'prise.  It  consisted 
of  twenty  large  houses,  shajied  like  bells,  and  built  on  jiiles 
diiven  into  the  bottom  of  the  lake,  w  hich  in  this  part  was  lim- 
l)id  and  of  but  little  depth.  Each  house  was  ])rovided  with 
a  di'awl)ridge  and  with  canoes,  by  which  communication  was 
ciiniod  on.  From  these  resemblances  to  the  Italian  city, 
OJeda  gave  the  bay  the  name  of  the  Gulf  of  Venice;'"'  audit 
is  called  at  the  present  day  Venezuela,  or  Little  Venice.  The 
Indian  name  was  Co(iuil)acoa.' 

Afrer  a  number  of  adventures  at  this  village,  Ojeda  con- 
tinued to  expilore  the  gulf.     He  gave  the  mime  of  St.  IJar- 


•  Till'  Ciirilis— or  iiitiiiliifaius  of  i!ip  r'aribbpi-  i^liiiu's -sroin  to  !iuv(<  bi'i'n  ii  brulal  nice,  (iffile 
rtit'fi'irt  from  llie  oUrt  liidtans  of  the  Wci-t  Imlics.  Tlicir  fiTocily  iiml  stiipiilit.v  were  nearly 
bouiiillcs^. 

All  acntp  oliscrvor.  and  onn  wliokm'w  tli"ni  woU,  cave  llio  followiiii;  <lcscriplion  ovit  n  ei'iitiiry 
a!;ii:  It  U  iiol  tlin  ri'd  color  of  tlicir  romplfxioii,  it  is  not  llie  KJntriilarily  of  tin  ir  I'laliircs 
wliii'li  coiislilntcs  tlip  chief  iliffiTi'iice  liftvvccn  tlu'iii  and  us.  It  is  tlicir  (■X('(s>lvc  simplicity;  it 
i'i  llic  limited  ilcL'rce  of  their  facnllies.  Their  i-eason  is  not  more  ('iilii.'liteiied  or  more  provident 
tlmn  Ihe  iiistiiici  of  linites.  The  reason  of  the  most  irross  peasants,  thar  of  the  nei;roes  hroiiijlit 
lip  ill  llie  parts  of  Africa  most  remote  from  iiitcreoiir-^e  uiili  Kiiropeaiis  is  such  that  we  discover 
apliearanees  of  intell!i.'ence,  wldcli,  thoiiL'li  imperfect,  is  eaimble  of  increase.  But  i)f  this  ths 
liiHliT-landiiiff  of  the  (^aribs  seems  to  he  scarcely  susceptible.  And  if  sound  Jihilosopliy  and 
reliL'ion  did  not  afford  us  their  liirht,  if  we  were  to  deci<le  according  to  the  llrst  inipre-ision  wliich 
the  view  of  that  jieople  makes  upon  the  mind,  we  should  be  disposed  to  believe  that  Ihey  do  not 
hclonito  the  same  species  witli  us.  Tlieir  stupid  eye  is  the  true  mirror  of  theirsouls;  it  appears 
to  be  witli'.ut  functions.  Their  indolence  is  exiiemo.  Xever  have  tliey  the  least  solicitude  alioiit 
the  mninent  wliich  is  to  succeed  that  which  is  present.— />c  ViKVinihm.  "  Ynynrif.  a  la  Mdvlinhiue." 

See  also  Uobertson,  "History  of  Anierica,"  Note  4ii ;  and  Irving,  "Life  and  Voyaycs  of 
Columbus,"  Vol.  T.  pp.  .TO!),  317. 

AccordiufT  to  a  late  writer  in  Johnson's"  Now  I'ni'ers.il  Cyclopcdin."  remnants  of  the  Curibs 
•xist  at  Ihe  iiresent  time  i!i  tlie  West  Indies,  Uuiaim,  Iloiiduras,  and  near  I'auKma. 

'  Xow  tlio  Gulf  of  Maracaybo. 

'  Irving. 


(S 


192 


ALONZO  DE  OJEDA. 


tholomew  to  a  port  wliich  is  now  known  by  its  Indian  n  nne 
— Mar.'icaybo.  Here  the  Indians  treated  the  Spaniards  as 
angelic  beings,  lieaped  upon  them  every  mark  of  kind- 
ness and  veneration.  A  little  before  departing,  the  com- 
mander ordered  the  cannon  to  be  discharged,  at  the  sound 
of  which,  writes  A^^spucci,  the  timid  savages  "plunged 
into  the  water  like  so  many  frogs  from  a  bank."  When 
thev  ;saw,  however,  tliat  no  harm  was  done  their  fears  were 
dispelled. 

Bidding  adieu  to  this  friendly  port,  Oje<la  stood  along 
the  coast  until  he  came  to  Point  UallinaM,  wliejc;  the 
state  of  his  vessels  warned  him  that  all  further  i)rojt'cts 
of  discovery  or  exploration  must  be  abandontnl.  He 
then  changed  his  course,  and  steered  for  Hispaniola. 
Ilis  presence  in  that  Island  both  surprised  and  displeased 
Columbus,  and.  besides  was  contrary  to  the  tenor  of  his 
commission. 

The  Admiral  dispatched  Francis  lloldan,  a  daring  and 
crafty  characier  to  call  Ojeda  to  account.  Ojeda  promised 
to  visit  the  Admiral,  but  soon  forgot  his  promise  ;  and,  hav- 
ing r'.>(itted  his  ships,  he  sailed  along  the  coast  until  he 
r(!aclicd  one  of  the  settlements  in  which  discontent  against 
the  rule  of  Columbus  had  reached  a  high  i)irch.  Here  he 
stopped,  aiul,  it  is  said,  he  was  so  thoughtless  and  impru- 
dent as  to  express  his  sj'uipathy  with  the  restless  spirits  and 
lawless  rulliauism  of  the  place.  Hut  the  keen  eye  of  the 
Admiral  descried  the  dangei-,  and  by  his  orders  Holdan  was 
again  on  the  track  of  Ojeda,  carefully  watching  his  move- 
ments. They  were,  indited,  well  matched  o[ip()nents  ;  but 
the  various  manauivres  by  whJch  they  tried  to  outwit  each 
other  are  too  many  and  trilling  for  these  pages.  It  must 
suffice  to  say  that  in  the  end  Ojeda  was  obliged  to  turn  his 
back  on  the  shores  of  Hispaniola,  his  visit  having  added  but 
little  to  his  reputation  as  a  man  of  good  sense,  or  a  soldier 
who  recognizes  the  virtue  of  justice. 

Ojeda  now  rambled  for  a  time  in  the  n-^ighboring  islands, 
seizing  and  carrying  off  a  drove  of  the  natives.  He  resumed 
Lis  voyage,  and.  sailed  into  Cadiz  ia  June,  lOOU.    The  un- 


ALOyZO  DE  OJtlDA. 


1C3 


fortunate  Indians  were  sold  in  the  slave-markets,  and  the 
proceeds  divided  among  himself  and,  his  followers.  Alto- 
gether, this  expedition  was  a  failure.  It  accomplished  little 
or  notliing,  save  that  it  added  to  Ojeda'a  celebrity  as  a  bold 
and  skillful  adventurer. 


CHAPTER  in. 

STinnixd  scKXEs  axu  auvknturrs. 

Anofhor  oxpciUfioii  to  South  Amrrica— Trying  io  fo^iud  a 
colonif  mid  wliat  cainc  of  it — Oji-da  (ippoiiit(d  iloo- 
eriior  of  i\'i'iii  Andat/i.s/'ii—T/co  fctis—JoIni  dc  In  Cosit  — 
All  aspiriiiff  Idwi/er — Thetioo  rii-dl  (rorcniors-^Aipttii, 
oil  the  coast  of  i<oulli  America — Battles  and  poisoiicd, 
orroirs — Dealli   of  the  brace  l)e  la  L'usa — Miraculous 

'       escape  of  Ojeda. 

Ojt''(la  was  iK)\v  file  popular  lioro  of  tlie  day.  The  lowly 
ro,i;ai(livl  hiiu  with  wonder,  and  even  tliose  in  hlnh  places 
paid  iiiiu  the  tiil)Uf(^  of  admiration.  Above  all,  Bishop  Fon- 
seeti  was  his  waiiu  Triend. 

In  considfM'ation  of  his  past  services  and  of  others  ex- 
pected from  him,  a  .ui'ant  was  made  to  him  of  six  leagues  of 
Jand  in  iIk^  southern  pai't  of  Ilispaniola,  and  the  .irovernment 
of  tile  Provinci!  of  Co(]uil)acoa,  whicli  he  had  discr.vtreJ. 
lie  Avas,  furthermore,  autiioi'ized  to  iit  out  any  nuiul)er  o£ 
ships,  not  i'X'cee(ling  ten,  at  his  own  expense,  and  to  jiiose- 
cute  the  discovery  of  Terra  Firma.  He  was  not  tv>  toiK'ii  or 
traffic  on  the  i)earl  coast  of  Paria,  extendintr  as  far  as  a  bay 
in  tlie  vicinity  of  the  islaml  of  ^larft-arila.  Beyond  tliis  ho 
liad  a  right  to  trade  in  all  kinds  of  mei'chandise,  whetliei'  of 
pearls,  jewels,  metals  or  precious  stones;  paying  one-fifth  of 
the  prolits  to  the  Crown,  and  abstaining  from  making  slaves 
of  the  Indians  without  a  special  license  from  the  Sovereigns. 
He -was  to  colonize  Co(pii])acoa,  and,  as  a  recompense,  was 
to  enjoy  one-half  of  the  proceeds  of  his  territory,  provided 
the  half  did  not  exceed  300,000  niaravedies.  All  beyond 
that  amount  was  to  go  to  the  Crown.' 

No  sooner  was  this  commission  in  his  hand,  than  the  ever- 


Irving. 


194 


ALOyZO  1)E  OJRDA. 


lOa 


arfivo  Ojt'da  bef^an  tlie  woi-k  of  iiltiii;^^  out  soiiio  vessels. 
Two  friends  oi)ene(l  their  purses,  ainl  in  a  slioit  tiiiu;  four 
.ships  wei'e  in  i-eadiness.  Tlio  expedition  set  siiil  in  \^)()2. 
Uje(hi  and  his  litth' squadron  reaeheil  the  New  Worhl  neur 
tli(i  mouth  of  the  Orinoco,  and  then  proceeded  !don<;-  wh;it 
is  now  tht;  iiortlieru  coast  oi"  the  Kepublie  of  NCMe/.uehi, 
until  tiieir  aiichoi's  were  cast  in  tlie  port  .>f  ("o(iurli;ico,i.  ihc; 
destined  seat  of  government.  It  pio-cd  to  be  a  poor 
country. 

(Jovernor  Ojeda  moved  furtlier  along  the  cojist,  to  a  liiiy 
Avlucli  he  nnnitid  Santa  Cruz,  or  Holy  Cross.'  Here  lie  re- 
solved to  f(;iin  liis  setth'UK'nt.  The  Indinns.  however  liad 
not  l)(;en  consulted,  and  one  day,  as  a  jcirty  of  Spniuards 
landed  for  water,  a  giilliiii;'  shower  t)f  arrows  luisteiied  their 
return  to  tho  ships.  This  annoyed  Ojeda.  ]Ie  landed  im- 
mediately witli  all  liis  men  and  <rave  the  .savages  such  a 
.severe  thrashing  that  they  were  glad  to  obtain  jieace  on  any 
terms. 

Work  now  began  in  earnest.  The  .settlement  grew  and  a 
fortress  was  formed.  Provisions  were  dealt  out  twice  a  day 
nnder  the  inspection  of  proper  offlcei-s ;  tin;  treasure  gained 
hx  bart(>r,  by  ransoin,  or  in  any  other  way,  was  dejiosited 
in  a  strong  box,  securcul  by  two  locks,  one  key  l)eiiig;  kept 
by  the  Royal  Supervisor,  the  otiier  by  (Jarcia  de  Cani]>'>s.' 
But  three  evils  afflicted  the  infant  colony,  and  hastened  its 
destruction.  Provisions  got  scarce.  The  Indians  became 
more  and  more  bitterly  hostile.  Disunion  appeared  in  tho 
camp. 

The  Governor's  bravery  exceeded  his  prudence.  In  sev- 
eral of  the  raids  whicli  he  led  on  tlu;  Indian  villages,  lie 
managed  to  collect  considerable  gold.  This  he  locked  in 
the  stnmg-box,  nd.took  possession  of  the  keys.  De  Cam- 
pos and  the  Iloyal  Supervisor  were  much  disph^ased.  As 
want  increased,  the  murmurs  grew  louder  against  Ojeda, 
until  finally  the  two  wily  officials  seized  him,  put  him  in 
irons,  and  conveyed  him  on  shipboard.     The  strong-box  and 


I'll 


'  Siippom'd  to  lie  tho  proacnt  Riliia  Tloiicla. 

•  De  Campos  wan  ouu  of  tUo  two  who  paid  for  the  flttiiig-out  of  the  amutmeut. 


196 


ALOSZO  l)i:  OJl)DA. 


tli(!  \vli()](>  colony  f«)llo\v«vl,  and  in  :i  few  clays  the  ships  lay 
oil'  (lie  coast  ol!  lllspani.da.. 

W'liile  at  anchor,  Avirliin  u  stone's  throw  of  tho  land,  Ojcda, 
conlid(;nt  of  his  strcn,ii,'fh  and  skill  as  a  suiniincr,  let  himself 
(Illicitly  slide <l()\vn  the  si(h'  of  the  sjiip  into  tln^  water  diuin<,' 
\\u\  ni,u;ht,  and  atteniptt'd  to  swim  for  tlie  shore.  Jiis  arms 
were  free,. but  his  feet  wen*  shackled,  and  the  wei<;-iit  of  his 
irons  tlireatene(l  to  sink  him.  Ili'  was  ()l)li<i;<'d  to  shout  for 
h"lp;  a  l)oat  was  sent  from  tin*  vessel  to  his  relief,  and  the 
iinrortnnate  ((overnor  was  brought  back  half  drowned  to 
his  unrelenting  partners.' 

The  matter  in  disi)ute  now  (Mitered  the  Courts,  and  tin? 
Chief  Judge  of  Ilispnniohi  decided  against  Ojeda.  lie  a])- 
jx'aled,  howevei",  to  the  King,  and  was  honoral)ly  ac([uilte(l 
by  tile  Jloval  Council.  Oi'ders  were  uiven  to  I'eslore  his 
l)roperty,  but  unhappily  there;  was  little  to  restore.  The 
strong-box  was  empty.  The  contpieror  of  Caonabo  found 
himself  "a  triumphant  client,  but  a  luined  man." 

For  some  years  w(;  los'^  siiflit  of  Ojeda.  ^Vith  a  liuht 
purse  and  an  untamed  spirit,  however,  we  lind.  him  in  His- 
])aniola  in  l.'^OS.  Tli(>  riches  of  the  Isthmus  of  Darien— 
discovered  by  Col uml)us  in  his  last  voyage— had  madi;  that 
region  famous.  King  Ferdinand  was  anxious  to  found 
colonies  along  tlie  favorel  ens!,  and  was  advis;-d  to  select 
Ojeda  to  carry  out  his  de.'-igns.  Hut  the  latter  was  at  a 
distance  and  penniless.  Still  he  was  not  friendless.  The 
hardy  and  kind-hearted  veteran.  .lohn  de  la  Cosa,  learn- 
ing of  the  state  of  affairs,  generously  olfeird  his  purse 
and  services  to  aid  Ojeda  in  the  entei'prise.  The  (»(l'er  was 
^•ladly  accepted,  and  1)(?  la  (,'osa  went  to  Spain  to  give 
personal  attention  to  the  titting-out  of  an  armament.  A 
ship  and  two  brigantines  were  soon  in  readiness,  and  with 
two  hundred  men  on  board  the  prows  were  turned  towards 
the  New  \\^orld. 

But  Ojeda  ^vas  not  to  have  the  field  of  colonization  entii'ely 
to  himself.  A  brave,  noble  and  accomplished  courtier,  named 
James  de  Nicviesa,  asked  for  a  siiare,  find  was  not  refused. 


'  Irviug. 


ALOXZO  BE  OJflViA, 


107 


The  Tsfliniiis  of  "n.'irit'n  wns  divided  info  two  provlnrcs ;' 
C)j.'m1;i  was  ,'0  riilt^  tlic  .suiiilirni  division,  Nicucsa  the  norlli- 
eiii ;  while  tho  island  ol'  .Jamaica  was  given  as  cotnnion 
gi'onnd,  whence  both  could  diaw  a  supply  of  provisions. 
^'icuesa  did  not  spaie  his  means  in  littiii,u'-(int  a  licet. 

Al)i>uf  the  same  time  the  two  rival  aiiiiaments  cast  anchor 
in  the  liiiibor  of  Sm  I)()min,.;o,  Ilisjianiola.  The  cliivalri(! 
Ojeda  welcomed  his  old  and  worthy  friend,  John  de  hi  Cosa, 
v.lioMi  I  he  Government  had  appointed  nis  lieutenant  ;  ))Ut 
(here  is  little  donltt  that  he  I'dt  rather  mortified  on  seejn;' 
the  inferinrity  ol'  his  ileet  to  that  of  his  more  wealthy  rival, 
jSicuesa.  He  wanteil  nioi'c  money.  Xor  was  he  Ioiili;  in 
jliidinu'  it,  for  "lu*  had  a  facility  at  cominandinij;  the  purses 
of  his  nei.u'hbors."  Thi')'!^  was  a  lawyer  at  San  I)omim;'o 
nnnieil  1)(!  Knciso,  who  had  made  such  ji'ood  use  of  his  lime 
and  his  ton.u'ue  that  he  was  woi'th  over  sl(),()(!().  A  restless, 
f;j)ecidative  charact(n',  he  was  just  the  man  to  ,<;rasp  at  any- 
ihing- that  iiromlsed  \v«»altli  and  power.  Ojeda  olfered  him 
tlnKJhief  .Iudii;eship(jf  his  new  pi'ovince,  and  in  an  evil  hour 
Eiiciso  Invested  his  all  in  the  entei'pi'ise. 

Two  rival  <i,'overnors,  so  well  matched  as  Ojeda  and 
Kicuesa,  r.nd  both  possessed  of  swelling-  sjtirits,  ])ent  nj)  in 
i^iiiidl  but  active  bodies,  could  not  long  remain  in  a  little 
])iace  like  San  Domingo  without  some  collision.  They 
(liiarreled.  Ojed'.i  wished  to  settle  the  matter  with  his  well- 
tried  sword;  but  Nicuesa  i)rop()sed  that  the  victor  should 
leap  something  for  his  pains,  and  that  each  should  dejiosit 
?;:?.■), 000,  This  is  just  what  the  conquerer  of  Caonabo  could 
not  do,  and  it  seems  that  no  blood  was  shed  ! 

The  10th  of  November,  lo09,  saw  Alonzo  de  Ojeda  sail 
from  San  Domingo  with  two  ships,  two  biigantines,  and 
three  h)indred  men.  I'rancis  Pizarro  was  on  board,  and  it 
was  illness  alone  that  ])revented  IbMMiando  Cortex  from  join- 
ing the  expedition.     The  harbor  of  Carthagena  was  soon 


1  Kiiii;  Fortliiiniid  divided  that  part  of  the  continent  whieh  lie?  nlong  tlie  Isthmus  of  Daiien 
Into  two  provinces,  ttie  l)onnihvry  line  ninniiiL:  tlin>n;;h  tlie  Oiilf  of  I'riil):!.  Tlie  eiiKtern  purl, 
eMer.diiiiilo  Ciipe  (lel:iVelii,  \v;is  ealli'il  New  .\nil.ilusi:i.  anil  tlie  i;overanien'  of  it  uiven  to  Ojeda. 
Tlie  otiier,  to  tiie  west,  incluaiu;,'  Vera(iu:i.  and  reacliuij;  to  Ci]),-  tiracia-i  a  Dios,  was  us^iyned  to 
Nicuesa.— //'ti/i^. 


198 


ALOJ<^ZO  BE  OJilDA. 


readied.'  Well  did  tlie  veteran  De  la  Cosa  know  the 
place,  and  lie  gave  Ojeda  some  nsefiil  knowledg-e  concern- 
inf>;  the  warlike  disposition  of  the  natives.  They  fought 
with  piilm  swords,  he  said,  and  tipped  their  arrows  in  a 
dendly  poison. 

(Veda,  accompanied  l)y  I)e  la  Cosa,  some  priests,  and  a 
pnr!  of  liis  foicc.  hiiuU'd.  A  crowd  of  savages  had  gathered, 
and  h(>  :idvnnced  to  meet  them.  Tie  then  ordered  one  of  the 
missiouarii's  to  read  tlu^  solemn  formiihi  which  had  hccn 
pre])ared  for  such  nn  occasion.     It  b'^uan: 

"I,  Alonzo  de  OJeila,  servant  of  the  high  and  mighty 
Kings  of  Castile  and  Leon,  civilizers  of  barbarous  nations, 
their  messenger  and  cai)tain,  notify  ami  mal\e  kuown 
to  you,  in  the  best  way  I  can.  tiuit  (lod  our  Lord,  One 
and  l^lernal,  created  the  Heavens  and  the  eartii,  and 
oue  man  and  one  woman,  from  whom  you  and  we,  and 
all  tli(3  ])eop]e  of  the  earth,  were  and  ai'e  descended, 
l)rocreated,'  and  all  those  who  shall  come  after  us;  but 
the  vast  number  of  g(>uei'ations  which  have  proceeded 
from  them  in  the  course  of  more  than  fi, ()(>()  y(>:irs  that 
have  elapsi^d  since  the  creation  of  the  world,  made  it 
necessary  that  some  of  the  human  race  should  disperse 
in  one  direction,  and  soiU(^  in  aTM)tliei',  and  that  they 
should  divide  themselv(\s  into  many  kingdoms  and  pro- 
vin(('s,  as  they  could  not  sustain  and  preserve  themselves 
in  oiie  alone. 

"All  these  ])eopl(\s  were  given  in  charge,  by  God  our  Lord, 
to  one  j  ei'son,  ninu'il  St.  Pettn*,  who  was  thus  mad(>  lord  and 
sujU'iioroL'  all  the  people  of  the  earth,  ami  head  of  the  w  hole 
human  lineage;  whom  all  should  obey,  wherever  they  might 
live,  and  whatever  might  be  their  law,  sect  or  belief.  He 
gave  liim  also  the  win  le  woi'ld  for  his  service  and  jurisdiction; 
and  though  he  desired  that  he  should  establish  his  chair  in 
I'ome,  as  a  place  most  conveniiMit  for  governing  the  world, 
yet  hi'  iMMmitt(Hl  that  he  might  establish  his  chair  in  any 
<iiher  [inrt  of  the  world,  and  judge  and  govern  all  nations — 


'  r:irtli:\i:rii;i  is  now  n  clly  and  soapnrt  of  Now  (ininnda.   Tho  port  Ih  nxrrllcnt,  and  is  the  oulj 

oiii:  Dji  tla-  lun.-i  II!  lor  tlii'  repair  of  vis&cU.    In  18J~  the  poimlallon  was  18,000. 


ALOXZO  DE  njfJDA. 


109 


Cliristians,"  Moors,  Jews,  Gentiles,  and  whatever  other  sect 
or  belief  ini^uht  be.  This  j)erson  was  denominated  Pope, 
that  is  to  ^  /,  Admirable,  Sii])reme  Father  and  Guardian, 
bi'caiise  lie  is  tlie  father  and  <i-(»vei'n{>r  of  all  mankind.  Tliis 
ll<»ly  Father  was  obeyed  and  honored  as  lord,  king  and  su- 
perior of  the  universe  by  those  who  lived  in  liis  time,  and  in 
like  numner  have  been  obeyed  and  honored  all  those  who 
luive  been  elected  to  the  jjoutiticate  ;  and  thus  it  has  contin- 
ued to  the  present  day,  and  will  continue  until  the  end  of 
the  world.  .  .  .'" 

The  ])ious  manifesto  then  calls  on  the  savages  to  render 
obedience  to  the  iSi)anish  sovereigns,  to  take  time  to  con- 
sider the  trutlis  of  the  Catholic  faith,  and  to  embrace  then;; 
iim!,  tinally,  tlireatens  them  with  severe  punishment  iu  case 
of  ol)stinate  refusal. 

When  the  priest  had  finished  reading  tliis  document, r);ed:i 
made  signs  of  friendship,  and  held  iij)  presents,  Th(>  lici'ce, 
dusky  warriois,  however.  wer(>  not  to  be  thus  easily  won.  As- 
suming a  sullen  air,  they  loudly  sounded  the  note  of  battle. 
The  comuiauder's  fiery  nature  Avas  in  a  moment  aroused. 
De  la  Cosa  saw  this,  and  the  pirudent  veteran  entreated  his 
chief  to  abandon  a  hostile  shore,  whose  wild  inhabitants 
fought  like  ])oisonous  r(^])tiles.  But  in  vain  was  the  wise 
advice  of  the  faithful  old  pilot. 

Ojeda  hastily  breathed  a  ])rayer  to  his  TTeavenly  Patroness, 
liraudished  his  sword,  and  rushed  ou  the  savages.  The 
bi'nve  De  la  Cosa  and  others  followed.  In  a  few  minutes 
the  rout  was  c(miph>re.  Nor  was  this  all.  Ojeda  puisucd 
the  flying  Indians  some  ten  or  twelve  miles  into  the  interior, 
in  spit(^  of  the  remonstrances  of  his  more  prudent  lieutenant, 
who  never  lef!"  his  side.  At  last,  they  came  to  a  slronghoM 
of  the  enemv.  It  was  in  a  deiij-e  wood.  "With  tlu^  old 
Castilian  war-cry  of  "-San  Jagol"  on  his  lips,  the  Con- 
queror of  Caonabo  led  his  men,  and  charged  furiously  on 


'  It  will  (It)!il)t1i>s3  !)(>  rrmpinbcrpd  tliat  when  (he  .abnvc  «  n(;nl,ir  <lnriimi'nt  was  primi'il  ltur« 
WiTc  nil  I'riiu  stMiils  in  cxislcnco— llio  very  tiiinn'  wai*  unkmiwn.  Tlic  wordu  CathoUc  imt\  (.Uru- 
tiiin  wore  then  cynoiiytnoii!)  mitl  iTit('rclinn:;oalik;  terms. 

'  The  whnli'  of  ilin  riirioiH  (lodim'"'it  ru\  be  foiiiul  In  TJoborlson'.'*  "  History  of  America,"  nota 
S3;  or  in  irviny'b  "  Lifo  unil  Voyages  of  (.ohinibus,"  .Viipcudix. 


m 


i 


200 


ALOXZO  BE  OJEDA. 


the  entrenchod  Tiidiiuis.  The  savnges  fled  in  terror,  and  the 
rash  piusiiit  was  coiitiuucd.  Evening  I'uiind  tlie  Spaniards 
ill  a  village  Avhose  inhabitants  liad  taken  to  the  neiglibur- 
ing  monntains.  Carelessly  dividing  into  bands,  they  roved 
about  IVoni  house  to  house,  and  seized  on  everything  of 
value.  AVhi'e  thus  engaged,  an  anny  of  Indians  closed  on 
the  scattered  scddiers.  Everywhei'e  they  were  suddenly  snr- 
roundtul.  The  Spaniards  fought  like  lions;  but  overwhelmed 
by  numbers,  they  tell,  one  by  one,  beneath  the  heavy  \var- 
clubs  and  the  poisoned'arrows  of  tlie  enraged  savages. 

AVhat  became  of  the  protege  of  the  Blessed  Viigin?  On 
the  lirst  alai'in,  C)jeda  collected  a  few  soldiers  and  (Misconced 
lumself  within  a  small  enclosure,  surrounded  by  palisades. 
Here  he  wms  closelv  besieged  and  galled  bv  iliuhts  of  ar- 
rows.  He  threw  himself  on  his  knees,  covered  himself  with 
hisbu<'kler,  and,  bcMug  sn^all  and  active,  nianagiMl  to  pi-otect 
liimself  from  the  deadly  slu)wer,  but  all  his  companions 
were  slain  by  his  side,  some  of  them  perishing  in  frightful 
agonies.'  At  this  fearful  moment  the  veteran  De  la  Cosa, 
liaving  heard  of  the  peril  of  his  commander,  arrived  with  a 
few  followers  to  his  assistance.  Stationing  himself  at  the 
gate  of  the  ])alisades,  the  brave  Biscayan  kept  the  savages 
at  bay,  until  must  of  his  men  were  slain,  and  he  himself  was 
severely  wounded.  Just  then  Ojeda  sjiraug  forlh  like  a 
tiger  into  the  midst  of  the  enemy,  d(>aling  his  blows  on  every 
side.  J)e  la  Cosa  would  have  se(N)nded  him.  but  was  crip- 
])led  by  his  w-junds.  \h^  totjk  refuge  with  th(>  I'emnant  of 
his  men  in  an  Indian  cal)in,  the  straw  roof  of  which  he  aided 
them  to  throw  otf,  lest  the  enemy  should  set  it  on  tire. 

Here  he  defetuled  himself  until  all  his  comrades  but  one 
wei'e  destroyed.  The  subtle  ])oison  of  his  wounds  at  length 
ovei'powei'ed  him.  and  h(>  saidc  to  the  gi'ound.  Feeling 
death  at  hand,  he  calh  d  to  his  only  surviving  companion. 
"BrothiM-,"'  said  he,  "since  Cod  has  protecti'd  you  from 
liarm,  sally  ftn-th  and  fly,  and  if  ever  you  should  see  Alonzo 


I  Till' 'ioo;v/)-((,  with  wliich  llic  Souili  Ani'Tioiin  Tncliiina  poison  tlicir  iinows.  is  ii  vmicfy  of 
Htrycliiiiiii'.  Tlii"  i^  >o  drmlly  lliat  //<••  ■•■rrii/i-h  nf  a  iifrillr  ili/ijicil  in  if  nil!  iiivii'iec  iitdHi;  yet  it 
liiai'  l)c  eiwallov.\.Hl  willi  iiuiJUiiil).— J/iV/c/',  '•  KUuuhlf  qj'  Chiinutry."' 


ALOyZO  DE  OJL:Djl. 


201 


(le  Ojeda,  tell  him  of  my  fate!"  Ami  thus  died  the  kind 
mid  baidy  veteran,  John  de  la  Cosa,  devoted,  fearless,  faith- 
ful, and  unHinc'hing  to  the  last  gasp.' 

Tlie  Spaniards  who  remained  on  the  ships  were  alarmed 
:it  the  long  delay  of  their  conmiander  and  his  detachment  in 
the  interior.  Days  passed,  but  the  absent  ajipeared  not. 
Search  was  then  made,  and  soon  given  up  in  despair.  One 
day,  however,  as  a  party  were  coasting  along,  they  came  to  a 
dense  forest  of  mangrove  trees  that  lined  the  shore."  In 
the  distance  seemed  a  human  figure  lying  on  the  mat- 
ted roots.  The  men  drew  near, and  found  Alonzo  de  Ojeda ! 
He  was  speechless,  but  still  bravely  grasped  his  sword  and 
buckler.  A  lire  was  made,  food  and  Avine  given  him,  and 
in  a  little  while  the  liero  recovered.  He  told  iiis  astonished 
liearei's  how,  after  he  had  succeeded  in  cutting  a  passage 
through  crov.'ds  of  Indians,  that  he  found  himself  alone  in 
the  savage  wilderness.  lie  deplored  his  rashness,  and  his 
heart  was  reedy  to  break  when  he  recalled  the  awful  fate  of 
liis  fiiithful  followers,  and,  above  all,  the  intrepid  De  la  Cosa. 
lie  boldly  pushed  on,  however,  and  struck  the  coast  line, 
which  he  endeavored  to  follow  in  order  to  reach  the  ships. 
But  his  marvelous  strength  gave  way,  and  at  length  he  fell 
half  dead  to  the  eai'th.  He  attributed  his  escape  to  the  Im- 
maculate Virgin;  and  it  cannot  be  denied  that  it  was  noth- 
ing short  of  miraculous.  Not  a  scratch  marked  his  person, 
though  "his  buckler  bore  the  dints  of  upwards  of  three 
hundred  arrows!" 

'  Irving, 

'  M;iii(,'iovc  trees  are  found  all  nlons  the  shores  of  the  tropics,  rootmo;  in  tjie  mud,  and  forKing 
doiwo  forcnta  even  at  tlie  verge  of  the  ocetui,  liud  below  high  «  ator  murk. 


i^il 


*«'?-«:«»««««((> 


« i 


iM   ^^ 


CHAPTER  IV. 

TnE  CLOUDS  (iATIIER  IN  TIIK  SKY  OF  LIFE. 

The  Colony  of  San  Sehadian  — Addentura^ —  Ojlda 
wounded — Voyage  and  shipwreck— A  fearful  iiKirrli 
ill  rough  hog  and  forest — The  jticUire  of  the  .11  oh/ 
Virgin— OJeda's  oratory — Anecdote — T'he  cud  of  a 
stirring  life. 

Bidding  adieu  to  the  hostile  shores  which  hiid  just  nit 
■nessed  liis  Tuistortiines  and  the  sad  i'ate  of  his  conipaiiions, 
Ojoda  sailed  across  the  Gulf,  and  began  his  settlenu-nt  on  tlie 
•coast  of  Darien  He  selected  a  suitable  site,  and  tounded  ;i. 
town,  giving  it  the  name  of  San  Sebastian,  "  in  iionor  of  tlx^ 
siinti'd  martyr,  avIio  was  slain  by  arrows,  ho])ing  that  iie 
niiglit  protect  the  inhabitants  from  the  empoisoned  shafts  of 
the  savages."  By  letter  to  Ilispaniola,  lie  urg(Ml  tlu*  law 
yer,  De  Enciso,  to  hasten  to  the  new  seat  of  government, 
and  to  bring  with  him  the  men,  materials  and  provisions 
necfssary  to  build  up  the  inlant  colony. 

Tlie  Governor  next  turned  his  tlioughts  to  exploring  the 
wild  region  that  lay  around  liim,  but  certainly  did  not  ac 
knowledge  his  rule.  The  natives  proved  warlike  In  their 
excursions  through  the  woods,  the  Spaniards  were  often  at- 
tacked, and  again  the  poisoned  arrows  worked  dcstrnction, 
and  fiiied  them  with  ten-or.  On  om^  fx'casion  the  savages, 
with  hideous  yells  and  wild  trium])h,  pursued  a  party  of  sol- 
•diers  up  to  the  rude  walls  of  San  Sebastian.  Evils  appeared 
to  niiiitii)ly  Provisions  grew  scarce.  Misfortuiu;  m-ver 
-comes  alone. 

As  the  colonists  grew  weaker,  the  Indians  inci-f^asi^d  in 

boldness.     But  there  was  one  thing  that  never  changed.     It 

was  the  dauntless  spirit  of  Ojeda.     lie  repeatedly  sallied 

forth  at  the  head  of  his  men,  and  being  remarkably  swift  of 

203  * 


AL01\Z0  BE  OJEDA 


203 


f:)()t,  he  Was  always  the  first  to  make  the  savages  feel  the 
weight  of  his  bh)\vs.  "He  slew  more^of  their  Avarriors  with 
liis  single  arm,"  writes  Irving,  "than  all  his  followm'-s 
logetlici-."' 

'I'lie  fact  that  they  could  never  wound  him,  and  the  stories 
of  some  pi'isoners,  led  the  Indians  to  imagine  tha.t  lie  must 
liave  a  cluirnied  life.  A  plot  was  made  to  test  tlie  truth  of 
the  story.  \Vhile  a  number  approached  the  town  as  a  decoy, 
four  skilful  warriors  lay  in  ambush,  -well  armed  with  ii 
stuck  of  poisoaotl  ai'rows.  Ojeda,  as  usual,  gave  chase,  and 
the  Indians  hastily  retr(\'it(Ml.  When  the  spot  was  reached, 
a  volley  of  ih-adly  shafts  pour(!d  on  the  fearless  cavalier. 
One  entered  his  thigh,  and  th(>  dusky  scoundrels  ran  away, 
making  tiie  woods  resound  with  their  yells  of  triumjih. 

iJeath  appeared  certain,  and  *'  bold  commander, who  was 
never  wounded  before,  now  lav  on  a  bed  of  au'unv.  Ho 
tlionght  of  a,  remedy,  but  it  was  a  terrible  one.  lie  ordered 
two  ircm  i)lares  to  be  raised  to  a  white  heat,  and,  calling  the 
surgeon,  h(3  commanded  him  under  p:iin  of  death  to  apply 
tlMMU  to  th(^  two  openings  made  by  the  arr(/w.  The  sui'geon, 
after  sonu;  hesitation,  complied,  and  Ojeda  "udui'ed  this 
frightful  operation  without  a  nuirniur.  Tinui  healed  the 
wound,  and  tlu^  savages,  it  may  be  sup])osed,  were  more  than 
a-^tonished  as  they  felt  the  weight  of  his  iron  ami,  again 
nnd  again. 

( 'Ue  day  a  ship  arrived  in  San  Sebastian.  The  joy  of  all 
was  great,  as  they  thought  it  was  lawyer  De  Enciso,  with  ii 
store  of  provisions  from  San  Domingo.  Alas  I  they  were 
(IooukmI  to  disnppointment.  The  vessel  was  commanded  by 
one  Talavara,  a  man  of  reckless  character,  and  his  civwwere 
little  Ixnter  than  downright  freebooters.  Ojeda,  how(>v(M\ 
l»urchased  some  provisions  for  his  starving  colony  ;  but,  in  ;i 
slmrt  lime,  as  no  succor  arrived,  he  resolved  to  sail  for  Ilis- 
l)aiiiola  himself.  Leaving  Fi'ancis  Pizarro  in  command  of 
San  Sebastian,  he  loarded  Talavara  s  vessel  and  stood  for 
San  Domingo. 

It  was  a  most  disastrous  voyage.  Ojeda,  wlio  was  accus- 
tomed to  command,  soon  had  a  dispute  with  the  captain, 


■wwtenMilt 


204 


ALONZO  BE  OJkBA. 


UK 


and  :i  qiuirrel  arose.  The  Conqueror  of  C:ionabo  would 
speedily  liave  settled  the  question  by  his  sword,  but  lie  had 
the  v.liohi  va,^ab(uul  crew  against  liim,  who  over])uuered 
him  with  numbers  and  threw  him  in  irons.  Still  his  swell- 
ing spirit  was  unsubdued.  He  reviled  Talavara  and  his 
gang  as  retireants,  traitors,  pirates,  and  offered  to  light  tiio 
whole  of  them  successively,  provided  tliey  would  give  him 
a  clear  deciv  and  come  on  two  at  a  time.  JNotwithstandui:' 
his  diminutive  size,  they  had  too  high  an  idea  oi  his  prow- 
ess, and  had  heard  too  much  of  his  exploits,  to  a('(H'])t  his 
challeHge  ,  so  they  ke])t  him  raging  in  his  chains,  while  they 
pursued  their  voyage.' 

A  st(Ji'm  soon  brought  the  bungling  Talavara  and  his 
iinorant  ci'ew  to  their  senses.  In  the  midst  of  the  danger 
they  thought  of  C)jud:i,  who  was  a  sailor  as  well  as  a  soldier. 
His  irons  were  taken  oft,  on  condition  that  he  would  pilot 
the  Vessel  during  the  remainder  ot  the  voyage,  lie  seized 
the  helm,  but  no  human  skill  could  now  battle  successfully 
against  the  powerful  squalls  and  adverse  currents  that  beset 
the  tempast-tossed  vessel.  It  was  completely  shattered,  and 
t!ie  best  the  hardy  pilot  could  do  was  "to  run  it  ashore  on 
the  soutlnn-n  coast  ol  Cuba." 

There  was  now  but  one  course  open  to  the  unhappy  cast- 
aways— to  push  on  to  the  eastern  extremity  of  Cuba,  and 
then,  if  possible,  to  find  some  means  of  crossing  the  strait  to 
ilispaniola.  The  march  began.  Over  bog,  and  plain,  and 
forest,  and  mountain,  the  exhausted  travelers  pursued  their 
wild  and  weary  journey,  meeting  neither  road  nor  pathway. 
The  master-spirit  of  Ojeda  lessened  the  difficulties,  and, 
from  time  to  time,  cheered  the  gloomy  wretches  who  toiled 
behind  his  small  but  dauntless  figure.  The  suffering  was 
terrible.  Hunger  and  thirst  gnawed  to  the  very  bone. 
Marshes  abounded,  and  many  rivers  were  to  be  crossed.  It 
was  only  safe  to  sleep  in  the  branches  of  the  trees.  Some 
jf  tlie  men  daily  sank  beneath  the  burden  of  their  miseries, 
'.vhile  others  were  drowned ,  in  swimming  the  rivers.  At 
^ingtll,  their  situation  became  truly  awful,     A  boundless 


>  Irving. 


ALONZO  DE  OJEDA. 


20") 


nmrsli  barred  their  progress,  and  the  last  glimmer  of  hope 
almost  died  away. 

Oicila  alone  kept  up  a  resolute  spirit.  He  had  the  dear 
little  Flemish  painting  of  the  Madonna,  which  was  given  him 
by  Bishop  Fouseca  carefully  stored  among  the  provisions 
ill  his  knapsack.  ^V'lu'never  he  stoi)ped  t(»  repose  i'uioiig  the 
roots  of  the  mangrove  trees,  he  took  out  this  preci<jiis  pic- 
ture, i)]aced  it  among  the  branches,  and  kneeling,  i)rayed 
devoutly  to  the  Immaculate  Virgin  for  protection  This  he 
did  repeatedly  in  the  course  of  the  day,  and  prevailed  upon 
his  <'()mpanions  to  follow  his  example. 

]S'()r  did  his  resolute  piety  stop  here.  At  a  moment  of 
p'eiit  d(.'spondency,  he  made  a  solemn  vow  to  his  Holy 
Patroness  that  if  she  conducted  him  alive  through  this  peril, 
he  would  erect  a  chapel  at  the  first  Indian  village  he  should 
arrive  at,  and  leave  her  picture  there  to  remain  an  object  of 
venciittion  to  the  sim[)]e  children  of  the  forest. 

Led  by  the  iron  Ojeda,  the  weary  and  famished  travelers 
succeeded  after  thirty  days  of  toil  and  suffering,  perhaps 
scarcely  ever  equaled,  in  cutting  their  way  thiough  the 
frightful  morass — about  ninety  miles  in  extent,  A  footpath 
appeared  in  the  distance.  They  followed  it,  and  came  to  an 
Indian  village.  Out  of  tlie  seventy  men  that  left  the  ship, 
but  tliirty-live  now  survived.  The  cacique  lavished  every 
kindness  on  the  exhausted  Spaniards,  and  the  good,  simj)le 
Indi;iiis  consoled  them  in  every  way  in  their  j)ower.  "and," 
says  Las  Casas  "almost  wi^rshiped  them  as  if  tliey  had 
had  been  nng(ds." 

When  Ojeda  was  once  more  restored  to  health,  he  pre- 
pared to  fulfill  his  vow.  A  little  chapel  was  built  in  the 
village,  and  an  altar  placed  therein.  Above  the  altar  he 
carefully  hiuig  the  Flemish  painting  of  the  Holy  \'irgin, 
which  for  so  manv  rears  was  his  cherished  and  inseiiarable 
companion  on  sea  and  land,  in  dang(n'  and  misfortune,  and 
which  he  loved  as  a  friend  dear  to  his  heart  and  ))recious  to 
his  soul.  He  then  called  the  Indian  chic^f,  and  exi)lained  to 
liim  the  princii)al  truths  ol"  the  Catholic  faith  and  the  his- 
tory of  the  Innnaculate  Virgin,  dwelling  especially  on  her 


20.1 


ALONZO  DE  OmOA. 


1()V(^  f.)!-  tilt'  litiman  race,  and  her  great  dignity  as  the  Motliof 

or  (Jo  I. 

Till"  chicr  listened  with  in'ofound  attention,  and,  no  doubt, 
did  liis  bpst  to  understand.  He  conceived  a  i)rofound  vene- 
ration Uy:  tli'^  picture.  The  sentini(3nt  was  sliared  by  lii.s 
.subj(^('rs.  Tiii'y  kt'pt  the  little  oratory  always  swept  cleaii, 
and  (leM'orated  with  cotton  hangings,  labored  by  their  own 
Jiamls,  iiiid  Avith  various  votive  oU'ei'ings.  They  conii)os(Hl 
coiipli'is  in  iionoi'  of  the  V'iigin  Mother,  which  they  sang  to 
the  accompaniment  of  rude  musical  instruments,  dancing 
to  the  sound  under  tlie  groves  which  surrounded  the  her- 
mitage.' 

When  Ojeda  reached  San  Donnngo,  his  first  inqiury  wii.s 
after  j;iici«io.  He  learned  that  tlie  aspiring  lawyer  had 
sailed  for  San  S(>bastian;  but  in  vain  did  the  impaticMit 
(fovci'iior  wait  tor  tidings  of  his  arrival  at  the  c()lony. 
Failui'e  also  attend(Hl  his  elVorts  to  lit  out  anothei' armament. 
On  evei'y  hand  success  appeared  to  evade  his  grasp;  and  the 
Cimipicror  of  Caonabo  found  that  the  friiMidshi])  of  those 
who  carry  long  purses  grows  cold,  as  the  clouds  of  niis- 
forfuue  gather  in  the  sky  of  life. 

By  his  testimony  at  the  trial  of  Talavara,  Ojeda  drew 
upon  his  devoted  head  the  vengeance  of  a  number  of  ruflians 
in  San  Doniini'i).  One  night  thev  waylaid  the  lone  cavalier 
and  I'lishcd  ro  attack  him ;  but  they  quickly  found  to  their 
cost  that  they  had  made  a  serious  mistake.     In  a  moment 


'  Irviiitr, 

A  fiirllit':'  anei'ilofi'  cnnrcrninsj  llu-;  rdlr  niiiy  not  he  imiicooplahlp  Iiorc.  Tlic  vcricralilf  Pisliop 
L;is  ('asas,  who  ifroriTs  llii'  foiviniiii^'  facts,  informs  us  that  tie  arrived  at  tlic  villauc  some  tiiiio 
nftcr  tlic  (Icpartiiic  ot  Ojfda.  He  foiuid  llip  oratory  pri'scrvi'd  witli  tlio  most  ri'liL'ioiis  care  as  a 
Nicriid  iilatc,  and  riu'  iiicliui'  of  tlic  Iiiiinaciilalc  Mother  reir  irded  witli  fond  adoration.  The  poor 
Indians  crnwiled  to  attend  Mass.  wldrli  lie  C(dehrated  at  the  altar,  they  listened  attentively  to 
liis  paternal  iBsiriielions,  and  at  his  recpiest  broiiL'hl  their  children  to  lie  baptized.  The  {rood 
I.as  Cisas.  liaviTiLC  lieard  niiicti  of  this  famous  relic  of  Ojeda,  w.is  desirous  of  oliiaininp  iioscssioii 
or  it.  and  olTeriul  fo  cive  the  caeiqiip,  in  exchanue,  an  iniai,'(!  of  the  Blessed  Viirin  which  he  hail 
lirouijht  with  him.  The  ohieftain  made  an  evasive  answer,  and  seemed  much  Ironhlcd  in  mind. 
The  iicKt  niornini;  he  did  not  make  his  apjiearaiice.  Las  Casns  went  to  the  oratory  to  say  Mass, 
lint  found  IIk!  altar  stripped  of  Its  precious  relic.  On  inqnirin;;.  ho  learned  that  in  tlu'  ni),'iil  this 
faciqni!  had  lied  to  the  woods,  bearing  oft  with  him  his  beloved  iiletnrc  of  the  Holy  Virgin.  It 
Was  in  vain  that  Las  Casas  sent  messengers  after  him,  assuring  him  that  he  slioulil  not  be  de- 
prived of  the  relic,  but  on  the  contrary,  that  (he  image  should  likewise  bo  presented  to  him.  Tho 
racique  refused  to  venture  from  tho  fastnesses  of  the  forest,  nor  did  he  return  to  his  villajje  and 
replace  the  picture  in  the  oratory  iinlil  after  tJie  departure  of  the  Spaniards,  —/rciny. 


ALOIS ZO  DE  OJr.DA. 


207 


Oj('(l:i's  sword  flaslied  from  iia  scabbard,  and  he  proved 
more  tlian  a  matcli  Tor  tlie  wliolo  ^'W^o-  ^^t)i'  ^^'fis  this  all. 
After  chastl'^Jn.ii:  the  vagabonds,  he  pursued  them  through 
tlie  streets,  and  then  quietly  I'eturned  to  his  residence. 

The  last  years  of  our  hero  are  shronded  in  poverty  and 
obscurity.  But  his  end  was  marked  by  the  hnmble  piety  of 
a  bi'avo  Christian  cavalier.  Religion,  which  in  more  pros- 
perous (lays  had  shone  on  his  wild  and  adventurous  ])ath- 
way,  still  cheered  his  intrepid  spirit  and  brightened  the  last 
lioms  of  life.  Humility  and  true  valor  are  commonly  found 
insepai'able.  In  exi)iation  of  his  past  pride,  Ojeda  re- 
quested, with  dying  lips,  to  be  buried  under  the  portal  of 
the  monastery  of  St.  Francis,  at  San  Domingo,  "that  <>very 
one  who  entered  might  tread  npon  his  grave."  And  thus 
pasced  away  from  this  world  Alonzo  de  Ojeda,  the  protege 
of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  the  Conqueror  of  Caonabo,  the  fear- 
less leader  of  many  :i  bold  and  desperate  chaige,  and  one  of 
the  most  dauntless  men  that  ever  stood  on  the  shoi'cs  of  the 
New  AVorld. 

"Who  does  not  forget  his  errors  and  his  faults,"  writes 
Irving,  "at  the  threshold  of  his  hnmble  and  untimely 
gravel'  He  was  one  of  the  most  fearless  and  asjdring  of  the 
band  of  'Ocean  chivalry,'  that  followed  the  footst(>ps  of 
Columbus,  His  stor}'  presents  a  lively  i)icture  of  the  daring 
enterprises,  the  extravagant  exploits,  the  thousand  accidents 
by  tlood  and  held,  which  checkered  the  life  of  a  Si)anish 
cavalier  in  that  roving  and  romantic  age." 


1  Accordins;  to  tlio  best  authorities,  the  date  of  Ojida's  death  was  1510  or  1511.    Ue  was  about 
Jcrly-live  junre  of  age. 


VASCO  NUNEZ  DE  BALBOA, 

DISCOVEUEIl  OF  THE  PACIFIC  OCEAN.' 


CHAPTER  I. 

EARLY   LIFE   AND   ADVE^^TUKES. 

Birth  — Voyage  to  A)ncriea — Balhoa  as  a  fanner — As  an 
adrenttnrr — Lnic?/cr  Enciso — An  unexpected  meeting — 
A  (li.'ilister — liidliua  rises  to  inoniinenve — Kieuesa  and 
7iis  fate — Balhoa  ed  the  head  of  affairs— He  tu'sits  a 
great  cacique — Hears  of  the  Pacific  Ocean — Conversions 
— Preparations — A  famous  dog  called  Leoncico. 

Vnsco  Xiifiez  l1(?  Balboa  was  born  in  tlio  city  of  Xcres  de 
los  (.'aballt'i'os,  Spain,  in  the  year  147.").  lie  Ix^long-cd  to  a 
noble  bnt  inipovou'islied  family,  and  grew  up  in  tlie  service  of 
a  nobleman  named  Don  Pedro  Carrero, 

Joining  the  expedition  of  lioderic  de  Piastides,  Balboa 
sailed  from  Spain  in  tlie  year  loOO.  He  visited  the  ccjast  of 
tile  Lsthniiis  of  Darien,  following  in  many  i)laces  tlie  foot- 
steps of  Columbus.  The  destruction  of  the  A'essels  by 
worms,  however,  brouglit  the  A'oyage  to  a  sudden  termina- 
tion on  tile  shores  of  llispaniola. 

Pinlboa  tinned  farmer  in  llispaniola,  but  success  did  nofc 
smile  on  his  toil.  After  some  years  Ave  find  him  heavily  in 
debt,  and  without  any  immediate  prosjiect  of  being  able  to 
meet  the  demands  of  his  creditors.  He  thought  of  another 
voyage,  but  secrecy  and  ojiportunity  were  now  necessary. 

In  1510  the  looked-for  opportunity  arrived.     As  will  be 

'  Cliii'f  iiiithnrilics  iisnd:  Irviiij,',  "Lives  aiiil  Voyjip's  of  tlii'('oiii|i;iiiU)iisof  ('olinril}iis;''  Kubort- 
»ou,  "History  of  America;"'  llaccall,  "ITorcigu  liiograpliics;"  "Tlio  I'omiy  C'ycloiia'ilia." 

2oa 


210 


VAsco  M'Shlx  in:  JIA/. Ho.l. 


r(>iu('iiil)iM'('(l,  Ojc'iln  wroto  to  llio  lawyer  Eiicisn,  idlin.ii'  liim 
to  lit  out  !in  cxpiMlitioii  in  San  Doiiiin^o,  and  to  sail  withont 


(lt'la\'  I'oi'  San  Scliasliaii  wiiii  I  he  ji 


t'('<'>sary  suitplics  and  ir- 


inl'oii'i'incnis.  I'lnciso  coniplicd.  Anions'  llioso  who  soniilir, 
icrii-!,'*' o:i  till' di'iiailini.!,- vessel  was  IJalhoa  ;  Imt  (lie  ntniost 
care  was  /\'(j;iiied  in  order  to  ejnde  t\w  vi<i'ijan('e  of  .'liscred- 
itors.  Nor  was  li((  iine()nal  to  the  task.  Concealin.i;"  liiin- 
self  in  a  eas!\,  which  seemed  to  contain  provisions,  lhi> 
inline  Discoverer  of  the  Pacilic  had  hiinscir  coiive\-ed  from 


lis  i'arni  to  tlie  walei^'s  edu; 


mil  I 


leiici^  on  sliiplioa 


rd. 


When  ihe  vessel  Ava.s  fairly  out  at  sea,  Halljoa  emei'ued 
IVoai  his  cask,  Knciso,  who  was  totally  i.uiiorant  of  the, 
strata.ueni,  was  snrpris(>J  and  indi.niiant,  and  in  tlie  lii'st  nio- 
n!":;:s  ol'  v-iafli,,  he  threatened  to  leave  tin-  rn<.';ilive  (lci)i(ir 
on  the  siiores  of  some  uninhabited  island.  Jialhoa,  ln)Wev(-, 
sncceed(>d  in  paciiyin,^  the  comniandei-,  ''lor  (Jod,"  writes 
the  venerable  Las  Casus,  ''reserved  him  for  <;'reater  things.'' 

At  this  time,  weare  told,  I^alboii  was  in  the  ])rimeof  lilV — 
a  piod  sailor,  a  i'earless  soldier,  an  expert  swoidsman,  with 
n  ])h'asin,u' countenance,  and  tall,  p-acefid.  niuscnlai'  person. 

The  shi])  touched  the  inaiidand  at  the  fatal  Jiarbor  of 
Cartha;;ena,  around  wliicli  lay  those  .scenes  that  laid  wit- 
nessed l>e  la  Co.sa's  heroic  end,  and  Ihe  reckless  bi-avery  of 
Ojeda.  I'Jiciso  was  at  this  eventful  i)lace  but  a  shoit  lime, 
•when  a  small  vessel  sailed  in  and  cast  anchor,  lie  was 
much  snrpi'ised.  Goin.tion  board  the  stran.u'e  craft,  he  learned 
that  it  was  manned  by  a  uund)er  of  Ojeda's  followei's.  under 
the  famous  Fi'ancis  Piz/.aro,  who  had  a  sad  ;-.tory  to  ti'Il.  In 
ti'Uth,  the  liith\  v(>ssel  contaim^d  lur- vemnant  of  Ihi' colony 
of  San  Sebastian.  I)esi»aii',  f;!ihiue.  and  tin?  i)oisoned  a.r- 
rows  (>f  tiu^  savages  had  hastened  tlieir  departure  fi'om  the 
wild  Isthmus  of  Daiien. 

Enciso,  ])artly  by  p(  rsnasion  anJ  ])artly  by  th^^  per- 
emptory exercise  of  his  authority  as  chief  magistrate  of  the 
now  colony,  pi-evailed  up('n  Pizzaro  and  his  crew  to  return. 
Th(\v  sailed  lor  San  Sebastian,  but  disaster  met  tlnMii  on  enter- 
ing the  very  harbor.  The  ship  struck  a  rock,  and  the  merci- 
less waves  and.  currents  soon  scattered  it  in  frauments.    Little 


VAUCU  SlSirA  Di:  UM.UOA. 


Ml 


cDiiM  1)0  sfivrd.  Tlh'  Imrsos,  .swiiH'.  iiiul  most  of  |]ic  inovis- 
ioiis  wt'i'o  s\v«'j)l  jnvay;  Jiiid  tlic  iiiili;iii|»y  I-iicisu  saw  tlio 
IUDCccds  of  ycai'.s  ol"  toil  swallowfii  ii[)  in  a  iiiomciil  by  Iho 
stM.     His  hopes  of  place  and  (li.u'nity  ivccivcd  a  riui--  shock. 

Oil  laiulin.u',  it-  \viis  I'oiiml  ihe  liidiaiiH  had  dcslioyrd  iIkj 
i'orrresM.  A  heap  ol'  cIku'umI  ruins  was  all  that  now  ivniaincd 
ol'  San  Snhastian;  and  tho  ^cncial  rccliui!;  of  dismay  was 
such  as  to  jioint  to  tho  necessity  oi"  abandoning  a  placu 
MKirkcd  on!   lor  misfortune. 

"  Where  sho:ild  they  ,;i,or'  was  anxiously  asked.  At  tins 
iiwinent  of  doubt  and  despondency,  P.all)oa  slejjped  forward 
lo  uive  rounst.'l.  ''I  reinemb(>r  to  have  seen,"  saiil  ho, 
'•when  I  was  on  these  coasts  some  years  ago,  u  town  situated 
hy  a  largo  river,  on  the  west  side  of  the  (iidf.  The  inlud)it- 
ants  were  of  ii  mild  chaiactor,  and  did  nut  use  jioisttned 
ari'ows.''  He  otrored  to  act  as  guide,  and  his  olTer  was  joy- 
fully acco])ted  as  one  who  had  revealed  u  land  of  pionuse. 
It  is  ever  thus  tho  light  of  genius  and  courage  shines  out  in 
(lays  of  darkness.  It  was  JJalboa's  lirst  step  on  the  path  to 
inominonce  and  command. 

'riioy  ])r()mptly  set  sail  for  their  new  jioint  of  destination, 
and  on  r(>aching  it  found  live  luuuhcd  Indian  wari'iois  on 
the  shore,  drawn  up  in  liostilo  array.  Jiattlo  was  given  iind 
the  savages  routed.  Enciso  then  ontertHl  the  ^iJhige, 
taking  i)ossossion  of  its  wealth  and  that  of  the  surrounding 
(•(Mintry.  Hii  collected  great  tpiwntities  of  ])rovisions.  togitlher 
with  cotton,  bracelets,  anklets,  plates  and  other  gold  <jrna- 
nients,  to  the  value,  it  is  said,  of  over  !;;,");},("'().  All  wore 
])Ieased  at  this  stroke  of  fortune,  and  here  it  was  decided 
to  lix  th(^  seat  of  government.  The  place  was  named  i^anta 
Jfdria  de  la  Anf/fjiia  del  Darlen. 

Enciso,  as  chief  magistrate,  at  once  took  command,  in  the 
alisence  of  Ojoda.  He  made  severe  regulations,  and  soon 
found  liimself  very  nnpopular ;  in  sliort,  ho  learned  to  his 
cost  that  he  was  wholly  unfitted  to  govern  a  multitude  of 
tmeasy  adventurers. 

Halboa,  however,  becam.e  a  great  favorite.  He  had  risen 
to  consequence  among  his  comx)unions  from  having  guided 


■PiPM 


212 


VASCO  SUXl-JZ  T)L  BALBOA. 


W. 


them  to  tills  i)lace,  and  from  his  ov.n  intrinsic  qualities,  and 
being  hardy,  bold  and  intelligent,  and  possessing  the  random 
spirit  and  open-handed  generosity  common  to  a  soldier  of 
fortune,  and  calculated  to  dazzle  and  delight  the  multitude. 
He  was  not,  it  seems,  much"  disjjosed  to  side  with  Enciso, 
who  had  once  threatened  to  cast  him  on  some  barren  island. 
Indeed,  he  even  hinted  to  the  colonists  that  they  were  not 
obliged  to  submit  to  the  power  of  Enciso,  as  the  village  of 
Daiien  did  not  lie  within  the  boundary  line  of  Ojeda's  do- 
minions, but  that  it  was  really  situated  in  the  territory  which 
had  been  given  to  Nicuesa,  the  other  Governor.  L;nliap})y 
Enciso  I  This  information  pleased  the  colonists,  and  his  rule 
terminated.    The  people  took  the  power  into  their  own  hands. 

Tliree  officers,  of  whom  Balboa  was  one,  Avere  a])])ointed 
to  take  charge  of  the  alfairs  of  the  colony.'  Bat  this  ar- 
rangement did  not  please  everyone;  some  still  thought  it 
would  be  ])etter  to  place  the  power  in  the  hands  of  one  per- 
son. The  community,  however,  w( re  divided  as  to  whetlur 
this  resp(Uisible  chaige  should  be  given  to  Balboa  or  to  Xi- 
cuesa.  While  the  matter  Avas  in  debate,  two  vesssels  arrived. 
They  were  commanded  by  Colmenares,  and  had  been  sent 
out  with  supplies  for  Nicuesa.  The  commander  furnished 
provisions  to  the  colonists,  and  took  considerable  pains  to 
persuade  them  that  it  was  their  duty  to  submit  to  Nicuesa. 
It  v*-as  finally  decided  that  Colmenares,  witli  two  of  their 
own  number,  should  coast  along  the  Isthmus  in  search  of 
Nicuesa;  and  if  he  were  found,  he  was  to  be  invited  to  come 
to  Darien,  and  assume  tlie  government  of  the  colony. 

The  vessel  accordingl}'  proceeded  along  the  coast,  and 
every  bay  and  iidet  was  carefully  examined.  One  day  at 
sea  ,  brigantine  was  sighted.  It  proved  to  be  a  \>\\\X  oC  Ni- 
cuesa's  fleet.  The  c:iplain  conducted  Colmenari's  to  the 
port  of  Komhre  de  Dio.s\  the  name  piously  given  ro  the  so- 
<'alled  capital  of  the  unbu'tunate  colony.  IFei'e  the  once  gay 
and  wealthy  Governor  Nicuesa  was  found  liv;  g  in  great 
poverty  and  Avretchedness.     Of    his  brave    company,  but 


'  Hiilho.'i  and  (inc  Zciiiidio  were  C'k'cti.'(l  «/(«'!/i,«,  (ir  ni:igUlr;itcs,  and  ii  caviUicr  iiiiiiu'cl  Vaidni* 
WuB  mnioiiUfil  nytUor; 


VASCO  NU^EZ  BE  BALuOA, 


213 


sixty  men  remained,  and  all  were  famislied,  feeble,  and 
dispirited. 

<,'()lnienares  brought  food  on  shore,  and  then  informed 
Nicuesa  of  the  wishes  of  the  colorists  at  Darien.  A  new 
life  was  infused  into  tlie  soul  of  the  iinha])i)y  Governor.  In 
a  moment,  as  it  were,  he  l^ecame  another  man.  To  testify 
liis  joy  iio  even  gave  a  kind  of  feast  to  Colmenares  and  the 
messengers  from  Darien.  But,  as  his  hopes  revived,  he 
seemed  to  lose  his  discretion.  In  a  conversation  with  tlie 
two  colonists  from  Darien  he  heard  that  the  people  had  been 
buying  gold  from  the  Indians,  and  at  Oiiee  expressed  his 
enipliatic  disapiu'oljation.  He  went  so  far  as  to  declare  tliat 
he  would  make  them  give  it  up,  and  would  punish  with 
great  severity  all  those  who  did  not  give  to  the  Spanish 
Sovereign  his  full  share  of  the  treasures  which  were  found. 

Tlie  two  messengers  from  Darien  were  anything  but 
l)]easedat  tliis  language.  For  such  condu(;t  Enciso  had  lost 
his  power.  Had  one  severe  master  been  removed  to  give 
place  to  another  still  more  severe?  The  two  men  liastened 
away  ere  Xicuesa  liad  time  to  get  ready  to  leave  his  capital, 
and  reaclnnl  Darien  before  him.  They  related  what  they  had 
seen  and  heard.  xS'icuesa,  th<n'  were  not  slow  to  proclaim, 
was  a  tyrant.  A  cloiul  of  ti'ouble  now  appeared  to  hang 
over  tJK!  colony,  and  each  man  took  counsel  of  his  fears. 
What  to  do  they  knew  not. 

P)all)oa  observed  the  perplexitj'  and  consternatioii  of  the 
nuiltitude.  One  by  one  lie  drew  them  aside,  and  conversed 
iu  private.  "You  are  cast  down  in  heart,"  said  he,  "and 
so  you  might  well  be,  were  the  evil  beyond  «11  cure.  But 
do  not  despair.  There  is  an  effectual  remedy,  and  you  hold 
ir  in  your  own  hands.  If  you  liave  committed  an  error  in 
inviting  Nicuesa  to  Darien,  it  is  easy  to  riglit  the  matter  hy 
not  receiving  him  lohoi  he  comes .' "  The  simplicity  of  the 
remedy  was  of  course  as  clear  as  sunlight,  and  it  was 
adopted  without  a  dissenting  voice. 

As  Nicuesa  approached  Darien,  he  little  dreamed  of  the 
plans  which  had  just  been  formed  against  him.  Nearing 
the  shore,  he  saw  a  number  of  men  headed  by  Balboa,    lie 


'.  '-'i*mtm 


214 


VASCO  NU:^EZ  DE  BALBOA. 


fnncied  they  liad  come  to  welcome  liim  to  liis  new  govern- 
irieiit;  hnt  us  lie  was  about  to  land  one  of  the  public  oflicers 
called  out  to  him  in  a  loud  voice,  and  forbade  him  to  step 
on  shore.  The  poor  Governor's  astonishment  may  well  be 
imaii'ined. 

At  iirst,  he  Avas  speechless.  On  recovering  his  self-pos- 
session somewhat,  he  reminded  his  hearers  that  he  had  come 
at  th(!ir  nnpiest,  and  begged  them  to  allow  him  to  land  and 
explain  his  conduct.  They  might  then,  he  added,  do  as 
they  pleased.  His  words  only  provoked  insolent  implies 
and  threats  of  violence  should  he  venture  to  j)at  foot  on 
•shore.  As  night  came  on  he  was  obliged  to  put  out  to  sea, 
in  order  to  avoid  the  dangers  of  the  coast.  ' 

Next  moi'uing  Nicuesa  reappeared.  The  T)eople  seemed 
to  have;  changed  their  minds,  for  they  invited  the  Gove  rnor 
to  land.  It  was  a  mere  stratagem,  however,  to  get  him  in 
their  ])o\ver.  Xo  sooner  had  he  stepped  on  shore,  than  the 
multitude  rushed  at  him.  He  was  noted  for  swiftness  of 
foot,  and  ]\ow  trusted  to  it  for  safety.  Throwing  (dV  the 
dignity  of  Governor,  he  tied  for  dear  life  along  the  shore, 
closely  p.ursued  by  the  rabltle.  He  soon  distanced  his  pur- 
suers, and  took  refuge  in  the  woods. 

B:dl)oa  took  no  part  in  this  disgraceful  chase.  Though 
he  did  not  like  the  idea  of  Nicuesa  s  being  Governor  (if 
Darien,  he  was  far  from  ])l(\ased  to  see  him  treated  in  such 
bai'bai'ous  style.  Himself  a  man  of  Ifl'rth,  his  symjiathies 
were  ai'oused  on  beholding  the  misfoi'tun(\s  of  this  Jiigli-bi-ed 
but  unhfli)i)y  cavalier,  lie  endeavored  to  act  the  diflictdt 
p;nt  (»f  mediator  between  Nicuesa — who  finally  asked  to  be 
received  on  any  conditions — and  the  angry  colonists.  All 
his  efTorts  failed.  lie  tjien  pj-ivately  sent  word  to  the  fugi- 
tiv(>  (fovernor  that  tlie  oidy  course  left  open  for  him  was  to 
go  on  board  his  l)rigantine,  and  not  to  venture  on  shore 
until  further  advice. 

In  vain  did  I^alboa  exert  his  eloquence  to  obtain  a  fair 
heai'ing  for  the  unhai)]\y  Nicuesa.  His  voice  was  drowned 
by  the  vociferations  of  the  multitiule.  Among  tluvse  was  a 
noisy,  swaggering  fellow,  named  Beuitez,  a  great  talker  and 


VASCO  NU^EZ  DE  BALBOA. 


215 


J;-'ster,  who  look  a  viil,i';ar  triumph  in  the  distresses  of  the 
:i('('oinj)lislied  cavalier,  and  answered  every  plea  in  his  behalf 
wirli  Jeers  and  derision.  He  was  an  adherent  of  the  nui<;is- 
trate  Zenudio,  and  under  his  patronage  felt  that  he  might 
safely  act  the  part  of  a  bold  braggart.  In  the  general  clamor 
his  v(jice  was  ever  heard  uppermost.  To  the  expostulations 
of  l);iH)oa  he  merely  replied  by  brawling  with  great  vocife- 
ration :  ''Xo,  no,  no  I  we  will  receive  no  such  fellow  among 
ns  ;is  Nicuesa  I"  Balboa's  jmtience  was  exhausted.  Availing 
hhnself,  as  Las  Casns  relates,  of  his  authority  as  magistrate — 
and  sudtlenlv,  before  his  fellow  magistrate  could  interfere 
— he  ordered  the  brawling  rutliau  to  be  rewarded  with  one 
hundred  lashes,  and  thus  his  shouhh^rs  were  severely  pun- 
ished f(jr  the  misdeeds  of  an  unruly  tongue.' 

Xicuesa  was  on  boaid  his  vessel  but  a  short  time,  when  a 
party  of  those  most  op{)o-<ed  to  him  ])ai<l  him  a  visit,  oll'er- 
ing  to  maki;  him  (jioverno;' if  he  would  land.  In  a  moment 
of  indiscretion  lie  listened  to  the  malicious  invitation,  with- 
out waiting  to  hear  from  Balboa.  It  was  merely  a  lui'e  of 
llie  multitude  to  get  the  man  in  their  power.  He  landed, 
and  was  immediately  seized  by  an  armed  band,  who  com- 
pelled him  under  pain  of  death  to  swear  that  ho  would  at 
once  depart  from  Darien,  and  make  no  delay  until  lie  had 
n'ached  Spain.  Hi'  remonstrated,  s{)oke  eloquently  in  his 
o.\  n  bidialf,  but  all  to  no  purpose.  The  mob  hurried  him  on 
board  the  most  unseaworthy  vess(d  in  the;  harbor.  Seveii- 
1. Mil  of  his  devoted  followers  volunteered  to  share  his  fate; 
and  on  the  1st  of  ^larch,  1511.  the  crazy  old  brigantine 
stood  across  the  Caribbean  Sea.     It  was  heard  of  no  morel'' 

Xicuesa's  ill-starred  vessel  had  barely  disat)peared  from 
view,  when  again  the  colonists  of  Darien  bec^anie  a  prey  tf 
faction  rule.     Oace  more  Enciso  made  his  voice  heard.     Thf 


'  Irvine;. 

'  ^  :irii)iis  nitcmpts  have  boon  nirtflo  to  pptiotntr  ttin  myslcn-  that  oovnrB  (hn  fate  of  tlio  briian- 
tint' and  its  crrw.  A  rnnior  pri'vailril  sonn-  ycaf  nfti'i-vvanl"  (liat  H'wr.'il  Spaniards,  wander  iiiij 
ninnt;  llii'  wliori'  of  ('nl),'i  fnnnd  llii'  followin;;  inscription  carved  on  a  tree;  'Wqul  fcnecio  ft  r/.  <- 
(I'u'li'i  Id  .V;<'i'f»'j"— 'I'lii'  nnrorinnalo  Niinc-a  perished  here.  Ileneu  it  was  infoired  that  lie  and  V.'." 
fdlliin^Ts  liad  landed  then.',  and  liecn  inasgacred  by  the  Indians.  l,ua  Casns,  however,  discredit 
tli(j  tlury.— y;ii/i7. 


I 


216 


Til-SCO  KUStEZ  DE  BALBOA 


! 


I 


% 


psoi)le,  liowever,  were  for  Balboa,  who  had  aheady  been 
elected  one  of  the  magistrates.  Ability  gained  him  r-.'specfc 
and  inlluence ;  in  .short,  he  was  the  lirst  man  in  the  i)lace. 
After  a  trial  for  misconduct,  Enciso  was  allowed  to  proceed 
to  Spain  to  tell  his  story  at  Court. 

The  lawyers  ups  and -downs  of  fortune  were  remarkable. 
At  Ujeda  s  invitation,  he  had  sailed  for  the  new  pi  evince  to 
sit  on  the  judge's  bench,  but  suddenly  found  himself  a  cul- 
prit at  the  bar,  and  was  now  glad  to  be  permitted  io  wend 
his  way  homewards ! 

Nor  was  Balboa  entirely  tranquil.  He  feared  that  the 
skilled  tongue  of  Enciso  would  plead  its  cause  only  too  well 
before  the  King,  and  that  the  lawyer's  innocence  might 
p^ove  hio  own  condemnation.  Our  h.ero  prudently  thought 
his  side  of  the  storj^  should  be  heard  across  the  Atlantic, 
Accordingly,  he  sent  in  the  same  ship  with  Enciso  his  fel- 
low-judge, Zenudio,  who  was  instructed  to  lelate  the  part 
which  Balboa  had  taken,  and  to  inform  the  S2)anish  Sover- 
eign how  much  he  had  done  for  the  progress  of  the  ?olony. 
Zenudio  was  also  to  set  forth  the  great  wealth  of  the 
countj-y. 

As  the  vessel  was  to  stop  at  Hispaniola,  Balboa  did  not 
forget  to  send  out  another  friend,  Yaldivia,  provided  with  a 
I'ich  pi'psent  for  the  Royal  Treasurer  of  the  island.  He  knew 
the  latter  s  influence  with  the  King,  and  was  very  drsirous 
to  secure  his  friendship. 

Being  now  the  sole  head  of  affairs  in  the  colony,  Balboa 
strained  evejy  nerve  to  prove  his  capacity  in  the  diflicult  art 
of  governing.  He  knew  that  to  King  Ferdinand  one  of  the 
most  convincing  proofs  was  gold,  and  hence  he  neglected  no 
opportunity  to  gather,  if  x)ossible,  a  store  of  the  precious 
metal.  On  one  occasion  he  sent  Pizarro  with  six  men  to  ex- 
plore what  was  reported  to  be  a  very  rich  region.  The  chief- 
tain of  the  i)lace,  at  the  head  of  a  band  of  warriors,  pounced 
on  the  handful  of  Spaniards.  After  a  desperate  fight,  the 
soldiers  retreated,  leaving  one  of  their  disabled  companions 
on  the  field.  They  arrived  at  the  settlement,  bearing  visible 
marks  of  a  severe  chastisement. 


VASco  xr:7EZ  be  balboa. 


217 


Wlipn  Balboa  lienrd  the  particulars,  and,  especially,  that 
a  wounded  comrade  was  left  behind,  his  indignation  kn^^w 
no  bounds.  "For  shame,  let  it  not  be  said,"  he  exclaimed, 
ill  a  voice  of  thunder,  "  that  Spaniards  fled  before  savages, 
;iud  left  a  comrade  in  their  hands!  "  This  sharp  rebuke  was 
not  without  eifect.  Pizarro  revisited  the  scene  of  combat, 
and  returned  in  safety  with  the  wounded  soldier. 

Oar  sketch  will  not  admit  of  a  detailed  account  of  Bal- 
l){).i's  many  contests  and  adventures  with  the  Indians  at 
this  point  in  his  career.  We  have  but  room  for  one  incident. 
Oil  a  certain  expedition,  the  commander  made  a  friendly 
visit  to  the  chief  of  Comngre,  who  must  have  been  an  im- 
jiortant  personage,  as  it  is  said  he  could  muster  3,UUU  warriors 
in  the  held. 

His  dominions  lay  at  the  foot  of  a  lofty  mountain,  in  a 
beautiful  plain,  twelve  leagues  in  extent.  On  the  approach 
ut'  B.iUioa,  the  cacique  came  forth  to  meet  him,  attended  by 
seven  sons,  all  line  young  men.  He  was  followed  by  his 
principal  chiefs  and  warriors,  and  by  a  multitude  of  his 
pe'ople.  The  Spaniards  were  conducted  with  great  ceremony 
lo  the  vilhigH,  where  quarters  were  assigned  them,  and  they 
v,ere  riiiuislied  with  abundance  of  provisions,  and  men  and 
w! linen  were  appointed  to  attend  upon  them. 

The  dwelling  of  the  cacique  surpassed  any  they  had  yet 
se:'n.  i'(»r  magnitude,  and  for  the  skill  and  solidity  of  the 
ai'i'liUi'ftnre.  It  was  1.10  paces  in  length  and  80  in  breadth, 
loanded  upon  great  logs,  surrounded  with  a  stone  wall; 
while  the  U[)p3r  part  was  of  woodwork,  curiously  inter- 
woven and  wrought  with  such  beauty  as  to  cause  surjn-ise 
and  adinii'ation.  It  contained  many  commodious  apart- 
ments. Tliere  were  storerooms  also  ;  one  tilled  with  bread, 
wirli  venison,  and  other  provisicins;  another  with  various 
spii'ltnous  beverages,  Avliich  the  Indians  made  from  maize, 
from  a  species  of  the  palm,  and  from  roots  of  different 
kinds. 

There  was  also  a  great  hall  in  a  retired  and  secret  part  of 
the  building,  wherein  the  dusky  ruler  preserved  the  bodies 
ol  his  ancestors  and  relatives.     These  had  been  dried  by  the 


I 


218 


VASCO  NU^EZ  DE  BALBOA. 


fire,  so  as  to  free  them  from  corruption,  and  afterwards 
wrapped  in  mantles  of  cotton,  riclily  wrou,t;-ht,  and  inter 
woven  with  pearls  and  jewels  of  gold,  and  with  certain 
stones  held  precious  by  the  natives.  They  were  then  hnno- 
about  the  hall  with  cords  of  cotton,  and  regarded  with  great 
reverence,  11'  not  with  religious  devotion. ' 

The  chiefs  eldest  son  was  distinguished  above  the  rest  by 
his  lofty,  generous  spirit  and  superior  intelligence.  Seeing', 
writes  old  Peter  Martyr,  that  the  Spaniards  were  a  "Avan- 
dering  kind  oi"  men,  living  only  by  shifts  and  spoil,"  he 
sought  to  gaip  their  favor  by  gifts  of  the  precious  metal. 
He  prt  .s.m^  '  Iboa  with  4,0C()  ounces  of  gold  in  various 
forms.  Tt'.i:  •  ander  ordered  the  treasure  to  be  weighed, 
one-lii'th  to  be  set  apart  for  the  crown,  and  the  rest  to  be  dis- 
tributed .'  iio.jg  his  followers.  The  gold  Avas  weighed  in  the 
porch  of  the  ciu.  Ts  itsiuence,  and  in  presence  of  the  youth- 
ful donor.  While  this  was  going  on  a  violent  quarrel  arose 
among  the  Spaniards  as  to  the  size  and  value  ot  the  pieces 
Avhich  fell  to  their  respective  shares.  The  young  cacique 
was  disgusted  on  beholding  such  a  sordid  brawl  among 
beings  whom  he  had  regarded  with  such  reverence.  Seized 
by  an  impulse  of  disdain,  he  struck  the  scales  with  his 
hand,  and  scattered  the  glittering  gold  about  the  porch. 

"Why,"'  he  exclaimed,  "do  you  quarrel  about  such  a 
trifle?  If  this  gold  is,  indeed,  so  pi-ecious  in  your  eyes  that 
for  it  alone  you  abandon  your  homes,  invade  the  peaceful 
lands  of  others,  and  expose  yourselves  to  such  sufferings 
and  dangers,  I  will  tell  you  of  a  region  where  you  may 
gratify  your  wishes  to  the  utmost.  Behold  those  lofty 
mountains,"  he  continued,  pointing  to  the  South,  "beyond 
these  lies  a  mighty  sea  which  may  be  discerned  fi'om  their 
summit.  It  is  navigated  by  a  people  who  have  vessels  al- 
most as  large  as  yours.  The  streams  that  flow  down  to  the 
sea  abound  in  gold.  The  kings  who  rule  on  its  shores  eat 
and  drink  out  of  golden  vessels." 

Balboa  inquired  how  this  rich  region  could  be  reached. 

'  Irving. 


TASCO  NU^EZ  DE  BALBOA. 


219 


"The  task,"  replied  the  young  chief,  "is  both  clifRcult 
and  dangerous.  You  must  pass  through  the  territories  of 
niiiny  powerful  caciques,  Avho  will  oppose  you  with  hun- 
dreds of  wari'iors.  Some  of  the  mountains  are  infested  by 
lierce  and  cruel  cannibals.  But,  above  all,  you  will  have  to 
encounter  the  great  cacique  Tubanama,  whose  territories  are 
at  tlie  felistance  of  six  days'  journey,  and  more  rich  in  gold 
than  any  other  province.  He  will  be  sure  to  come  forth 
against  you  with  a  mighty  force.  To  succeed  in  such  an 
enterprise  would  require  at  least  one  thousand  men  armed 
like  those  whom  you  now  command."  The  young  chief 
also  gave  some  further  information,  and  even  oft'ered  to 
accompany  Balboa  with  his  father's  warriors.' 

This  was  the  first  information  Avhicli  the  Si)aniards  re- 
ceived concerning  the  great  Pacific  Ocean,  and  the  rich  and 
extensive  country  afterwards  known  by  the  name  of  Peru. 
Balboa  had  now  before  him  objects  worthy  of  his  ambition 
find  the  enterprising  ardor  of  his  bright  and  active  genius. 
Noi-  was  the  Faith  foi'gotten.  Before  leaving  Comagre,  Bal- 
boa had  the  happiness  of  receiving  its  wise  and  distin- 
guished cacique  into  the  Church.  The  dusky  ruler  was 
baptized  by  the  name  of  Don  Carlos.  His  sons  and  many  of 
his  people  followed  his  example.  Thus  did  religion  and 
tlie  spirit  of  discovery  go  hand  in  hand. 

Balboa  now  concluded  that  the  ocean  which  the  young 
cliief  mentioned  was  no  other  than  that  for  which  Columbus 
had  searched  without  success  in  this  part  of  America,  in 
liopes  of  opening  a  more  direct  communication  with  the 
East  Indies;  and  he  conjectured  that  the  rich  territory 
which  had  been  described  to  him  must  be  part  of  tliat  vast 
and  ojiulent  region  of  the  earth.  He  was  elated  with  the 
idea  of  performing  what  so  great  a  man  had  in  vain  at- 
tempted. The  thought  of  such  an  enterprise  aroused  his 
spirit  and  ennobled  his  character.  Besides,  he  was  also  eager 
to  accomplish  a  discovery  which  he  knew  would  be  no  less 
acceptable  to  the  King  than  beneficial  to  his  country;  and 

'  Irving. 


I 


I 


220 


YASCO  NUlfEZ  BE  BALBOA. 


he  was  impatient  till  he  could  set  out  upon  tliis  undertaking, 
in  comparison  with  which  nil  his  former  exploits  appeared 
inconsiderable. 

But  previous  arrangement  and  preparation  were  necessary 
in  order  to  carry  out  successfully  such  a  splendid  enterj)rise. 
For  tills  purpose  Balboa  hastened  back  to  Darien.  He  be- 
gan by  winning  the  friendship  of  the  neighboring  caciques. 
At  this  point,  however,  private  news  from  Spain  warned 
him  that  he  might  be  recalled  by  the  King  at  any  moment, 
to  answer  charges  brought  against  him  by  Enciso.  Such  a 
blow,  he  saw,  would  annihilate  all  his  hopes.  He  decided  to 
hasten  the  expedition.  To  linger  was  to  be  lost.  He 
felt  that  such  a  brilliant  achievement  as  the  discovery  of  a 
great  Ocean  would  silence  his  enemies,  establish  his  reputa 
tion,  and  gain  the  favor  of  Ferdinand, 

With  these  thoughts  nerving  him  to  action,  Balboa  care- 
fully chose  one  hundred  and  ninety  hardy  and  resolute  fol- 
lowers— men  devoted  to  his  person  and  fortune.  He  armed 
them  with  swords,  cross-be  -.s  and  arquebuses.  Nor  did 
lie  conceal  from  them  the  dangers  that  might  have  to  be  en- 
countei'ed  ;  but  the  bold  spirit  of  the  early  Spanish  adven- 
turers always  rose  with  the  difficulties  of  their  position. 
They  were  ready  to  follow  their  intrepid  leader  to  the  ends  of 
the  earth. 

To  aid  liis  slender  forces,  he  took  with  him  a  number  of 
blood-hounds,  which  had  been  found  to  be  terrific  allies  in 
Indian  warfare.  Tlie  Spanish  writers  make  particular  men- 
tion of  one  of  those  animals,  named  Leoncico,  which  Avas  a 
constant  companion,  and,  as  it  were,  a  body-guard  of  Balboa, 
and  describe  him  as  minutely  as  they  would  a  favorite 
Marrior.  He  was  of  a  middle  size,  but  immensely  strong; 
of  a  dull  yellow  or  reddish  color,  with  a  black  muzzle,  and 
his  body  was  scarred  all  over  with  wounds  received  in  in- 
numerable battles  with  the  Indians.  Balboa  always  took 
him  on  his  expeditions,  and  sometimes  lent  him  to  others, 
receiving  for  his  services  the  same  sliare  of  booty  allotted  to 
an  armed  man.  In  this  way,  he  gained  by  him  in  the  course 
of  his  campaigns  upwards  of  a  thousand  crowns.     The  In- 


VASCO  yU^EZ  BE  BALBOA. 


231 


(lians,  it  is  said,  iiad  conceived  such  terror  of  this  animal 
that  tlie  very  siglit  of  liim  was  sufficient  to  put  a  host  of 
tliem  to  flight.'  A  number  of  Darien  Indians  were  likewise 
added  to  the  force  for  the  expedition.  Such  was  the  motley 
armament  that  set  out  in  quest  of  the  Pacilic  Ocean  ! 


ilrrina. 


In 


.1! 
i 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE  DISCOVERY   OF    THE   PACIFIC   OCEAN". 

Final  preparatioii8—The  marcli  heghis — Difficulties— A 
Battle — The  first  view  of  the  Facific  Ocean— Address 
atid  thanlvsgieiing — A  Cross  in  the  loilderiiess — Takes 
possession  of  the  Pacific — Hie  'march  hack. 

It  was  the  eth  of  September,  1513.  In  the  little  Indian 
port  of  Coyba,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Isthmus,  there  lay 
rocking  on  the  quiet  waves  a  brigantine  and  nine  large  ca- 
noes— the  little  iieet  which  had  just  transported  lialboa  and 
his  force  fi-om  Darien  to  tliis  point.  All  felt  it  was  a  day  of 
great  importance.  Early  in  the  morning  Holy  Mass  was 
celebrated,  and  even  the  least  devout  prayed  that  God  would 
bless  the  expedition  with  success. 

Balboa  left  about  half  his  men  to  guard  the  vessels,  and 
with  the  rest  struck  into  the  interior.  The  Isthmus  of  Da- 
rien is  not  above  seventy  miles  in  breadth;  but  this  neck  of 
land,  which  binds  together  the  grand  divisions  of  North 
and  South  America,  is  strengthened  by  a  chain  of  lofty 
monntains  stretching  through  its  whole  extent,  which  ren- 
der it  a  liarrier  of  solidity  sufRcient  to  resist  the  impulse  of 
two  opposite  oceans.  The  mountains  at  that  day  were  cov- 
ered with  forests  almost  inaccessible.  The  valleys  in  such  a 
moist  climate,  where  it  rains  during  two- thirds  of  the  year, 
are  marshy,  and  so  frequently  overflowed,  that  the  inhabit- 
ants find  it  necessary,  in  many  places,  to  build  their  houses 
upon  trees,  in  order  to  be  elevated  at  some  distance  from  the 
damp  soil  and  the  odious  reptiles  engendered  in  the  putrid 
waters.     From  the  high  grounds  large  rivers  rush   down 


with  an  impetuous  current. 
222 


And  in  a  region  then  inhab- 


VASC'O  NU^EZ  DE  BALBOA. 


223 


i[e:l  by  wiiuderiug  savages,  tlie  hand  of  industry  had  dono 
iiotliia^  U)  correct  tliose  natural  disadvantages.' 

To  niiirch  across  tliis  unexplored- country  witli  no  other 
guides  than  Indians— whose  hdelity  could  be  little  trusted— 
was,  perhaps,  tlie  boldct  enterprise  on  which  the  Spaniards 
had  hitherto  ventured  iu  the  Js'ew  World.  But  the  intre- 
l)idity  of  Balboa  was  such  as  distinguished  him  among  his 
countrymen,  at  a  period  when  every  explorer  was  conspicu- 
ous for  daring  courage.  Xor  was  l.-avery  his  only  merit. 
He  was  prudent  in  ctnuluct,  generous,  courteous,  and  pos- 
sessed of  those  popular  talents  whi(;h  in  the  most  desperate 
undertakings  inspire  conhdence  and  secure  attachment. 

The  comnuinder  no  sooner  advanced  into  the  interior  of 
tlie  count,  y  than  he  found  his  pathwtiy  strewed  with  num- 
berless obstacles.  Iloads  there  were  none.  Some  of  the 
cacifpies,  at  his  approach,  iied  to  the  mountains  with  all 
their  i^eople,  and  carried  off  or  destroyed  whatever  could 
alford  subsistence  to  his  troops.  Others  collected  their  wild 
subjji'cts,  in  order  to  oppose  his  progress.  In  short,  he 
quickly  learned  what  an  arduous  undertaking  it  was  to  lead 
such  a  body  of  men  across  swamp  and  river,  through  wood 
and  wilderness,  over  plain  and  mountain,  -whicli  had  never 
been  pressed  but  l)y  the  feet  of  straggling  savages.  But  by 
sharing  in  every  hardship  with  the  meanest  soldier,  l)y  being 
llrst  CO  meet  every  danger,  by  promising  confidently  to  his 
little  force  the  enjoyment  of  honor  and  riches  superior  to 
Avhat  had  been  attained  by  the  most  successful  of  their 
countrymen,  he  inspired  them  with  such  enthusiastic  bravery 
that  they  followed  him  without  a  murmur. 

When  the  Spaniards  had  penetrated  a  good  way  into  the 
mountains,  a  powerful  chief  appeari3d  in  a  narrow  pass  with 
a  large  body  of  warrioi's,  armed  A\itli  bows  and  arrows, 
spears,  and  war-clubs  made  of  palm,  which  were  almost  ns 


'  The  IsthmiH  of  Pananiii — formprly  ciilli'il  Dirion— i-'  from  tliirty  to  spvontv  milps  In  breartth. 
Till'  country  is  nioiinliiinous,  its  hi^'lu'st  in-ak  rininu'  T.aX)  feet  aliovc  the  li'vcl  of  tlu'  wa.  Alnnt; 
the  Carihhuan  Sea  the  coast  ia  rocky  and  hifty,  but  mostly  low  and  swantpy  aloni;  the  Pacitlc. 
T!\i' soil  is  everywhere  fortlle.  The  forests  aiinnnd  in  excellent  limber.  FAcenl  on  tlu'  hcitrbts, 
the  elini:ite  is  very  nniiealthy.  The  Isthmus  forms  a  state— one  of  the  United  States  of  Colomliiii 
— roinprisini;  an  urea  of  39,750  square'  miles,  with IVJjOlW  inhabitants.— /o/;H>wi'6'  ".Vea  Universai 
i'ydoiHUlia." 


VASCO  NU^EZ  DE  JJALBOA. 


lijvrd  and  heavy  as  iron.  TIk^  liostil.'  sava-^cs  looked  wifli 
coiitcinptou  tlu^haiidriil  of  wliitc,  (-"xliaiistnd  rravclcrs,  saiscd 
tlio  war-ciy,  and  willi  I'niy  I'lishcd   to  llic  attack.     IJallxni 


and    his  \w\\.  li 


v(!  a  wall,  withstood   the  niipi'tiioiis  onset. 


The  lii'st  liiv  ol"  ihc  Sjjaiusli  n'uns  liilcd  tiie  dusky  lior(h' wiili 
ahii'in.     'i'licy  broke,  and  ran.     Tiic  Spaniards  pursued,  and 


At   t  ho  end  o( 


on 


tiie  liei'ce  bh»oddionnds  joined  in  (heehaw 

the  eontlict,  the  cliiel'  and  nix  hundred  Indians  lay  dead 

the  hattledield,  and  many  niori^  were;  taken  jjrisoiiers. 

Tlu!  troops    then   inarched  to  Die  vilia^'e  of  the  slain  ca- 
eicpie,  and  took  jjossession  id'  a  lar^n'e  (inantily  of  ,l;'oI(1  and 
15all)oa  reserved  onedil'lh  Tor  the  Kini^',  and  madi  a 


owers. 


lat 


jewi'li 

liberal  division  of  the  rest  anionii,'  his  (>xliaus(ed  foil 
They  had  now  reached  the  foot  of  the  last  mountain  tl 
separaletl  (hem  from  a  view  of  the  I'acilie  Ocean.  In  the 
recent  en,ij,-au,'ement  several  of  the  S])aniards  were  wounded, 
and  others  were  so  Avorn  (nit  with  fati,n-iie  that  tliey  conlil 
g'o  no  fiirth(>r.  After  a  eai'fd'iil  examination  of  his  force,  the 
eonnnauder  found  but  sixty-seven  men  who  wei'<'  in  sulll- 
cient  heal  i  and  spirits  to  conlinue  their  long  ami  (oilsonit^ 
march.  Tlionuh  the  guides  had  re[)resented  the  breadth  of 
the  Isllunus  to  be  only  a  journey  of  six  days,  Ihey  had 
already  s{)ent  twenty  in  forcing  their  way  over  mountains 
and  through  the  trackless  wilderness.  It  was  evening,  and 
all  retii'ed  to  rest. 

The  day  had  scarcely  dawned,'  when  Ealboa  and  his  fol- 
lowers set  forth  from  the  Indian  village  and  began  to  climb 
the  height.  It  was  a  stn-ere  and  I'ugged  toil  for  men  so  w:iy- 
Avorn  ;  but  tliey  were  Idled  with  new  ardor  at  the  idea  of  the 
triumplumt  scene;  that  was  so  soon  to  rei)ay  them  for  all  tlie'r 
hardships.  About  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  they  emeiged 
from  the  thick  forests  throngh  which  th(\v  had  hillart) 
strngule(i,  and  arrived  at  a  lofty  and  airy  region  of  tlio 
mountain.  Tlie  bald  summit  alon(^  remained  to  be  .ascended ; 
and  their  guides  pointed  to  a  moderate  eminence,  from 
which,  they  said,  the  Southern  Sea  was  visible. 

Upon  this,  Balboa  commanded  his  followei's  to  halt,  and 


1  It  was  the  aeth  ol  September,  1513. 


VASCO  yuSEZ  J)E  lULnOA. 


'  22") 


tlinf  no  num  slioiild  ,stlr  from  liis  \)h\rv.  Tlicii,  with  a  iial- 
l»ir;itiii!:;  Iit'art,  Ik*  asctMidi'd  al(»iio  tlio  bare  inoiiiitain-toj), 
Uii  rt'acliiii,^'  tlin  .suiiimif,  the  lon^-cU'sircd  jji-osijcct  hurst 
ii])(»n  his  view.  It  was  a.s  if  a  new  world  worn  iinroldiul  to 
liiiii,  separated  fi'om  all  hitherto  known  by  this  iiiiuhly  bar- 
rier of  nioiiiitaiiiH.  Jielow  liirn  cxteiKK-d  a  vast  chaos  of 
rock,  and  forest,  nndgrei*nsavanT\iis,  and  wandering  streams, 
while  at  a  (llstaiK'e  the  waters  ot  tho  promised  Ocean  glit- 
tered in  (lie  niorniiif;'  sun.' 

It  was,  in  truth,  a  scene  <;lorious  and  pictures(jue.  The 
bi'ave  Balboa.  J'ell  ujjon  his  knees,  raised  his  eyes  to  Heaven, 
iiiid  thanked  the  f>;ood  (jlod  f(n'  bein*^:  tho  fii'st  Kni'opean  to 
make  such  a  great  discovery,  lie  invited  his  troops  to 
iiscelid. 

"My  brotluu's,"  ho  (^x(!laimed,  "behold  tho  object  of  all 
our  desires,  and  the  reward  of  all  our  toils.  Let  lis  give 
thanks  to  God  that  he  has  granttnl  us  this  grejit  honor  and 
advnnlage.  Let  us  pray  to  llini  to  guide  and  aiil  us  to  con- 
^\nol•  t\u)  s(\'i  and  laud  which  we  have  discoveied,  and  which 
Cliiisiian  has  never  entered  to  priiach  the  lioly  doctiine  of 
tlu!  l"jvan,i;elists.  As  to  yourselves,  be  as  you  liave  hitherto 
been,  faithful  and  true  to  me,  and,  by  the  favoi' of  Christ, 
you  will  b<!come  the  richest  Sj^aniards  that  have  ever  come 
to  the  Indies;  you  will  render  the  greatest  service  to  your 
King  that  ever  vassal  rendei'ed  to  his  lord;  and  you  will 
have  the  eternal  glory  and  advantage  of  all  that  is  here  dis- 
covered, conciuered,  and  converted  to  our  Holy  Catholic 
Faith!" 

This  warm,  eloquent  address  produced  profound  emotion. 
The  soldiers  embraced  their  heroic  commander,  and  promised 
to  FuUow  him  even  to  death  itself.  The  chaplain,  Father 
Andrew  do  Vara,  then  lifted  up  his  voice  and  clianted  the 
7);  Dcum,  in  thanksgiving  to  the  Abnighty  Ruler  of  tho 
universe.  "The  rest,  kneeling  down,"  writes  Balboa's 
American  Protestant  biographer,  "Joined  in  the  strain  with 
l)ious  enthusiasm  and  tears  of  joy ;  and  never  did  a  more 
shu'ere  oblation  rise  to  the  Deity  from  a  sanctilied  altar  than 


'  Irving. 


r-  tfptmil^f'ffr^i.x.  ■ 


:.:i»<.«»4dw#t 


22(? 


VASCO  NUltEZ  DE  BALBOA. 


Ifoni  that  mountain  summit.  It  was,  indeed,  one  of  the 
most  sublime  discoveries  that  had  yet  been  made  in  the  Xew 
Worhl,  and  must  liave  opened  a  boundless  Held  of  conjec- 
ture to  the  wondering  Spaniards.'" 

Balboa  called  his  companions  to  witness  that  he  to  3k  pos- 
session of  tluj  sea,  islands,  and  suiTounding  territory,  in  tlia 
juame  of  the  Catholic  Sovereigns  of  Castile.  A  testiuionial  to 
that  effect  was  drawn  up,  and  signed  by  the  sixty-seven  men. 
He  then  cut  down  a  tall  tree,  made  a  cross,  and  I'aised  the 
august  Sign  of  the  Redemption  on  the  very  sjjot  whence  he 
lirst  saw  the  vast  expanse  of  waters. 

The  Spaniards  held  on  their  course,  descended  the  mountain, 
and  through  many  obstacles  forced  their  way  to  the  shore. 
The  wild  waters  lay  in  sombre  silence.  No  sail  met  the  eye. 
A  great  bay  extended  as  far  as  the  vision  could  reach,  and 
it  being  St.  Michael's  day,  Balboa,  in  the  spirit  of  a  true 
Catholic,  gave  it  the  name  of  the  Giilf  of  >S'/,  Michael,  the 
name  by  which  it  is  known  even  to-day.  At  that  hour  the 
tide  was  out,  but  the  conmiander  Avaited  till  the  surging 
deep  swept  in  almost  to  his  feet.  He  then  took  a  banner, 
upon  which  were  painted  the  images  of  the  Most  Blessed 
A'irgiu  and  the  Holy  Infant,  and  under  them  the  arms  of 
Castile,  and,  drawing  his  sword,  he  marched  into  the  sea, 
until  the  water  Avas  knee-deep,  and  called  upon  all  to  wit- 
ness that  he  took  solemn  possession  for  the  Spanish  Sover- 
eigns. The  notary  of  the  exi^eduion  drew  up  the  usunl 
document,  which  was  signed  by  those  present.  Then  all 
Stooped  down  and  tasted  the  waters,  and  again  returned 
thanks  to  Heaven.  Balboa  finally  cut  three  crosses  on  three 
ndjacHut  ti'ces,  in  honor  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  and  in  token 
that  ho  had  discovered  and  taken  possession  of  the  great 
Pacific  Ocean. 

The  intrepid  Commander,  after  several  adventurous  visits 
to  some  of  the  islands  in  the  Gulf,  and  the  collection  of  con- 
siderable treasure  in  the  surrounding  territory,  began  to 
retrace  his  steps  towards  Darien.  In  ord(.>r  to  acquire  a 
more  extensive  knowledge  of  the  Isthmus,  he  manihed  l)ack 


■  irviii),'. 


VASCO  NUNEZ  DE  BALBOA  TAKING  POSSESSION  OF   I  HE  PACIFIC  OCEAN. 


1 


il 


VASCO  Nl'^EZ  DE  BALBOA. 


227 


by  a  different  route,  wliicli  he  found  to  be  no  less  dangerous 
and  difficult  than  that  which  he  had  formerly  taken.  But 
10  men  elated  with  success,  and  animated  by  hope,  nothing 
is  insurmountable.  He  reached  the  Si)anish  settlement  at 
Barien  on  January  lOtli,  1514,  bringing  Avitli  him  greater 
glory  and  more  treasure  than  his  countrymen  hitherto  had 
acquired  in  any  expedition  in  the  New  World. 

In  this  exx)edition,  Balboa's  conduct  towards  the  natives 
was  most  kind  and  prudent.  Having  left  a  few  of  his  men, 
who  were  unable  to  follow  him,  in  an  Indian  village,  on  his 
line  of  march  to  the  Pacific,  the  chief  of  the  tribe  went  out 
to  meet  him  on  his  return,  and  presenting  the  soldiers,  said : 
"Receive,  brave  man,  your  companions  uninjured,  as  they 
entered  under  my  roof ;  and  may  he  who  gives  us  the  fruits 
of  the  earth,  and  causes  the  thunder  and  lightning,  preserve 
vou  and  them."  Herrara  tells  us  that  the  duskv  ruler  then 
raised  iiis  eyes  to  the  sun,  as  if  he  worshiped  that  as  his 
deity  and  the  dispenser  of  all  temporal  blessings.  It  is  also 
related  that  none  of  Balboa's  officers  distinguished  them- 
selves more  in  this  discovery  than  Francis  Pizarro.' 


■  Francis  Pizarro  was  a  native  of  Sjiain.  He  was  of  hnml)le  orisjin.  In  early  years  he  enlit-ted 
a"  n  solilitT,  ami  swms  to  have  served  in  several  campaitjns  both  in  Spain  and  Italy.  His  rovinji 
fjpirit  soon  led  lilni  to  the  Xew  World.  "  He  was  of  ferocious  coiira!:,'e,"'  writes  Irvinj;,  "  and  when 
enijaiicd  in  any  enterprise,  possessed  an  obstinate  perseverance  neilher  to  be  deterred  by  danger, 
weakened  by  fatif;ue  and  lianlsliijis,  nor  checked  by  repeated  disap|jointnient.  After  having 
conqiiiTi'il  tlie  ureal  kingdom  of  Peru,  he  was  assassinated  at  an  advanced  age  in  1541,  defending 
himself  bravely  to  the  last." 

Ifer  :Uc  bLury  of  Lis  tulvcuturous  career,  see  Prsicott'a  "  History  of  tlio  Conquest  of  Peru.* 


IM 


warn 


I  *  r>'- 


CHAPTER   III. 

BLASTED  HOPES  AND  THE   HEROIC   END. 

Acrninitnof  Ihe  discovery  sent  to  Spain — A  new  GoDernor— 
The  silnntton  at  Darlen — Sickness — Bad  treatment  of 
the  India  us — Batboa  raises  his  voice — Is  appoi}dnl 
Ijieutenant- Governor — Preparations  to  go  to  Peru  — 
Carrying  ships  across  the  mountains — New  difPicullies 
CDid  dangers — The  first  European  vessels  on  the  Fa- 
cijlc — Four  ships  completed  and  all  read;/ — B(dhoa sud- 
denly arresled—-His  trial  and  unjust  vondtmiuition— 
He  meets  death  lilce  a  true  hero. 

Balboa's  first  care  was  to  send  information  to  Spain  oi; 
the  iiii[)ortant  discovery  vvliicli  lie  had  made;  and  to  demand 
a  reinforcement  of  1,000  men,  in  order  to  attempt  the  coii- 
qnest  of  that  rich  nation,  concerning  which  he  had  received 
such  inviting  intelligence.'  The  tirst  account  of  the  discov- 
ery of  the  western  hemis])here  hardly  occasioned  greater  joy 
than  the  unexpected  tidings  that  a  passage  was  at  last 
found  to  the  great  Southern  Ocean,  as  the  Pacific"  was  then 
called.  Communication  with  the  East  Indies,  by  the  west- 
ward, seemed  now  to  be  certain. 

Tlie  vast  wealth  which  flowed  into  Portugal  from  its  In- 
dian settlements  and  compiests  excited  the  envy,  and  called 
forth  the  emulation  of  other  states.  Ferdinand  ho])ed  now 
to  cimie  in  for  a  share  in  this  lucrative  commerce,  and  in  his 
eagtM'uess  to  obtain  it,  was  willing  to  make  an  effort  even  be- 
yond what  the  Discoverer  of  the  Pacific  required.  ]kit  in 
this  exertion,  his  jealous  polif!}',  as  well    as  the  fatal  auii- 

>  Pcni. 

»  Till'  njiinc  Vafiftc  w.'i-  L'ivcii  it  l)y  tlio  fiuuous  Ferdinand  MagoUan  in  15i0.    Sou  nobertsoirn 
"Ui-^ioiy  uf  Aiiiciicii,"  iiouk  V. 

228 


[    i 


VASCO  IS'US'EZ  DE  BALBOA. 


229 


I);itliy  of  Bishop  Fonseca  to  every  ma.n  of  merit  who  distin- 
guislied  liiin^^elf  in  tlie  New  AVorld,  were  consx)iciioiis. 

Notwithstanding  Balboa's  recent  services — wliich  certainly 
marked  him  out  as  the  most  proper  person  to  linisli  that 
great  undertaking  whicli  he  had  begun — Ferdinand  was  so 
ungenerous  as  to  overlook  these,  and  to  appoint  Don  Pedro 
Arias  Davila,  Governor  of  Darien.  He  gave  him  the  com- 
mand of  fifteen  vessels  and  twelve  hundred  soldiers.  These 
v»ere  fitted  out  at  the  public  expense  with  a  liberality  wliic? 
the  King  had  never  displayed  in  any  former  armament  for 
the  New  World;  and  such  was  the  ardor  of  the  Spanish 
gentlemen  to  follow  a  leader  who  was  about  to  conduct  them 
to  a  country,  where,  as  fame  reported,  they  had  only  to 
throw  their  nets  into  the  sea  and  draw  out  gold,  that  fifteen 
hundred  embarked  on  board  the  fleet. 

Davila  reached  the  Gulf  of  Darien  without  any  remarka- 
ble accident,  and  at  once  sent  some  of  his  principal  officers 
ashore  to  inforiu  Balboa  of  his  arrival,  with  the  King's  com- 
mission to  be  Governor  of  the  colony.  To  their  astonish- 
ment they  found  the  Discoverer  of  the  Pacific  Ocean,  of 
whose  great  exploits  they  had  heard  so  mucn,  and  of  whose 
opulence  they  had  formed  sucli  high  ideas,  clad  in  n  can- 
vas Jacket,  and  wearing  coarse  liempen  sandals  used  only 
)\y  the  meanest  peasants,  employed,  together  with  some  In- 
dians, in  rooliug  liis  own  liut  with  reeds.  Even  in  this  simple 
{:arb,  howevei",  ]5alboa  received  the  visitors  with  dignity. 

The  fame  of  his  discoveries  had  drawn  so  many  adven- 
turers from  the  "West  Indies  that  he  could  now  muster  four 
l;undred  and  lifty  men.  At  the  head  of  those  hai'dy,  dai'ing 
veterans  he  was  more  than  a  match  for  the  forces  which 
Davila  brought  with  him.  His  troops  murnuired  loudly  at 
the  injustice  of  the  King  in  superseding  their  intrepid  com- 
mander, and  coni])lained  that  strangers  would  now  reap  the 
fruits  of  their  toil  and  success.  Balboa  himself  subnutted 
with  im])H('it  obedience  to  the  will  of  his  sovereign,  and  re- 
ceived Davila  with  all  the  deference  due  to  his  character.' 


'  I)avil:i  \v:ii  ricpompnnifil  by  lii^  heroic  wife  Hofln  Ifalicllii,  who  nocordiiiL'  to  oM  Peter  Miir- 
tyr  hi\(l  siislMiiU'il  the  ri):iriii_'<  ami  rarres  of  the  oceiiii  wiih  no  le'si  ntoiit  cniini'.'C  tliim  either  her 
husbiiml  or  tlio  iniirliiers  who  had  Ix'oii  broiiglit  iij)  iiinoii^;  thu  surges  of  iho  sea.— /ri  i/if/. 


•230 


VASCO  NU^EZ  BE  BALBOA. 


•y,.\ 


I*         ': 


But  notwithstanding  this  moderation,  to  which  Davila 
owed  tlie  peaceful  possession  of  his  government,  he  ap- 
pointed a  judicial  inquiry  to  be  made  into  Balboa's  conduct 
while  under  the  command  of  Nicuesa.  He  was  fgund  guilty 
of  several  irregularities  and  fined.  Balboa  was  deeply  mor- 
tified at  being  subjected  to  trial  and  punishment  in  the  very 
place  where  he  had  so  lately  occupied  the  first  station.  Nor 
could  Davila  conceal  his  jealousy.  Balboa\s  superior  merit 
was  beyond  question.  Such  feelings  led  to  dissensions  ex- 
tremely detrimental  to  the  prosperity  of  the  colony. 

But  it  was  threatened  with  a  calamity  still  moi-e  fatal. 
Davila  had  landed  in  Darien  at  a  most  untimely  period  of 
the  year,  about  the  middle  of  the  rainy  season,  in  that  part 
of  the  torrid  zone  where  the  clouds  pour  down  such  torrents 
as  are  unknown  in  more  temperate  climates.  The  village  of 
Santa  Maria  was  seated  in  a  rich  plain  surrounded  by  woods 
and  marshes.  The  constitutions  of  Europeans  were  unable 
to  withstand  the  pestilential  inliuence  of  such  a  situation,  in 
a  climate  naturally  so  noxious,  and  at  a  season  so  peculiarly 
unhealthy.  Many  of  the  soldiers  were  carried  oif  Ijy  a 
deadly  malady.  An  extreme  scarcity  of  jn'ovisions  aug- 
mented this  distress,  as  it  rendered  it  impossible  to  find 
proper  refreshment  for  the  sick,  or  the  necessary  sustenance 
for  the  healthy.  In  the  space  of  a  month  over  six  hundred 
persons  pei'ished;  and  dejection  and  despair  sj") read  tlu'ough 
the  whole  colony.  Many  of  the  chief  joersons  were  glad  to 
relinquish  all  their  hopes  of  wealth,  and  to  turn  their  steps 
homewards  to  the  shores  of  sunny  SjDain. 

The  now  Governor  endeavored  to  divert  those  who  re- 
mained from  bi'ooding  over  their  misfortunes,  by  finding  them 
employment.  With  this  view,  he  sent  several  detachments 
into  the  interior  of  the  country,  to  levy  gold  among  the  In- 
dians, and  to  search  for  the  mines  in  which  it  was  ])ioduced. 
Those  rapacious  adventurers  were  more  attentive  to  ]M'f'sent 
gain  than  to  the  means  of  facilitating  their  future  progress, 
Plunder  marked  their  line  of  march. 

Regardless  of  the  alliances  which  Balboa  had  wisely  inade 
with  several   of  the   caciques,  those  •  greedy  gold-hunters 


VASCO  NUMEZ  DE  BALBOA. 


231 


sfrippetT  them  of  everything  valiuable,  and  treated  them  aa 
well  as  their  subjects,  with  the  utmost  insolence  and  cruelty. 
By  their  tyranny  and  exactions — which  Bavila  either  could 
not  or  would  not  restrain— all  the  country  from  the  Gulf  of 
Darien  to  Lake  Nicaragua  was  desolated,  and  the  Sj^auiards 
were  inconsiderately  deprived  of  the  ad\-ant:iges  which  they 
migln  have  derived  from  the  friendship  of  the  natives,  in 
extending  their  conquests  to  the  Pacific  Ocean, 

Balboa  beheld  such  ill-judged  proceedings  with  sadness ; 
and  retarded  the  execution  of  his  favorite  scheme,  of  setting 
out  for  the  conquest  of  Peru,  He  likewise  sent  strong  re- 
monstrances to  Spain,  against  the  imprudent  government  of 
Davila,  Avhich  had  ruined  a  happy  and  tlourishing  colony. 
On  the  other  hand,  Davila  ac(nised  the  Discoverer  of  the 
Pacific  of  having  deceived  the  King,  by  magnifying  his  own 
exploits,  as  well  as  by  a  false  representation  of  the  natural 
riches  of  the  country. 

Ferdinand,  at  length,  became  sensible  of  his  blunder  in 
superseding  the  bravest,  most  active,  and  most  experienced 
officer  he  had  in  the  New  World ;  and,  by  way  of 
compensation  to  Balboa,  appointed  him  Lieutenant-Gover- 
nor of  the  countries  upon  the  Pacific,  with  very  extensive 
privileges  and  authority.  At  the  same  time,  he  enjoined 
Davila  to  support  Balboa  in  all  his  operations,  and  to  con- 
sult with  hiiu  concerning  every  measure  Avhich  he  himself 
pursued.  But  to  bring  about  such  a  sudden  transition  fi'om 
inveterate  enmity  to  perfect  confidence,  exceedtnl  the  power 
of  Ferdinand,  Davila  continued  to  treat  his  lival  witli  ne- 
glect" and  Balboa's  fortune  being  exhausted  by  the  pay- 
ment of  his  fine  and  other  exactions  of  the  Governor,  he 
found  that  he  could  not  make  suitable  jireparations  for  taking 
possession  of  his  new  government.  By  the  interpf)sition 
and  exhoriations  of  the  good  Bishop  of  Darien,  however, 
they  were,  at  last,  brought  to  a  reconciliation ;  and  in  order 
to  cement  this  union  more  firmly,  it  was  agreed  that  Davila 
should  give  his  daughter  in  marriage  to  Balboa,  The  first 
effect  of  their  concord  was,  that  Balboa  was  pennittefl  to 
make  several  short  incursions  into  -the  country.     These  he 


wnmnmimi'iiWf^^ 


W'^^ttSttmsici 


!|^ 


232 


VASCO  N'J^EZ  DE  BALBOA. 


conducted  with  a  x^mdence  wliicli  even  added  to  Jiis  well- 
earned  reputation. 

Many  adventurers  crowded  around  the  now  famous  Discov- 
erer of  the  Pacitic  ;  and  with  the  aid  of  Davila  tie  began  to 
prepare  for  his  expedition  to  Peru.  In  order  to  accoin])Hsli 
this  it  was  necessary  to  build  vessels  capable  ol"  oouve-yin<," 
his  troops  to  the  point  of  invasion.  The  little  town  of  Alca, 
on  the  Atlantic  coast  west  of  Darien,  was  the  scene  of  tlie 
l)usy  preparations.     Four  brigantines  were  to  he  built. 

The  timber  was  cut  on  the  Atlantic  seaboaid:  and,  then, 
with  the  anchors  and  riggiug  was  carried  across  the  lofty 
mountains  to  the  other  side  of  the  Isthmus.  Several  Sp:in- 
iards,  thirty  Negroes,  and  a  great  many  Indians  were  eni- 
])loyed  at  this  weary  work.  It  need  hardly  be  said  the  toil 
was  extreme. 

The  large  masses  of  hewn  timber  had  to  be  dragged 
through  ini[)enetrable  forests  marked  by  no  roadway  save, 
perha])s,  an  Indian  footpath.  liivers  had  to  be  crossed. 
And  as  the  exhausted  toilers  pushed  their  way  up  the  steep, 
rough  si(h\s  of  hills  and  mountains,  scorched  bj'  a  troincal 
sun.  they  were  ready  to  sink  beneath  their  hea^-j^  Imrdens. 
The  poor  Indians  were  unequal  to  the  terri!)le  task,  and 
many  perished  on  the  journey.  The  Si)aniai'ds  and  Negroes, 
however,  bore  the  fatigue  better.  On  reaching  the  summit 
of  the  mountain  whence  Balboa  first  saw  the  glorious  Pa- 
cific, the  worknum  halted,  a  house  was  erected,  and  some 
time  spent  in  refreshing  themselves. 

After  this  repose  they  continued  their  toilsome  course 
down  the  mountain-side,  and,  at  last,  came  to  a  navigal)lo 
river  (o  which  they  gave  the  name  of  Balsas.  It  fiovrod 
into  the  Pacific.  Nor  were  their  labors  now  terminated.  It 
was  found  that  the  timber  which  had  cost  such  unheard  of 
toil  was  all  worm-eaten,  and,  of  course,  unfit  for  use.  More 
had  to  be  cut  in  the  vicinity  of  r)alsas ;  but  scarcely  was 
everything  again  in  readiness  to  begin  the  construction  of 
the  vessels,  when  the  rain  began  to  pour  down  in  torrents. 
The  river  overflowed  its  banks.  The  country  was  inundated. 
So  rapid  was  the  rise  of  the  waters  that  the  men  barely  es- 


VASCO  XUXEZ  BE  BALBOA. 


233 


m 


raped   (li'owninn-   by   rliiubiiig   up  tlio  trees,  and  residing' 
aiu()n<^  tlio  ])niiit'hes 

Alter  a  time,  niaiked  by  Imng-er  and  many  adventures, 
tlie  waters  fell,  and  the  indomitable  Balboa  and  his  men 
were  onet;  more  ai  woik.  Supi)lies  came  irom  Alcii.  and,  in 
a  little  while,  \.\\v.  Discoverer  ot  the  Pacilic  had  tlie  pleasure 
of  seein.u;  two  of  his  brigtmtines  proudly  moving  on  the  Balsas. 
They  were  equipped,  lioated  down  tlie  river,  and  soon  their 
keels  cue  tlie  wide  waters  of  the  Pacilic,  What  must  have 
been  the  intrepid  Couimander's  emotions  when  he  lirst 
s]nend  his  sail  on  tiiat  nntraversed  ocean?  Ills  were  the 
first  ?iUropean  shi[)s  that  rode  on  its  briny  boscnn. 

Thei'e  iiie  points  in  the  history  ot  the  Spanish  discoveries 
o[  tiie  western  hemisplKH'e,  which  make  us  pause  with  won^ 
der  and  admiration  at  the  daring  spirit  of  the  nien  who  con- 
ducted tliem,  and  the  appalling  difhculties  surmounted  by 
their  courage  and  perseverance.  We  know  few  instances, 
jiowever,  more  striking  tlian  this  piecemeal  transportation, 
across  the  mountains  ot  Darien,  of  the  first  European  ships 
tliat  ploughed  the  wav(^s  of  the  Pacilic;  and  we  can  readily 
e.xcuse  the  boast  of  the  old  Castilian  writers,  when  they 
exclaim,  "that  none  but  Spaniards  could  ever  have  con- 
ceived or  persisted  in  such  an  undertaking,  and  no  com- 
mander m  the  New  World  but  Vasco  Nunez  could  have 
conducted  it  to  a  successful  issue."  ' 

I'alboa  s  lirst  cruise  m  the  Pacific  was  to  the  Pearl  Isl- 
ands, on  the  largest  ol  Avhich  he  disembarked  the  greater 
]) art  of  ills  men.  Here  it  was  his  intention  to  l)iiild  the  two  re- 
maining bi-igantines,  which  he  required  to  complete  the  squad- 
ron One  of  his  earliest  cares  was  to  gain  the  good-will  of 
tile  natives.  But  Avhile  preparations  Avere  making  for  the 
construction  of  the  two  vessels,  his  active  spirit  found  suit- 
able occupation  in  various  reconnoitering  cruises.  In  one 
of  these  he  steered  about  twentv  leagues  bevcmd  the  (fulf  of 
St.  ]\[icliael,  and   then   cast  anchor,  in  order  to  calm  the 


s.c  .-111  account  of  n  siniilnr  cntorpriso,  on  a  much  larger  scale,  by  IIcni;inilc)  Cortes,  at  tha 
1 1  ;or:c  si.go  of  the  city  of  Mexico. 


234 


VASCO  jSUXKZ  dp.  LALIiOA. 


t 


'It 


alarm  of  the  sailors,  who  laiicicd  in  the  dusk  of  evening  that 
t!iey  saw  reels  and  breakers  ahead  AVhen  tiie  niorning 
dawned,  however,  the  wind  had  changed,  and  was  contraj'v, 
whereupon  he  alteivd  Ids  course,  and  thus  abandoned  a 
cruise,  wliicli,  if  iici'severed  in,  jiiight  have  ternunated  in 
tii(!  discovery  of  l*erul ' 

After  sui'niounting  many  new  obstacles,  and  enduring  a 
variety  of  hardships,  he,  at  length,  liad  the  satlsfae'iion  of 
seeing  the  tw(j  other  brigantines  linished.  lie  had  nowfonr. 
In  thi'se,wit]i  three  hundreil  chosen  men— a  fo'rce  supeiior  to 
that  witli  which  Pi/.tu'ro  afterwards  undertook  the  sanu^  ex- 
I)edition — our  hero  ^\•as  ready  to  sail  towards  Peru,  when  ho 
received  an  unexpected  message  from  Davila. 

As  the  Governor's  reconciliation  with  Balboa  had  never 
been  cordial,  th.e  progress  which  his  son-in-law  was  making 
revived  his  ancient  enmity,  and  other  circumstances  added 
to  its  I'ancor.  Calumny  was  busy.  Among  ]3alboa's  most 
trusted  followers  was  a  Judas  named  Andrew  Garabito, 
u  vile  wretch  v.ho  did  everything  by  letter  and  words  of 
mouth  to  blacken  and  betray  his  master. 

This  aroused  the  low,  susi)icions  natnre  of  Davila.  I'e- 
sldes,  he  dreaded  the  prosperity  and  elevati(m  of  t lie  brave 
and  gifted  man  wlnmi  he  had  so  de(>j)ly  injured.  lie  feai'ed 
tiiat  success  would  (Miconrnge  the  Discoverer  of  the  Pacitic 
to  aim  at  indcjx'iulence;  and,  in  shoi't,  so  violently  did  the 
passions  of  hatred,  and  fear,  and  jealousy  take  possession 
of  his  mind,  that,  in  order  to  gratify  his  vengeance,  he 
scrupled  not  to  defeat  an  enteriirise  of  the  greatest  impor- 
tance to  his  country. 

Under  jiretexts  which  were  false,  but  i)lausi])le,  the  Gov- 
ernor di'sii'ed  Balboa  to  postpone  his  voyage  for  a  short 
lime,  and  to  repair  to  Alca,  in  order  that  lie  might  have  an 
interviev/  in  relation 'io  the  expedition.  Balboa,  Avith  the  un- 
suspicious confid«'nc9  of  an  upright  mind,  instantly  obeyed 
the  summons;  but  as  soon  as  he  entered  the  place,  he  was 
iirvested  by  order  of  Davila,  whose  imi)atience  to  satiate  his 
revenu'o  did  not  siiiri>r  him  to  languish  long  in  confinement. 


'  Ir\1iig. 


VAsco  yuS:i:z  ni-:  jialboa. 


2;jj 


The  Governor  even  visited  I'.albon  in  prison.  "Be  not 
nHlicted,  my  son,"  said  tlie  bnsi>  liypocritc,  on  one  of 
fiu'se  oceasions,  "an  iiivesti,L?ation  will,  doid)tless,  not 
merely  establish  yonr  innocence,  but  stnve  to  render  your 
zeal  and  loyalty  towards  your  Sovereign  still  more  con- 
spicuous." At  the  same  time  he  was  ni'.^'int:;  the  judges 
to  proceed  a,ii;ainst  our  hero  with  the  utmost  rigor.  The 
triimped-np  charges  of  disloyalty  to  the  King,  tmd  of  an 
intention  to  revolt  against  the  Governor,  were  preferred 
against  Balboa. 

The  trial  went  on.  Garabito  was  the  chief  witness.  With 
the  bold  elfront(>ry  of  an  accomplished  liar  and  scoundrel,  li<i 
swore  to  the  truth  of  every  accusation  brought  against  his 
old  master. 

One  day,  after  court  hours,  the  Governor  again  visited 
Balboa  in  prisou.  This  time  he  thnnv  off  the  mask.  '"Hither- 
to, I  have  treated  yon  as  a  son,"  he  exclaimed,  "because  I 
thought  you  loyal  to  yonr  King,  and  to  me  as  his  repre 
tentative ;  but,  as  I  lind  you  have  meditated  rebellion  against 
the  Crown  of  Castile,  I  cast  you  olT  from  my  affection,  and 
sliall  henceforth  treat  you  as  an  enemy." 

The  noble  Balboa  repelled  the  charge  with  eloquent  indig- 
nation. "Had  I  been  conscious  of  my  guilt,"  he  replied, 
"what  could  have  induced  me  to  come  here  and  put  myself 
into  your  hands  ?  Had  T  meditated  reliellion,  what  prevented 
lue  from  carrying  it  into  effect  ?  I  had  four  ships  ready  to 
weigh  anchor,  three  hundred  brave  men  at  my  command, 
and  an  open  sea  before  me.  What  had  I  to  do  but  to  spread 
siill  and  press  forward?  There  was  no  doubt  of  finding  a 
land,  whether  rich  or  poor,  sufficient  for  me  and  mine,  far 
beyond  the  reach  of  your  control.  In  the  innocence  of  my 
heart,  however,  T  came  here  promptly,  at  your  mererecpiesf, 
and  my  reward  is  ^asult— slander — chains  I" 

At  length,  the  trial  ended,  and  sentence  of  death  was  un- 
justly pronounced.  But  even  tlie  jiulges,  and  the  whole 
colony,  interceded  warndy  for  Ballioas  pardon.  r)a\ila, 
however,  was  inexorable.  "If  he  has  merited  death,"  ex- 
claimed the  tyrannical  Governor,  clothed  in  a  little  brief 


l!  % 


230 


VASCO  NUI^K/  DE  BALnOA. 


fiiitlioiity,   "lot  liiiu  snd'er  death!"     IIo  was,  aocordingly, 
coiMlciiined  to  be  beheaded. 

(Hooni  and  dismay  hung  over  the  ruth?  town  of  Alca  on 
the  day  of  oxecutk)n.  Tlie  people  came  foith  to  witness  llio 
fi'aiTul  spectacle  in  the  i)ul»lic  S(]uare.  "Well  they  knew 
I'albo;!,  whose  stei'lint;'  qualities  and  l)nlliant  achiev(>nients 
had  so  often  won  their  admiration;  but  now  (hey  were  tilled 
with  horror  on  seeing  the  great  services  of  such  a  brave  man 
repaid  with  naught  but  persecution  and  an  ignominious 
death.  Still,  the  multitude  so  felt  and  feared  the  iron  rule 
of  Davila,  that  not  a  voice  was  raist'd.  The  historian 
Oviedo,  who  was  then  in  the  colony,  assures  us  that  the  brutal 
(ifovernor  was  himself  a  secret  witness  of  the  awful  scene. 
He  looked  on  thnnigh  small  openings  betAveen  the  reeds  of 
tli(^  wall  of  a  house  about  twelve  paces  from  the  scaffold. 
Ball)oa  made  a  last  humble  confession,  and  received  the  Holy 
Communion  with  sentiments  of  profound  faith  and  piety. 
He  died  like  a  true  Catholic  hero.  Ascending  the  scalTold 
with  a  Jirm  step  and  dignified  demeanor,  he  bent  his  manly 
form,  calmly  laid  his  head  upon  the  block,  and,  in  an 
instant,  the  bright  soul  of  the  illustrious  Discoverer  of  tlie 
Pacific  Ocean  was  released  from  its  earthly  bondage !  On 
the  glorious  roll  of  "Ocean  chivalry,"  the  name  of  Balboa  is 
second  only  to  that  of  the  immortal  Columbui. 


1 

1^ 

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1  i'i 

1  .,  .1 

imftrnfmnsmFTTv^ 


I; 


"I 

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II  '••I 


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^ 

I  ^3 


HERNANDO  CORlfe. 


HERNANDO  CORTfiS, 


THE 


CONQUEROR  OF  MEXICO  AND  DISCOVERER  OF  CALIFORNIA.' 


CIIAPTEU    I. 

YOUNG  YEARS  OF  THE  CONQUEROR. 

Birth  and  Parents  of  Cortes — Early  years — Sails  for  the 
NeioWorld — First  years  in.  America — Is  appointed  to 
command  an  expedition  to  Mexico — Velasquez  and  Cor- 
tes—  DiJJicnlties  <nul  final  preparations— Appearance 
and  manners  of  Cortes — Departure  of  thejleet. 

TTfn-nando  Cortes  was  born  at  ]\[u(lellin,  a,  small  town  in 
S[)aiii,  in  tlic  year  148.").  Ue  belonu'od  to  ;i  good  and  ancient 
i'aniily.  His  I'atliei',  Don  Marcin  Cortes,  was  a  eaptain  of  in- 
fanti'v.  not  very  \vealt]iy.l)nta  soldierof  unsullied  honor;  and 
his  mother,  Dona  Catalina  Pizarro,  we  are  assured,  was  a  lady 
of  ureat  piety  and  won h.' 

Jlis  ])arents  intended  him  for  the  ]n'o[e.ssion  of  law,  and 
at  the  ag'L}  of  fourteen,  younu;  Ibn-nando  was  sent  to  the  Uni- 
vei'sity  of  Salaniancii.  ITtMuade  some  ]*ro,u'i'(^ss  in  learning, 
but  after  two  years,  liis  ardent  and  restless  genius  bt'eanie 
(lisn-usted  withrollegelif.^  nnd  hereturuf^d  honie.to  thegr<>at 
ilispleasure  of  his  father  and  mother.     The  student  now  gave 


1  f Miii.f  ,i;iHii)ri[ics  i!si.,l  ;  n<>l|)->.  "The  I.ifi-  of  II.Tniiniln  C'ortt's  ;"  Pn'srntt.  "  Hl-tory  of  llio 
CiiuiiU'-l  of  Mexico.  Willi  n  I'rclimiiiary  View  of  Iim'  Aiicirtir  Mcxir.iii  (■IvIlizalioM,  iiiul  llui  l.ifi) 
of  fhr  Coiiiiucivr,  Ili'i'imiido  Corli's;*'  HnbiTt'Oii.  "  TIip  Hi^ilorv  of  Anii'ricri;"' Corli'",  "Di* 
.•iifihes  lo  llio  Kiiipcror  Cliarli'J  V..'"  ii-ni-^lMli'il  wlili  nofc^j  liy  (i.  Folium  :  Arcliliif^liop  Spiililiii!.', 
■■  Mi.-^cclliiiica.  Comprislii'^'  liivicus,  I.fctiins,  ami  I'N.'-ayH,  on  Uislorioal,  TlifoloLrlcal,  anil  Miycul- 
laiinias  Siihjccfs." 

'  The  iiiollicr  of  CnrlL'-i  ua-'  a  r'riiarka'ilc  womiii.  ai  tlio  mother-i  of  (listiii^'ui-ln-J  nun  are 

WiMll    tollC-//,//)s'. 

.^■1  olil  bJOiirapliiT  of  Corli'^i  writ.'-;;  "  Cataliiia  wa,''  not  infurior  lo  any  wonia  i  of  lu  "  li:iu'  in 
VM'laf,  modesty,  ami  toniu;,Ml  love."  . 


UERXAXDO  CORTES. 


himself  up  entirely  to  active  sports  and  martial  exercises. 
His  bold,  iinpetiious  nature  showed  a  particular  leaning  to- 
M'ards  the  military  profession,  and  his  great  desire  was  for  a 
life  of  adventure. 

To  such  an  ever-active  spirit,  the  New  World  w^as  a  most 
inviting  lield;  and  in  1504,  in  his  nineteenth  year,  Hernando 
Cortc5  received  the  tender  blessing  of  his  parents,  and  some 
money,  and  then  bade  adieu  to  the  sunny  shores  of  his  native 
land.  He  sailed  in  an  expedition  for  Hispaniola. 
.  :  At  that  time,  his  kinsman,  Ovando,  was  Governor  of  the 
island,  and  when  Cortes  landed  at  San  Domingo  he  was  most 
kindly  received.  He  was  at  once  employed  in  several  posi- 
tions of  trust  and  honor.  But  he  was  still  unsatisfied.  Hence, 
Avhen  Velasquez,  in  1511,  undertook  the  conquest  of  Cuba, 
our  hero  gladly  abandoned  his  quiet  life  for  the  stirring 
scenes  there  opened,  and  took  part  in  the  expedition.  In 
this  new  sphere  of  activity,  he  distinguished  himself  so 
much,  that  notwithstanding  some  violent  contests  with  Ve- 
lascpiez,  occasioned  by  various  trivial  events,  he  was,  at 
length,  taken  into  favor,  and  received  large  grants  of  lands 
and  Indians  as  a  recompense  for  his  services. 

Cortes  now  settled  down  in  Cuba,  near  the  town  of  St. 
.Tago,  of  which  ho  was  afterwards  appointed  magistrate. 
He  lived  on  his  estate,  and  devoted  himself  to  agriculture. 
In  a  few  years  wealth  flowed  in  to  him  in  abundance;  and, 
it  appears,  he  added  to  his  fortune  and  his  happiness,  at 
this  time,  by  marrying  a  worthy  and  beautiful  lady,  a 
country-woman  of  his  own,  named  Dona  Catalina  Juarez. 

Though  Cortes  had  not  hitherto  acted  in  high  command, 
ho  had  displayed  such  qualities  in  several  scenes  of  dilli- 
culty  and  danger,  as  gave  him  a  bright  reputation,  an-l 
turned  the  eyes  of  the  Spaniards  towards  him  as  one  caj  a- 
lih'  of  performing  great  deeds.  The  turbulence  of  youth, 
as  soon  as  he  found  objects  and  occupations  suited  to  the  ar- 
dor of  his  mind,  gradually  subsided,  and  settled  into  habits 
of  regular,  unceasing  activity. 

The  impetuosity  of  his  temper,  when  he  came  to  act  with 
his  equals,  insensibly  abated,  by  being  kept  under  restraint, 


MMINANDO  CORTES. 


• 
233  ■ 


find  ripened  into  a  cordial  soldierly  frankness.  These  qnali- 
ties  vvej'e  accomiianied  b}^  calm  x>i'n<^<ince  in  concertina,-  liis 
schemes,  by  persevering  vigor  in  executing  them,  and  by  what 
is  peculiar  to  superior  genius — the  art  ol"  gaining  the  confi- 
dence and  governing  tiie  minds  of  men.  To  all  these  werct 
added  the  smaller  accomplishments  that  strike  the  vnlgar 
and  command  tlieir  respect— a  graceful  person,  a  Avinning 
countenance,  remarkable  skill  in  warlike  exercises,  and  a, 
constitution  of  such  iron  vigor  as  to  be  capable  ot  enduring 
..:»y  fatigue.  Such  was  the  man  finally  selected  by  Gover- 
nor Velasquez  to  command  the  expedition  which  Avas  to 
visit  and  explore  the  recently  discovered  empire  of  Mexico.' 

Cortes  received  his  commission  Avith  the  warmest  expres- 
sions of  respect  and  gratitude.  He  immediately  erected  his 
standard  before  his  own  house,  appeared  in  a  military  dress, 
and  assumed  all  the  marks  of  his  new  dignity.  Ills  utmost 
influence  and  activity  were  exerted  in  persuading  his  friends 
to  engage  in  the  service,  and  in  urging  forward  the  pr(q)a 
rations  for  the  voyage.  All  his  own  funds,  together  with 
what  money  he  could  raise  by  mortgaging  his  lands  and 
Indians.  Av^re  expended  in  lonrchasing  military  stores  and 
provisions,  or  in  supplying  the  Avants  of  such  of  his  officers 
as  Avere  unable  to  equij)  themselves  in  a  manner  suited  to 
their  rank. 

Inoffensive  and  e\'en  praiseAvorthy  as  this  conduct  Avas,  the 
disappointed  competitors  of  Cortes  Avere  malicious  enough 
to  give  it  a  turn  to  his  disad\  :ietage  They  represented  him 
as  ali-eadv  aiming— even  with  little  disguise — at  establishing 
an  independent  authority  over  his  tr()0])s,  and  endeavoring 
to  secure  their  respect  or  love  by  his  showy  and  interested 
liberality  They  reminded  Velasquez  of  his  former  dissen- 
sions with  the  man  in  Avhom  he  now  re]H)sed  so  much  con- 
fidence and  foretold  that  Cortes  Avould  be  nKjre  apt  to  avail 
himself  of  the  poAver  Avhich  the  Governor  AA-as  inconsider- 
ately i^utting  in  his  hands,  to  avenge  past  injuries,  than  to 


'  Iimii  dc  Clrljnlvn,  a  SpiiniHh  nnvigntor  sent  out  bj'  tho  Qovornnr  or  Cuba,  rllfcovnvd  Mexico 
In  Ilif  spr'.iiir  of  IMB  Hiniiil  Din/,  .ind  TiMlro  do  Alvanulo— two  iiunica  well  known  in  ourljr 
Aun'ricim  history— weru  iu  WxU  cxpuUitiou. 


i>40 


nEliNA2sD0  C0RT£S 


repay  recent  obligations.  Such  insinuations  did  not  fail  *o 
impress  the  suspicious  mind  of  A^elascxuez. 

It  is  said  an  accidental  circumstance  likewise  added  to 
these  suspicions.  One  day  Cortes  and  the  Governor  were 
taking-  tlieir  niorninij;  walk  together  towards  the  port,  A 
crack-brained  jester  called  out:  "Have  a  care,  Master  Ve- 
lasquez, or  we  shall  have  to  go  a-hunting,  some  day  or  other, 
after  this  same  Captain  of  ours!  " 

"Do  you  hear  Avhat  the  rogue  saysf'  exclaimed  the  Gov- 
ernor to  his  companion. 

"Do  no;;  heed  him,"  remarked  Cortes.  "He  is  a  saucy 
knave,  and  deserves  a  good  whipping."  But  Velasquez  was 
far  from  forgetting  the  fool's  warning.  Ills  distrust  of  Cor- 
tes grew  day  by  day,  and  friends  in  power  advised  the 
young  Conunander  to  hasten  his  departure.  On  this  occa- 
sion he  showed  the  same  prompt  decision  which  more  than 
once  afterwards,  in  x>ei'ils  and  adventures,  gave  the  direc- 
tion to  his  destiny. 

The  Governor's  instructions  for  the  conduct  of  the  exjiedi- 
ticm  deserve  a  word  oi-  two  here.  They  were  drawn  u})  with 
wisdom.  Cortes  was  iirst  to  lind  Grijalva.'  He  was  then  to 
release  six  Christians  said  to  be  in  captivity  in  Yii'^atan. 
Trade  with  the  natives  w-as  another  great  object  of  the  ex- 
pedition. This  w^as  to  be  done  with  care  and  kindness,  for 
Cortes  was  to  l)earinmind  that  tlu;  conversion  of  the  In- 
dians was  a  matter  of  tile  highest  impoi'tancts  lie  was  to 
make  an  accurate  survey  of  the  coast  for  the  benefit  (»f  fu- 
ture naviuators.  lie  was  to  familiarize  himself  with  the 
country,  its  jieople,  and  its  institutions;  and,  iinally,  he  was 
to  \\x\<.e.  Uie  most  careful  cure  to  oniit  nothing  tliat  niiglit 
redound  to  the  ghny  of  God.  and  the  honor  of  his  sover- 
ereigns.  Thus  religion,  science,  and  c(mimerc(i  were  each  to 
receive  due  attenti(>n.  By  this  connnission  Cortes  was  rec- 
ogm'/ed  as  Cai)taiu  (reneivd  of  tlu;  expedition." 

Our  hero  urged  forwai'd  the  preparations  with  such  ra- 
ludity  that  he  set  sail  from  St.  Jago  on  the  18th  of  Novem- 

1  Ori.iMlvn  \\m\  not  yd  rctiinifil  frniii  the  voyuijc  in  which  lie  disi'Dvcii'il  Mixico, 
''  Prescott. 


UERNANDO  CORTGS. 


241 


ber.  Velasquez  accompanied  him  to  the  shore,  and  took 
leave  with  an  appearance,  it  is  said,  of  perfect  confidence  and 
friendship.  He  liad  secretly,  however,  charged  some  of  the 
officers  of  the  armament  to  keep  a  watchful  eye  on  the  con- 
duct of  their  Commander.' 

Cortes  proceeded  to  Trinidad,  a  small  settlement  on  the 
same  side  of  the  island,  where  he  was  joined  by  several  ad- 
venturers, and  received  a  sujjply  of  provisions  and  military 
stores,  of  which  his  stock  Avas  still  very  incomplete.  He 
had  hardly  left  St.  Jago,  however,  when  the  jealousy  which 
had  been  working  in  the  breast  of  the  Governor  grew  so 
violent  that  to  suppress  it  any  longer  was  impossible.  Sus- 
l)icion,  Avith  fresh  vigor,  aroused  his  diseased  imagination. 
Tlie  rivals  of  Cortes  did  not  fail  to  increase  his  feai's.  All 
these  influences  produced  the  desired  effect.  "W^asquez  now 
bitterly  repented  of  his  own  inqu'udence  in  having  com- 
mitted a  trust  of  such  vast  importance  to  tlie  future  Con- 
queror of  Mexico.  In  sliort,  lie  liastily  dls[)atched  orders  to 
the  chief  magistrate  at  Trinidad. to  arrest  Cortes  and  deprive 
him  of  his  commission.  For  various  reasons  dictated  by 
jivudence  the  magistrate  dlsivgarded  these  instructions,  and 
the  armament  was  perndtted  to  depart  from  Trinidad  with- 
out molestation. 

From  Trinidad -Cortes  sailed  for  Havana,  in  order  to  raise 
more  soldiers,  and  to  complete  the  victualing  of  his  heet. 
There  several  pers<ms  of  distinction  joined  the  exi)edltion, 
and  engaged  to  supply  what  provisions  were  still  wanting. 
Jiut  to  accomplish  this,  time  Avas  necessary.  Velasquez  felt 
that  he  ought  no  longer  to  rely  upon  a  man  Avhom  he  had  so 
()l)enly  mistrusted,  and  availed  himself  of  the  unavoidable 
delay,  to  make  one, more  attempt  to  Avrest  the  c(»mnunid  out 
of  tin;  hand  of  Cortes.' 


'  Las  CiwaH.wliom  I'lTsi'oK  follows,  yivos  a  dllTiTMif  version,  fork's,  in  liis  Iiiirry,  luiidc  prtpa- 
rilidiis  to  sail  al,  duvvii  of  tlay.  Wlini  ilu"  (lovcnior  licard  lliat  the  llcci  wasalmiit  to  diiKirt.  lio 
li  i-tily  };all()|ii'd  down  to  tlio  wharf.  Corlus  ciitiTi'd  an  armi'd  boat,  .Tiid  oainc  witliiii  HpraUiiis? 
ilisiiMicc.  "  Is  it  thus  that  you  ])art  from  nu'?"  rxolaimcd  tlic  aiiyry  A'ciiistiiU'Z.  "A  courtcoiis 
w:iy  of  lakini;  Icavi-,  trnlyl"  "I'ardim  mi',"'  said  ("orU's;  "time  iircsscs,  and  thcru  are  soma 
thing's  that  should  he  done  Ijeforc  they  arc  even  thoutrht  of.  lla.s  your  Kxeellency  any  com- 
tiiinid.'<?"  The  indignant  (iovernor  had  none,  and  Cortec  giivo  a  jiarting  udiee.  v, itli  a  polUu  wave 
uf  his  \\:\nX.—UUIuiy  of  (kt  (.hiiqiu'sf  <if  }U.ilco. 


242 


UERXANDO  C'ORTL'S. 


i 


He  dispatelied  a  trusty  officer  to  the  Lieutenant-Govonior 
at  Havana,  with  the  most  j^ositive  orders  instantly  to  seize 
Cortes,  and  to  send  him  a  prisoner  under  a  strong  guard  to 
St.  Jago.  The  sailing  of  the  tleet  was  also  to  be  counter- 
ninnded  until  further  orders.  13 ut  befo]'e  the  arrival  of  this 
messenger,  a  Franciscan  Father  of  St.  Jago  had  secretly 
conveyed  an  account  of  this  interesting  t«:ansaction  to  Father 
Bartholomew  de  Olniedo,  O,  S.  F.,  who  acted  as  chai>lain  to 
the  expedition. 

Forewarned  was  forearmed.  Cortes  had  time  to  take  pre- 
cautions i'ur  his  own  safety.  His  first  step  was  to  find  some 
i:)retext  lor  removing  from  Havana,  James  de  Oidaz,  an  oflicer 
of  great  merit,  but  in  whom,  on  account  of  his  known  attach- 
ment to  Velasquez,  he  could  not  place  confidence  in  this  tiy- 
ingand  delicate  juncture.  He,  therefore,  gave  him  the  com- 
mand of  a  vessel,  destined  to  take  on  l)oard  some  provisions 
to  a  small  harbcn-  beyond  Cape  Antonio;  and  thus  made 
secure  of  his  absence,  without  seeming  to  suspect  his 
fidelity. 

AVheJi  Ordaz  was  gone,  Cortes  no  longer  concealed  from 
his  troops  the  designs  of  Velasquez.  The  officers  and  sol- 
diers were  equally  imi)atient  to  set  out  on  an  expedition,  in 
preparing  for  which  most  of  them  had  expended  all  their 
fortunes;  and,  od.  hearing  such  news,  they  expressed  their 
astonishment  and  indignation  at  that  illiberal  jealousy,  to 
Avhich  the  Governor  was  about  to  sacrifice,  not  only  the 
lionor  of  their  General,  but  their  own  ardent  hoi)es  of  glory 
and  wealth. 

With  one  voice  tliey  entreated  their  Commander  not  to 
abandon  tht?  im])oi'tant  station  to  which  he  had  such  a  good 
title.  They  wai'udy  conjured  him  not  ro  deprive  them  of  a 
leader  w]u)iu  they  followed  with  such  unbounded  conli- 
dence,  and  offered  to  shed  the  last  drop  of  their  blocd  in 
maintaining  his  authority.  Cortes  Avas  easily  induced  to 
comply  witli  what  he  himself  so  ardently  desired.  He  de- 
clared with  dee])  solemnity  that  he  would  never  desert  sol- 
diers who  had  given  him  siudi  a  signal  proof  of  their  attach- 
ment, and  promised  at  once  to  conduct  them  to  that  rich 


■'m 


nERNAKDO  CORTJslS. 


243 


ronni' 5'  wliich  hud  been  so  long  tlie  objecf  of  their  thonghts. 
This  decl:iratiou  was  received  with  wild  appkiuse. 

Evcrytliiiig  was  now  ready  l"or  the  departure.  But  al- 
though this  expedition  was  fitted  out  by  the  united  eiforts 
CI  the  Spanish  power  in  Cuba;  though  every  settlement  liad 
conti'ibuted  its  quota  of  men  and  provisions;  though  Cortes 
had  laid  out  considerable  sums,  and  each  adventurer  had  ex- 
hausted his  stock  or  strained  his  credit,  the  i)()verty  of  the 
lu'epai'i'tions  was  such  as  must  astonish  the  present  age,  con- 
sidering the  vast  object  in  view.  It  was  an  armament  des- 
tined for  the  conquest  of  a  great  empire. 

The  fleet  consisted  of  eleven  vessels.  The  largest  carried 
about  one  hundred  tons,  and  was  dignified  with  the  name  of 
TJie  Admiral.  Three  were  of  seventy  or  eighty  tons,  and 
tli(^  rest  were  small  op3n  barks.  On  board  of  these  were  six 
hundred  and  seventeen  men,  of  which  five  hundred  and 
eight  belonged  to  the  laud  service,  and  one  hundred  and  nine 
were  mariners.  According  to  the  number  of  ships,  the  sol- 
diers Avere  divided  into  eleven  companies.  To  each  ship 
Cortes  appointed  a  captain,  and  charged  him  with  the  com- 
mand of  the  vessel  while  at  sea,  and  of  the  men  when  on 
shore. 

As  the  use  of  fire-arms  among  the  nations  of  Europe  was 
hitherto  confined  to  a  few  battalions  of  regularly  disciplined 
infantry,  only  thirteen  soldiers  were  armed  Avith  muskets, 
tliirty-two  Avere  cross-boAA'men,  and  the  rest  had  SAVords  and 
spears.  Instead  of  the  usual  defensive  armor — Avhich  Avould 
have  been  too  cumbersome  in  a  very  hot  climate— the  sol- 
diers Avore  jackets  quilted  AA'itli  cotton.  Experience  had 
proved  that  this  Avas  a  sufficient  protection  against  the 
Avcapons  of  the  Indians. 

'j'he  principal  standard  AA'as  of  black  velvet,  embroidei'ed 
Avirh  gold,  and  emblazoned  with  a  red  cross,  amid  flames  of 
Avliite  and  blue,  Avith  this  motto  in  Latin  beneath:  ^'Friends, 
I'l  lis  foUom  the  Cross;  and  under  this  sign,  if  we  liam 
failJi.,  ice  slinll  conquer.'''' ' 

Cortes  at  this  time,  Avrites  the  classic  Prescott,  Avas  thii-ty- 


'  I'rescott. 


244 


UEIiXAyDO  CORlfiS. 


ii ' 


tliree,  or  perhaps  thirty-four  years  of  age.  In  statures  he  was 
nitlier  above  the  middle  si/e.  Ilis  coni[)lexion  was  pale; 
and  his  large  dark  eye  gave  an  expression  of  gravity  to  his 
countenance,  not  to  have  been  expected  in  his  cheerful  tein 
l)erainent.  Ilis  figure  was  slender,  at  least  until  later  in  life, 
but  his  chest  was  deep,  his  shoulders  broad,  his  frame  nuis- 
cular  and  Avell-proportion(^d.  It  j^resented  the  union  of 
agility  and  vigor  which  qualified  him  to  excel  in  fencnig, 
liorsemanship,  and  the  other  generous  exercises  of  chivalry. 

In  his  diet  he  was  temperate,  careless  of  what  he  ate,  and 
drinking  little ;  while  to  toil  and  privation  he  seemed  per- 
fectly indiiferent.  His  dress — for  he  did  not  disdain  the 
impression  produced  by  such  adventitious  aids — was  such 
as  to  set  off  his  handsome  person  to  advantage;  neither 
gaudy  nor  striking,  but  rich.  lie  wore  few  ornaments,  and 
usually  the  same ;  but  those  were  of  great  price. 
#  His  manners,  frank  and  soldier-like,  concealed  a  most  cool 
and  calculating  spirit.  With  his  gayest  humor  there  min- 
gled a  settled  air  of  resolution,  which  made  those  who 
approached  him  feel  they  must  obe\',  and  which  infused 
something  like  awe  into  the  attachment  gf  his  most  devoted 
followers.  Such  a  combination,  in  which  love  was  tempered 
by  authority,  was  the  one  probably  best  calculated  to  inspire 
devotion  in  the  rough  and  turbulent  spirits  among  whom  his 
lot  was  to  be  cast.' 

His  address  to  his  soldiers  before  departing  was  character- 
istic. "  I  hold  out  to  you  a  glorious  prize,"  said  the  intrepid 
General,  "but  it  is  to  bo  won  by  incessant  toil.  Great  things 
are  achieved  only  by  great  exertions,  and  glory  was  never 
the  reward  of  sloth.  .  .  You  are  few  in  number,  but  strong 
in  resolution ;  and,  if  this  does  not  falter,  doubt  not  but  that 
the  Almighty,  who  has  never  deserted  the  Spaniard,  in  his 
contest  with  the  Infidel,  will  shield  you,  though  encompassed 
by  a  cloud  of  eneiuies  ;  for  your  cause  is  n  just  caune,  and 
vou  are  to  iight  under  the  banner  of  the  Cross.  Go  f<n'ward, 
then,  with  alacrity  and  coniidence,  and  cany  to  a  glorious 
issue  the  work  so  auspiciouslj^  begun." 


1  "HiBWry  of  the  Coiuiueut  of  Jlusico." 


HERNANDO  CORTES.  •^^i:^ 

Holy  Mass  was  then  celebrated  with  great  solemnity,  and 
the  fleet  placed  under  the  special  protection  of  the  Apostle 
St.  Peter,  the  patron  saint  of  Cortes.'  All  was  now  iu  readi- 
ness, and  on  the  18th  of  February,  1019,  the  armament 
sailed  for  the  coast  of  Yucatan. 


I  Two  priests,  Fatlicf  a  John  Oltiz  and  Btirtlialumtiw  de  OimeUo,  uccompauled  tlio  expcditloo. 


Sf^^BTW^K^^v- 


CHAPTER  II. 

BEGINNING  OF  THE  ROAD  THAT  LKD  TO  AN  UNKNOWN  EMI'IUE. 

Mecleems  a  Jtolt/  and  UHcfiil  captive — A  rude  reception— 
Tin'  firnt  battJe  loilli  the  Indians — The  second — Plant- 
in(j  the  Faith — Palm  Sunda//  in  a  loild  land — Aira;/ 
for  Mexico — New  tu'sitors  and  methods  of  interpretations 
— Bona  Marina — MoiUezuma,  the  Mexican  Emperor— 
An.  irdenneiD  and  its  results — Indian  painters — xislon- 
ishnient  of  tlie  Mexicans. 

As  Cortes  determined  to  touch  at  every  place  which  Gri- 
Jnlva  liad  visited,  he  steered  directly  towards  the  island  of 
Coznmel.'  Here  he  treated  the  natives  witli  great  kindness; 
and  had  the  good  fortune  to  redeem  Jerome  de  Agnilar,  a 
Spanish  ecclesiastic,  who  had  been  eight  yeai's  a  i)ris()nt'r 
amor-g  the  Indians.  Agnilar  was  perfectly  acquainted  wuli 
several  of  the  Indinn  dialects,  and  was  a  man  oi  i)rudeiii'e 
and  tried  virtue,  lie  proved  extremely  useful  as  an  inter- 
preter. 

Leaving  Cozumel,  Cortes  doubled  Cape  Catoche,  swept 
down  the  broad  Bay  of  Ciimpenchy,  and  cast  anchor  at  tiie 
mouth  of  the  Tabasco.  A  sand-bar  left  the  water  shallow  at 
the  entrance  to  the  river.  IMangrove  trees  studded  the 
banks,  and  many  an  Indiau  cast  susjucious  glances  from 
among  this  matted  forest  at  the  Si^anish  squadron. 

Cortes,  thi'ough  his  interpreter,  asked  permission  to  dis- 
embnrk;  but  he  was  answered  with  angry  gestures  and 
sliouts  of  defiance.  He  landed  liis  troops,  however,  and 
assured  the  natives  that  all  he  wished  was  a  f':'ee  passage  for 
his  men.  He  de.-ired.  he  said,  to  be  on  friendly  terms  ;  if  it 
came  to  bloodshed,  the  sin  would  rest  on  their  own  heads. 


'  A  email  island  off  the  eastern  coast  of  Yucatan 


246 


iiEiiyAyDO  cobt£'s. 


2i7 


Tlie  SD'  ^I'/es  raised  a  fierce  war-cry,  and  a  shower  of  arrows 
IV^Il  ov.  '-?.'.'^  Spaniards. 

Til '  /Vidians  wore  numerous,  and  foiiglit  witli  desi)eration. 
At  (irviT,  it  was  a  liaud-lu-liand  struggle  on  the  sh'ppeiy 
barJi'i  (..C  the  stream.  Cortes  led  the  attack  in  person,  and 
b^-:)e<Uli  his  iron  blows  sank  many  a  dusky  warrior.  He  at- 
tracted such  attention  that  the  savages  were  heard  to  call 
out  to  one  another:  ''  Strike  at  the  chief !"  AVlien  at 
length  the  higher  ground  was  fairly  gained,  the  troojjs  fell 
into  order,  and  opened  lire  on  the  wild  men,  who  retreated 
in  dismay  to  the  town  ot  Tabasco,  It  was  soon  taken  by 
the  Spaniards. 

The  whole  country  was  now  in  arms.  And  thus,  at  the 
very  beginning,  Cortes  found  himself  entangled  in  an  un- 
])i"otitable  conflict  with  overwhelming  foes.  Thei'c  was  no 
alternative,  however,  but  to  tight,  or  beat  a  hasty  and  in- 
gi(.)rious  retreat.  But  the  Conqueror  of  JMexico  never 
turn  I'd  his  back  on  the  foe,  and  he  only  waited  for  the  mor- 
row !()  say,  "Forward!"  It  was  the  25th  of  March,  the  Festi- 
val of  the  Annunciation,  loli).  The  sun  rose  on  the  little 
arn'ty  as  it  devoutly  heard  Mass,  and  then  sallied  forth  for 
the  battle-field. 

On  the  broad  plains  of  Ceutla  about  40,000  Indians  were 
drawn  up  in  hostile  array.  They  had  chosen  a  good  i)Osi- 
tion.  As  the  weary  Spaniards  marched  slowly  in  sight  over 
tlu3  swampy  ground  that  separated  the  combatants,  a  wild 
yi'U  broke  from  the  dusky  lines,  and  the  work  ot  death  and 
carnage  began.  The  guns  made  terrible  havoc  in  the  dense 
colunms  of  the  Tabascans ;  but  regardless  of  danger,  the 
countless  multitude  of  barbarians  pressed  the  troops  on  every 
side.  All  at  once,  the  rear  of  the  savages  appeared  to  be 
thrown  into  disorder.  It  was  not  long,  writes  the  American 
historian  of  the  Conquest,  before  the  ears  of  the  Christians 
were  saluted  with  the  cheering  war-cry  of  "San  Jago  and 
San  Pedro  ! "  and  they  beheld  the  bright  helmets  and  swords 
of  the  Castilian  chivalry  flashing  back  the  rays  of  the  moi-n- 
ing  sun,  as  they  dashed  through  the  ranks  of  the  enemy, 
striking  to  the  right  and  left,  and  scattering  dismay  around 


248 


jih'nxAxito  courts. 


tlif'm.  Tlio  oye  of  fnitli,  iiidt'cd,  could  discern  tho  Patroi) 
Siiiut  of  Si)aiii'  lilinsfll',  luoimrcd  oii  liis  ^i-ay  war  lioisc, 
Jeadiiig  the  rescue  uud  traiiipliu<^  over  the  bodies)  oi  ilie 
fallen  iiilidcls.' 

Thus  (Jortes  and  liis  liftle  band  of  cavaliy  clianucd   thn 
tide  of    battle.     The   rout   of   the   Indians   wns   coiupieie. 
The  loss  which  they  sustained,  and  still  more  th<»  asionisli 
ment  and  temn-  excited  by  the  destiiu  tive  ellect  ot  the  liie 
arms,  and  the  dreadful  appearance  ol  x\w  horses,   lunnbied 
their  lierce  spirits,  and  induced  them  to  sue  lor  peace      In 
fshort,  the  chiefs  and  warriors  of  Tabasco  arknowledncd  the 
Kin^^  of  Castile  us  their  Soverei^^n.and  granted  Cortes  ji  sup 
ply  of  pi'ovisions,  with  ti  present  ol  cotton  garments,  some 
gold,  and  twenty  female  slaves. 

Nor  did  the  Spanish  Commander  forget  that  tho  spread  of 
the  Catholic  faith  was  one  of  the  tii'st  objects  of  the  expedi- 
tion. The  venerable  Father  Olmedo  and  his  companion, 
Father  Biaz,  did  what  they  could  to  enlighten  the  crude 
intellects  of  the  Tabuscans.  The  Gosjiel  was  i)reached,  i)a- 
ganism  denonnced,  and  the  holy  seed,  it  a]>peai's,  fell  on 
good  ground.  In  a  body  the  Indians  embraced  tin;  faith. 
The  beautiful  ceremonial  of  the  day  following  this  joyous 
event  is  thus  pictured  by  the  graphic  pen  of  a  Protestant 
historian :  The  next  day  was  Palm  Sunday.  ...  A  solemn 
procession  Avas  formed  of  the  whole  army,  with  the  ecclesi- 
astics at  their  head,  each  soldier  bearing  a  palm  l)ranch  in 


Lis  hand.     The 
dians  of  both 


concourse  was  swelled  by  thousands  of  In- 
sexes,  who  followed  in  curious  astonishment 


i  !■!  i 


|!r:H  ^ 


'  St.  James. 

"  "  nistnry  of  tho  Conquest  ot  Mexico." 

Conccriiiiii;  this  l)ritt1(',  Rcniiil  Duv/.,  the  brave  eolclier-historian  of  the  conquest,  writes;  "x 
ai'kno\vl('ili.'e  tliat  aW  our  exploits  and  victories  are  owiiit;  to  oiir  I,oril  Jesus  Christ,  and  that  in 
tills  liiiltle  there  was  siiih  a  niinihi'r  of  Indians  to  every  one  of  us  fliat,  it  each  had  thrown  a 
liandful  of  earlli.  they  nil;,'ht  liave  hurled  ns,  it  by  the  t;reat  mercy  of  (iod  we  had  not  lieen  pro- 
tected. It  may  he  tliat  the  person  whom  Ooinara  mentions  as  haviii!,'  appeared  on  a  mottled  ^'ray 
horse  was  the  j;lorious  Stcnrtr  St.  .Tames,  or  Sifjnor  St.  Peter,  and  that  I,  heini;  a  sinner,  was  not 
worlliy  to  see  him.  This  I  know,  that  I  saw  Francis  de  Morala  on  sncli  a  liorse,  but  as  an  un- 
worthy transgressor,  I  did  not  deserve  to  see  any  of  tln^  holy  .\i)ostles.  It  may  have  Ijeeii  the  will 
flf  God  that  it  was  so,  as  Oonwra  relates,  but  until  I  read  his  chronicle,  I  never  heard  among  unjr 
•f  the  conquerors  that  such  a  thing  had  happened." 


•  The  Indians  had  never  seen  horses  before. 


nr:nx.\XDo  cortEs. 


240 


nt  till'  sp  'clacle.  Tile  long  files  bent  tlieir  Avny  thvoush  the 
llowi'iy  snviiiina.s  that  borilered  tlie  settlement,  to  the  prin- 
cipal teiiiple,  where  an  nltiir  v^'as  raised,  ami  the  image  of 
I  he  ])i<'si(litig  <leity  was  de])()sed  to  make  rooni  I'oi'  that  of 
llie  Nirgia  wilh  the  Infant  Saviour.  Mass  was  celebrated 
by  l'\ithi'rOhnedo,  and  the  soldiers  who  were  capable  joined  in 
tlie  solemn  chant.  Tlie  natives  listened  in  profound  silence, 
ami,  if  we  may  bnljeve  the  chronicler  of  the  event,  wiio  wit- 
nessed it.  w(ti'e  melted  into  tears;  while  their  hearts  were 
p(>net rated  with  reverential  awe  for  the  Ood  of  thosi^  terri- 
ble beings  who  seemed  to  wield  in  their  own  liands  the 
thunder  and  the  lightning.' 

AVhen  thesi>  solemnities  were  concluded,  Cortes  and  liis 
force  reeml)arketl,  and  continued  their  course  towards  the 
g()l(l(Mi  laud  of  Mexico.  The  island  of  San  Juan  de  LMloa, 
on  tlie  coast,  was  soon  reatihed.  As  the  fleet  entered  this 
harbor,  a.  large  canoe  full  of  people,  among  whom  were  two 
wlio  seemi'd  to  be  persons  of  distinction,  approached  the 
CoMunan  ler's  ship  with  signs  of  pea(!o  and  friendship. 

They  came  on  l)oard  without  fear  or  distrust,  and  ad- 
dressed him  in  a  most  respectful  manner,  but  in  a  language 
altogether  uidvuown  to  Aguilar.  Cortes  was  in  the  utmost 
]ierplexity.  The  great  schemes  which  he  meditated  could 
never  be  accomi)lislied  if  he  had  to  depend  on  s)ich  an  im- 
pei'fect  mode  of  communication  as  the  use  of  signs.  But 
lie  did  not  remain  hjng  in  this  embarrassing  situation.  A 
fortunate  accident  extricated  him,  when  his  own  sagacity 
could  have  contributed  but  little  towards  his  relief. 

One  of  the  female  slaves  whom  he  had  received  from  the 
chief  of  '['abasco  happened  to  be  present  at  the  first  inter- 
view between  Cortes  and  his  new  guests.  She  perceived  his 
distress,  as  well  as  the  confusion  of  Aguilar;  and  as  she  per- 
fectly understood  the  Mexican  language,  sIk;  explained  what 
they  had  said  in  the  Yucatan  tongue,  with  which  Aguilar 
was  acquainted. 

This  Avoman — known  afterwards  by  the  name  of  DoJla 
Marina — Avas  born  in  one  of  the  provinces  of  the  Mexican 


'  Prcscott, 


Hi  I 


I  il 


!9    *: 


i 

[IB  I 


tr 


250 


HERNANDO  CORTES. 


empire.  She  makes  quite  a  conspicuous  figure  in  tlie  eaily 
histoi'y  of  the  New  Wovh'.  Hiiving  been  sokl  as  a  slave  in 
her  youtli,  after  a  variety  of  adventures,  .she  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  Tabascans,  and  had  resided  long  enough  among 
them  to  acquire  their  language,  without  losing  the  use  of 
her  own.  Though  it  Avas  both  tedious  and  troublesome  to 
converse  by  the  intervention  of  two  dill'erent  interpi'et<n's, 
Cortes  was  highly  pleased  with  having  discovered  this 
method  of  carrying  on  some  intercourse  with  the  peojile  of 
a  country  into  which  he  vas  determined  to  penetrate.  He 
considered  it  a  visible  manifestation  of  Providence  in  his 
favor.' 

The  Spanish  Commander  now  learned  tliat  the  two  per- 
sons whom  he  had  received  on  board  his  ships  were  depu- 
ties sent  by  a  great  monarch  named  2[(>iitt'2unia.''  They 
were  requested  to  inquire  what  his  intentions  were  in  visit- 
ing their  coast;  and  to  offer  him  any  assistance  he  might 
meed  in  order  to  continue  his  voyage.  Cortes  was  struck 
with  the  appearance  of  these  officers,  as  M'ell  as  the  tenor  of 
their  message.  lie  assured  them  that  he  approached  their 
country  with  the  most  friendly  sentiments,  and  canu^  toiiro- 
pose  matters  of  great  importance  to  the  welfare  of  their 
prince  and  his  kingdom. 

!N"ext  morning,  without  waiting  for  any  answer,  he  landed 
the  troops,  horses,  and  artillery;  and  having  chosen  proper 
ground,  began  to  erect  huts  for  his  men  and  to  fortify  his 
camp.'  The  natives,  with  kindly  interest,  lent  all  the  assist- 
ance in  their  power. 

On  Easter  Sunday  one  of  the  deputies— the  cacique  of  the 
Mexican  province  in  which  the  Spaniards  were  then  making 

■  At.  fir-'f.  Ilii'  process  of  iiiterprotatidii  wi'iit  ir.  Iliis  \v;iy:  CorlOs  Kpnk.'  to  I'.itlu'i-  A;.'nil;ir  m 
Spnnisli:  lie  fran.-l.-iti'd  it  inln  YncMiiiiu'si':  iiml  llicii  Donii  >tnrini)  rciidciTd  it  iiilo  Mcxiran. 
After  ji  lifllc  time.  tl)e  lieniitlfiil  Diiila  Muriiiii  le:inie(l  Sp.inisli;  and  tlien  the  services  of  Au'iniar 
Wen'  dispensed  ui!li.  If  n  medal  Mad  lieen  struck  loeominemorale  the  jrreal  deeds  of  t'ories,  ii-.e 
he::d  of  noilu  Marina  slienid  liave  lieen  asHociate(l  witli  lliat  of  Cortc-.s  on  llie  face  of  tlie  medal; 
for,  \\  itliont  her  aid,  his  cinKpiest.  of  Mexico  would  i.ever  have  l)ten  accomplisiu'd.— //t/^w. 

2  According  to  Las  Casas,  Montezuma  sifjnifled  "  »ftd  or  80vere  man." 

'  This  WHS  on  Good  Pridn.v,  .April  Slst.  On  the  same  spot  now  stands  the  modern  city  of  Y^ra 
Oniz.  Little  did  the  Conqncror  Imagine  that  the  desolato  heach  on  whidi  he  llr.st  planted  liH 
foot  was  (me  day  to  ho  covereci  with  a  lloiirishincr  cit.v— the  grciu  mart  of  European  and  Oriental 
trade,  the  commcrclul  capital  of  New  Spain.— i"Ci.»w<<, 


CI  I J 


UERNANDO  CORTtZ. 


201 


rheir  stay — visited  Cortes,  His  name  "was  Teulitli](^.  lie 
catiui  with  a  numerous  re*"inue,  auO.  Cortes  recei\ed  him  with 
much  ceremony.  Father  Olniedo  celebrated  Holy  Mass,  .i 
Avliich  the  Indian  olficial  and  his  attendants  were  present. 
'i'luMi  occurred  the  interview. 

The  Spanish  Comnuinder  stated  tlie  object  of  his  visit, 
rie  was  the  subject,  lie  said,  of  a  x)owerful  nu>narch  beyond 
the  S!>as,  who  ruled  over  an  immense  em])iie.  and  had  kiii,^'s 
iuid  i)rinces  for  his  vassals  ;  that — acquainted  with  the  great- 
ness of  the  Mexican  Emperor — his  master  had  desiied  'o 
enter  into  a  communication  with  him,  and  had  sent  him  as 
his  envoy  to  wait  on  Montezuma  witli  a  present  in  token 
of  Ills  good-will,  and  a  message  which  he  must  deliver  in 
person. 

"How  is  it,''  answered  the  dusky  noble,  "thnt  yon  have 
been  here  only  two  days,  and  demand  to  see  the  EmperorV" 
Assuming  a  more  courteous  air,  lie  then  added  that  he  wos 
surprised  to  hear  that  there  was  another  ruler  as  powerful 
ns  Montezuma,  but  that,  if  it  were  so,  he  had  no  doubt  his 
master  would  be  happy  to  communicate  with  him.  Ha 
v.D'ald  send  his  couriers  with  the  royal  gifts  brought  by 
Cortes,  and,  so  soon  as  he  had  learned  Montezuma's  will, 
weiild  communicate  it. 

The  gifts  for  the  Spanish  General  Avere  now  brought  for- 
v.'ard.  They  were  introduced  with  great  parade,  and  con- 
sisted of  ten  loads  of  tine  cotton  cloth,  sev(>ral  jnnntles  of 
exipiisite  feather-worlv,  and  a  basket  of  gold  and  silver  orna- 
in(Mits.  The  workmanship  was  as  curious  as  the  materials 
\\ei(j  rich.  All  these  Cortes  received  with  due  acknowl- 
eilgments,  and  then  gave  the  ^Mexican  chief  the  presents  for 
^[(intezuma. 

Dui'ing  this  interview  some  Indian  painters  had  b(>en  dili- 
gently employed  in  drawing  upon  wliiie  cotton  cloth  iigures 
of  the  ships,  horses,  aitillery,  soldiers,  and  whatever  else 
attracted  their  attention.  "When  Cortes  observed  this,  and 
was  informed  that  these  juctures  were  to  be  sent  to  Monte- 
zuma, in  order  to  convey  to  him  a  more  lively  idea  of  the 
strange  and  wonderful  objects  now  presented  to  their  view, 


111  1 


n 


■AirttAh 


mim^' 


252 


UERNANDO  CORTM 


llian  any  ^'ords  could  cominunicate,  he  resolved  to  render 
llic  I'cpresenfution  still  more  animated  and  in  teres  tin;j;.  lie 
determined  to  exhibit  sueli  a  spectacle  as  would  most  likely 
give  both  them  and  their  haughty  monarch  an  awl'ul  impres- 
sion of  the  extraordinary  prowess  of  the  Spaniards,  and  the 
iiivsistihie  force  of  their  arms. 

By  his  order,  the  trumpets  sounded  an  alarm,  In  a  mo- 
ment, the  troops  formed  in  order  of  battle.  'IMie  iirfantiy 
went  through  such  martial  exercises  as  were  best  suited  to 
dis])]ay  the  elfect  of  their  different  weapons.  In  vaiions 
evolutions,  the  horse  gave  a  specimen  of  their  agility  and 
strength.  The  artillery  was  pointed  towia'ds  the  thick 
woods  whi(^h  surrounded  the  camp,  tlie  cannon  were  tired 
off,  and  great  was  the  havoc  which  the  balls  made  among  tlie 
trees. 

Tlie  Ab^xicans  looked  on  in  silent  amazement.  To  them 
the  sight  was  strange  and  awful.  But  at  the  explosion  of 
the  cannon  many  of  them  fled,  some  fell  to  the  ground,  and 
all  were  confounded  at  the  skill  of  men  whose  power  so 
nearly  I'esembled  that  of  the  gods.  In  truth,  ('ortv's  found  it 
(lilficult  to  coniiK)se  and  reassure  the  dusky  multitude.  Tlie 
])ainterfl  had  now  many  new  objects  on  which  to  exercise 
their  art,  and  they  put  their  fancy  on  the  stretch  to  invent 
ligures  an<l  synd)ols  to  represent  the  extraordinary  things 
which  they  hud  seen. 


m  ''■ : 


CHAPTER  III. 

CORTES   OUTWITS    MONTEZUMA. 

The  Spanish  Gciiernl  and  the  Mexican  ofTicials — Great 
presents  to  Cortes  — The  loishes  of  Montezuma — De- 
mand of  Cortes— His  firmness— His  hopes. 

Mc-u'ngers  ■wore  at  once  dispatclKvl  to  Monteziuiui  with 
the  pictures,  and  a  full  acooiiut  of  eveiything'  that  liad 
p;is,>;pd  sineo  the  aiTivnl  of  th(^  Spaniards.  Ey  these  also 
Cortes  seJit  his  presents  to  the  Emperor. 

'i'he  .Mexican  nionanilis,  in  order  to  obtain  early  infoi-nia- 
lion  in  relathju  to  every  corner  of  their  extensive  doniiu- 
iDUs,  had  iutrodu(;ed  a  singular  retinenient  in  police.  Tliey 
had  couru'i's  posted  at  proper  stations  along  the  ])rincipal 
roads;  and  as  these  were  trained  to  swiftness  l)y  a  regular 
('(lucation,  and  relieved  one  another  at  moderate  distances, 
tlicy  conveyed  intelligence  with  remarkable  rayiidity. 

Though  the  capital  in  which  Montezuma  resided  was  over 
one  hundred  and  euA'lity  miles  from  San  Juan  d(^  riloa,  the 
gifts  of  the  S[)anish  Ueneral  w(^re  carri«^d  tltither,  and  an 
answer  to  his  demands  received  in  a  few  days. 

The  same  ofliccrs  who  had  hitlu'ito  treated  with  the  Span- 
iards were  employed  to  deliver  this  answer.  But  t](**yknew 
well  how  repugnant  would  be  the  dctfu'iriinatioii  of  their 
master  to  the  wislies  of  Cortes.  Aceordinuly,  they  did  not 
hastily  venture  to  make  it  knov.n.  They  1irst tried  to  soothe 
and  mollify  the  Spanish  Uenei;d.  l''oi'  this  ])ur]>ose,  they 
renewe(l  their  neii-otiatioii  by  intiotbiciiiu' a  traiii  of  onehiiii- 
dreil  Indians,  loaded  with  pn^sents  sent  to  him  by  .Mon- 
tezuma. 

The  magnificence  of  these  Avas  such  as  became  a  great 
monarch.     They  were  jihiced  on  mats  spread  on  the  ground, 

2m 


2oi 


HERNANDO  CORTES. 


in  such  order  as  showed  them  to  the  greatest  advantap:e. 
Corh'vs  and  his  officers  viewed  the  luaiiiifactures  of  the 
comirry  with  adniiratioti.  There  were  to  be  seen  cotton  stuffs 
so  iine  as  to  resemble  silk;  and  ])ictiii'es  of  trees,  animals, 
and  other  natural  objects,  I'ornu'd  witli  leathers  of  diffeient 
colors,  arranged  with  such  skill  and  elegance,  as  to  rival  the 
■works  of  the  pencil  in  truth  and  beauty  of  imitation.  But 
what  attracted  most  attention  wei'e  two  large  plates  of  a  cir- 
cular form.  One  was  of  massive  gold,  representing  the  sun; 
The  other  was  a  silver  emblem  of  the  moon.'  In  short,  that 
nothing  might  be  wanting  which  could  give  the  Spaniards  a 
?()mplete  idea  of  what  the  country  affoi'ded,  some  boxes 
lilied  witli  pearls,  jjrecious  stones,  and  grains  of  unwronght 
gohl,  were  among  the  gifts.  Cortes  received  all  these  wi-h 
expr(\ssions  of  gratitude  and  respect  for  the  powerful  mon- 
nrcli  by  whom  tliey  were  bestowed. 

The  Mexicans,  presuming  upon  the  good  effect  of  their 
piesents,  now  made  known  to  Cortes  the  wishes  of  their 
mastei".  Montezuma  requested  the  Spaniards  not.  to  ap- 
pi()a<'h  near  his  cai)ital;  but  to  return  to  their  own  country 
^vith  the  marks,  which  he  had  just  given,  of  his  friendship. 

The  Spanish  General  felt  much  annoyed  at  this  refusal. 
It  increased  his  resolute  purpose.  He  finnly  insisted  on  his 
first  demand,  stating  that  he  could  not  Avithout  dishonor 
return  to  his  own  country  until  he  was  admitted  into  the 
jiresence  of  the  monarch  wliom  he  was  appointed  to  visit  in 
111  (Mia  me  of  his  Sovereign.  The  Mexicans  were  astonished 
at  seeing  any  man  dare  to  oppose  that  will  which  they  Avere 
accust(uned  to  consider  as  supreme  and  irresistible.  Still, 
they  feared  to  hurry  the  nation  into  an  open  rupture  with 
8uch  foi'inidable  enemies,  and  prevailed  ui)on  Cortes  to  prom- 
ise tli;ir  he  would  not  move  from  his  present  camp,  until 
the  return  of  a  messenger  whom  they  sent  to  Montezuma 
I'oi-  furthei'  instructions. 

The   ci'itical  moment  had  now  arrived.     The  firmness  of 


'  AccDnliiiL'  tci  llio  olil  writers,  these  plates  were  "  ns  liirpre  as  earriasje-wlieels."'  The  one  rep- 
roseiiilnir  till'  smi  was  viilned  nt  'JO.llOn /(cww  Ui'  orn,  or  S-^'<.4<W.  A/xwo  lieoro  was  equal  togU.Ot. 
See  I'resoott,  "Ulstory  of  the  Coniiucst  of  Mexico,"  Vol.  I.  p.  SlU,  nolo. 


HERNANDO  CORTSIS. 


255 


Cortes  seemed  to  leave  the  Mexican  ruler  no  clioice.  He 
must  either  receive  the  Spaniard  with  confidence  as  a  friend, 
or  oppose  him  openly  as  an  ent'iny'.  The  answer  soon  came. 
It  was  the  same  as  before.  The  strangers  were  positively 
forbiddeji  to  advance  nearer  the  capital,  and  requested,  witli- 
out  delay,  to  return  to  their  own  country.  Such  a  linal 
message  was  r(K'eived  with  cold  C(  )iu  t<-'sy  l)y  the  Spanish 
Connuander.  "This  is,  indeed,  a  rieh  and  powerful  Prince," 
he  exclaimed  to  liis  ollicei's.  "Yet  it  shall  go  hard  if  we  do 
not  oue  day  pay  him  a  visit  in  his  capital  I"' 


'  Diirii),'  this  intorview  b.itwci'ii  CorliM  and  tlio  depiUit's  of  Montczuin;!,  l!io  l)cll  Hfruck  for 
Vi.'.-|)iTs.  At  tlie  sDiiml  lliM  soldier-'.  Uimwiii!^  tlii'inscivi's  on  their  kiii.'es,  ollered  up  tiv'-y  orisons 
bi'fore  tlie  lart,'e  wood.'ii  ero-s  i);:iiiti  il  In  the  sands.  As  the  A.'.te(^  ehiel's  (,'azed  «irli  ■ ,.,  uls  sur- 
prise. Cortes  Hion,'lit  it  a  favorable  occasion  to  impress  tliem  witii  wliiit  he  conceiv  'd  to  l)e  a 
principal  object  of  his  visit  to  the  country.  Father  Obnedo  accordinitly  fcxpounded,  as  br!<lly 
and  clearly  as  he  could,  the  great  doctrines  of  Christianity,  tonehinic  on  the  Atonement,  the 
Passion,  and  the  Uesurreclion,  and  conchidinfi  with  a;snrin^  his  astonisiied  audience  that  it  waj 
theii  intention  to  extirpate'  the  iiU)latrous  practiciis  of  the  nation,  anil  to  substitute  the  pure  wot- 
phip  of  the  true  (ioil.  He  then  \mX  into  their  liaiul-  a  litt!"  itut:,'i'  of  the  Viru'in  with  the  Infant 
Redeemer,  reiiuesting  tlieia  to  place  it  iu  their  tcuii)leb  iiisti"*'  of  their  i!an,;uiuury  duitins. — 
PrutioU, 


it 


CHAPTER  IV. 

GLAXCES  AT  THE  MEXICAN  EMPIRK  AXD  THE  SPANISH  CAMP. 

Extent  of  the  ^Lexk-au,  Empire — A  warlU'C  'people— TJie 
powerful  and  haiuj/it;/  Montezaina — Ifis  thnidttij  ui  <t 
grexd  crisis — A  slraiuje  tradition — Hopes  and  fears  of 
the  Spaniards — Great  changes — The  little  town.  <f  tlte 
True  Cross — A  strange  election — ^l  rebellion,  in  the 
caiirp — New  light  in  regard,  to  the  M<'xi('<in,  Empire- 
New  sulg'ects  J'or  Spain  —Destruction  of  thefict—The 
work  of  conxersion. 

Lot  us  ^'Inuce  at  the  Mexiro  Ol  tliat  dny  and  its  liauulity 
moiiarcli.  Tlie  empire  was  at  the  highest  pitcii  ol"  its  gnm- 
ilenr.  Its  rise  liad  been  Avonderi'ully  rapid.  TliDiigli  it  imd 
subsisted — arrordiiig  to  Mexican  traditions—oidy  one  hmi- 
di'ed  and  tliirty  years,  its  territories  stretched  owv  live 
luindr<>d  h'agues  IVom  east  to  west,  and  more  than  two 
liundi'cd  from  nortli  to  south. 

Tlic  ])eoi)le  were  warlike  and  enterprising.  The  revenue 
of  tlic  monarcli  was  considerable,  and  liis  authority  uii- 
bouiided.  Of  all  tlie  ])rinces  who  liad  sway.'d  the  Mexican 
scejjter,  ^Montezuma  was  the  most  haughty,  violent,  and 
impatient  of  control.  His  subjects  looked  np  to  him  with 
awe,  and  his  enemies  with  terror.  lie  governed  with  nnex- 
ampled  rigor,  but  his  ability  conunanded  respect.  By  f()i<'(> 
of  arms  he  liad  added  several  provinces  to  his  vast  domin- 
ions. V>nt  tht'  crucial  test  of  his  capacity  was  now  at  hand; 
and  it  [)roved  that  his  talents  to  gov(>rn  an  inijiolislied 
nation  were  not  eipial  ro  the  task  of  co])ing  witli  tlie  bokl 
and  brilliant  genius  of  Cortes, 

Fi'om  the  moment  the  Spaniards  api'-eared  on  his  coasts, 
Afonttvaima  dis])laye<l  symptoms  of  tin.idity  and  end)ai'rass- 
ment.  His  deliberations  were  marked  by  anxiety  and  hesi- 
200 


JIEliNASDO  counts. 


2.")7 


taticn.  Tliiy  state  ol"  mind  was  not  wholly  l)i'on,ii,lit  about 
by  the  novel  appeai'ance  of  the  strangers,  or  the  dread  of 
their  arms.  Its  origin  may  be  traced  to  a  more  remote 
source. 

According  to  the  early  Spanish  liistorians,  thei'o  was  a 
feeling,  a  tradition — almost  universal  among  the.  American. 
Indians — that  some  dreadl'ul  calanuty  was  impending  over 
their  heads  IVoni  a  race  of  powerful  invaders,  ^\•!lo  would 
(.'onie  frofn  regions  towards  the  rising  sun,  to  overi'un  and 
desolate  their  country.  How  this  opinion  originated  is  now 
unknown.  But  ot  all  the  Indians,  the  Mexicans  were  the 
most  supei'stitious  ;  and,  of  course,  the  more  deeply  affected 
hy  th(f  appearance  of  the  Spaniards.  Instantly,  their  cre- 
dulirv  took  alarm.  The  white  strangers,  they  became  (!on- 
vmced,  werti  the  instruments  destined  to  bring  about  this 
long  di'eaded  and  fatal  revolution. 

Let  us  eider  the  Spanish  camp.  It  was  not^^itIlout  its 
fears  and  dissensions.  While  m^'uv  were  eager  for  coucpiest, 
tlier(MV(U'e  others,  who,  estimating  the  power  of  the  ^fexican 
empire  l)y  its  wealth,  and  enumerating  the  various  ])roofs 
which  had  occurred  of  its  being  under  a  well-regulated  ad- 
ministiation,  coidended  ihat  it  would  bean  act:  of  the  wild- 
est phrensy  to  ai  tack  such  a  state  with  a  snudl  body  of  men, 
in  want  of  provisions,  unsupported  by  a  single  ally,  and  al- 
ready enl'eel)led  by  disease,  and  the  loss  of  several  of  their 
niiml)er.  Cortes  secretly  applauded  the  advocates  for  bold 
nieasui'es.  Tlieir  romantic  hopes  harmonized  with  his  own 
vasi  scln-mes. 

From  tiie  time  tiiat  tlie  suspicicms  of  A'elasqu(>z  broke  out 
with  o})en  violence  in  the  attempts  to  depi'ive  him  of  the 
conunand,  Cortes  saw  the  necessity  of  dissolving  a  connec- 
tion which  would  obstruct  and  eml)arrass  all  his  ojierations. 
He  felt  th.it  the  moment  of  linal  rupture  would  arrive, 
sooner  or  later.  Keeping  this  in  view%  h(>  had  laboiv^d  by 
every  art  to  secure  the  esteem  and  affection  ot  his  sol(li<>rs. 
^or  did  he  fail.  The  troops  liad  the  most  perfect  confi<lence 
ni  ttie  al)ility  and  courage  of  their  chief. 

^\e\Y  dilUculties,  however,  X)ioduced  dissension.    After  the 


1 1 


t 


-aiJ« 


2.vS 


HERyANDO  CORTES. 


liiml  iin.swer  of  ]\Iontezimia  to  Cortes,  the  Indians  ceaswl  to 
hold  I'lii'tlic?]'  coniniunicatiou  witli  the  Spaniards.  Dusky 
traders  no  lon^^i  r  visited  tjie  cam])  -witli  provisions.  All 
friendly  correspondence  seemed  at  an  end. 

Tliis  nnl'orcvscen  event  produced  a  sudden  consternnliini 
aiiion,:^,- the  soldieis.  TJie  adhen^nts  ol'  A'elasquez  suddenly 
bee. 1  in.'  1)1  )ld.  They  not  only  muruiui'ed  and  plotted  against 
tluMi-  (.'cuei'al,  but  even  api)ointed  one  oi"  their  inimlter  to 
reur  n  ;r;ite  opeidy  against  the  rashness  of  attempting  the 
coiupiesi  of  a  niiglity  empire  with  such  an  iniide(putte  force. 
The  necessity  of  returning  to  Cid)a  to  reht  the  fleet  and  in- 
crease tlie  army  was  strongly  urged.  James  de  Ordaz,  one 
of  tilt'  principal  ollicers,  in  the  nnnie  of  the  malcontents, 
delivered  this  remonstrance.  lie  did  it  with  soldierly  free- 
dom and  bluntness,  assni'ing  Cortes  that  he  spoke  tlu;  sen- 
timents of  the  whole  force. 

Tiie  General  listened  Avithout  any  apparent  emotion. 
Well  he  knew  tiie  temper  of  his  soldiers,  lie  felt  suj'e 
that  a  pi'oposirion  fatal  at  once  to  all  their  splendid  hopes 
would  be  rejected  with  indignation.  But  he  dis.simulnted. 
He  *;ven  went  so  far  as  seemingly  to  comply  Avith  the  reipiest 
of  Ordaz,  and  issued  orders  tliat-the  army  shonld  be  in  leadi- 
ness  next  day  to  re-embark  for  Cuba. 

As  soon  as  this  was  known,  the  hni'dy  adventurers,  in 
their  disappointment,  exclaimed  and  threatened.  I'lu^  fer- 
r.jent  became  general.  The  whole  cani]^  was  almost  in  ojien 
mutiny.  The  partisans  of  Cortes  were  loud  in  their  remon- 
strances, and  thronging  aronnd  his  tent,  they  called  on  him 
'to  countermand  Ins  recent  order. 

"Wc  Clime  here,"  exclaimed  the  soldiers,  "expecting  to 
form  a  settlement,  if  the  state  of  the  country  anthorized  it. 
Now  it  seems  yon  have  no  warrant  from  the  Govei'nor  to 
make  one.  But  there  are  interests,  higher  than  those  of 
Velasquez,  which  demand  it."  It  Avas  unworthy  of  Castil- 
ian  cournge — they  continued — to  be  daunted  at  the  lirst 
aspect  of  danger,  and  infamous  to  fly  before  an  eneriv  ap- 
peared. They  were  determined  not  to  relinquish  an  enter- 
prise which  had  hitherto  been  successful,  and  Avhicli  tended 


HERNANDO  CORTES. 


259 


so  visibly  to  s])re!i(l  the  knowledge  of  the  true  Faith,  and  to 
nuvniice  the  iilory  and  interest  pf  their  country.  Happy 
undei'  tlie  (.'onunaiid  of  Cortes,  tliey  would  follow  hiiu  throii^U 
every  danger;  but  if  he  chose  rather  to  return  to  Cuba,  and 
tamely  give  up  all  liis  hopes  of  distinction  to  an  envious 
rival,  they  would  instantly  choose  anotlier  conmiander  to 
lead  them  to  that  path  of  glory  which  he  liad  not  the  spirit 
tc  entei'. 

Cortes  took  no  odense  at  this  bold  language.  Tlie  senti- 
ments were  his  own.  He  was  secretly  delighted  at  such 
warmth  of  expression.  Still  he  feigned  to  be  rather  sur- 
prised at  what  he  heard,  declaring  that  his  orders  to  i)repaie 
lor  embaiking  were  issued  from  a  persuasion  that  it  was 
agreeal)le  to  his  troops;  tha*:,  from  deference  to  what  he  had 
])een  informed  was  their  inclination,  he  had  sacriliced  his 
own  private  ojiinion,  which  was  firmly  bent  on  establishing 
innnediately  a  settlement  on  the  sea-coast,  and  then  on  en- 
deavoi'ing  to  penetrate  into  the  interior  part  of  the  country. 
He  was  now,  he  said,  convinced  of  his  error,  and  as  he  per- 
ceived that  his  soldiers  were  animated  with  the  generous 
spirit  whi(^h  breathed  in  every  true  Spaniard,  he  woi*ld  ]-e- 
sume  with  fi'esh  ardor  his  original  plan  of  operation,  lie 
doubted  not,  he  concluded,  to  lead  them  in  the  career  of 
victory  to  such  independent  fortunes  as  their  valor  merited. 

Shouts  of  api)lause  greeted  this  declaration.  The  measure 
i;eemed  to  be  taken  with  unanimous  consent.  Such  as  se- 
cretly condenuied  it  were  obliged  to  join  in  tlie  acclamations, 
partly  to  conceal  their  dissatisfaction  from  their  General,  and 
l)artly  to  avoid  the  imputation  of  cowardice  from  their  fel- 
low-soldiers. 

Bel'ore  the  ardor  of  liis  men  cooled,  Cortes  set  about  car- 
rying his  designs  into  execution.  He  wished  to  found  a  col- 
ony. For  this  purpose,  he  assembled  the  chief  persons  in 
his  little  army,  and  by  their  suiTrage  elected  a  council  and 
magistrates,  in  whom  the  government  was  to  be  vested.  It 
was  framed  upon  the  model  of  a  Spanish  corporation.  The 
magistrates  were  distinguished  by  the  same  titles  and  en- 
signs of  cilice,  and  were  to  exercise  a  similar  jurisdiction. 


iUUJa 


200 


iii:n.\.\yDO  conrt'^s. 


All  those  clKtscii  wt'i'c  iiniily  devoted  to  Corft's.  Tlie  instru- 
iiieiil  of  ilieir  elec'lioii  was  tli'jiwii  \\\)  in  the  Kin.u's  name, 
and  iu»  lerereiire  was  made  to  \'elas(iiiez.  'I'lie  iufaiir  city 
v.ii.s  calh^l  Villa  Jiirade  Vera  C/t/.:,  ov  ••The  Jiicii  Town 
ol'  the  'i'nie  Cross.'" 

Till!  new  I'oiiuc'il  was  not  slow  in  coinini;-  to.i^oMier.  It  was 
no  sooner  assembled  tJian  Coi'tes  asked  leave  to  enter.  He 
appi'oaehed  that,  aui!,iist:  body  with  mai'ks  ol"  jiroi'oiind  le- 
KjK'ct,  and  hiving-  his  commission  iVom  \'elas(iiie/,  on  rlie 
table,  he  tendered  the  resi;j,'nation  of  his  odice  ol"  ('ap(;iin- 
(uMieral,  "which,  in(h'ed,''  he  said,  '"liad  necessarily  ex- 
l»ire(i,  since  the  authority  of  the(Joverner  was  n(nv  super- 
seded by  that  of  the  ma^isti'acy  of  \'illa  llica  de  \er;i 
Cru/.''  He  kissed  his  truncheon,  delivered"  it  to  the  chief 
niai^isti'ate,  and  then  left  the  apartment. 

The  deliberations  of  the  council  were  not  very  Ions;. 
Cortes'  resiuiiation  was  acce])ted,  but  as  tlie  uninteiiiijiled 
t<'nor  of  their  i)ros])erity  under  his  leadership  all'orded  the 
*  most  satisfying-  evidence  of  his  abilities  for  command,  lie  was 
unanimously  elected  Chief-Justice  of  the  colony,  ami  ('a])- 
tain-(?enei'al  of  its  army.  His  new  commission  was  made 
out  in  the  Ivinir's  name,  with  most  anijtle  jiowers,  which 
were  to  continue  in  force  until  the  royal  pleasure  should  be 
further  known.  'Hiat  this  action  mi^ulit  not  be  deemed  flic! 
work  of  a  few,  the  council  called  the  tioo^is  to.ii'ethei-,  and 
informed  tlu-iii  as  to  what  had  takc^i  place.  The  soldiers 
ratilied  the  choice.  The  air  I'esounded  with  the  name  of 
(Jortes,  and  all  vowed  to  shed  the  last  drop  oi  their  blood  in 
sup])oit  of  his  authority. 

'I'lius  clotlied  with  supreme  civil  and  military  jurisdiction, 
our  hero  was  not  backward  in  assertiiiLi,-  his  authority.  And 
he  found  speedy  occasion  for  it.  The  adherents  of  \'elas()nez 
suddenly  awok(^  to  the  new  condition  of  thiims.  Of  Cortes 
and  liis  actions,  tliey  no  longer  continued  silent  spectators. 
They  exclaiuKMl  openly  aiiainst  the  proceedings  of  both  the 
conncil  a7!d    the  army.     The  (feneral  at  once  perceived  the 


i  -1 


'  Accii  (liii^  to  Ilci'ii;il  l)i:iz.  till'  title  of   i'rrii  t'rii~  {"  True  Cross")  wa.s  iiiuiukd  lo  loimiKiiio- 
ralo  tlic  ir  huuliii^  on  (Jooil  Friday. — Prescuft. 


in:  II  y A  xn  o  co  n  t!:z. 


i'Ol 


nofossity  of   prompt  nnd  vi.u^orous  measures.     TTe  arrested 
the  lin.ti'leaders,  and  (piift  was  again  restored. 

Cortes,  however,  was  more  desirous  to  reelaiin  than  to 
])iinish  his  ])risoiie!'s,  wlio  w(Me  ollicers  of  great  merit,  and 
Avith  such  assiduity  amhuhlress  did  he  winbaek  their  i'rieiid- 
sliip,  liiat  tlie  reconciliation  was  jierfectly  cordial.  Ever 
afterwards  these  cavaliers  renuun(;d  inviolably  attached  to 
his  interest.  lie  was  now  completely  master  of  llu-  sit- 
uation. 

The  Commander  tliought  he  might  venture  to  quit  the 
camp  in  which  he  had  Intherto  rt'inained,  and  advance  into 
till'  country.  To  this  lie  was  encoui'aged  by  an  event  no  less 
fortunate  than  seas()uabl(\  Some  Indians,  having  a  p.])ro;u"hed 
his  cam[)  in  a  mysterious  manner,  were  introduced  into  his 
presence,  lie  found  that  they  were  sent  with  a  profYer  of 
friendship  from  flic  cacicpie  of  Cempoalla,  a  considerable 
town  at  no  great  distance  ;  and  from  their  answei's  ton  variety 
of  (piestious  which  lu^  ])ut  to  them — according  to  his  usual 
])i'actice  in  evei'y  interview  with  the  Indians — li<^  learned 
that  thejr  master,  though  subject  to  th.e  Mexican  (unpire, 
was  im])atient  of  the  yoke,  and  tilled  with  such  dread*  and 
hatred  of  ]^Iontezuma,.that  nothing  could  be  moi'e  acce]itable 
to  him  than  any  prospect  of  deliveiani'e  from  the  oppression 
unde]'  which  he  groanc^l. 

On  hearing  this,  a  ray  of  liglit  and  hope  brokein  upon  the 
mind  of  Cortes.  He  saw  that  the  great  em])ire  which  he  un- 
dei'took  to  attack  was  neither  perfectly  united,  nor  its  sov- 
ereign universally  beloved.  The  causes  of  disall'ection,  he 
concluded,  could  not  be  confined  to  one  pi-oviiice.  Other 
coriK.'rs,  doubtless,  had  their  malcontents,  weary  of  subjec- 
tion, desirous  of  change,  and  ready  to  follow  the  standard 
of  any  protector.     Nor  was  he  mistaken. 

But  we  must  hasten  on  the  road  of  our  narrative,  nor  stoj) 
N)  view  the  smaller  events.  Cortes  paid  a  visit  to  the  chief 
of  Cempoalla,  and  was  received  as  the  commander  of  an 
army  of  superior  beings.  Of  ^lonteznma.the  General  learned 
many  further  particulars.  He  was,  the  chief  stated,  a  tyrant. 
11(.'  ruined  the  conquered  jirovinces  by  excessive  exactions. 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y    14580 

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262 


HERNANDO  COMtlS. 


t  "■ 


*  n 


He  was  cniol,  and  offen  torn  their  sens  and  daughters  from 
tlieni  liy  violence  to  Ix^  sacrificed  to  his  deities. 

Tliere  ^ve^e  otlier  provinces  of  the  enipiiv,  the  cacique 
added,  wlnn-e  tlie  haughty  nionarcli's  rule  was  equally  odi- 
ous. Betweeji  him  and  the  caj)ital  lay  the  warlike  iv[iul)lic 
Tl(i!<(-ida,  which  had  always  maintained  its  indei)t'ii(l('n('e  of 
M'xico.  The  fame  of  tln^  Spaniards  had  p:one  before  them, 
and  he  was  well  acquainted  with  their  terrible  victoiy  at 
Tabasco.  But  still  he  looked  witli  doubt  and  alarui'to  a 
rupture  with  "the  meal  iViontezuma"' — us  he  always  stvled 
him — whose  armies,  on  th  •  least  provocation,  would  ]iour 
down  froai  t!ie  moiuitain  I'e'i'icms  of  the  West,  and,  riishiu'^ 
over  the  i)lains  like  a  v,  hirhvind,  sweep  off  the  wretched 
pi'ople  to  slavery  and  s.icritice.  Cortes,  in  reply,  said  that 
one  of  the  objects  of  his  visit  Avas  to  redress  grievances  and 
relieve  tin;  disti'essed.  A  single  Spaniard,  he  declared,  was 
strougtM"  than  a  host  of  ^texicans.' 

In  a  slK)rt  time  several  chiefs — among  whom  was  the  ruler 
of  Cempoalla — joined  the  Spanish  standard.  They  willingly 
subjecr(>d  thems(^lves  to  the  ci'own  of  Castile,  and  offei'ed 
to  accompany  Cortes  with  all  their  forces  on  liis  march  to- 
wards Mexico. 

Tile  keen  eye  of  the  General,  at  this  point,  perceived  that 
the  spirit  of  disaffection  still  lurked  among  his  ti()oi)S. 
]\Iany  events  might  occur  to  call  it  foith.  It  was  not  hard 
to  see  that  !i  number  of  the  men  Inul  gi'own  weary  of  tlio 
fatigues  of  the  service,. and  lonu'ed  to  revisit  their  settle- 
ments in  Cuba.  But  any  diminution  of  his  force  would  be 
fatal  to  tlie  success  of  his  schemes.  After  much  tiiought 
he  came  to  the  bold  conclusion  of  cutting  olf  all  possi- 
bility of  retreat.  In  short,  he  decided  to  destroy  his  lleet. 
It  was  a  ti'yiug  and  dangerous  expedient.  All  movwhlo 
articles  were  brought  on  shore,  and  then  the  shijis  were 
sunk.  Thei'e  remained  but  one  small  vessel  floating  on  the 
waves  I 

P>y  the  greater  part  of  the  soldiers  the  news  of  this  event 
was  received  with  loud  murmurs.     ''The   General,"  they 

>  PrtBcott. 


IIEliXAXDO  CORTES. 


203 


said,  "had  led  them  like  cattle  to  be  lintcliered  in  llie 
shambles  I"  Cortes  was  in  great  danger,  l)Ut  his  presence 
of  mind  was  admirable.  lie  called  his  n)en  together.  Tlie 
ships,  he  iiointed  out,  had  suffered  so  mucli  by  having  been 
so  long  at  sea,  that  before  being  sunk  they  were  altogether 
imtit  for  service.  The  army  had  just  been  increased  by  one 
liundi-ed  sailoi-s,  no  longer  employed  in  taking  care  of  tlie 
worm  eaten  hulks.  In  their  present  expedition  the  Heet 
could  be  of  no  assistance.  Their  hands  were  to  vvoik,  and 
they  must  cast  no  glances  behind.  The  idea  of  retreat 
should  not  even  enter  their  thoughts.     Success  was  certain. 

"As  forme,"  concluded  this  Spanish  llunnibal,  '"I  have 
ch()>en  my  part.  I  will  remain  here  while  there  is  one  to 
bear  me  company.  If  there  be  any  so  craven  as  to  shrink 
from  sharing  the  dang'^rs  of  our  glorious  enterprise,  let  thcni 
go  home,  in  God's  name.  Then?  is  still  one  vessel  h'ft.  Let 
tliem  take  that  and  return  to  Cuba.  They  can  tfll  li(»\v 
th"y  deserted  their  commander  and  their  comrades,  and 
])atiently  wait  till  we  return  loaded  with  the  spoils  of  the 
^lexicans.'' 

This  pithy  address  had  the  desired  effect.  It  restored 
confidence  in  the  Commander.  It  rekindled  enthusiasm. 
Tlie  air  rang  with  shouts  of  "To  Mexico  I  t<>  Mexico'."' 
And  thus  Cortex,  with  nnrivaled  address,  gained  liis  point. 
It  was  a  great  victory  over  his  own  ti'0(»])s;  and  was,  per- 
haps, the  most  extraordinary  passage  in  the  life  of  this 
heroic  man.  It  is,  in  truth,  one  of  th<^  most  daring  acts  in 
all  history.  Ilei'e  was  a  handful  (»f  Si)aniards  shut  u}>  in  a 
hostile  empire,  tilled  with  powerful  and  unknown  nations. 
Having  destroyed  every  means  of  escape,  they  had  n.iw  no 
resources  save  their  own  dauntless  valor  and  pei'se  vera  nee! 

Nothing  now  retarded  Cortes.  I^oth  the  ti^oojis  and  tlivj 
Indian  allies  were  in  excellent  spiiits.  P)ef(ire  dejiarting, 
however,  he  made  an  almost  over-/ealous  effort  foi'  the  cdu- 
veisi(m  of  the  cacique  oi  Cempoalla  and  his  ]te(iple.  The 
])reaching  of  Father  Olmedo  and  the  ])prsuasive  worK  of 
till'  Spanish  General  had  ecpially  failed  in  changinu:  the  .lark 
belief  of  that  dusky  ruler.     One  more  iUtemx>t  was  to  be 


I'Oi 


IIERXAyiJO  COliTlSS. 


i))!i(.lf».  Tlie  ]i](l(>ous  superstitions  of  the  ^Fexieiins  wero 
sii'!.:('ii;!m'  in  tlie  exti'(fiHe.  In  tlieii*  rriiel  siiciificcs  tht'v 
on"(>i'('(l  up  liuman  victims,  and  tlieir  cannibal  repusis  ftiiliie 
(Icsci'iptio!). 

C'o]  t<''s  willi,  ])ei'liiips,  more  z(>al  t]i;in  pnulence,  resolvpil 
in  :in  instiint  to  desti'oy  tli<i  idols.  Heaven  would  no'vri' 
siiiili'  on  tlu'ir  cnterpi'ise,  lie  sniil.  il'  they  countenanced  siicli 
dfvil-\vorslii[).  'IMie  worlv  was  to  be  dont?  at  once.  Tli" 
coniniinKl  was  t^iven  to  move  on  one  of  the  teni[)les.  (Iiciir 
was  till'  alaiiu  ol'  the  Indians.'  Piiests  and  warriors  gathcicd 
to^cllicr,  and  the  chishin^i'  (»f  weapons  was  heard  in  every 
direction,  l^ut  the  Spanisli  (general  was  p)'omi)t  in  his  niovc- 
UKMits.  He  had  the  rirjiileaders  seized,  and  in  a  moment 
strucl\  awi'  into  tlie  barbaions  multitude. 

At  a  siu;n  d  JVoiu  the  Commander-in-chief,  llfty  soldiers 
s]'iann'  up  tlie  ^reat  stairway  of  the  temple,  enteied  the 
buihlinu'  on  the  summit,  the  walls  of  which  wen^  black  with 
Iriman  lioi'e,  tore  tin*  liii^'e  wooden  idols  from  tlieir  founda- 
tifuis.  an;l  diairoed  them  to  (he  edge  of  tlie  teiiace.  Their 
fantastic  forms  aii<l  featuics  seemt-d,  in-  the  eyis  of  the 
Spaniards,  lijvethe  hideou'^  lineament.s  of  Satan,  '["he  coles- 
sal  mon-^ti'i's  were  rolled  down  the  stejis  of  the  i)yraiiiid.  The 
troo])s  shouted  in  triumiih,  but  the  natives  Ji'roaned  and  la- 
mented." A  piod  fii'e  ]"ai)idly  transformed  the  wooden  gods 
into  smoke  and  chai'coal ;  and,  for  the  iirst  time,  Indian 
))elief  was  shaken  to  its  veiy  foundations. 

After  reiu)vating  the  temple,  an  altar  was  erected,  and 
neatly  decorated  with  garhinds  of  liowei'S.  A  i)rocessioii 
was  I'ormeil.  Moly  Mass  was  celebj-nted  with  in)j»ressive 
ceremonies  by  Fathei'Olmedo  ;  and,  in  th<»  words  of  PrescotI, 
"the  passionate  ehxpience  of  the  go(»d  p.riest  touched  the 
feelings  of  the  motley  audience,  until  Indians  as  well  as 
Sjianiards  were  melted  into  sobs  and  tears."  1'hus  the  ce- 
lestial light  of  the  tr'.u;  Faith  shone  in  its  calm  and  beautiful 
brilliancy  on  the  savage  land  of  Mexico;  and  the  lieligion 
foiimled  by  the  (lodof  Nature  triumpht^l  oveiThe  hardened 
nature  and  i)agan  prejudices  of  cruel  barbarians. 


rreccott. 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE   MEMOH.VULK   MAIM  II   TO   MEXICO, 

The  little  nrm>/  /norcft  —  TrardiiKj  on  a  roinjh  road — Ad- 
mit ii  res  on.  I  In',  poiif'nic-s  of  TI(isi-tiJ((—Abiittl('—Aiiot/i('r 
hattle,  ill  wJiii-lL  tli( re  /6v/.*f  no  idti-niativ*',  but  death  or 
rictor;/  —  Peace — TJaxcala  In'roinefi  Hidijcrt  to  Spa  in— 
At  Choluta,  and  what  happeiad  there — The  Jlr.st  ni</Jit 
of  the  city  of  Mexico  —  Grand  reception  of  the  l^pan- 
iards  by  Jlontezinna. 

It  was  the  Kifli  of  Au<z:iist.  1.")10.  TIk^  hour  to  ho;j:m  the 
nmrcli  came.  Cortes  addn^sscd  the  sohliers  "in  plirases  (if 
lion»\ve(l  eloquence  far  beyond  what  T  can  re]ieat,""  wiites 
tlie  brave  and  lionest  Bernal  Diaz.  Onr  J')1(^ss(m1  Savioui-, 
said  the  (General,  ■will  give  us  \ict()ry  in  all  our  liattlcs  witli 
tlie  enemy.  Tliis  as;sui'ance  must  be  onr  stay.  Every  other 
refuge  is  now  cut  oil"  but  that  aH'orded  by  the  Providence 
of  (iod  and  your  own  stout  hearts. 

"  We  ai'e  ready  to  obey  you,"  ci'ii'd  the  troo]')s.  with  one 
voice.  "Our  fortunes  are  cast  with  youis  for  better  or 
worse."  And  thus  with  coui'ageous  hearts,  and  high  holies 
ligliting  up  the  way,  the  little  army  set  forward  Oii  the 
march  to  ^lexico. 

It  consisted  of  fiv(^  hundred  men,  fifteen  horse,  and  six 
field  ])ieces.  Cortes  left  the  rest  of  his  troo})s — consisting 
chielly  of  such  as  from  ag'e  or  Inlirmity  Avere  less  fit  for  ac- 
tive service — as  a  garrison  in  A'illa  Pica,  undei'  the  command 
of  an  oflu'er  of  merit.  Tin*  caci([ue  of  Cem])oalla  su])jili(Ml 
him  with  provisions,  a  body  of  four  hundred  troo]is,  and  two 
hundred  Indian  poi'tcM's.  .The  last  wei'e  to  carr\-  the  l>ag- 
gage,  drag  tlie  artillery  along,  and  perform  all  servih;  labor. 


i  .11 


y  were  a  great  relief  to  the  SpanisU  soldiers. 


2g: 


»^ 


200 


IIEllNANDO  COllTlHS. 


\ 


I 


n:: 


The  line  of  march  condacted  tlie  liardy  veterans  up  the 
declivities  which  led  to  the  table-land  of  Mexico.  It  was 
the  I'ainy  season,  and  proved  trying  up  hill  work.  As  they 
rose  higher  and  higher,  sleet  and  hail  often  drenched  them 
to  the  very  bones.  The  toilsome  way  frequently  bordered 
on  i)recipices,  where  the  shrinking  eye  ])eheld  towering 
litiglits  above  and  wild  ravines  and  beautiful  valfeVs  below. 
But  in  the  midst  of  those  changes  of  scene  one  thing  was 
never  forgotten.  Father  Olmedo  preached  the  sublime 
truths  of  tlie  Gosi)el  in  the  various  native  villages  and  set- 
tlements through  which  they  passed.  Crosses  were  (M'ected 
as  memorials  of  the  visit,  and  to  show  that  Holy  Faith  had 
extended  its  outposts  even  to  the  lulls  and  mountains  of 
Mexico.  "The  route  of  the  army,"  writes  the  Protestant 
Prescott,  "might  be  tracked  by  these  emblems  of  man's 
salvation." 

Nothing  remarkable  happened  in  the  progress  of  Cortes, 
until  he  arrived  on  the  contines  of  Tlascala' — a  prond  littl(^ 
republic.  The  inhabitants  were  of  a  warlike  disposition,  and 
im])lacable  enemies  of  the  Mexicans.  The  General  sent  four 
Cempoallans  of  great  eminence  to  request  in  his  own  name 
and  in  that  of  their  cacique,  that  the  TIascalans  Avould  per- 
mit the  Spaniards  to  pass  through  the  territories  of  the  re- 
public, on  their  way  to  Mexico.  But  this  lierce  and 
independent  people  seized  the  embassadors,  and  without 
any  regard  to  their  public  character,  made  in'ei)arations  for 
sacrificing  them  to  their  gods. 

Cortes,  after  waiting  in  vain  for  the  return  of  his  e7nba>s- 
sadors,  advanced  into  the  republic.  He  found  native  troops 
in  the  held  ready  to  oppose  him.  They  rushed  on  his  little 
army  with  great  intrepidity,  and  in  the  lirst  encounter 
wounded  some  of  the  Spaniards,  and  killed  two  horses. 
This  was  a  serious  loss,  because  it  was  irreparable. 

From  this  specimen  of  Tlascalan  courage,  Cortes  saw  the 
necessity  of  proceeding  with  extreme  caution.  His  army 
mai'chcd  in  close  order.     He  paid  every  attention  to  the  sta- 

'  Till'  fr-.iiifiiliu'Hx  i)f  ilic  Koil  wan  UiJlcuk'd  l)y  the  uauR'  oT  tlie  coiiiilry— 7"A(.vW(j  figiiifj'iug 
the  ■■  ItiUii  of  breuil."— yVwc'oW.    • 


tllM 
U'Ctl 


HEiiXAyDO  courts. 


2G7 


fions  where  he  halted,  and  t'ortitied  the  camps  with  extia^ 
(>r<liuary  care.  During  fourteen  days  he  was  exjxjsed  to 
almost  ceaseless  assaults.  The  last  engagements  were  the 
most  tierce  and  memorable. 

According  to  Cortes,  one  liundred  thousand  Tlascalans 
were  in  battle  array,  stretched  over  a  vast  plain  as  far  as  the 
eye  could  reach.  When  he  came  witliiu  hearing,  he  ordered 
his  interpreters  to  proclaim  that  he  had  no  hostile  intentions. 
All  he  wai  ted  was  a  passage  through  their  country.  He 
entered  as  a  friend.  If  blood  were  shed,  he  declared  that 
others  would  be  responsible  for  the  crime.  A  shower  of 
.stones  and  arrows  was  the  stern  and  only  reply.  Blood 
was  drawn.  The  Spaniards  could  stand  it  no  longer;  and 
Cortes,  with  the  battle-cry  of  ''St.  Jago  and  at  tliem," 
oa  his  lips,  rushed  to  the  front  of  danger  at  the  head  of 
his  handful,  of  cavalry.  He  wished  to  ojjen  a  passage  for 
the  infantry. 

The  struggle  soon  grew  fierce  axid  desperate  as  the  barba- 
rinn  thousands  closed  on  the  solid  battalitm  of  Castilians. 
]^iit  they  ceased  not  to  present  an  unbroken  front.  The 
voice  of  Cortes  wa.s  heard  amid  the  din  of  battle,  cheering 
on  his  soldiers.  "If  we  fail  now,"  lie  cried,  ''the  Cross  of 
Clirist  can  never  be  planted  in  the  land.  Forward,  com- 
riides.  When  was  it  ever  known  that  a  Castilian  turned  his 
back  on  the  foeT'  Animated  by  the  words  and  herf)ic  bear- 
ing of  their  General,  the  soldiers,  with  desperate  elforts,  at 
length  succeeded  in  forcing  a  passage  through  the  dark  col- 
umns of  the  enemy,  and  emerged  from  the  defile  on  the  opnn 
l)l:iin  beyond.' 

With  a  free  space  to  handle  the  guns,  the  artillery  now 
tliundered  on  the  Indian  ranks.  The  belching  of  sTuoke, 
the  roaring  of  cannon,  and  the  work  of  death  proceeded  to- 
gether, and  filled  the  barbarians  with  consternation.  A  re- 
treat was  sounded,  and  they  drew  off  in  good  order,  leaving 
tlie  brave  but  exhausted  Spaniards  in  iwssession  of  tlje 
Imrd-earned  field.  The  most  dreadful  confiiet,  however,  wa.s 
yet  to  come. 

'  Prescott. 


208 


IIERXAXDO  CORTES. 


After  a  (lay  of  ropDso,  the  i^])nnisli  fJcnoral  son(-  two  en- 
voys to  tlio  Tlast'ahui  (.•()iiuii;iii(l;-i'  iii-cliii'f,  bcarini;  otTci's  of 
peace,  and  statiiii^  tluit  it  was  his  iiiti^ntion  to  make  a 
friendly  visit  to  the  capital  of  the  republic. 

Tlie  answer  soon  arrived.  It  was  not  even  flavored  Avitli 
S'lviiue  <■  iiirtesy.  "The  Sjtanianls."  snid  tlie  il(>rc<'  Indian 
leadiT.  '•ii\iffht,  pass  on  as  soon  as  they  chose  to  Tlasctda  ; 
and,  when  tliey' reached  it  their  llesh  would  he  hewn  fiom 
tlicir  l)odi(>s,  for  .sacrifice  to  the  Sf>ds.  If  they  preferi'ed  to 
remain  in  their  own  quartern,  he  would  pay  tlieni  a  visit 
there  the  iipxt  day  I"  Tliis  was  the  stern  lan,2;ua,a:e  of  it 
chii^f  who  had  00,000  warriors  in  Hie  field,  ready  to  obey  his 
sliulitest  nod 

The  aspeci,  of  ad'airs  was  now  i-atlier gloomy  The  ciii)p]cd 
Rpaniajds  niiulit  well  dread  a  fresh  encounter  with  such  an 
intre])id  r.nd  overwdudniin;;' [oe.  But  tliere  rouhl  be  no  re- 
treat. Fi.uht  they  must.  "We  feared  deatli,''  says  the 
:)()id  and  siniph-'  Diaz,  '"for  we  were  men.  That  ni.^lit  the 
veneial»1e  l''a!her  OlmtMlo  scarcely  closed  an  eye.  One  liy 
one,  I  lie  men  krtelt  at  his  knee,  and  with  contrite  heai'ls  re- 
])"iite(l  the  (ift-told  tale  of  human  weakness,  and  rolled  away 
till'  burden  of  sin.  ()  blessed  l>eauty  of  Faitli,  whose  celes- 
tial briu'litness  is  never  so  grandly  conspicuous  as  when  llie 
slindow  of  death  or  misfortune  is  near  I  Strengthened  by  the 
Sacraments,  and  with  a  good  conscience  as  a  comjianion.  the 
t-atholic  soldier  can  calmly  await  the  shock  of  battle,  and 
rush  to  the  front  like  a  hei'o. 

The  Spanish  General  resolved  to  meet  his  powerful  enemy 
moie  than  half  Avay.  It  was  th<'  nioi'uing  of  the  Htli  of  Se])- 
teniber,  1.")10.  and  the  sun  arose  bright  and  glorious.  Ilis- 
toi'ians  tell  us  that  the  Tlascalan  army  coveied  about  "six 
miles  sqmire"'  of  a  plain.'  As  the  S]ianiards  advanced  in 
sight,  the  barl)arians  raised  a  yell  of  defiance.  Cortes 
ordered  his  troops  to  open  fire  along  the  whole  line.  .  Every 
shot  told.  Despei'ation  joon  took  the  place  of  dismay,  and 
the  dusky  horde  with  savage  shouts  swejit  down  on  the  ("as- 
tilian  cavaliers,   like  one  vast  avalanche.     The  little  army 


I  CortCs  placuB  the  number  of  the  enemy  at  150,000  men. 


mntXA  yn  o  con  t£s. 


20!) 


was  borne  away  on  tlie  wild,  rairinj^  torronf.     The  din  tl 
battle  (li'()\vnt';l  tlie  V()ic(?  of  Uortc'.s.     All  tscciiicd  lost. 

Hilt  d('S[)air  nerved  each  skilled  and  bi'awny  arm.  'Pii« 
slmr])  Toletlo  blatles  wei'e  g-radnaily  iiiakiiiL;'  havoc  on  the 
i;;i!idilv'  painted  bodies  .of  the  naked  TIascalans.  Jvich 
Sp.'iiiiai'd,  for  the  time,  f'Mt  that  he  was  a  Iiei-o,  li^htinu' for 
a'.l  that,  is  deai'est  in  this  world.  The  Ixjld  cliar.ues  of  (Jorte-j 
:it  the  head  of  the  horse,  and  the  thiUKh'r  of  the  cannon  iu 
the  I'ear,  lin;dly  tlirew  t!ie  anii'ry  and  c(j  mtless  masse-;  into 
(lisoitler.  ]t  was  like  the  Cfreeks  and. Per  ians of  old.  Hei'oro 
till'  sun  went  ilown,  victorv  shed  its  ii'ohk'n  ravs  on  the  Span- 
ish  standard. 

JVace  was  shortly  after  coeclnded.  The  TIascalans  a^'reed 
t:)  Ix'comc  subject  to  the  Crown  of  Castile,  and  eiiuaued  to 
assist  Coites  in  all  his  future  ojiei'ations.  The  (ieiieral,  on 
his  part,  took  the  republic  under  his  ])rotection.  and  I'Vom- 
iseil  to  defend  its  peo[)lt^  from  injury  or  violence. 

Cortes  after  a  repost'  of  twenty  days. continued  his  maich 
towards  the  city  of  Mexico,  accoiiipainefl  by  (5. (K)(>  TIascalans. 
They  <lirected  their  course  towards  Cholula.  This  was  a  con- 
si(lera])le  town,  and  tiiouu'h  only  liv(>lea,uues  distant  fi'oniTlas- 
cala,  it  was  foiauerly  an  indejd'udent  slate,  l)ut  had  been  lately 
s  ilijectt^l  to  tilt.'  Mexican  emiure.  It  was  regarded  by  all 
(he  pe()])!e  (»f  Mexico  a;  a  holy  place —the  sanct  iiary  of  ihcir 
^■()(ls.  Here  ])iliirinis  flocked  from  (n'ery  pioviace.  ami  ,i 
fi'reater  number  of  human  victims  were  offei'cd  in  the  priiici- 
l)al  t(Mnple  of  Cholula  than  cNcn  in  that  of  Mexico. 

The  TIascalans  warned  Ccu'tes  to  keep  n  watchful  eye  over 

iheChohdans.     On  entei'in^-  tlie  town,  he  was  i* i\cd  with 

much  seemiiii;- resp;'ct.  l)Ut  did  not  fail  to  notice  seveial  cir- 
cumstances which  aroused  his  suspicion.  Tn  a  few  days  he 
was  secretly  informed  that  six  children  had  been  sacriliced 
in  the  chief  temple— n  brutal  c"i'"mt)ny  which  indicated  that 
some  warlikt;  project  was  on  foot.  The  whole  j.lot  soon 
came  to  his  eai-s.  Tt  was  resolved  to  di-<ti'oy  the  Span- 
iards. A  body  of  Mexican  troo]is  lav  concealed  neai'  the 
f'lwn.  Some  of  the  sti'eeis  were  barricaded.  Tl)  othej-s  pits 
aad  tren.ches  were  du,!^-,  and  slightly  covered  over,  as  (]'a[)S 


UEiiNAXDO  conrHs. 


In- 


into  wliR'li  tlie  horses  nii^lit  full.  Stones  were  collected  on 
the  toi)s  oi'  tlie  teinpiein  to  hurl  down  on  the  soldiers.  In 
short,  tlie  fjital  liour  was  at  liand,  and  ruin  unavoidable. 

At  tliis  news  Cortes  was  alarmed.  He  secretly  aiTestt-<l 
three  of  the  chief  priests,  and  extoited  from  them  a  confes- 
sion, which  convinced  him  that  he  had  only  heard  the  truth. 
Xot  a  moment  was  now  to  lie  lost.  He  resolved  to  head  off 
his  treacherous  enemies,  and  to  inilict  on  them,  once  for  tdl, 
such  a  swift  and  dreadful  chastisement  as  would  strike  ter- 
ror into  Monte/uma  and  his  subjects. 

At  a  given  signal  the  Spanish  soldiers  and  their  Indian 
allies  rushed  out,  and  fell  on  the  assembled  multitudes  of 
Choi  Ilia.  Death  and  destruction  tilled  the  streets.  The 
temjles  were  set  on  lire,  and  tlnjse  who  had  gathered  in 
them  i)erished  in  the  llames.  This  scene  of  horror  lasted  for 
two  days.  At  length,  the  carnage  ended,  after  the  slaughter 
of  C,ooi»  Cholulans,  without  the  loss  of  a  single  Si)aniard. 

Cortes  then  released  the  chiefs  of  the  city,  and  reproached 
them  bitterly  for  tiieir  intended  treacihery.  He  forgave  t]w 
crime,  he  said,  as  justice  was  now  appeased;  and  requiied 
them  to  recall  the  citizens  who  had  tied,  and  to  re-establish 
order.  It  was  done  as  he  commanded,  and  the  Spaniards 
henceforth  were  looked  upon  as  a  wonderful  race  of  supe- 
rior discernment. 

From  Cholula,  Cortes  advanced  directly  towards  Mexico, 
whicli  was  only  twenty  leagues  distant.  In  every  place 
tluoiigli  which  he  passed,  he  was  received  as  a  personage 
clothed  with  power  to  deliver  the  empire  from  the  opia-ession 
iindei-  which  it  groaned.  The  various  caciques  or  governors 
communicated  to  him  all  the  grievances  which  they  felt  un- 
d.'r  the  tyrannienl  rule  of  Montezuma.  This  they  did  \yith 
tlmt  unreserved  confidence,  which  men  naturally  repose  in  a 
superior  being.  To  the  keen,  analytic  mind  of  Cortes  such 
information  was  most  suggestive 

Tlie  picturesque  grandeur  of  the  country  charmed  tlie 
Euro]ieans,  As  they  descended  the  mountains  of  Chalo,  the 
vast  plain  of  ISfexico  opened  on  their  view.  It  was  one  of 
the  most  striking  and  beautiful  visions  on  the  face  of  the 


jiEJiNANDo  courts. 


271 


enrtli.  Fertile  and  cultivated  fields  stretched  further  then 
tilt'  eye  could  reach.  The  weary  wondering  traveh?r  saw  a 
lake  resembling  the  sea  in  extent,  surrounded  by  large 
towns,  and  discovered  the  capital  city  rising  upon  an  island 
in  the  middle,  adorned  with  its  temples  and  turrets.  In 
truth,  the  scene  so  far  exceeded  their  imagination,  that  some 
believed  the  fanciful  descriiiiions  of  ronumce  were  realized.' 
Others  tliought  this  wonderful  spectacle  must  be  a  dream. 
As  they  advanced,  their  doubts  were  removed,  but  their 
araazenient  increasc^d. 

Hitherto  no  enemy  dared  to  oppose  their  progress;  but, 
dav  after  dav,  couriers  had  arrived  from  Monte/uma.  Oiu^ 
day  he  permitted  tlie  Spanish  forces  to  advance,  the  next  ho 
ordered  them  to  retire.  His  instructions  were  variously 
sha[)ed,  as  he  chanced  to  take  counsel  of  his  hopes,  or  his 
fears.  Nor  did  this  singulnr  infatuation  cease.  Cortes  w;<s 
almost  at  the  gates  of  his  capital  befoi'e  the  Monarch  had 
iinally  decided  to  receive  him  as  a  friend,  or  oppose  him  as 
a  foe.  But  no  sign  of  open  hostility  appeared,  and  the 
Spaniards  continued  their  march  along  the  causeway,  thi-ougli 
the  lake  which  led  to  the  city  of  Mexico.  Prudence  and 
strict  discipline  marked  their  steps. 

When  Cortes  and  his  little  band  of  Castilians  drew  near 
the  »  ty,  about  a  thousand  persons  of  distinction,  adoined 
with  plumes  and  clad  in  mantles  of  line  cott(m,  came  forth 
to  meet  them.  They  saluted  the  General  with  great  respect, 
and  announced  the  approach  of  Montezuma. 

The  long  procession  that  preceded  the  emperor  soon  ap- 
peiivod.  First  came  two  hundred  persons,  dressed  alike, 
with  large  plumes  of  feathers,  marching  two  and  two,  in 
deep  silence,  bare-footed,  and  their  eyes  fixed  on  the  ground. 
Tliese  were  followed  by  a  company  of  still  higlu>r  rank, 
decked  in  their  most  showy  garments  ;  and  in  the  midst  sat 

'  "Aiul  wlu'ii  wo  snw."  oxcIainiM  Bcrnnl  Diaz,  "  co  mniiy  cities  nml  towns  riHiii!»  np  from  tlio 
watiT.  anil  otlicr  l!(>|)u1llll^'  ]ilarc!i  situated  on  tlio  salii!  tarlli,  and  tliat  caiisoway.  ^traii;lll  as  il 
cnrin'iitiT's  level,  wliicli  went  into  Mexico,  we  remained  aslonislied,  and  said  to  one  anotlier  lliut 
it  appeared  Iil;e  the  enelianted  catties  wliioli  tliey  tell  of  in  the  boolv  of  Aiii(iill<.  by  reason  of  tllO 
gre:it  lowers,  temples  and  edlllees  wliicli  tliero  wore  in  tlio  water,  and  all  of  iliom  work  of  lua- 
Boury.    Some  oven  of  jur  soldiers  asked,  if  thin  that  thoy  saw  wua  not  u  thing  iu  a  dreiuu," 


212 


iiKUs.  1  M)()  con r/js. 


m  I 


^^(»ntoz^mnl  in  n  rhnir  richly  oiiKuiicnttMl  villi  ^oM  and 
iVallicis  dl  vai'ioiis  (oldis.  Imhu'  ol'  his  chid'  I'avoriics  cat- 
vied  him  on  ihcir  shoiil(h'i'.s ;  whih- over  his  head  others  snp- 
liorted  a  canopy  <>i  ciuions  \V(irlvnianslii[)  ])ei"ore  him 
mardied  thjee  olhcers  witli  rods  ol  ;;-ohl  m  theii-  hands, 
A\liich  IVom  lime  lo  time  liiey  Idled  np  on  luLiii,  and  at  th.ir 
t>i,!;nal  all  tiie  peoph' howed  their  h<'ads,  and  iud  tlieir  laces 
as  unworthy  t«»  looiv  on  so  miiildy  a  nionaich,  Snch  uas 
the  pompous  slate  and  exiei'nal  s|)len(h)r  of  the  sliowy  sav- 
a,ue  thai  I'uh'd  over  Mexico 

When  lie  drew  near,  ("ortes  dismonnt(>d,  iind  advanced 
towards  hiiri  on  i'oot  At  the  same  time  Moiileziinia  ali.Liiiied 
I'roin  his  chair,  and  leaninij;  on  the  arms  of  two  of  his  near 
I'elalioiis.  api)roached  with  a  slow  and  steady  ])a('e,  his  ;it- 
teiKiants  coveriiii;'  the  way  with  cotton  cloths  that  lie  nii^lit 
not  touch  the  i>round  ('ortes  saluted  Iiini  with  i)roloiiiid 
I'espect,  after  the  I'jiropean  fashion,  lie  returned  Ihesalu 
latioii  by  toucliinu-  the  earth  \\ilh  Ids  hand,  and  then  kissing- 
if.  This  condescension  in  tliejr  hau.uhty  luler  ania/.ed  the 
.Mexican  niultiludes.  'Phey  <'oncluded  tiiat  the  perscms  l-e 
fore  whom  he  humbled  himself  m  this  ni;inner  must  be  inor(^ 
than  human.  Tiie  Spaniards  were  regarded  as  su[)eriiatuial 
beinii's. 

Moiile/.unia  conducted  Corles  to  the  quarters  prepai'ed  for 
his  reception,  iiml  at  once  took  leave  of  liim  with  a  polite- 
ness not  nnwoi'lhy  of  a  court  nioi'e  reline(l,  '  You  are 
now."  .>aid  the  Mexican  nder.  "with  your  l)rothers  in  your 
own  house.  Kefresh  yourself  after  your  fatigue,  :ind  b(> 
happy  until  T  return." 

The  ])lace  allotted  to  the  S])aniards  for  their  loduin^u's  was 
a  vast  palace  Imilt  by  ^route/unia's  fatlier.  ]t  was'sur- 
lounded  l)y  a  stone  wall,  Avilli  towers  at  ])r()])er  distances, 
which  served  for  defense  as  well  as  for  ornament;  and  its 
apartments  and  courts  wer(>  so  lirp'.  as  toaccoinmodale  l)olh 
the  S])aniards  and  their  Indian  allies.  The  lirst  car(>  of 
(j(»rtes  was  to  take  precautions  for  liis  security,  by  ])lantiii.n' 
the  artillery  so  as  to  command  tlu>  di(rer(>nt  avenues  which 
led  to  his  (j^uarters.     lie  also  apiiointed  u  large  di\ision  of 


<  f 


lIKItXAMJO  con Tf:S. 


273 


Ills  ti'()o|)s  to  be  always  on  ^iiMi'il,  jukI   posted   scniiiiols  at 
.jiroitcr  stations, with  strict  oidt'is  to  o])srrv(;   the  saiin' viui- 
laiit  discipliiu!  ii«  ii"  tlu'y  were  with iu  sight  oi'  un  (.•ucaiy'y 
caiiip. 

The  nicinorahlo  day  on  whi<'h  Cortes  and  his  companions 
entered  >[exico  was  tlie  Mtliof  Noveiid)er,  J.")ll».  'I'licir  nuiii- 
))er  was  alx'Ut  -l^O.  In  a  time  of  <;ieat  rcstivity,  they  wouhl 
liavo  I'ormeil  hut  a  poor  aiid  mi'an  sacriliee  to  ]ia\e  l)een 
offered  to  tlie  >[exi('an  gods.  Tiie  population  of  that  most 
famous  eity—theii  the  greatest  in  America—was  estimated 
by  the  best  authorities  at  300, OUO  souls.' 


'  M''Ni  Ml.  or  T''i>'i''hfl'l(tii.  li"  it  was  iiucii'iilly  cilli'd  Uy  tlic  imlhcs,  Is  ^illl:^!(■cl  in  a  liirvjf  ]<'  I"., 
;'M\  iraiicil  liy  moiliilaJTH  of  HiR'ii  lu'iu'lif,  lliat,  lli<iiii:li  "illiiii  llif  'I'nrriil  /one,  Uk'  liliilicru.  i  iif 
1!-  ilimale  is  iiiil.l  an  I  licaltlifui.  All  tin.'  nioisimo  vliicli  lUsci'ml?  fiipin  lln'  liiu'li  •'loiincls  U 
(iillctliMl  In  several  lili.'s,  tlip  f  i  '  -l  of  wliii'li,  of  iilioul  ninctv  miles  In  clri  i:it.  <(inLinniiienl(' 
Willi  eacli  other.  Tiiu  water  of  llie  one  is  fresh,  that  of  the  oilier  hiiul  i>li.  (In  tlie  lianks  of  tlie 
jailer  anil  on  some  sinall  i.-lau.ls  ailjoiniii^  lo  them,  the  ciiipHal  of  Monie/nina's  eiiipire  wa.i 
limit. 

The  city  of  Mexico  was  ai)liro:ielieil  hy  three  iirineipal  eailseway«i  of  alioiit  thirty  feel  in  lireaiitli, 
(oiisinicieil  of  soliil  nia-ionry.  The  leiiu'th  of  oni'  of  these  causeways  was  luo  leaeiies.  and  that 
<.r  aiioihei  a  leai,'iie  anil  a  half;  ami  these  two  ampie  caiiscways  iiniii'il  In  the  miilille  of  the  city, 
where  siood  the  ;;real  teiniile.  .\t  the  ends  of  these  caii-eways  were  wooden  diaw-hricli,'es,  i o 
lli.il  eoiiiiiiiiiiieatioii  toiilil  he  cut  olT  helween  llie  (aiiseHay«  iiiid  the  city.  «hl(  li  would  thus  he- 
coaie  a  citadel  TliiTc  was  aNo  an  a(|iie(|iiet  w  liieh  commiiidcaled  with  liie  mainland,  coiisislincr 
cil  two  separate  lines  of  work  in  miisonry.  in  urder  that  if  one  shoiiid  need  repair,  llie  supply  of 
watei  Tor  llie  city  iiii.'ht  not  he  interriipleil. 

The  streets  were  the  most  various  iii  con-triielinn  that  have  ever  heen  seen  in  any  city  in  tho 
world  Some  wi're  of  dry  land,  olliers  wlmlly  of  water;  and  otln'rs,  iiL'aln.  had  jialhways  of  pave- 
m.Mit  while  in  the  center  lliere  was  room  for  hoals.  Tlie  f(iol-|ias'-eiij,'ers  could  talk  «illi  those  in 
Ihe  l)oat<. 

Tl.i^  aliodes  of  the  Me.siran  kin^.'s  were  not  like  the.pelty  wiirwains  of  the  other  Xorth  .Xmericau 
/.idian  chiefs  A  most  observant  Spaniard,  who  tir-t  s.iw  these  wonders,  speaks  of  a  palace  of 
Moiiti'/.iinia's  in  which  there  was  a  room  in  w  hicli  .'i.Oili)  persons  eoiild  he  well  ai-comniodaU'd.  mid 
on  tho  lerracedike  roof  of  whicli  ii  splendid  tonrnainent  niii;ht  have  heen  t.'iveii.  The  marl<et. 
jilace  was  siirrounded  with  porticos,  and  tlieru  was  room  in  it  for  "lO.fUm  iieople  to  hiiy  ami  ~ell. 
Tlie  ureal  l<  niple  of  the  city  was  of  vast  proportions.  Cortes  liim«elf  stales  that  the  .sjince  allotted 
lo  it  w  as  twenty  tiiuud  as  large  as  the  luuikctplacu.   lu  ehort,  Mexico  was  truly  a  \vuiidi;rfui  ciif. 


mmm 


CHAPTER    TI. 

THE   STORY   OF  THE   CONQUK^T   BRIEFLY  TOLD. 

Views  and  interviews— Visit  to  t7ie  Great  Temj)le— Cortes  in 
a  dan  (J er OILS  and  delicate  position— A  bold  step,  and  how 
it  was  executed — OtJier 'projects— Montezuma  becomes  a 
vassal  of  the  Spanish  Sotereiyns—IIe  invites  Cortes  to 
return  home — Anew  enemy,  and  hem  Cortes  disjwsed  of 
liim — Unwelcome  intelligence — The  revolt  against  the 
Spaniards — War  in  the  city  ef  ]\Iixico — Desperede 
fighting  and  fearful  scenes— Decdh  of  Montezuma — 
The  '•'sorrowful  nighV  and  retreat  of  the  Spaniards — 
On  the  road  to  TlascaJa — ^1  greed  battle — Amongst 
friends  again— Cortes  resolves  to  take  Mavico — dances 
at  the  historic  siege — I^all  of  the  great  Ceipital — Thanks- 
giving— A  neio  empire  for  Spain. 

In  tlie  oveninn;,  Monteznnm  returned  to  visit  his  guests. 
He  came  in  great  state,  and  bronglit  valuable  jjresents  to 
Cortes  and  liis  rien.  A  long  C( inference  then  followed  with 
the  Spanish  General,  in  which  tlie  ^Mexican  Monarch  I'leely 
expressed  his  opinion  of  the  strangers.  Among  the  Mexi- 
cans it  was  an  established  tradition,  he  told  Cortes,  that 
their  ancestors  came  originally  from  a  remote  region,  and  con- 
quered the  countries  now  subject  to  his  rule,  and  that  after 
they  were  settled  there,  the  great  captain  who  conducted 
this  colony  rerurned  to  his  own  country,  promising  that  at 
some  future  period  his  descendants  would  visit  them,  assume 
the  government,  and  reform  their  laws  and  constitution. 

From  what  he  had  seen  and  heard  of  the  Spaniards,  Mon- 

tezuma  said  in  conclusion,  he  had  no  doubt  that  they  were  the 

Very  piM'sons  whose  appearance  the  Mexican  traditions  and 

prophecies  taught  him  to  expect;  and  hence  he  had  received 

274 


nERxVAXDO  CORTES. 


275 


tliem,  not  as  strangers,  but  as  relations  of  the  same  blood  and 
l)arentage,  and  desired  that  tliey  miglit  consider  themselves 
as  masters  in  his  dominions,  for  both  himself  and  Ids  sub- 
iects  would  be  readv  to  show  them  all  due  honor.  The 
reply  of  the  Spanish  Conunander  was  eloquent,  cautious, 
and  dignilied. 

The  next  day  Cortes  paid  a  visit  to  Montezuma.  This 
time,  the  conversation  was  not  political.  It  was  religious. 
Our  hei'o  was  a  man  of  dec^p  and  ardent  faith.  As  a  true 
knigiit,  he  would  have  shed  the  last  drop  of  his  blood  'for 
the  glory  of  God  and  the  Catholic  Church.  Indeed,  the 
pages  of  history  might  be  searched  in  vain  for  the  name  of 
any  conqueror  who  was  nu)re  deeply  imbued  with  the  mis- 
sionary spirit  than  the  wise  and  fearless  Cortes. 

The  Conunander-in-chief  was  not  unpractised  in  expound- 
ing the  truths  of  P^iith.  He  related  to  Montezuma  thewon- 
derfid  story  of  Christianity,  stated  why  the  Spaniards  hon- 
ored the  Cross,  gave  expression  to  his  hatred  and  scorn  for 
the  vile  idols  of  Mexico,  and  informed  the  dusky  Emperor 
tliat  these  idols  had  given  way  before  the  "Cross."    He  then 

1  Que  niirasccn  qimn  niiilo'i  pon,  y  do  poca  valia,  que  actoiulo  toiiomo«  i)n('s(as  t'nizcs,  oomo  Ir.s 
que  vicMii  MIS  Emliaxailorcs,  ciiii  ti  iiior  ilfllas  no  o-nu  jiaruci-T  ilclaiitu.— jViVvkj/  J/ia:,  '■/lUk/ria 
]\r'lti/irii  U<  !<i  Corj/'ii-id  de  hi  Xiitrd-Ffiinua." 

HiTiial  Diaz,  tlio  liravc  old  soMiiT-Uistoriaii  of  tlio  Coiiquost  of  ifrxico,  was  a  native  of  Spain, 
till'  sou  of  hmnlile  parents,  and  in  early  years  came  to  seek  Ids  forliiLc  in  the  New  World,  lie 
e!ili-ti'd  iinilcr  tlie  bann.T  of  Corles,  and  followed  Ids  vietorious  el.ief  tliron:;hoiit  llie  whole  wir 
t!i,ii  Uil  to  the  downfall  of  Mon;e:'.iiina  and  Indian  rule  in  the  Mexican  empire.  He  was  en;.'ii.i,'ed 
ill  one  hundred  and  nineteen  hatlles,  was  often  wonniled.  and  more  than  once  came  near  fallhiij 
into  the  haiiils  of  the  enra:,'ed  enemy.  His  valor  was  never  qneslior.ed.  and  his  manly  loyally 
m:ide  him  proof  airainst  the  mutinous  spirit  that  too  often  disturbed  the  liarmony  of  the  eamp. 
(la  every  occasion  he  was  found  trae  to  his  commander  and  to  the  cause  in  whidi  he  wa-  em- 
harked.  On  the  settlement  of  th"  conntry.  Tliaz  received  a  pood  share  of  the  land  ai.il  laboii  rs. 
We  nil  1  the  veteran  in  l.'iliS  established  as  rtiihlor  of  the  city  of  Guatemala,  peacefully  employed 
ill  re'-ountin^'  the  woiidnfni  achievements  of  hi.s  yontl;.  It  was  then  about  half  a  century  after 
the  Coiiipiest.  Corit^s  ami  nearly  all  his  ancient  companions  in  arms  were  no  more.  Five  only 
re.n.iiued  of  tliat  :j;allant  band  that  had  aecoinpimied  the  irreat  Commander  on  lii.s  expedition  from 
Cuba;  and  those  five,  to  horroiv  the  words  of  the  old  clironieler  himself,  were  "poor,  aued  and 
infirm,  with  children  and  crand-ehililren  lookinL'  to  them  for  sii|i|)ort.  hut  with  scarcely  the 
means  of  affordin;^  it— endin;:;  their  ihiys  as  they  had  beL'un  them,  in  toil  and  troiitile."  Diaz's 
liislurin  Ytrdttihra  de  tn  Cniif/nh'/n  df  Ui  Aeiira  KKpnila  ("The  True  History  of  tlie  Conquest  of 
K  w  Spain")  is  tlie  pimjde  and  unvarnished  story  of  the  Conquest  of  Mexico.  I'reseott.  from 
wliom  nearly  all  thi.s  note  is  taken,  ret.'ards  nin/'.  as  an  inimitable  scene-iadnter.  He  Isamou',' 
chroniclers  what  De  Foe  is  amonir  novelists.  All  tlie  picturestiue  -.cenes  and  romantic  incidents 
of  the  cainpaiirn  rtre  retlected  in  his  pajzes  as  in  a  mirror.  The  lajise  of  tlfty  years  had  no  ))ower 
over  the  spirit  of  the  vetornn.  The  lire  of  youtli  !:h)ws  in  every  line  o  '.s  rude  history,  whiih 
lay  in  manuscript  for  more  than  half  a  century  before  il  was  printed.  It  was  published  at  Madrid 
In  lii^ji. 


• 


, 


5] 


: 


M 


270 


7//;/i\^'.  1 M.) 0  CORTES. 


sjiolie  of  file  Croation,  of  Adiini  nnd  Eve,  and  the  iiiii\t'is!il 
l)i()tli('i'li()od  of  iiiiui;  and  said  tJiat  liis  Kiii^,  in  tin;  ti'tio 
s])irit  of  isiu'li  l)i'(irlierho(;d,  gi'icviiiji-  ovci-  the  loss  of  souls, 
had  sent  flie  Spaniards  to  ])i'cveiit  the  adoialiou  of  idols 
and  file  revoltin,!-'  sacriliee  of  men  and  women.  'I'lu-  min- 
isters of  the  .u'ood  and  a]l-i)()\v('rf;il  (.iod,  he  coiicliidcd, 
Avonld  eonie  after  liini  to  instruct  the  Mexicans  in  these 
lioly  things. 

''1  liavi;  luid  a  perfect  nnderstanding.'"  replied  ^Fonte- 
znnia,  "(jf  all  the  discoui'se  and_reasoninL;s  which  you  have 
addressed  before  now  to  my  subjects  ui)on  the  su'ojeet  i/f 
your  (toiI,  and  in  relation  to  the  Cross.  .  .  AV<^  have  not  re- 
s])on(h'd  to  any  of  these  things,  for  fi'oni  the  beginning  here 
Ave  hav(^  adoicd  our  gods,  and  iiave  held  them  to  be  goftd 
gods;  and  so.  n,o  doul)t.  ai'e  youis.  I)Ut  do  not  take  (he 
troiU-tle,  at  present,  to  say  anything  more  about  tln-ni  to 
ns.''  'J'he  royal  pagan  tluMi  concluded  Avith  a  nio^t  cour- 
teous n.'fei'ence  ro  the  Sjianisli  Soveieign. 

Several  days  were  now  <'mployed  in  viewing  the  city.  Its 
appearance  Idled*  the  S^ianlaids  with  suipiise  aiul  admira- 
tion. There  could  be  seen  the  vast  marketplace,  w  ith  its 
tliousands  of  buyers  and  sellei's.  ("oi'tes  visited  the  gi'eat 
tem[»le  of  the  ^Sfe.xican  god  of  wrir.  at  the  entrance  of  whiiii 
I'K^  was  received  by  M.)]ile/.nma  and  his  piiests  and  iioiiles. 
The  ]»ai'ty  ascended  to  tlie  pinnacle,  and  the  view  was 
beaut  it'id. 

AV idle  enjoying  the  grandeur  of  the  scene,  Coites  turned 
to  his  venerable  companion.  Fatherde()lin( do,  and  said  :  -'It 
ap])ears  to  nie.  I'everend  father,  tluit  we  nught  jusi  mala; 
a  liial  of  ]\r(nite/nnia.  and  see  if  he  would  let  us  set  ujt  our 
cliuich  hei'e.""'  The  wiser  Franciscan  rejdied  that  it' would 
be  very  well  to  malve  the  re(pu'st  if  there  weiv  any  ho]M'  of 
its  being  granted,  .liistjlien  did  not  seem  to  beanop^ior- 
tune  moment,  and  the  .Mexican  ruler  would  most  likely 
give  a  decided  rcd'usal.  The  Si>aiusli  General  altandoned 
the  idea,  and  merely  jiskcd  M(mteziima  to  permit  the  stran- 


'  "I'Mivcc'iiic.  Sr  !iir  I';ii!rr,  i|Mi'  ■■'  rii  liiiii  i|iu'  dctiKw  uu  ticiito  {\  Monti'rmii.'i  ;  ■■(iIjiv  qui'  iicis 
dcxu  !i!. /.(•!•  mini  ihmis'.im  I  u'Ii'Mu. '■--//<  nml  JiUi.:,  "  llii-tuiia  ih  la  Contjuiflu.' 


'IE  UX Ay  no  CORTES. 


2t  t 


red 


fors  to  see  his  qioiTs.     For  the  first  time  a  Cliristian  entert 
thoHO  dread  tibodes  of  idolatry. 

Ill  a  tower  they  beheld  two  hideous  li-xnres  seated  on  an 
altar,  under  a  canopy.     One  had  a  broad  I'ace,  wide  mouth, 
and  terrible  eyes:  the  other  liad  a  countenance  lik<'  thiit  ui 
ii  benr.     Before  these  idols  were  burning-  eight  real  liearts  of 
men  who  had   tliat   day  been   sacrificed.     Tlie  walls  weie 
binck  with  clottel  blo.).l.     The  stench  was   sick.ming.     In 
short,  it  was  a  sight  awful  and  revolting,  and  Cor(es  did  not 
nttempt  to  conceal  his  just  and  Christian  indignation.     The 
Spaniards  inarched  back  to  their  (piarters,  sickened  and  sad- 
do\\vi\,  but  scmiewluit  enlightened  as  to  the  nature  and  bar- 
barous customs  of  the  mon  by  whom  they  were  surrounded. 
Cortes  felt  the  peculiar  danger  and  delicacy  of  his  situ- 
ation     From  a  concurrence  of  circumstances,  no  less  nne.v- 
])ected  than  favorable  to  his  progress,  he  had  been  allowed 
with  a  handful  of  soldiers  to  penetrate  into  the  heart  of  a 
pdwei'fu!  enipii'e.  without  having  once  met  with  opcni  onpo- 
sition    from   its  ruler,     lie  Avas  noAv  lodged  in  its  capital. 
The  Tlascalans,  however,  had  earnestly  dissmuled  the  Span- 
iards from  placing  such  confidence  in  Montezuma  as  to  enter 
a  city  so  singularly  situated  as  ^fexico,  when;  that  monarch 
woidd  h:vve  them  at  his  mercy,  shut  up  as  it  were  in  a  snare, 
fi'(un  which  it  was  inii)ossible  to  escape. 

They  assured  the  Spaniards  that  the  ]\rexiean  priests  had 
— in  the  name  of  the  gods— counsehMl  their  Sovereign  to 
ailniit  the  strangers  into  the  capital,  that  he  might  cut  them 
olf  at  one  blow,  with  pei'fect  security.  Cortes  oidy  loo 
plainly  perceived  that  the  api)rehensum  of  his  allies  was  not 
destitute  of  foundation  ;  that  by  breaking  :  he  bridges  ])laced 
at  certain  distances  on  the  causeways,  the  iwtreat  of  his  band 
of  Castlllans  would  be  next  to  impossible,  and  that  h<>  woidd 
have  to  remain  cooped  U])  in  the  center  of  a  lutstlle  city, 
surrounded  by  savage  midtitudes  sufficient  to  overwhelm 
his  forces. 

The  genius  of  Cortes  at  once  g-raspi^d  the  idea  that  the 
success  of  his  (Mit(M']ii'ise  entirely  dejxuided  ui>on  supporting 
the  high  opliuon  wliich  the  people  y)^  Mexico  l:t;d  formed 


^iili 


278 


UERNANDO  CORTES. 


Avitli  respect  to  tlie  irresistible  power  of  liis  arms.  To  be 
timid  Avas  to  be  lost.  The  least  sign  of  fear  niiglit  briii" 
Montezuma  to  let  loose  npon  liini  the  whole  force  of  the 
empii'e.  A  bold  step  had  involved  him  in  diflicnlties,  but 
lie  ventured  on  a  still  bolder— perhaps,  the  boldest  in  all 
history. 

lie  resolved  to  seize  Montezuma,  in  his  own  palace,  and 
bring  him  as  a  prisoner  to  the  Spanish  quarters.  Various 
causes  urged  him  to  act  thus.  From  the  superstitious  ven- 
eration of  the  Mexicans  for  the  person  of  their  Monarc'h,  as 
well  as  their  implicit  submission  to  his  will,  Cortes  hoped 
that  by  having  Montezuma  in  his  hands,  he  Avould  have  a 
sacred  pledge  which  would  secure  him  from  their  violence. 
He  moreover  thought  that  Avitli  the  Emperor  once  in  his 
X)ower,  all  the  provinces  of  the  Mexican  empire  would  be 
easily  brought  under  Spanish  rule..  He  communicated  the 
perilous  sclieme  to  his  troops,  and,  according  to  Bernal  Diaz, 
they  passed  the  night  in  praying  to  God,  "that  the  enter- 
j)iise  might  be  so  conducted  as  to  redound  to  His  holy 
service." 

The  recent  killing  of  a  few  Spaniards  outside  the  city  was 
made  tlie  pretext.  Until  the  matter  was  cleared  up,  Cortes 
declared,  ^lontezuma  must  come  and  live  with  his  forces  in 
their  quarters.  He  added  kind  and  soothing  words,  but 
the  Mexic'in  ]\[onarch  sat  stupefied  at  the  bold  demand.  "  I 
am  not  one  oi^  those  persons,"  iie  replied,  "who  are  put  in 
irons.  Even  if  I  were  to  consent,  my  subjects  would  never 
permit  it."  The  Spanish  General  jwrsisted,  however,  in  his 
demand,  and  Montezuma  finally  yielded.  In  deep  silence 
he  was  born<»  out  of  his  palace — never  more  to  return.  lie 
Avas  hunied  in  silent  jiomp  to  the  Spanish  quarters. 
"This,"  says  Ileliis,  "is  an  unparalleled  transaction.  There 
is  nothing  like  it,  I  believe,  in  the  annals  of  the- world." ' 


'  "Ro;»ando  &  nioB,  que  fiicp^e  do  tnl  modo,  qne  rcdiindaBse  para  pu  eanto  scr\\<:\o."—x}ernal 
Piaz. 

'  '-Xow  tli:if  I  fim  an  old  man."  writes  tlio  vpffran  Diaz,  fifty  s'pars  after  he  witncsBcd  tlio  above 
evnit,  "I  oflni  ciilcrlaiii  myself  witli  calling  to  mind  llic  lioroie  deeds  of  early  days  til!  they  are 
a."  fresii  as  yesterday.  I  thinly  of  'he  Heiznre  of  the  Indian  Monarch,  hi^  ronllnement  in  irons, 
aiiil  the  exerulimi  of  his  oflleers.  till  all  tliese  tliin!.'s  seem  artnally  iiassinu'  hefore  me.  And.  :is 
I  pfwider  on  mir  exjiloits,  I  feel  that  it  vas  not  of  ourselves  that  wo  iierformed  them,  hnt  that  it 
Was  the  Providence  of  God  wlilch  guided  us.    Much  food  ia  tliere  here  for  nuditution." 


UERNANDO  CORTES. 


279 


!Montezuma  was  received  in  tlie  Spanish  quarters  with 
every  mark  of  liigh  respect.  He  was  attended  by  liis  own 
domestics,  and  served  with  his  usual  state.  His  principal 
(>{iii:ers  had  free  access  to  him.  As  if  he  had  been  at  jier- 
fect  liberty,  he  carried  on  ^very  function  of  government. 
The  Castilians,  however,  kept  a  careful  watch  over  their  royal 
piisoiju'-guest ;  but  at  the  same  time  endeavored  to  soothe 
and  reconcile  him  to  his  situation  by  delicate  acts  of  regard 
and  attachment.'  Thus,  by  the  fortunate  temerity  of  Cortes, 
they  at  once  secured  to  themselves  more  extensive  authority 
in  the  ^Mexican  empnre  than  it  would  be  possible  to  have 
acquired  in  a  long  course  of  time  by  open  force.  In  the 
nunie  of  another  they  now  exercised  more  absolute  sway 
than  they  could  liiive  done  in  their  own. 

Tlie  Spanish  General  did  not  hesitate  to  avail  himself  of 
tlie  powers  which  lie  possessed  by  being  able  to  act  in  the 
]ianie  of  Montezuma.  He  sent  some  of  his  best  qualified 
olhcei's  into  dilferent  parts  of  tlie  empire,  accompanied 
by  persons  of  distinction,  whom  Montezuma  appointed 
to  attend  to  them,  both  as  guides  and  protectors.  They 
visited  most  of  tlie  jn'ovinces,  viewed  their  soil  and  pro- 
ductions, they  surveyed  with  particular  care  the  districts 
whicli  yielded  gold  or  silver,  pitched  upon  several  places 
as  projier  points  for  future  colonies,  and  endeavored  to 
prepare  the  minds  of  the  Mexicans  for  submitting  to  Span- 
ish rule. 

With  the  keen  eye  of  thoughtful  genius  Cortes,  how- 
ever, saw  there  was  one  tiling  still  wanting  to  corax)lete 
his  security.  He  always  looked  ahead.  He  wished  to 
have  command  of  the  lake  which  surrounded  the  great 
city.  This  would  open  a  means  of  retreat,  if,  either  from 
levity  or  disgust,  the  ^[(^xicans  should  take  arms  against 
liiin,  and  break  down  the  bridiies  or  causeways.    AVith  him, 

'  It  may  well  bo  bollcvcd  tlint  the  Spaiiiiinls  did  not  iip):1o''M1iu  oiiportiiiiiiy  alTordi'd  by  hlB 
r.^sidt'iicu  willi  tlu'in  of  instilling  into  him  some  notions  of  ttu'  Cliristiaii  dortriiio.  Fathers  Diaa 
tiiul  OIi-.khIo  fxhauHtod  uU  thoir  battery  of  lofric  and  iiersna^ion  to  ►hake  liis  faith  in  his  idoln, 
bill  ill  vain.  Ho,  indeed,  paid  .1  most  edifyin<.'  attention,  which  ^'ave  promise  of  t)ettcr  thingn. 
]l:u  the  fonferenees  ahvayn  clused  with  thu  declarntion  that  "the  (iod  of  tlic^  Chriatianfl  Wtt» 
ijuud,  but  that  tUu  goda  of  hid  owii  country  were  the  Uue  gods  for  Lim.''— /'rt4#«^^ 


28.') 


lll-niX.  1  M)0.  COUTI'JS 


!  t 


t(»  pi;. a  was  to  ac('()i.ii)li.sli.  Having  fRHiuontly  entei(aiiic(l 
^\!()iil('/iiiiia,  '.vitli  acciMints  ol"  .sliins  and  tlie  art  oi  na\i:ia- 
tion,  he  awakiMn'il  tli*'  Jattcr's  cni'iosity  to  see  those  mov- 
ing- palaces,  which  without  oai's  made  their  way  lliiduuh 
the  Wider. 

Under  tli(!  pi'etext  of  gi'ati lying  this  desii-e,  Cortes  re- 
quested Montezuma  fo  appoint  some  of  his  snbjects  to  bring 
to  the  city  pait  of  the  naval  stoi'es  winch  t he  Sj^aniards  had 
left  at  A'era  <  'rez,  and  to  enij/loy  others  in  (aitting  down  and 
l)reparing  tiinlMT.  It  was  done.  And  Avith  ]\I(\\ican  assi>t- 
ance,  tin^  (Jastiliau  carpenters  soon  coini)leted  two  luigan- 
tiiies.  A  new  sonrct^  of  amusement  Avas  tints  all'orded  to 
the  dusky  Monarch,  and  a  im-ans  of  escape  to  Cortes,  if  lie 
shoidd  be  obliged  to  retire. 

'I'he  S])anis]i  Commaudt>r  felt  that  the  time  had  arrived  to 
persuade  Montezunra  to  give  some  pu])lic  sign  of  fealty  to 
the  King  of  Sjiain.  Tt  was  certainly  ii  trying  test.  'V\w 
j\[exican  INrotiarch's  elastic  pov.-ei'  of  subnnssion  was  now  to 
be  sfrercheil  to  the  utmost.  He  called  together  tlu'  chief 
men  of  his  tMupire,  and  reminded  thetu  ill  a  solennis])e(M'h  of 
the  traditions  and  pro[»he!'ie-<  which  led  them  to  expect  the 
arrival  of  a  people  sprung  from  Wu'  same  stock  as  themselves 
in  order  to  talv<>  possession  of  the  supreme  power.  He  de- 
clared his  belief  that  the  Sitaniards  were  this  promised  race. 
][e  said  he  recognized  the  right  of  their  King  to  govern  the 
]\[exican  empire,  and  that  he  would  lay  down  his  crown  and 
obey  the  Sjjanish  Sovereign  as  a  tributary.  His  gi'itd"  was 
visible,  for  he  wept.  This  act  of  snbmission  and  homage 
■was  executcnl  with  all  due  formality.  What  a  sudden  change 
in  tlu^  position  of  a  vast  empire! 

15ut  the  grand  triunij)h  of  Cortes,  and  that  nse  of  his 
powcu-  for  Avhich  he  has  l)een  likened  to  J.udas  Maccabeus, 
was  in  the  destruction  of  the  hideous  ^fexican  idols,  the 
cleansing  of  their  fold  temples,  and  tin;  stern  for])iddiiig  of 
human  sacrilices  any  more.  ^Monlezuma  himsfdf  and  many 
of  his  chief  men  were  ]iresent  at  the  downfall  of  the  idols. 
It  nnist  have  been  a,  glorious  siuht. 

About  six  months  had  n  w  passed  away  since  the  Mexi- 


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ran  M<;nairli  bcijan  to  live  in  tlie  Spanisli  quarters.'  One 
(lay  lu'  sent  for  Cortos.  They  retired  to  a  room,  and  Mon- 
te/unia  thus  addressed  the  Spanish  General:  "I  pray  you, 
take  your  departure  from  this  my  city  and  my  land,  lor  my 
^ods  art*  very  an^ry  that  I  keep  you  liere.  Ask  oi"  me  what 
y(ju  may  want,  and  I  will  give  it  to  you.  Do  not  think  that 
i  say  this  to  you  in  any  jest,  but  very  much  in  earnest. 
Therefore,  fultill  my  desire,  that  so  it  may  be  done,  whatever 
may  occur." 

Cortes  was  a  man  whom  events  might  snrprise,  but  never 
discompose.  "I  have  heard  what  you  have  said,"  lie  re- 
l)lied,  "and  tliaidc  you  much  for  it.  Name  a  time  when  j'ou 
wish  us  to  depart,  and  so  it  sliall  l)e." 

"I  do  not  wish  you  to  hurry,"  said  the  politic  Monte- 
zuma. "Tak(^  the  time  that  seems  to  you  necessary;  and 
Avhen  you  do  go,  I  will  give  to  you,  Cortes,  two  loads  of 
gold,  and  one  to  each  of  your  companions." 

"You  are  already  well  aware,"  remarked  the  Spanish 
General,  '*how  I  destroyed  my  ships,  when  I  first  landed  in 
your  territory.  But  now  we  have  need  of  others  to  return  to 
our  own  country.  I  should  be  obliged  if  you  would  give  ns 
worlvuien  to  cut  and  work  the  timber;  and  when  the  vessels 
are  built,  we  shall  take  our  departure.  Of  this  you  can  in- 
form your  gods  and  your  subjects." 

Montezuma  assented.  Mexican  workmen  were  sent  to 
Vera  Cruz  under  Spanish  officers.  The  building  of  ships 
was  begun  in  earnest. 

From  the  day  of  this  interview,  however,  the  tone  of  the 
Mexican  ruler  towards  Cortes  was  changed.  The  Spaniards 
began  to  appreciate  the  danger  of  their  position;  and  went 
about  fully  prepared  for  a  sudden  attack  at  any  moment. 
Indeed,  this  little  body  of  men  lived  in  their  armor,  and 
formed  such  habits  of  wariness  that  years  of  peace  could 
not  elface  the  watchful  customs  which  they  had  acquired  at 
this  eventful  period  of  their  lives,  so  much  so,  that  one  of 

'  Cord's  piitori'il  the  city  of  Mexico  on  flioRth  of  Novcmtior.  1510.  Tt  wns  now  the  hctrinnin^  of 
Miiy,  I."i'3i);  luvl  In  Ihc-c  I'cw  months  lie  hnil  accoii)|ilii-lii(l  mure  tlinn  any  toiuiiiuror— Ijcforo  or 
uftcr  him— ever  elid  with  so  tiuull  a  force  at  his  command.— JJeJjjii. 


-3:g^L — '- 


283 


IIERXAXDO  CORTRS. 


tlieiu  :irt('i'\v:ii'(l.s  describes  how  lie  could  never  pass  a  iii^ht 
in  bed,  but  must  <^('t  up  and  walk  about  in  the  open  air,  and 
ga/.e  at  the  stars.'  If  such  were  the  feelings  oi"  the  conunou 
soldiers,  Avhat  nuist  have  been  the  sleepless  anxiety  of  their 
Conuuandi'r  i 

Only  a  few  of  those  days  of  fear  and  suspense  had  woi'n 
away,  when  Cortes  received  intelligence  of  a  most  peijileX' 
ing  event.  I'jghteen  ships  had  arrived  in  the  Eay  of  San 
Juan,  not  fa  I'  fi'om  his  iiitle  colony  of  \'era  Cruz.  It  was 
alai'iniun' news. ■  The  (\iMiei'al  instantly  sent  messengers  iu 
vaiious  directions  to  glean  furtluM'  information  in  regard  to 
the  ships.  At  last,  Montezuma  informed  him  that  he  was 
aware  of  tlie  anival  of  the  newcomers,  lie  showed  Cortes 
a  pictur(M)f  th(?  force.  It  had  disembarked,  and  consisted, 
of  eighty  hoises,  eight  hundred  m(>n.  and  tvn  or  twelve  can- 
non. 'V\w  .Mexican  ruler  also  intimated,  it  is  said,  that 
there  was  now  no  excuse  for  the  Spaniards  to  delay  their  re- 
turn hom(\ 

TJiis  formidable^  arninment  was  sent  by  his  former  master, 
and  now  bitter  enemy,  (Governor  A'elascpiez  of  Cuba.  It  was 
conunauded  by  1)(!  X;irvaez,  an  exix-rienced  general ;  and 
his  iustructiiius  were  t(^  seize  Cortes  and  his  conipanions. 
He  sent  ailattcring  message  to  Montezuma,  telling  him  that 
he  canu^  to  release  him.  lie  also  sought  to  gain  tlu^  little 
garrison  at  A'era  (Jruz,  but  they  were  true  to  their  Comman- 
der. To  Cortes  tlie  danger  was  imminent,  and,  like  a  hero, 
he  met  it  more  than  half-way. 

Leaving  a  brave  oflicer  named  Alvarado  in  command,  ho 
departed  from  the  city  at  the  head  of  only  seventy  of  his 


'  Durini;  tlw  niiK'  niniuli"  tliat  tlic  Spntiiards  rcmnincd  in  Mrxicn.  every  in;iii.  willuiul  niiy  (lis- 
titictioii  between  oflieers  iiiiil  s-ildierx,  slept  on  his  nrms,  in  liis  (|iiilteil  jaeliet.  'I'lii^y  l:iy  un 
iniifs,  or  sti'iiw  spread  <in  tlie  lloor;  iind  eaeli  was  oliliced  to  liold  himself  in  nisli.nt  niidiiiess. 
"Tliis."'  writes  the  soldiirhistorian.  Henial  Diaz.  "  liceame  so  haliitnal  to  ine,  tlial  even  now  in 
my  advanced  a;;e,  I  always  sleep  in  my  eloihes,  and  never  in  my  lied.  When  I  visit  my  I.'iicdini- 
(lula,  I  di'em  it  siiil.iole  to  my  lanli  to  liave  a  lied  carried  alanir  with  my  other  lia,L'L'ai.'e,  hut  [ 
never  fjo  into  it.  Aci  ordlnL'  to  cnstom  I  lie  in  my  clothes,  and  walk  fre(|aen|ly  dnrinu'  the  tiitrlit 
into  the  open  air  to  view  the  star.",  as  I  was  wont  when  in  the  service.  And,  th.'inks  lie  to  (io,!  I 
have  received  no  harm  fri>m  it.  I  mention  these  thiiiffs  that  the  world  may  nndersland  of  what 
stulf  we,  the  true  Coiupurors.  were  made,  and  how  well  drille<l  we  were  to  arms  and  watehin):." 

'  Cortes  received  this  news  from  one  of  his  officers  whom  he  had  appointed  to  watch  the  cuust. 
What  a  btriiiin;,'  instance  of  his  remarkahle  foresight. 


h  ■■1    >■ 


il:V 


IIEUXA  XB  0  CO  li  TES. 


2S3 


tric'l  niul  trusted  followers,  am!  l>y  forced  mnrclies  pushed 
(i;i  (owarihs  Ceinpoalla.  On  the  way  he  learned  that  Nar- 
va''/ occupied  the  ;:!;reat  temple,  and  at  once  detei'niined  on 
a  nii;ht  assault.  His  ])l-aus  v.-ere  laid  with  ania/in,u-  skill. 
The  sentinels  were  sui-prised  at  their  posts.  The  attack  was 
hold  and  sudden,  and  in  a  few  minutes  Narv:'ez  and  all  his 
men  were  prisoners  in  tlie  liands  of  (.'ortos!' 

The  ]n'isoners  soon  ratified  themselves  under  '.he  l^anner  of 
the  coni^ueror;  and  thus  !i  ui'eat  danger  was  turne(l.  into  a 
welcome  succor.  Cortes  received  the  vnncpiished  tioops  in 
the  most  winnini,^  niaunei",  and  at  once  createil  an  enthusiasm 
in  his  lavoi'."  One  of  the  soldiers  of  Narvaez — ane.u'ioand 
a  comical  fellow — (hmced  and  shouted  for  joy,  civin.sj,': 
"\Vhere  are  the  Romans  -who  with  such  small  numbers  ever 
achieved  so  <.^"rerit  a  victory  f ' 

Two  weeks  after  this,  a  ti-avel-worn  courier  liurried  up  to 
Cortes,  and  conununicate!l  most  unwelcome  intelli.trence. 
The  Spanish  garrison  in  Mexico,  he  said,  were  besie.ued  by  tho 
citi/ens,  and  w(M'e  in  extr(Mue  peril.  The  four  l>ri,i:'antine.s 
on  th(^  lake  had  been  burneil.  Fury  possessed  the  l)arba- 
rous  multitude.  Tn  short,  Alvarado  implored  his  C^eneral 
for  the  love  of  God  to  lose  no  time  in  Imstenin^u;  to  his 
assistance  I 

This  revolt  was  excited  bv  motives  which  rendered  it  verv 


'  Durino;  I'lir,  Iiritf  <  onlUct,  the  moon— ns  if  slio  had  hi'cn  n  piirtlsan  of  Cortijs  nnd  was  wcnry  of 
lookhi;;  down  iipoii  tlif  hovrid  s:irrit!co>!  to  \vlii<h  ho  was  emloavornie  to  ]mt  nn  cud— whlidrcw 
hiTs.'ir  hi'hjiid  tlio  cloud.",  aii.l  siiltcri'd  the  X.irvacz  faction,  new  to  the  laud,  to  liclicvc  IM;it  ccr- 
tiin  hiniliioiis  crcaiiircs  {('oniyos)  were  the  clitterins;  of  nnnuToiis  miislict'J  in  the  hands  of  th*" 
troop.s  of  Corle.'i.  Xo  Hooiier,  however,  was  tlie  action  decided,  than  slio  came  lortli  inn'!  Ikt 
fjilendor,  to  illiHtraie  and  honor  thj  \\ctory  ',—/le/;)f. 

2  In  tUo  oncountrT  Xarvacz  lost  an  eye.  He  was  sent  ns  a  prisoner  to  Vera  Cruz.  II''  was  rv 
hrave  man,  hut  nii-fortniu'  niarked'liis  after  career,  and  his  fate  was  trairic.  Ainoiiu'  lliose  who 
funned  part  of  Ins  e.xpeililion  to  Florida,  in  1,5-','^,  was  the  Ht.  I{ev.  .Tohn  .Tuarez,  wlio  had  lieen 
app(.i:ited  hy  the  Holy  See  Rishop  r  "  •i'lorida.  The  expeiiition  ri'aehed  Florida  i!i  .\pril,  l.'riS. 
Narvaez  and  hw  men,  accompanied  hy  the  prelate  and  a  fi'W  priests,  lieiran  thu'r  march  into  the 
interior.  Jiiare,;,  it  may  hi'  rem.arked.  was  ih.e, ;(';■,%•/  liishop,  and  Ids  comimnion  <  the./?;'.''/  inis>ion- 
nries  wlio  set  foot  within  the  jiresent  limils  of  tl'.i'  Cnited  States.  Disease,  aiiled  liy  the  hostility 
of  the  sav.a^'e  n-iiives,  ninde  llu'ir  course  one  series  of  disasters.  WIdle  crossln;,'  rvlohlle  liay  in  A 
hoat.  the  Bishop  and  his  companions  were  nearly  drowned,  liein'.^  saved  only  hy  the  skill  a.id 
le  next  day  Nartiez  hi;nsclf  wa.s  driven  out  to  ."ea,  ai 
rirolhcr  .John  (Ti'  I'alos  were  last  seen  to::i'iher.  It  : 
i-',icd  of  ;i;ini,'er.  or  at  the  hands  of  the  Inilians.  Tims  the  Ainericin  Clnirch  had  its  martyrs  only 
lldrty-'-ix  years  after  the  discovery  of  the  vontmcnl.—  •J'ojmlar  Ilhtonj  of  t/ie  Catholk  L'kurch 
ill  lac  CuilcJ  Stales.'' 


I'Mvcrv  of  Narvaez.   Tlie  next  day  Nartiez  hi;nsclf  wa.s  driven  out  to  ."ca,  and  never  attain  hrard 
of.    Hisiioi)  .Juarez  and  Firollicr  .John  (Ti'  I'alos  were  last  seen  to::i'iher.     It  is  Kn|)])iised  th'y  per- 


:?84 


irmixAXDo  coiiTi^s. 


t 


!i!:irniiiig.  On  11k>  (Icpnitui'ft  of  Corti's  for  Cenipoalln,  the 
Mt'xiciiiis  ilattcvi'il  tlicmsclvcs  tliat  tlie  loni?  expected  ojjpor- 
I  unity  of  reHtoriii;j,"  Mo.'ite/iiniii  to  ]il)ei'ty,  and  of  freeing 
tln'ir  country  fi'oni  the  doniiiiion  of  th(!  ilreacUnl  stranuci's, 
Avas  at  h'nu'lli  ari'ived.  'Die  S^Kinish  forces  \ver(»  divich'd, 
anil  the  (^nneral  ^vas  absent.  Consultations  weie  lield. 
i^Iany  scheim's  wen;  fornicd.  Th(i  Sjianiards  ]s.ne\v  their 
own  fcelileness,  and  suspcM'ted  and  dreatled  a  conspiracy. 

Alvarado.  tiiouu'li  a  pdlant  oilicer,  jtosse.ssed  neitliei-  that 
wonderful  cajtacity  nor  di,i;'nity  of  niaiuuMs  by  which  ('ortes 
liad  ac(piired  such  an  ascendancy  over  tlie  minds  of  the 
}.It>xicans,  as  never  allowed  them  to  form  a  just  estimate  of 
his  w(>akness  or  of  tlieir  (»wn  f^trenutli.  Alvarado  knew  no 
mode  of  su]i]H)rtin2:  his  antliority  but  force.  He  tliou<;-ht  of 
no  mt'aiis  of  persuasion  but  his  sword.  Instead  of  employ- 
in 'j;  address  to  disconcert  the  plans,  or  to  soothe  tlie  spirits 
of  the  [)]otting  ]\Iexicans,  he  waited  tlie  return  (»f  one  of 
tlieir  solemn  pa,Lran  IVstivals,  when  the  chief  jiersons  in  the 
<'nipire  wi'i'e  dancinu'.  according'  to  cisrom,  in  tln^  court  of 
I'll'  iii'eat  temple.  Jb*  attacked  the  crowd  wilhall  his  force,' 
it  11' I  the  massacre  was  I'earfid.  It  was  A\ild  and  bloody 
Av< <;•]<.  The  new.s  of  this  event  iilled  ih(>  city  with  ra.u'e  and 
fury.  \'enp'ance  walked  the  streets.  The  Sp;iniards  were 
b:>s!eu:t>d.  and  all  those  acts  of  violence  were  committed  of 
V  hich  Cortes  riH'eived  an  account. 

The  distant  (feneral  lo.st  no  time,  but,  gathering- his  men. 
aiound  hitn.  he  ])ei2;an  his  march  for  the  capital.  At 'J'las- 
( ;;la,  all  was  friendly.  Keviewinu:  his  troo])s  thei'c,  he  found 
tliat  they  amounted  to  thirteen  hundred  soldiers,  ninety-six 
of  whom  were  horsemen,  eii^hty  cross-bow  men,  and  about 
eiii'lity  niusketeers."  With  this  hardy  force  he  made  rapid 
fUrides  towards  Mexico,  and  reached  the  city  on  the  24th  of 
Jun(\  bVJO.  It  was  St.  John  the  Baptist's  Day.  He  passed 
ovnr  the  ii'rent  cansewiiyby  which  he  first  entered.  But  how 
changed  was  the  scene!  No  crowds  now  lined  the  roads,  no 
boats  swarmed  on  tlie  lake.     Over  all  brooded  a  death-like 


>  lie  liiid  oulv  1  111  Spnniiirlf  under  his  cnmniaiul. 

"  Tucse  figures  arc  from  Bcrnal  Diaz.    Otiicr  accounts  vary  somewhat 


Hi:iL\ASl>i)  LUUTf:s. 


*:(?:; 


Bilcurn.  Tt  was  a  si  illness  that  spoke  louder  to  the  lieai't  tli.::i 
the  acclaiiiatiiiiis  of  inultitudes  ! 

Wlieii  (Jortt's  ai'iived  at  liis  own  ([iiarteis  he  loiiiid  tho 
gates  bai'ivd,  so  stiii't  liad  been  the  f«ien<>.  lU.  Jiad  to 
demand  an  entry.  Alvarado  appeared  upon  tlie  l)attlH- 
nients,  and  asked  if  Cortes  canity  in  a*  free  as  lie  went 
out,  and  if  lie  wen?  ?*till  thei"r  (leneial.  The  Connnander 
if'plied,  "Yes,"  and  that  lie  came  with  victory  and  in- 
creased foi'c.'s.  The  .irates  W(»r(j  opened,  and  Cortes  and 
his  vetei'ans  rushed  in.  On  l)(»th  sides  the  greeting  was 
most  ait'ectionate. 

Cortes  eagerly  in((Mir<'d  as  to  the  causers  of  the  rcn-oU.  jiut- 
ting  many  ([U!>stious  to  Alvarado.  AVhen  the  latter  had 
coiiclnded  his  answers,  the  brow  of  the  Commander  dark- 
ened as  h(^  said  to  his  lieiilenant:  "You  have  done  Itfidly. 
Ynii  hiive  l)een  fals(^  to  your  trust.  Y'oiir  conduct  li:is  been 
tiiat  of  a  madman  I"  And,  tui'iiing  altruptly  on  liis  heel, 
lie  left  him  in  umlisguised  displeasure.' 

^■exr.  day  the  whole  city  was  in  arms.  A  messenger  in- 
fonued  (.^)rtes  that  the  draw-bi-idges  wen;  raised.  In  a  few 
hoars  the  surging  multitude,  headed  by  .Monte/.uma's 
lu'other,  advanced  on  the  Spanish  quarlers.  and  lieirely 
lii'U"iu  the  assault.  It  was  a  spectacle  to  a])]>all  the  stoutest 
he;i;'t.  The  stones  fell  like  IkuI,  and  the  jiriows  eiiuie  in 
showers.  Cortes  niadt;  two  or  three  desjienite  sallies,  but 
himself  an<l  eighty  of  his  men  were  wounded. 

At  d.iy-break  the  followiuLi'  morning,  the  attack  avms 
renewed.  Then?  was  no  occas'on  for  the  gunners  to  lake 
any  particular  aim,  for  the  Mexicans  advanced  in  such  dense 
m:iss(>s  that  they  could  not  be  missed.  The  gajis  made 
in  these  massc^s  wei-e  instantly  filled  U]i.  A'eterans  in  the 
8[Kinish  army  who  had  ser\-(Ml  in  Italy,  France,  and  against 
the  Turks,  declared  that  they  had  never  seen  men  clo.se  up 
tlieii'  ranks  as  did  the.se  ^Mexicans  after  each  terrible  volley 
of  arrillery.  They,  indeed,  often  staggered  under  the  fire, 
))ut  th(>v  would  rallv,  and  iMi.sh  on  to  ih(>  ver;-  muzzle  of  the 
cannon.     Au'aiu  and  au'ain  Cortes  sallied  forth  aii'ainst  the 


I 


'  I'R'.SClltt. 


280 


jifiLXA  yuo  COUTES. 


i  -I 


]t(il(l  iKirbarians,  but  lie  only  added  to  the  list  of  liia 
wcMindcd.' 

On  the  tliird  day,  tli(3  iinr.)i'iiuialo  Mnntezumn,  eitlior  at 
the  re(![uest  oi"  the  Sj)ani:5h  Cn>neral,  or  of  his  own  accord, 
came  out  vipon  a  battlement,  and  addressed  the  angry  mul- 
titudes, lie  was  dressed  ia  liis  inipe^'ud  robes,  was  sur- 
rounded, by  Castilian  soldiers,  and  was  at  hi'st  received  witli 
lionoi'  and  respect  by  his  people.  lie  spc.ike  to  tli<*ni  in 
lovinji'  Avords,  advised  them' to  cease  th(>  att:ick,  and  assured 
them  liiat  the  Si«iniards  would  deparl  fr(ini  .Mexico. 

At  lh(*  conclusion  of  the  i)ai']ey,  a  muinini'  ran  throuidi 
the  crowd,  and  a  shower  oT  slones  and  aiTov/s  liew.  J-'oi' 
the  mouient  rlie  Spaiiisii  soldiers  hail  ceased  to  protect  the 
Mona.'cli  with  their  sluelds;  and  he  was  severely  Avounded 
in  tile  head  and  in  two  other  i)];ices.  ^lewas  l>orne  liwuy. 
He  had  received  his  death-stroke.  AVhether  it  came  from 
the  W(,unds  themselves,  or  from  tiie  indi.muty  of  beinu'  thus 
treated  by  his  people,  remains  a  doubtlul  point.  Cortes, 
his  cha])lain  and  oflifer.;  did  ail  lliey  could  to  heal  his 
wouiiiN  Mild  soritJK'  his  anguish  of  mind,  but  in  a  little 
while.  IMonti'/ama  was  no  more." 

Difnculties  were  daily  thickening.  Xew  dangers  menaced 
the  gin-rison.  Op]iosite  the  Spanisli  qmirtei's,  at  only  a  few 
rods'  distanc,\  stood  a  great  pyramidal  tenij.le.  It  rose  to 
llie  h.eiuiit  of  nearly  one  hundreil  and  iil'ty  feet,  and  its  el(>- 
vali'd  i.osiriou  couiiiletely  commanded  the  palace  occu])i(  d 
i»y  tlie  (diri;4ians.  A  body  of  live  hundred  chosen  Mexican 
nobles  and  warriors  threw  themselves  into  this  lofty  struc- 


1  On  lii-  v.av  Ii:irk  to  lii,^  riiiarlor-,  Cc>rti'r<  lu'lu'l'l  his  fiioi<l  aiul  secretary,  DiiiTO,  in  a  slivct 
ftcli(.ii,!tv..'.  iinlinr-.'il  mhI  hollv  cM-i-.'d  with  a  l.o.iy  of  Mrxicrai-.  a-itiiHt  wh-.ni  ho  was  iIosiht- 
iifi'lv  ilcf.Mulin._'  liln.splf  wiih  Ills  ponia.;!.  CorUV,  r.ii'.s  -1  al  \U'  si^'lit,  --limiU'd  liis  «nr-cry.  i,n  1, 
tl.i-hin-  into  tlH-  niliV^t  of  tlie  t-wv.-iy.  -caltc-rnl  tluMU  lik'  olialY  by  tln'  rary  of  his  -r.  ^■t;  ihcn, 
ircovciin-  hU  frl.MKrs  h<)vs(>,  hi"  vn-.MM  hhn  to  ri'mounl,  and  ilio  two  cavaliiiv.  slnkui-  Ihiir 
i-l.ii!-:-  inio  their  slmls,  hnrst  Ihvotiirh  Iheir  opponents  ar.<l  .ioined  the  main  lio.ly  of  Ilie  iinny. 
Midi  ili^iilavs  of  ireaernns  L'alianlry  were  not  utiiiiinmon  in  tluse  eni.-au'''nient'.\vtiieli  ealled  foM'i 
more  r.'al"  of  personal  adveiitnre  tlian  battles  wiih  antagonists  lietter  skilled  hi  tl'c  seieiiee  of 
war,--/"/(.-(';'/. 

••'  II  njip'  ars  that  Moiile:iiiina  did  not  liccome  a  ChriMian.  On  his  d.'a'h-hed.  however,  ho  eoni- 
mended  three  favorili'  dainrlifers  to  the  proteel  ion  of  Cortes.  After  their  father's  deiih  they  wero 
haplizrd.  and  after  the  Compiest  were  married  to  Spaniards  of  honin-ahle  faniilv,  and  from  llieni 
lenv  de-eeiuled  feveral  nolde  houses  in  Spain.  Cortes  granted,  hy  way  of  dowry,  to  the  eldest, 
Dofia  !:abel,  tlie  city  of  Tabiica,  and  several  other  places.— i'/'tJM'y^. 


UERXAxno  courts 


287 


nu'P,  and  ,u'all(?d  tlie  Spaniards  with  tempests  of  arrows.    To 
dislodii'*'  tliis  7>e\v  eueinv  was  absolutely  necessary. 

The  (iiMieral  sent  one  of  his  Ix'St  ofiioers  to  take  this  posi- 
tion, l)ii;  the  Spiinish  soldiers  were  twice  repulsed.  Cortes, 
rhoii^Ii  wounded,  determined  to  lead  the  attack  in  person. 
He  placcil  some  of  liis  troops  at  tlie  bast^  of  the  tctiiph',  and 
b:\^'an  tlie  didicult  and  dangerous  ascent.  'J'he  Sp;iniards, 
after  a  tci-rible  coml)at,  gainetl  the  summit,  dislodged  their 
enemies  from  that  giddy  height,  ami  drove  theiu  down  upon 
the  lower  terraces.  Then  might  be  seen  tlie  Indian  [iriests 
]  aaning  to  and  fro,  with  their  hair  cfotted  and  i)loody,  and 
wildly  streaming  over  their  sable  mantles,  llovei-ing  in 
mid-air,  iliey  seemed  like  so  many  demons  of  darkness 
urging  on  the  work  of  slaughter.  But  every  one  of  the 
3Iexicans  were  put  to  the  sword. 

This  light  is  one  of  the  most  picturesque  on  record.  It 
last(.'d  thi'ce  hours;  and,  to  use  the  words  of  liernal  J)iaz: 
"Cortes  there  showed  himself  to  be  a  veiy  valiant  man,  as 
he  a!  vays  was.''  It  is  said  he  liad  a  narrow  escape  from  the 
dreadful  late  of  lieing  thrown  from  the  toj)  of  the  tower. 
Two  warriors  of  strong,  muscular  frames  sei/,(Ml  on  liini,  and 
were  draguing  him  vioh^ntly  towards  the  bi'iidv.  .\ ware  of 
llieir  intiMitiou,  he  struggled  with  all  his  force,  an.d  before 
iliey  could  accom[)lish  their  purpose,  succeeded  in  teaiiug 
liimselt  from  their  grasp,  and  hui'ling  on<.^  of  them  over  the 
walls  with  his  own  arnil ' 

The  victcny  in  the  temple  was  a  niomentai'v  gleam  of 
success  for  the  Snuuisli  arms.  It  all'orded  Cortes  an  oppor- 
tunit\-  to  resiiaie  ])eaco  negotiations.  But  the  savage  deter- 
mination of  tli(^  Mexicans  Avas  comiilete.  In  vain  did  tlio 
Sjianish  Ceneial  press  them  to  consider  the  havoc  he  wa?* 
diiily  making  aniojig  the  citizens.  They  were  aware  of  it, 
w;is  the  reply,  but  they  would  all  pei'ish,  if  lliat  weiv  need- 
'ul.  to  gain  th"ir  }ioint  f)f  utterly  desti'oying  the  S[iai)!ai(ls. 

The  enraged  multitudes bad(^  Cortes  to  look  at  the  streets, 
stpKires,  and  terra c.vs  ;  and  then,  in  a  business-like  way.  they 
solemnly  assured  him  that  if  2."),()()()  Mexicans  were  to  die 


Prt.-colt. 


|i    ir    ]]i    |.s 


I!  '.i^ 


■.;! 


i  :  J'  I  :i  ^ 


ill 


288 


llNJiAAi\I)0  UOETES. 


for  each  Spaniard,  still  the  Spaniards  wonld  perish  first. 
These  rurious  barbarians  jeeringly  called  Ids  attention  to  the 
fact  that  all  the  eausevvavs  were  destroyed,  and  tliat  hun<i;er 
and  thii'st  were  already  sttiring  the  Spaniaixls  in  fhe  very 
face.  "In  truth."'  writes  Cortes  himself,  'Mhey  had  much 
reasi/U  in  what  tlie\'  said,  for  if  we  had  no  other  enemy  to 
li,u,ht  against  but  hunger,  it  was  sullicient  to  destroy  us  all 
in  a  shoit  time!'' 

It  generally  recpures  as  much  coui'age  to  retreat  as  to  ad- 
vance, and  hnv  leaders  havt.'  the  re:idy  wisdom  to  retreat  in 
time.  Ihit  Cortes,  on  binding  that  it  was  im])os.'-il)le  to  hold 
liis  i)osition,  lost  no  time  or  energy  in  parleying  with  dan- 
ger.    That  very  night  he  I'esolved  to  cpiit  Mexico. 

At  nudnight  the  troops  were  nnder  aims,  in  r(>;idiness  for 
the  mnrch.  ^fnss  was  celebrated  by  the  venei'uble  l^'ather 
Olniedo,  who  invoked  the  protection  of  the  Almighty  on 
the  little  army.  The  gates  were  tlirown  ojien,  and  .Inly  the 
1st,  1^)20,  tlie  Spaniards  for  the  last  time  sallied  foi'th  from 
the  walls  of  the  ancient  fortress,  tlie  scene  ol'  so  much  suf- 
fering and  such  indonutal)1e  courage.  The  foice  lu^gan  to 
move  in  three  divisions.  Tln^  bra\'e  and  youthful  Sandoval 
led  the  van.  Alvarado  brought  uji  the  rear-guard,  (.'ortes 
himself  commanded  in  tiie  center,  where  he  phiccd  the 
prisoners,  among  whom  were  a  son  and  two  daughters  of 
j\[onte/uma.  together  with  several  ^lexicnns  of  distinction, 
the  artiilei'y,  baguage,  and  a  portable  bridge  of  timlier,  in- 
tended to  b<^  thrown  over  tin?  breaches  in  the  causeway. 
They  marched  in  ])rofound  silence  along  the  shortest  cause- 
way,' and  had  reacluMl  the  iirst  breach  in  it  before  their 
retn.'at  seeiuv'd  to  be  discovered.'  In  a  moment  the  alarm 
was  given. 

Loud  shouts  and  blowing  of  liorns  weiv  heaid  in  aU 
directions.  ''Conn'  <<ut  (juickly  in  youi'  canoes."'  yelled 
tile  frantic  AFex-icans.     "The  tiuijcs  ar(^  yoinu'.     Cut   them 


'  It  wiiB  iil)()iit  two  iiiilcf  in  li  until, 

'  Tlio  M  'xir;iiiM.  l)i)wcvtT,  lind  been  wide  nwake  nil  tiicht.  T'npercelved  tliey  liad  nafrlied 
fvery  moveineiit  of  tlie  Siiaiilurd!',  iiiul  were  (jiiite  reiuly  to  make  ii  foiiiiiihible  attack  wlien  lliu 
glurm  vuliiuU'd. 


iiERXA  XD  0  con  r/^s. 


283 


()1  at  the  l)ru|'j:ps  I "  The  lake  was  soon  covorod  Avitli 
canoes.  It  rained,  and  the  niisrortunes  of  th(,^  night  began 
hy  two  horses  slipping  from  the  jwntoon  into  the  water. 
Flights  of  arrows  and  showers  of  stones  ponred  in  npou 
the  Spaniards  from  every  qnarter.  The  wild  barbaiians 
rnshed  forward  to  the  charge  with  fearless  impetnosity, 
as  if  they  lioped  in  that  moment  to  take  fidl  vengeance  fur 
tlie  past-. 

Unfortnnately  the  wooden  bridge,  by  the  weight  of  the  ar- 
tillery, got  wedged  so  fast  into  the  stones  and  mnd,  that  it 
was  inipossilile  for  the  trof)i)S  to  remove  it.  Tins  accident 
caiisi'd  dismay,  and  the  Spiiiuards  advanced  with  liaste  to- 
w;i:ils  I  he  se;'ond  breach.  Bwt  the  Mexicans  hemmed  them 
ii:  on  cveiv  sith^;  and  thouuh  th.'V  defended  themselves  with 
aU  i  he  bravery  of  skilled  and  desi)e!'ate  soldiers,  yet.  crowded 
togpthei'  as  they  were  on  a  nari'ow  causeway,  their  disci- 
]i1ine  and  military  science  were  of  little  avail;  nor  did  the 
tiaikness  (if  tlie  niglit  i>eriuit;  them  to  derive  any  great  ad- 
vanag  :  'i.o.u  their  lire-arms,  or  the  sn[)eriority  of  th:'ir  other 
AveapoD-i.     The  position  was  truly  appalling  I 

The  whole  city  was  now  in  arms,  an<l  so  eager  were  tlie 
excited  luultituiles  for  the  destruction  of  the  Spaniards,  tliat 
t';!ose  wlio  were  not  near  (Mioiigh  to  annoy  tluMu  in  pei'.son, 
iaipatieut  of  tlelay,  pressed  forwards  wirh  such  ardor,  as 
di'ovH  oil  their  countiynsen  in  tln^  fnnit  willi  iri'esistible 
\  io'ence.  Fresh  wari-iois  instantly  filled  the  jilace  of  such  as 
feli.  The  Castilians  were  weary  with  slaughtei",  and,  unable 
any  li)ng<'i'  to  sustain  the  weight  of  the  tori'eiit  that  j)our(;Ml 
in  u[)(in  them,  began,  to  give  wa3^  In  a  moment  .all  v.as  con- 
fusion. Horse  and  foot,  ollicers  and  soldiers,  fi-iends  and 
enemies  were  nuagled  togi'tlier.  And  while  all  fought,  and 
ui:iiiy  iell,  scarcely  any  could  distinguish  from  what  hand 
t  \\"  h\{)\v  cauie. 

In  a  very  slnn't  time,  the  wafer  Avas  full  of  dead  horses, 
Indians,  Spannirrls,  baggage,  ])risoners,  and  artillery.  On 
every  side  the  most  piteous  cries  were  heard — ^"Uelp  me  I  I 
diownl"  ••  I'escue  niel  lliey  are  killing  me!''  Pi-ayers  to 
the  Most  Blessed  Virgin  and  St.  .lames  were  minuled  with 


2. 


290 


UERNANDO  CORTllS. 


I?  " 


l).!»l 


the  groaiis  of  the  dying,  and  the  sliouts  of  desperate  war- 
riors. 

A\:  the  second  In'idge-wny,  a  single  hefim  only  was  found. 
It  was,  of  course,  useless  for 'the  horses*:  but  the  \\atchful 
genius  of  OoVtes  lound  a  shallow  place  vdiere  the  \\ater  did 
not  reai'h  further  than  up  to  tin;  s.'uldh^  Here  he  passed  at 
the  head  of  his  c;ivalry,  and  succeeded  in  reaching  t,he  main- 
land. 'i"he  foot  soldiers  also  contrived  in  some  w;iy  to  follow. 
The  (feneral  left  the  vanguard  and 'his  own  division  safe 
on  sho;'e,  ;ui(l  returned  to  give  what  assistance  he  could 
to  the  unfortunate  men  who  were  still  behind. 

])Ut  U-w  of  the  rear-gimrd  escaped.  It  is  told  as  a  wonder 
of  Ahar.iilo.  that,  coming  to  the  last  bridge,  he  made  a  leap 
— whieh  by  many  has  ])een  deemed  itnpossible — and  cleared 
the  vast  opening.  On  coming  up  to  him,  Cortes  found  that 
liis  lieiitenant  was  accompanied  l)y  only  .seven  Spaniards  and 
ci;iJi(  Tlasc'ihiHs,  all  covered  with  Idood  and  v.ounds.  .They 
told  thi.'ir  Conuuander  that  it  was  tiseless  to  go  further.  All 
who  lemnined  alive  were  with  tliem! 

On  hearing  this,  the  (feneral  turned  back.  It  Avas  not  yet 
dav-bie;ik,  i)ut  the  small  and  melancholy  band  of  Si)aniards 
puslii'd  on.  (.'ortes  ])rote(;ting  tlie  rear.  Morning  soon  dawned, 
and  he  I'eviewed  the  shattered  remains  of  liis  heroic  little 
ai'iny.  Tiie  rememlirance  of  so  many  f:\ithful  friends  and 
pdlant  followers  who  had  f.illen  in  that  night  of  sonow' 
pierced,  his  soul  with  angiiish.  It  is  said  that  he  sat  down 
on  a  stone.  luid  we])t  at  the  sad  sight.  But  as  the  country 
was  aious(  (l  against  them,  the  exhausted  veterans  did  not 
rest  till  they  had  fortified  themselves  in  a  tem])le  on  a  hill 
at  sf)me  distance  from  Mexico."  A  church  was  afterwards 
biiilt  iier(>.  and  very  ai)propriately  dedicated  to  Ketislra 
ii>i-jlui\'  tj,;  /ns  J,\'///('di(f.S'—0\u-  Lady  of  Refuge. 

In  this  disastrous  llight,  all  tlie  artillery  atid  forty-six 
lioi'ses  v,ere  lost,  eight  hundred  and  seventy  Si)aniards  ]ier- 
ished,'' iind  four  tlionsand  of  the  Indian  allies  were  killed. 


'  This  in'MiiDiMlilo  iiL'liI  liuH  I'viT  been  cclehriitt'il  ill  American  history  as  La  nochu  tihte.— 

3  It  was  l!ic  moniiiiL'  of  tli"  l^t  of  July,  15i0. 
!•  Tlii;^  is  llio  uMimiilion  of  licraal  Diaz. 


•-w^ 


IJEUXAXDO  CORTl:S. 


291 


including  one  son*  and  two  daugliters  of  Monto/.umn.  A 
l(.)t?.s  wiiicli  pcj.sterity  will  ever  i'e<;'ret  was  that  uf  the  Ijooks, 
memorials,  and  writings.  These,  it  is  said,  contained  a  nar- 
rative of  :dl  that  had  hai)pened  since  Cortes  left  Cuba. 

The  Spaniards  now  took  the  road  for  Tlascala,  the  onlj^ 
2t1ac'e  wliei'o  they  could  hope  for  a  friendly  rece]>tion.  It 
was  idiout  sixty-four  miles  east  of  the  city  of  Mexico.  Day 
after  (hiy.  the}''  marched  on  through  a  savage  and  hostile 
cMiiii'iy.  always  lighting  and  always  encumbered  with  ene- 
mies. Numerous  bodies  of  Mexicans  continued  to  liover 
nround  the:vi,  sometimes  harassing  tiiein  at  a  distance  with 
liigats  of  stones  and  arrows,  and  sometimes  attacking  them 
clost'ly  in  J'roiit,  in  rear,  in  tlank,  and  alwaj's  with  great 
lHil,liii'ss,  as  they  knaw  that  the  Castilians  were  not  in- 
vinciltle. 

^'or  were  the  IVJigue  and  dangers  of  those  incessant  con- 
ilir-ts  th(^  v.'orst  evils  to  Avhicli  tlie  troops  were  ex])oseu.  *As 
the  b;;rr(Mi  country  through  which  they  passed  afforded 
s.'nrci'ly  iiiiy  ]ii'ovi,sions,  the}' were  reduced  to  feed  on  ber- 
ries, roots,  and  sfalks  of  green  maize:  and  at  the  very  time 
that  famine  was  thus  deiiressing  their  s]iirits  and  wasting 
theii'  strength,  their  situation  reqnir(}d  the  most  vigorous 
aiitl  unc;';!S!m>-  exertions  of  courasre  and  activitv. 

B;it  aaiid  those  nun!])(^rless  distresses,  one  circnmstance 
sup[iorted  and  animated  the  sorely-! ried  Spaninrds.  It  was 
the  genius  of  their  (hnintiess  Commander,  lie  sustained 
this  sad  rcveise  of  fortune  with  nnshal;<'n  magnanimity. 
His  j)rest',i('('  of  miad  never  forsook  him.  His  keen  sagacity 
fa.-.a.v  evei'y  event,  and  his  vigilance  i»rovided  for  it.  lie 
was  foremost  in  ev(»ry  dang<M',  and  endured  itx^n-y  hardship 
with  heroic  clieerfulness.  Tlui  difiicullies  by  Avhich  he  Mas 
MirsMUuded  seemed  to  call  forth  new  gifts;  and  his  soldiers, 
tiiniiuh  despairiau'  themselves,  continued  to  follow  him  with 
increasing  c()nlid('n('e  in  his  matchless  abilities. 

On  the  sixth  day  they  arrived  near  Otiimba.  a  va]h\v  not 
I'll!'  iVom  the  boundary  line  lietween  ^lexico  and  Tlasc.ahi. 
Ivij'iv  next  mornins:  they  iiushed  on.  llvinu:  parties  of  thw 
euemy  still  hanging  on  the  rear,  and  occasionally  shouting: 


53, '^^ 

m 

\  '(Hi 


li'l 


29: 


nEBNAyDO  CORT£:S. 


ii 


it  .A 


"  Go  on,  robbers.  Go  to  tlie  place  where  you  sliall  quicldy 
meet  the  vengeance  due  to  your  crimes !'' 

Tlie  ^));ui!ar(ls  did  not  comprehend  the  meaning  of  thifi 
threat  mail  they  readied  the.siinnnit  of  tlie  mountain  steeps 
wiiicli  siiuf  in  the  valley  of  Otuinba.  Below  was  a  sight; 
tliat  nii;.rii(.  in  truth,  arouse  fear  in  the  breast  of  the  bravest 
cavalier,  A  vnst  army  of  Mexicans  extended  as  far  as  the 
eye  could  iea<'li.  The  forces  of  tln^  empire  had  been  hasdly 
cdjlected  ;it  this  s})()t  to  dispute  the  passage  of  tlu?  Chris- 
tians. Every  chief  of  note  had  taken  the  field  with  liis 
Avhole  ai  ray  gtithered  under  his  standard,  proudly  displaying 
all  tlie  pomp  and  rude  sj)lendor  of  his  military  e(prii)nient. 

It  was  a  s})ectacle  to  till  the  stoutestheart  among  the  Span- 
iards with  dismay,  heightened  by  the  pn^vious  exp(>rtation 
of  soon  re:icliii!g  the  friendly  I'lnd  which  was  to  terminate 
tiieir  we;iiy  itiigrimage.  Even  Cortes,  as  he  contrasted  the 
ireTnoudous  array  before  him  with  his  own  dimiiiished 
squ;idro;is,  wasted  by  disease,  and  enfeebled  by  hunger  and 
i'atiuue,  c{Mildnot  escape  the  convicticui  that  his  last  hour 
h;id  aniv.'d.  lint  his  was  not  the  heart  to  quail  befoiv  dan- 
g"r.  aiel  he  gathered  strength  from  the  very  extremity  of 
liis  sitmition.' 

lb"  addressed  a  fcnv  words  to  his  troops.  lie  reminded 
tliem  of  the  vicitories  they  had  often  avou  against  IVarful 
odils;  aiid  rema.rked  thatnundiers  were  of  no  account  \\\u\\ 
lleaviMi  \\:is  (-n  their  side.  All  then  earnestly  commended 
th'-mselves  to  tlie  protection  of  God,  tlie  ImmacuhU(?  Vir- 
gin, and  St.  James;  and  Corles  led  his  brave  battalions 
straight  against  the  hosts  of  ]\[exico.  Every  man  felt  that 
it  /y/'/.s'/  ,','"/r  be  deatii  or  victory. 

Tile  charge  of  the  cavali'}'  with  the  General  at  its  head  was 
irresistible.  It  penetrat(Ml  and  disp(>rsed  the  most  numer- 
ous divisions  of  the  enemy.  Tiie  infantry  fought  like  lions. 
"i^-'  svhile  tiie  ^Mexicans gave  way  in  one  quarter,  fiesh  com- 
■:  ,,d\auced  from  another ;  and  the  Spaniards,  though 
r-)f  uil  in  every  attacli,  were  ready  to  si idc  under  these 
i   •  ■  "  '1  ed'orts,  without  seeing  any  eiul  to  their  t  )il,  or  any 


1  I'rct.jit, 


iiERyAxno  coRTf:s. 


293 


liope  of  victory.  The  contest  Imd  now  lasted  seveml 
hours  High  the  sun  nrosc  m  the  heavens,  and  slied  an  in- 
tolerahlo  lieat  over  the  plain.  Tiie  tide  ol'  battle  was  set- 
tin.G^  nipidly  againsr  the  CliiTstinns ;  and  all  that  reinnined 
ii)r  ihtMu  .seemed  to  be  to  sell  their  lives  as  dearly  as  pos- 
sible 

At  tliis  critical  moment,  Cortes,  whose  restless  eye  had 
l>pen  rovin/A'  around  the  field  in  quest  of  any  ohject  that 
nnii'ht  oiler  him  the  means  of  arrestin,i!,'  the  coming  ruin, 
rising  in  liis  stirrups,  descried  at  a  di,stance,  in  the  midst 
of  the  tiiroiig,  the  chief  wlio  from  his  dress  and  militarv 
cortege,  he  Iviiew  must  be  the  commander  of  the  l);i)b!!rian 
ioi'ces.  Tlie  e:igle  glance  of  the  GentM'al  no  sooner  tel!  on 
this  i)ers(>nage  than  a  glow  of  triumph  lit  up  his  c(Min- 
teiiance. 

He  turned  quickly  to  the  cavaliers  at  his  side — among 
whom  w(n'o  Sandoval  and  Alvarado — and  pointed  out  the 
chief,  exclaiming:  "There  is  our  mark!  foHow  and  fui-jmrt 
m<^\''  Then,  crying  his  war-cry.  and  strilving  his  iron  heel 
iuro  lii.s  weary  steed,  he  plunged  headlong  into  the  thickest 
Di'  the  ]>ri\ss.  His  enemies  fell  back,  taken  by  surprise  and 
daunted  by  tlie  f(n'ocity  of  the  attack.  Those  Avho  did  not 
wei'c  piei'ceil  through  with  his  lance  or  borne  down  l>y  rhe 
weiglit  nf  his  charger.  The  cavaliers  followed  close  in  the 
re;;r.  On  they  swe]it  with  the  fury  of  a  thundei-bolt,  cleav- 
\ivz  the  solid  ranks  asunder,  strewing  their  paths  with  the 
(lying  and  the  dead,  and  bounding  over  eveiy  obstacle  in 
I'leir  ^\•^y*  In  a  few  minutes  they  were  in  the  jireseuce  of 
\'.\>'.  Indian  commander,  and  Cortes,  overturning  his  su])- 
jierters,  sprang  forward  with  the  strength  of  a  lion,  and 
striking  him  through  with  his  lance,  hurled  him  to  the 
gi'ound  Tlie  imperial  standard  was  captured.  It  was  all 
t!ie  wor!\  of  a  nntment. 

AVhen  the  Mexican  leader  fell,  and  tlie  standard,  towards 
wliich  all  directed  their  eyes,  disai'ipeared,  a  general  panic 
seized  the  Indians,  and,  as  if  the  bond  which  li(>ld  them  to- 
gether had  lieen  dissolved,  every  ensign  was  lowered,  each 


: ,  ( 


'  rix'scoit. 


IjJ' 


29-1 


iiEnxAyno  conrKS. 


II  ^^i: 


clusky  wni'vior  tlii'ow  uwriy  his  Avoapons,  aiul  nil  {1<m]  with 
th<!  utiuosr  ju'oripitatinu  to  the  mountains.  Tho  Spaniards, 
iinaitlc  (()  j)!i)'sii<>  l'  en  far,  I't'tiirneil  to  colloct  tlio  ypoil.s  of 
the  lit'M,  wliicli  wlto  s;)  vivliiabl"  as  to  1)(^  .some  coiiii^M-'nsation 
for  tlu'ir  toil  and  i'or  tho  wealth  which  they  had  lost  in  tha 
city  of  .^^oxico.  Next  day,  to  their  great  joy,  tliey  entered 
tho  Tlascalau  (eiTitories. 

Tlie  Tlascalan  chiefs  came  out  to  meet  the  hardy  veterans,,, 
and  i^^:t(>ad  of  siiov.ing"  any  coldness,  th(\v  laboi'ed  to  con- 
sole Coi'tes  in  his  misfortune.  "Oh,  ]\Ialinche,  aMaliiiciie,'" 
they  sail!,  ••  how  it  grieves  us  to  hear  of  your  losses  and  vdiir 
sorrows.  Have  we  not  told  you  many  times,  that  }(iu  sliould 
not  trust  in  tiiose  Mexican  i)"ople^  But  now  the  tl.iini;-  is 
done,  and  nothing  more  remains  at  present  but  to  refresh 
von  and  to  cure  vou."     The  noble  kindness  of  these  yood 


K'S 


fi'l!    like    a    blessing    on    the    wounded,    vray-worn 
Spnniar(i-<. 

In  such  circumstances  almost  any  other  commander  but 
Cortes  would  have  been  tlioroughly  cast  down.  But  the 
elastic  s]tlrit  of  tiiis  modern  Hannibal  was  untouclKMl,  and 
lie  beheld  the  star  of  hope  shining  as  bi'ightly  as  ever  on  his 
checkered  ]>:ithway.  A\"hile  his  (Uieniies,  and  (  veii  many  of 
his  own  foilowers,  considennl  the  disasters  whicli  had  be- 
fallen iii.ni  iis  fatal  to  the  ivrogress  of  his  arms,  and  imagined 
that  noihliig  now  remained  but  speedily  to  aba.ndon  a  coun- 
try which  he  litid  invaded  witli  unequal  force,  liis  IkOcI  and 
lofty  mind — as  endnent  for  perseverance  as  for  enlei'prise — 
Avas  still  bent  on  accomplishing  his  oi'iginal  purpose  of  sub- 
jecting the  .\rexic;in  emi)ire  to  the  Crown  of  Castile,  and  of 
planting  tin;  Ci'oss  on  tlio  pagan  towers  of  its  beauiiful 
capital  I 


In  th 
ew  mo 


iart 

hs 


of  countless  obstacles,  lus  genius  formed  in  a 
a  .a'reat  offensive  and  defensive  alliance  against 


the  ]\b'xica]is.  He  wished  to  render  an  attack  on  that 
nation  not  oidy  a  s))lendid  and  (duvalrous  event,  but  an  enter- 
prise entirely  consistent  with  the  rules  of  that  prudence  intJ 
whicli  the  valor  of  Cortes  was  Avoided  as  the  blade  of  tho 


>  This  Whs  llio  iKiUic  the  luuiuu;  ^':ivc  to  CoiUis, 


IIEIIXA^DO  COUTES. 


29.") 


at 


to 

10 


sword  is  to  its  hnndlc.  ITo  created  and  eqnip'ped  a  new 
ynuy,"  and  with  wonderful  foresiglit  lie  f,^;ive  orders  for 
bri.uan tines  to  be  constructed  in  separate  pii'ces  at  TJascaln. 

On  the  dav  after  Christmas,'  the  General  reviewed  his 
troops.  He  found  that  they  consisted  of  fin1,\'  horseni(>u 
anl  live  liundred  and  iifty  foot  soldiers.  He  had  also  eigiit 
(»)■  iiin!5  cannon,  but  very  little  f^'unpowder.  lie  made  a 
toiicinii^n- and  ehxiuent  address,  reminding  his  veterans  that 
t!i"y  wei-e  going  on  a  war  for  tlie  glory  of  God  and  tlio 
Cirlinlic  Faith,  and  their  native  land.  He  begged  them  to 
(lb >crve  cei'tain  rules  which  lie  laid  down  for  the  good  gov- 
^■:'U!iient  of  the  army,  one  of  which  was  that  no  man  should 
biasplieme  t!ie  Holy  Name  of  God.  Two  days  after  this, 
tlie  gallant  l)and  of  Spaniaj'ds  set  out  on  the  n Kirch  for  tlie 
city  of  M  'xico,  accompanied  by  10,000  Tlascalans'. 

On  coming  near  the  capital,  Cortes  sent  a  message  of  peace 
to  the  authorities.  Ih;  assured  them  that  he  did  not  di'sire 
war,  alrliough  he  had  much  cause  lor  olFense.  He  wished 
to  be  their  friend,  as  he  had  l)eeu  in  other  days.  '"Ijct  the 
past  be  past,"  he  concluded,  '"and  do  not  give  me  occasion 
to  destroy  your  lauds  and  cities,  which  I  should  much  re- 
gret." This  peaceful  oU'er,  h()W(n-er,  hed  to  no  result,  and 
he  resolved  to  besiege  the  city.  But  his  enemies  were  w"ell 
prepared. 

Xor  was  Cortes  the  leader  to  begin  such  a  dangerons  and 
dihicult  entei'prise  nnprepare(l.  He  at  once  dispiitched  the 
brave  Sandoval  to  Tlascala  for  the  materials  of  the  brigan- 
tines.  Tile  men  appointed  to  carry  these  mat<^rials  were  8.O00. 
Another  ))ody  of  2,000  was  to  furnish  a  relief  for  tlip  bear- 
ers, and  to  carry  provisions.  The  whole  was  guarded  by  an 
escort  of  20,000  armed  men.  The  march  was.thns  arranged: 
In  front  came  eight  Spanish  horsemen  and  om^  hundred 
Spanish  loot,  then  10,000  Tlascalans  formed  an  advance 
guard,  with  wings  thrown  ont  to  the  right  and  the  left. 
The  center  was  taken  np  by  the  bearers  of  the  rigg'ing  and 
cordage,  and  the  cari'iers  of  the  timber  and  iron-wmk.  The 
whole  line  of  march  was  closed  l)y  eight  moi'e  Spanish  horse- 


fV 


II 


if.;;!' 


'  December  20, 1530. 


230 


IIKllX.  1  Xl)  0  COR  TM 


iiM'ii,  :i  Im'iKlml  Spani-^li  foot,  and  10,000  Tlasralans,  niider 
tilt.' coniiiKiml  of  !i  iioit'd  Avarrior  Fi'oni  tlie  van-^itaid  to 
tliH  rt-ar-uiianl  was  six  iiillos  in  Ipnuth.  Tliis  vast  ja-oct's- 
sion  advanci'd  leisurely,  but  in  excellent  oi'der;  and,  in  a 
lew  days'  Cortes  had  the  i)leasure  of  seein,^-  the  materials  oi 
a.  fleet  on  the  shores  of  tlio  lake  which  surrounded  the  city 
of  Mexico.'' 

i-'rejia  rat  ions  for  the  sieii;?' were  nowj^nshod  on  vi.u'oronsly. 
The  l>ri-antines  ywQW.  .soon  comiileled,  and  the  day  I'or 
launchin.L!,-  them  airived.  Cortes  resolved  that  so  aurqticiouH 
an  evejir  should  be  cele))rated  Avith  due  i-olenuiify.  On  iIk; 
2Sth  of  April  the  troops  were  drawn  np  nnder  arms.  >i;iss 
was  Cd'lebrated,  and  the  (lenei'al,  to^i^-etlier  witii  every  man  in 
tlie  army,  went  to  confession,  ami  devoutly  I'eceived  Holy 
CommuKion.  Prayers-were  offered  up  by  Father  Olmedo, 
and  a  lieiiediction  invoked  on  the  little  navy,  the  iirsl — wor- 
thy of  filename — ever  launched  on  American  waters.'  The 
si,ii'nal  was  iviven  by  theiiriiiu' of  a  cannon;  and  as  the  ves- 
sels, one  after  another,  rode  f<»rth  on  the  ample  bosom  of 
the  lake,  with  music  soundin.ii',  and  the  royal  ensi<i-n  of  Cas- 
tile ^n'ouilly  ih)atin^i^  from  their  masts,  a  shout  of  admira- 
tion ar<*se  from  the  countless  multitude  of  spectiitors,  which 
miniiled  witli  the  roar  of  artillery  and  musketry  from  the 
vessels  and  the  sliore.  To  the  simple  natives  it  was  a  novel 
spectacle.  It  even  touched  the  stern  hearts  of  the  Conquer- 
ors with  a  ,ulow  of  rapture,  and  as  they  felt  that  Heaven  had 
blessed  their  undertakin.u",  they  broke  forth  by  general  ac- 
cord into  the  noble  anthem  of  the  Te  Dcum.' 

Cortes  fornuMl  his  troops  into  three  divisions,  for  the  at- 


'  Four  ilay.--.  "It  vvii^  a  ninrvclo'is  tiling',"  i'xol:iims  Corti'-i  in  liis  IctttTs,  '-111.".!  few  liavc  -ci'ii, 
01-  fvi  II  lii-ard  of— tlii-i  traiwimrtalion  of  t/nr'ccn  vossi'ls  of  war  on  the  i.liOiiliU'r;-  of  iiicii  f;)r  iio:ii-i.v 
twenty  Icnfjiics  across  tlio  moiintainsl  " 

'  It  was,  iiidii'il,  a  sliipi'niloiis  ncliicvi'iniMit,  r.nrl  T:nt  easily  niatclipil  in  niicicn;  or  nindvrn  «l(iry, 
oiii'  wliicli  only  a  jri'iiias  liUo  lliat  o!"  Corti'-  conld  liavo  dcvisod,  or  a  daiiiiir  ^\nn^  iikc  his  have  so 
caccc'ssfiilly  cxcciilcd.  Litlh'  did  ho  forrsi-c,  when  lie  ordiT-d  llu'  di'siracfion  of  llu'  Meet  wlilidi 
first  hrouu'lit  him  lo  the  country,  and  with  his  iiMial  forecast  commanded  the  preservation  of  llio 
iroa-worli  and  riL'fxioj;,— little  did  he  foresee  tlie  importnnt  uses  for  whieli  they  weri^  pre^<'rved;  so 
important,  that  on  tln'ir  preservation  may  be  said  to  have  depended  the  successful  issue  of  li» 
great  enteri)vise.— /'rt.vvrf/. 

'  Father  Olmedo  blessed  the  vessela,  and  gave  each  Its  name.— Solierteou. 

*  rrescott. 


HERNANDO  CORT^IS. 


291 


tuck  on  the  city  was  to  be  made  from  three  difTerent  quar- 
ters. To  Alvarado  was  given  the  command  of  thirty  liorse- 
men,  eighteen  musketeers,  and  one  hundred  and  lifty  men 
with  sword  and  buckler.  Tliis  division  was  accompanied  by 
20, (HID  Tlascalan  warriors, 

Olid's  division  consisted  of  thirty-three  horsemen,  eigh- 
teen musketeers,  and  one  luuKb'ed  and  sixty  swordsmen. 
A  body  of  20,000  Indian  allies  accompanied  this  force. 

San(b)val  had  under  his  command  twenty-four  horsemen, 
seventeen  musketeers,  and  one  hundred  and  lifty  swords- 
men.     Over  H(),000  Indian  allies  supported  this  division.' 

About  three  hundred  men  were  left  to  man  the  brigaiuines 
— most  of  them  good  seamen.  Each  vessel  had  twenty-live 
men,  with  six  musketeers.  Cortes  took  comaiand  of  the  tieet 
liimself;  for,  as  he  afterwards  remarked,  "the  key  of  the 
whole  war  was  in  the  ships." 

In  our  brief  sketch  a  minute  description  of  this  historic 
siege  is  not  to  be  expected.  It  uould  till  a  small  volume, 
for  its  many  incidents  by  flood  and  held  are  among  the  most 
terrible  and  romantic  on  record.  At  one  time  the  little  fleet 
is  attaclsed  by  oOO  canoes;  but  the  defeat  of  the  Mexicans 
on  the  water  was  swift  and  signal.  From  that  day  Cortes 
reniiiined  master  of  the  lake. 

The  Mexicans  exhibited  desperate  valor.  Each  morning 
the  Spaniards  began  the  attack  anew,  IJut  week  after  Aveek 
the  siege  continued.  On  land  and  water,  by  day  and  night, 
one  furious  conflict  suciceeded  another.  Cortes,  on  one  oc- 
casion, stormed  the  city  with  his  whole  force,  but  was  re- 
pulsed with  heavy  loss,  and  came  near  l)eing  captured,  as 
lie  was  severely  wounded.  Six  Mexican  captains  suddenly 
seized  him,  and  were  hurrying  him  olT,  when  two  of  his 
bravest  officers  rescued  the  General  at  the  cost  of  their  own 
lives.  The  barbarians  were  flushed  with  triumph,  and  at 
this  time  many  a  poor  Spaniard  was  sacrificed  to  the  hideous 
god  ot  war.' 


'  The  train  of  artillery  consisted  of  flirw  Imttering  cannon  and  flfteen  fleld-pieces.-/?oft«'^/!6,>. 

'  As  Sandoval,  Alvarado,  and  tlio  .illicr  chiof  offlci-rs  wfre  standinR  tosjofher,  and  rclatinir  what 

occurred  to  each  of  Ihcui,  suddenly  ihc  sound  of  the  sacrillcial  drum  was  heard,  accompanied  b/ 


$ 


_2E_J- 


298 


UERNANDO  COET^S. 


V  '<>'f 


Bli  -1.1  'f 


Tlie  Spaniards,  after  bravery  perhaps  unmatched  in  the 
nnnals  of  war,  finally  succeeded  in  penetrating  to  the  vast 
S(iuare  in  the  centei-  of  the  great  city,  and  there  made  a  se- 
cure lodgment.  The  fighting  was  truly  awful,  and  ghastly 
were  the  sights  after  each  conflict.  On  one  occasion  12,000 
^Mexicans  were  killed  ;  and  the  day  before  the  last  of  the 
siege,  it  is  srat»'d  that  no  fewer  than  40,000  Mexicans  were 
slain,'  or  takeii  prisoners. 

Tlie  linal  day  of  Mexico  had  come.  The  situation  of  the 
besieged  grew  so  desperate  that  the  new  monarch'  tried  to  es 
cape,  but  was  captured  by  the  Spaniards.  Cortes  received 
him  with  niudi  courtesy.  The  Mexican  ruler  probably  knew 
the  person  of  tlie  Conqueror,  for  he  l^roke  silence  by  saying- 
"I  have  done  all  that  I  could  to  defend  myself  and  my  peo' 
])le.  I  am  now  reduced  to  this  state.  You  will  deal  with 
me,  Malinche,  as  you  please."  "Fear  not,"  replied  the 
great  and  kind-lujarted  General.  "You  shall  be  treated 
with  all  honor.  You  have  defended  your  capital  like  a 
brave  warrior.  A  Spaniard  knows  how  to  respect  valor  even 
in  an  enemy." 

The  Sovereign  being  captured,  all  further  opposition 
ceased.  The  wliole  city  was  taken.  Sixty  thousand  Mexi- 
cans laid  down  their  arms.  This  memorable  day  in  the  an- 
nals of  American  history  was  August  the  13th,  1521.     The 


other  niusicftl  instriiiiionts  of  u  slnillar  dolorous  chnractiT.  From  the  camp  tlie  great  temple  was 
pcrfeclly  visible,  imtl  wlien  the  Spaniards  looked  lip  nt  it  for  an  interp-el'xtion  of  these  melan- 
choly tones,  tliey  saw  their  oonipiinioni'  driven  by  blows  and  biifletinKs  u\>  l>.  the  place  of  sacri- 
licp.  The  Hhite->kitined  Cliristiinj  were  easily  to  be  distinciiishei  aiiiiust  .m  lusky  groups  that 
Kiirroundeil  them.  When  the  unhappy  men  about  to  lie  Micritlced  had  re.vjiied  liie  lofty  h-vel  space 
on  which  these  abominations  were  wont  to  be  committed,  it  was  dit"">  .el  by  their  friends  and 
late  companions  that  pinnies  of  feathers  were  jint  upon  the  heads  of  aimiv  of  them, and  that  men, 
•whose  movements  in  tlie  distance  appeared  like  tliat  of  winnowers,  made  the  captives  dance  be- 
fore the  iinai;e  of  lh'il-iti>im'hir,.  When  the  dance  was  concluded,  the  victima  were  placed  upon 
the  sacrificial  stones  their  liearls  were  tak('n  out  and  offered  to  the  idols;  and  their  bodies  hurled 
down  the  stejis  nf  the  temple.  .\t  the  bottom  of  the  steps  stood  "  other  butchers,"  who  cut  off 
the  arms  and  le^'s  of  the  victims,  inteiidin!;  to  eat  these  portions  of  their  enemies.  The  sUin  of 
the  face,  with  the  heard,  wa-^  preserved.  The  rest  of  the  body  was  thrown  to  the  iions,  tigers  ,nnd 
perpenls.  "Let  the  curious  reader  consider,"  says  Bemal  Ili.nz,  "  what  pity  we  muft  have  had 
for  these  our  companions,  and  bow  we  said  to  one  another:  'Oh!  thanks  be  to  God,  that  they 
did  not  carry  me  otf  to  sacrifice  me  to-day.'  "  And  certainly,  no  army  ever  looked  upon  a  more 
dc'plorable  sight.— //i?//).'.'. 

'  This  fearful  slaughter  was  chiefly  the  «ork  of  the  Indian  allies.  The  Spaniards  could  not 
prevent  it.    They  were  only  about  000  in  number,  while  thu  Bllies  were  over  180,000, —/7<;pK. 

*  Guatemozin,  the  eucceuor  of  MontezuDia. 


HERNANDO  CORTES. 


299 


siege  lasted  seventy-five  days.  Its  fearful  results  cannot  be 
better  given  than  in  the  simple  words  of  an  eye-witness, 
"It  is  true,"  writes  Bernal  Diaz,  "and  I  swear  Amen,  that 
all  the  lake  and  the  houses  and  the  baracans  were  full  of  the 
l)odies  and  heads  of  dead  men,  so  that  I  do  not  know  how 
I  may  »3escribe  it.  For  in  the  streets  and  in  the  very  courts 
there  were  no  other  things,  and  we  could  not  walk  except 
amonjvst  the  bodies  and  heads  of  slain  Indians.  I  have  read 
of  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem;  but  whether  there  waa 
such  a  mortality  in  that  I  do  not  know.'" 

Thus  fell  the  great  city  of  Mexico. 

It  was,  in  truth,  a  time  for  thanksgiving.  A  procession 
of  the  whole  army  was  formed,  with  Father  Olmedo  at  its 
head.  The  soiled  and  tattered  banners  of  Castile,  which 
had  waved  over  many  a  field  of  battle,  now  threw  their 
shadows  on  the  peaceful  array  of  the  soldiery,  as  they  slowly 
moved  along,  rehearsing  the  Litany,  and  displaying  the 
image  of  the  Holy  Virgin,  and  the  blessed  symbol  of  man's 
Kedemption.  The  Reverend  Father  pronounced  a  discourse, 
in  which  he  briefly  reminded  the  troops  of  their  great  cause 
of  thankfulness  to  Heaven,  and  ended  by  calling  on  them 
to  "conduct  themselves  like  Catholic  Christians,  that  so 
God  might  continue  to  favor  them."  Cortos  and  his  chief 
officers  received  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  and  the  services 
concluded  with  a  solemn  thanksgiving  to  the  God  of  battles, 
who  had  enabled  them  to  carry  the  banner  of  the  Cross 
triumphant  over  this  barbaric  empire." 


'  "I  have  conwrsod,"  cays  tlic  hietoriiin  Ovipdo,  "with  mnny  hidalgos  and  other  persons,  and 
have  heard  them  sny  tliat  the  number  of  tlie  dead  was  inciikMilable— greater  than  at  Jerusalem,  ae 
described  by  Josephus,"— i74«<.  ielas  liid.,  guoted  by  rrtswtt. 

>  Praacott 


■1  1 


CHAPTEE  VII. 

AFTER  CAKEER  OF  THE  CONQUEROR  OF   MEXICO. 

Is  appointed  Governor  of  Mexico— The  new  capital— Tin- 
conversion  of  the  Indians—  Arrival  of  twelve  Francis 
can  Missionaries — Actlvltfi  of  Cortes—  Desperate  jour- 
ney to  Honduras — Calumny— Cortes  rjoes  to  Spain— 
His  reception— Honors— Return  to  Mexico— New  dlffi 
cultles  and  enterptrlses— Discovery  of  California—  To 
Spain  once  more— The  call  of  death— His  pious  end- 
Character  of  Cortes. 

We  can  merely  glance  at  the  subsequent  career  of  the 
illustrious  Conqueror  of  Mexico.  In  Si)ain  he  had  bitter 
enemies.  Among  these  were  Bishop  Funseca,  who  had 
dogged  Columbus  to  tlie  very  tomb.  But  in  h\)\x.q  of  every 
ojiposition,  the  acts  of  Cortes  were  coulirmed  in  their  full 
extent ;  and  his  commisssion  as  Captain-General  and  Chief 
Justice  of  Mexico  was  signed  by  the  Emperor  Charles  V.  in 
October,  ir)22. 

In  less  thiin  four  rears  from  the  destruction  of  Mexico,  a 
new  city  had  risen  on  its  ruins,  wliich,  if  inferior  to  the  an- 
cient capital  in  extent,  surpassed  it  in  magnilicence  and 
strength.  Great  alterations,  of  course,  took  place  in  the 
fashion  of  the  architecture.  On  the  site  of  the  famous 
Temple  of  the  god  of  war  arose  the  stately  Cathedral ;  and, 
as  if  to  CO  plete  the  triumplis  of  the  Cross,  the  foundations 
were  laid  with  the  broken  imnges  of  the  Mexican  idols.' 

The  conversion  (  f  the  natives  was  an  object  of  which 
Cortes  never  lost  siglit.  In  one  of  his  reports  to  the  Emperor, 
ddted  ir)24,'  he  says  t'nt.    "as  many  times  as  I  have  w  ;tt(>n 

'  Pro^rntt. 

'  Aboul  this  limp  tiis  wife,  Dnuii  Caliilinii  .Iniircz.  rnnic  to  Mexico.  On  landinp- mIip  wns  Cfrortod 
by  Snn(lo\;il  to  tlie  ciipiliil,  wIutc  siic  was  liiiitliy  rcccivi'il  l)y  her  liiisiiiiiid,  and  mi  Hip  rospect 
pnid  til  liiT  wliicli  utip  was  pnlilli'd  to  !>>•  licr  (■lc\,'ili'd  laiiic.  Hut  tlip  climiitp  of  llic  talili'  liiid  wus 
not  suitpd  to  Iter  coiiBtitutioii,  and  flif  cli«.'d— llini'  moutlis  after  lier  sxxnyaX.—l'ntcott. 

300 


HERNANDO  CORTES. 


301 


to  your  Sacred  Majesty,  I  have  told  your  Highness  of  the 
le.'ulitiess  wiiich  there  is  in  some  ot  the  natives  to  receive  our 
Holy  Catholic  Faith,  and  become  Christians.  And  I  have 
sent  to  supplicate  your  Imperial  Majesty  that  you  would 
have  the  goodness  to  provide  for  that  end  religious  persons 
of  good  life  and  example." 

In  obedience  to  these  suggestions,  twelve  Franciscan 
Fathers  embarked  for  Mexico,  which  they  reached  early  in 
l'r24.  The  ])iesence  of  these  men  of  God  in  the  country  was 
greeted  with  general  rejoicing  The  inhabitants  of  the  towns 
through  which  they  piissed  came  out  in  a  body  to  welcome 
them*  processions  w^ere  formed  of  the  natives,  bearing  Avax 
tapers  in  their  hands,  and  the  bells  of  the  churches  rang  out 
a  joyous  peal  in  honor  of  their  ari'ival  On  entering  the 
capital  they  were  met  by  a  brilliant  cavalcade  of  the  prin- 
cipal cavaliers  and  citizens,  with  Cortes  at  their  head.  The 
General,  dismounting,  and  bending  one  knee  to  the  ground, 
kissed  the  robes  of  Father  Martin  of  Valencia,  the  Superior 
of  I  his  band  of  apostles.  The  natives  were  filled  with  as- 
lonishjuent  at  the  Viceroy's  jirofound  reverence  towards 
men  whose  naked  feet  and  tattered  garments  gave  them  the 
aspect  of  mendicants,  and  henceforth  regarded  them  as 
beings  of  a  superior  nature.  The  Indian  chronicler  of  Tlas- 
cala  does  not  conceal  his  admiration  at  this  edifying  conde- 
scension of  Cortes,  which  he  pronounces  "one  of  the  most 
heroic  acts  of  his  life.'" 

Cortes  was  a  man  of  marvelous  activity.  He  conquered 
^fexico,  rebuilt  and  governed  it.  At  the  same  time,  he  em- 
])l(jy(Mt  skillful  persons  to  search  for  mines  in  different  parts 
oi"  tlie  country,  and  ojiened  some  which  were  found  to  be 
liclur  than  any  whicli  the  Spaniiirds  had  hitherto  discovered 

'  I'ri'sc  ott. 

Till'  nilssioniirii'M  \n<{  no  time  in  the  comi  work  of  conversion.  They  hcffan  their  preaching 
iliniiiL'li  infci'pri'li'is  iiiMil  liny  liiid  iiiiiuind  .i  ((iniix'lcni  l<novvlcil<.'('  of  tlic  laiii;nni:c  tlicnisclvcs. 
Tlu'V  o|ii'ii('(I  siliools  r.nii  tomidril  colici.'i's,  in  which  the  native  youlh  wer<'  Mi'lnicled  in  pnirun" 
as  well  us  Chri-'llan  .earnint;  The  ardor  ')f  Ihe  Indian  neophyte  eniiilalcil  lliat  iif  hi~  teacher. 
Ill  u  few  year!*  every  veMii;i'  oi  the  primitive  temalltK  wax  effaced  from  the  Umi\.—'/{islory  nftht 
Cnmini'^t  nj'  Mi\i-ici>  '    Vol.  III. 

Father  Tiirihio  KtatcH  thai  twenty  years  after  the  Conqnest  there  were  9,000,000  of  Catbulic  Iiv 
diilIJ^  in  tlie  enjiiire.— ///.<y.  ik  las  Iinliai<,  ijiioltd  by  PrescolL 


I 


V 
m  ■ 


}'« 


I 


i; 


m\ 


IF*- 


302 


UEBNANDO  CORTES. 


i 


li 


in  the  New  World.  He  detached  his  principal  officers  into 
the  remote  provinces,  and  encouraged  them  to  settle  there 
by  bestowing  upon  them  large  tracts  of  land.  Nor  was  this 
all.  He  sent  out  many  expeditions  of  settlement  and  dis- 
covery     Of  these  we  can  notice  but  one. 

Early  in  1524,  the  Conqueror  dispatched  Olid — an  officer 
who  had  greatly  distinguished  himself  at  the  siege  of  Mex 
Ico — to  make  a  settlement  in  Honduras.  The  lieutenant, 
however,  proved  unfaithful  to  his  trust,  and  gave  undeni- 
able signs  of  setting  up  an  independent  government  for  him- 
self. At  such  conduct,  Cortes  was  extremely  indignant. 
He  regarded  it  as  a  dangerous  example,  calling  for  swift  and 
severe  punishment,  and  resolved  to  take  the  matter  into  his 
own  hands  The  journey  was  long  and  most  perilous.  Ac- 
cording to  Father  Gonuna,  he  inarched  three  thousand 
miles,  through  a  country  abounding  in  swamps,  thick  forests, 
rugged  mountains,  deep  rivers,  thinly  inhabited,  and  culti- 
vated only  in  a  few  places.  What  himself  and  his  force 
suffered  from  famine,  from  the  hostility  of  the  Indians, 
from  the  deadly  climate,  and  from  countless  and  unheard-of 
hardships,  is,  perhax>s,  unparalleled,  even  in  the  early  his- 
tory of  America.' 

When  Cortos  reached  the  settlement,  he  was  informed  of 
the  death  of  Olid,  and  of  the  re-establishment  of  his  own  au- 
thority. He  was,  therefore,  cordially  welcomed  by  his  coun- 
trymen, who  were  greatly  astonished,  says  Bernal  Diaz,  "at 
the  presence  among  them  of  the  General  so  renowned 
throughout  these  countries."  In  this  dreadful  service,  he 
spent  over  two  years; 


and  though  it  was  not  distinguished 

■  Amonc  those  who  nccompftniod  the  rxpedition  to  Jlontiuras  was  the  hardy  Cnptuin  Diaz,  lie 
did  not  wish  to  gn.    '  But  Cortes  comnmnded  it,"  he  writcsi,  "and  we  dared  not  say  no." 

The  BolduT-historiiin,  wlieii  ■iescribins  llic  construction  of  n  certain  bridRe  across  a  river,  addn 
that  the  army  had  iiolhitis  to  eat  for  three  days  but  grasH,  and  a  root  called  queeuenque,  which 
bnmcd  tlu'lr  lips  and  tonRues. 

In  this  extremity  tlie  Mexican  chiefs  turned  canni'oals.  Tliey  eeiaed  npon  the  natives  where 
t'.iey  conid  find  them  and  baliliiK  llieii  bodies  between  heated  stones,  devoured  them,  llie  Oen- 
cmi  Immediateiy  put  a  stop  to  this  abominable  practice,  when  tlie  facts  came  to  his  knowlcdse. 

Ttie  following  shows  the  des|K>rate  cireumstauccs  of  aU.  ''Oh,  Sefior  brother  Berniil  Diaz." 
►aid  Cortes,  "  if  you  liavc  left  any  of  the  food  secrt-tcd  by  the  road,  for  the  love  of  me,  Rive  me 
»ome  of  it.  I  am  sure  you  imist  have  kept  some  for  yourself  and  your  friend  Sandoval."  Siiiido- 
Tal,  who  was  with  Cortes,  exclaimed:  "I  swear  I  have  not  even  a  handful  of  luilw  toroaat  iot 
Kiy  tupper!  "—JIilps. 


HERNANDO  CORTES 


303 


by  any  splendid  event,  the  Conqueror  exhibited  during  the 
course  of  it  more  patience,  more  perseverance,  greater  per- 
sonal courage,  and  more  wonderful  fortitude  of  mind,  than 
at  any  other  period  of  his  romantic  and  remarkable  career. 

In  our  day  it  is  difficult  to  conceive  the  character  of  a 
Castilian  cavalier  of  tlie  sixteenth  century,  a  true  counter- 
part of  which  it  would  not  have  been  easy  to  find  in  any 
other  nation,  even  at  that  time — or  anywhere,  indeed,  save 
in  the  tales  of  chivalry.  The  mere  excitement  of  exploring 
the  strange  and  the  unknown  was  a  sufficient  compensation 
to  the  Spanish  adventurer  for  all  his  toils  and  trials.  He 
was  a  man  full  of  faith,  and  fearless  of  danger.  It  seems, 
in  truth,  to  have  been  ordered  by  Providence  that  such  a 
race  of  men  should  exist  contemporaneously  with  the  dis- 
covery of  the  New  World,  that  those  regions"  should  be 
brought  to  light  which  were  beset  with  dangers  and  difficul- 
ties so  appalling,  as  might  have  tended  to  overawe  and  to 
discourage  the  ordinary  spirit  of  adventure.' 

AVliile  the  genius  of  Cortes  was  achieving  prodigies  in 
America,  calumny  after  calumny  reached  Spain  concerning 
his  aims  and  objects.  Malicious  and  narrow-minded  officials 
in  Mexico  wrote  to  the  home  government,  representing  him 
as  a  bold,  ambitious  tyrant.  Even  the  suspicions  of 
Charles  V.  were  finally  aroused;  and  the  Emperor,  after 
some  hesitation,  ordered  a  solemn  inquiry  to  be  made  into 
the  conduct  of  the  Conqueror. 

The  loyal,  lofty  mind  of  Cortes  was  deeply  wounded  at 
this  unexpected  return  for  services  which  far  exceeded  all 
that  any  subject  of  Spain  had  ever  rendered  to  his  sovereign. 
He  resolved  not  to  expose  himself  to  the  indignity  of  a  trial 
in  that  country  which  had  been  the  scene  of  his  triumphs;  and 
without  awaiting  the  arrival  of  the  Commission  of  Judges, 
he  repaired  directly  to  Castile,  and  committed  himself  and 
his  cause  to  the  justice  and  generosity  of  the  Emperor.' 


'  I'rosrott. 

'(Ill  his  nrrlv.il  iit  Villa  Tx\ci\  lio  rocplvod  tho  pninful  tidinRn  of  tlic  (loath  nt  hin  father.  Don 
Mirtlii  rnrtos.  whom  hi'  had  lirip'd  no  won  to  otnbrnce  nfior  hie  lonu'aiid  evpi.tftil  absence.  IIiiv. 
mz  ri'Ichratod  hi?  oh!-e<iuioii  with  every  mark  of  fliiul  rtspect,  he  made  preparations  for  hia  stptieif 
icvaruin'.—Preteoit. 


K 


li 


J, 


304 


IlEUyAyiK)  CORTES. 


The  General  appeared  in  his  native  country  with  a  splen- 
dor that  l)e('anie  tlie  coiupn  lor  ot  a  mighty  empire.  Wo 
brought  witli  liini  a  large  ]);n ::  of  liis  wealth,  many  jewels 
and  ornaments  of  great  value,  several  cuiious  productions 
of  I  he  New  World,  and  was  aceonipanied  by  some  Mexicaii.s 
of  higli  rank,  as  well  as  by  the  faithful  Sandoval  and  other 
oflicers.  ''In  line,'  wi-ites  the  historian  Herrara,  "lie  came 
in  nil  the  state  of  a  great  loi-d. 

The  hero's  ai'rivai  in  Spain  at  once  removed  every  sus- 
picion and  fear  that  iia<l  been  entei'tained  with  respect  to  his 
intentions.  The  Enij)ei()r  received  him  as  one  whom  con- 
sciousness of  his  own  innocence  had  brought  into  the  pres- 
ence of  his  master,  and  who  was  entitled  by  his  dis-tinguished 
sei'viccs  to  the  higii(.'st  marks  of  respect  jind  di.' tinction.  The 
ord.-r  of  St.  Jago,  the  title  of  Mai'quis  del  "S'aile,' and  the 
giiiiit  of  an  ample  tei'ritory  in  Mexico  were  successively  be- 
8tow(>d  ui)on  him.  Charles,  indeed,  took  frequent  oppor- 
tniity  to  show  the  conlideiu-e  which  he  now  reposed  in 
Cortes.  On  all  pul)lic  occasions  he  appeared  with  bim  by 
his  side;  and  once,  when  the  General  lay  ill  of  a  fever,  the 
Emperor  paid  him  a  visit  in  ])Hison,  and  remained  for  some 
time  ill  the  apartment  of  the  invalid.' 

Tvirly  in  the  spring  of  lo^O,  Coi'tes  embarked  for  Mexico. 
H(>  was  accompanied  by  the  ^iaichioness,*  his  wife,  together 


*    . 


1  ^^r■  rnfpri'fl  t\\o  littlr  port  nf  r-'n^  in  Mny,  irCS-lhc  siimc  spot  wIkto  roliimlms  hiicl  liiruU-d 
flvp-nii'Mliirfy  vcfir-  before,  on  liis  return  from  llie  discovery  of  the  Western  World.  Krom  Pnlos  ho 
poor  nroeeeded  to  the  Convent  of  I.ii  rdiliiihi.  within  the  hospiliihio  walls  of  which  Colnmhiis  hnd 
found  -^lielter.  An  interestin;;  circiini^lMnee  i<  mentioned  hy  liisloriiins.  connected  with  Ins  sluirt 
ptiiv  in  Pidos.  Frnncis  Piz.ivrn.  thi>  ror(ineror  nf  P;  ni,  hnd  iirrivcd  there,  havinp  come  to  Spiiin 
to  solicit  iiid  for  his  crent  onterpri>^e.  Ue  was  then  in  the  commencement  of  his  lirilliant  career, 
BB  rort''s  ndtrht  hp  said  lo  ho  iit  the  close  of  his.  Tie  was  an  old  acqnainlarcp,  ind  n  Kinsman, 
as  is  nflirnvd,  of  the  fienenl.  v  hose  n'other  was  a  Pizarro.  The  meetins;  of  these  two  extra- 
or.dln'irv  men.  the  Conquerors  of  the  Xorth  and  of  the  Sonth  in  the  Xew  World,  as  they  set  foot, 
nfter  ihejr  pvenlfiit  ahscncp,  on  the  shores  of  '1  eir  native  land,  and  that,  too.  on  the  spot  consc- 
rra'c'"  hy  the  prpsenco  of  Cohnnlms.  h  ■    yoniPtliiiiLr  iii  It  slrikiii!:  lo  the  iniacrination.— /';wco?^ 

WIele  takins  soin  •  reposp  and  perform  n  his  devotions  at  llu'  Convent  of  La  Rnhidn,  an  event 
nrcerred  which  irre-itlv  saddened  Corf'-s.  I  was  the  death  of  the  hravp,  trusty,  and  still  youthful 
Sando'  al.  Tie  d'ed  like  a  true  CatlKdio  soldier.  Irealhiiiij;  his  last  in  the  arms  of  his  commander. 
Ill'  v  w  hut  thirlv-one  yi'ars  of  a^'c.  and  was  hurled  In  the  convent  cemetery.  "Tie  was  in  many 
fPsoeeis."  savs  the  American  hislr)rian  of  the  Ccmqnest,  "  the  most  eminent  of  the  great  cnptiiins 
forced  nnder  th  ■  eye  of  Covles." 

''■•  ■Vlarqiiis  of  the  Valley  of  Oxaoa.' 

3  T^reseott. 

^iiiiriiiif  the  General's  stav  n  Spain,  ho  pomrht  the  hand  of  Dofio  Jiiana  de  Zufiiga,  dnnghtcr 
tf  the  Count  do  Ajiuihir,  and  she  hecaiue  Iuh  second  wife. 


ii 


HERNANDO  C0RT£S. 


305 


with  his  aged  mother,  who  had  the  good  fortune  to  live  to 
see  her  son's  elevation,  and  by  a  magnificent  retinue  of  pages 
and  attendants,  such  as  belonged  to  the  household  of  a 
powerful  noble.  How  different  from  the  forlorn  condition 
in  which,  twenty-six  years  before,  he  had  been  cast  loose,  as 
a  wild  adventurer,  to  seek  his  bread  upon  the  waters! ' 

Though  dignified  with  new  titles,  Cortes  returned  to 
Mexico  with  diminished  authority.  The  military  depart- 
ment, and  powers  to  attempt  new  discoveries,  were,  indeed, 
left  in  his  hands;  but  the  supi'eine  direction  of  civil  affairs 
Avas  placed  in  aboard  called  ''The  Audience  of  New  Spain." 
This  division  of  power  proved  the  source  of  perpetual  dis- 
sension. It  inibitter(;d  the  life  of  the  Conqueror,  and 
tlnvarted  all  his  vast  enterprises. 

Tie  had  now  no  opportunity  to  display  his  wonderiul  ac- 
tivity but  in  attempting  new  discoveries ;  and  for  this  pur- 
jK)se  he  formed  various  schemes,  all  of  which  bear  the 
impress  of  a  genius  that  delighted  in  what  was  bold  and 
s])leiidid.  Tie  was  always  busy  in  great  enterprises.  ][e 
early  entertained  the  idea,  that  either  by  steei'ing  through 
the  (rulf  of  ^Mexico,  along  the  eastern  coast  of  North  Amer- 
ica, soni«  strait  would  be  found  that  communicated  with 
tlie  Pacific;  or  tliat  by  examining  the  isthmus  of  Daiien, 
sonu^  passage  would  be  discovered  connecting  the  two  great 
oceans.  But  he  was  disappointed  in  his  exi)ectatioiis  with 
respect  to  both,  and  he  now  confined  his  views  to  such 
v()yng(\s  of  discovery  as  he  could  make  from  the  Mexican 
l)orts  on  the  Pacific.  There  he  fitted  out,  one  after  anotlier, 
several  smali  squadrons,  which  were  either  lost,  or  returned 
^^■ith()ut  making  any  discovery  of  importance. 

The  CtMieral  gi-ew  weary  of  intrusting  the  conduct  of  such 
ent(>rprises  to  others,  and  took  the  command  of  ii  now  ai'iria- 
ment  in  ])erson.  He  sailed  tcwnids  (he  r.ortli.  After  en- 
during incredible  hai'dsiiijis,  and  encount(uing  coinitless 
dangers,  lie  discovered  the  ixuiinsnia  of  California,  and  ex- 
I'loi'ed  the  greater  part  of  the  <i;u]f  which  se])arat(\s  it  from 
-Mexico.     The  discoverv  of  a  country  of  such  extent  wouhl 


\ 


'  Pri'scott. 


M^r 


■.^i::> 


306 


HERNANDO  CORTES. 


have  reflected  credit  on  a  common  adventurer ;  but  it  could 
add  little  to  the  bright  name  of  Cortes,  and  was  far  from 
satisfying  the  hopes  which  he  had  formed.' 

The  Conqueror  continued  to  meet  ill  success  and  bitter 
opposition — two  things  to  which  he  had  not  been  accus- 
tomed. And  disgusted  at  having  to  contest  with  adversa- 
ries to  whom  he  considered  it  a  disgrace  to  be  opposed,  he 
•once  more  sought  for  redress  in  his  native  Spain.  This  was  in 
1540,  But  his  reception  was  very  different  from  that  which 
gratitude,  and  even  decency,  should  have  secured.  The 
merit  of  his  aiicien  '.evements  was  already,  in  some 

measure,  forgotten,  ;      /ice  of  importance  was  now  ex- 

pected from  a  man  in  declining  years,  and  one  who  began  to 
be  unfortunate,  T\e  Emperor  behaved  to  him  with  cold 
civility;  and  his  minist' .  trca.Lt;d  the  illustrious  General 
sometimes  with  neglect,  sometimes  with  insolence.  In  short, 
his  grievances  received  no  redress.  His  claims  were  urged 
without  success.  Like  Columbus,  he  found  that  it  was  just 
possible  to  deserve  too  much! 

The  great  man  was  at  Seville  when  the  warning  of  death 
came.  In  order  to  avoid  the  presence  of  visitors,  he  retired 
to  the  neighboring  village  of  Castileja,  attended  by  his  son, 
who  watched  over  his  dying  parent  with  tender  solicitude. 
Bernal  Diaz  says  he  sought  this  quiet  place  for  the  purpose 
of  making  his  will,  and  preparing  his  soul  for  its  great  de- 
parture. "And  when  he  had  settled  his  worldly  affairs, 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  was  pleased  to  take  him  from  this 
troublesome  world."  Like  a  Christian  who  had  "fought 
the  good  fight,"  his  end  was  calm  and  peaceful.  He  made 
a  last  humble  confession,  and  devoutly  received  Holy  Com- 


'  Cortes  (lisrovcrod  (':iliforiii!i,  but  ho  Irft  that  country,  little  conjecturing  the  riches  which  he 
!uiil  priiMably  tro(i(icn  un(l<'r  foot  It  was  on  tliis  occiiHion  tlint  his  second  wife  wrote  him  a  most 
toucliiii^  litter.  liet;<ring  liim  to  return  to  lii«  Marquisate  in  Mexico,  to  think  of  his  boys  and 
pills,  and  no  longer  to  tenijit  fortune,  but  to  content  himself  with  the  heroic  actions  he  had  al- 
ready performed,  and  with  his  world-wide  fame— f'elps. 

Tliouf^h  it  may  seem  sin<;ular.  Cortes  was  far  from  wealthy.  In  n  letter  dated  at  Mexico,  1,538, 
he  writes:  "  I  have  enough  to  do  to  maintain  myself  in  a  villaRe  where  I  have  my  wife,  without 
darluy;  to  reside  In  this  city,  or  to  come  into  it,  as  I  have  not  the  means  to  live  in  it;  and  if  some- 
times  I  come,  because  I  cannot  help  doing  so,  and  remain  in  it  a  month,  I  am  obliged  to  fust  for 
■  year." 

Tlie  Conqueror  of  the  Mexican  empire  had  not  means  to  live  in  its  capital. 


HERNANDO  CORTtS. 


307 


munion;  and  thus  passed  away  the  Conqueror  of  Mexico 
and  Discoverer  of  California,  on  the  2d  of  December,  1547, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years.' 

Of  all  the  noble  band  of  adventurous  cavaliers  whom 
Spain,  in  the  sixteenth  century,  sent  forth  on  the  career  of 
discovery  and  conquest,  there  was  none  more  deeply  tilled 
with  the  spirit  of  romantic  enterprise  than  Hernando  Cortes. 
Dangers  and  difficulties,  instead  of  deteiTing,  seemed  to  have 
a  charm  in  his  eyes.  They  were  necessary  to  rouse  him  to 
a  full  consciousness  ot  his  powers.  He  grappled  with  them 
at  the  outset,  and  seemed,  if  we  may  so  express  it,  to  take 
his  enterprises  by  the  most  difficult  side.'  He  was  certainly 
a  great  general,  if  that  man  be  one  who  performs  great 
achievements  with  the  resources  which  his  own  genius  has 
created.  There  is  probably  no  instance  in  history  where  so 
vast  an  enterprise  has  been  achieved  by  means  apparently 
ISO  inadequate.^ 

We  know  of  no  exact  parallel  to  his  character,  but  he 
possessed  traits  in  common  with  many  great  generals  of 
iintiquity.  He  moved  and  conquered  with  the  electric  rapid- 
ity of  Pyrrhus,  but  he  was  more  successful.  He  subdued  a 
more  warlike  empire  than  Alexander,  but  unlike  the  Greek 
conquerer,  his  end  was  not  shameful.     He  had  the  courage, 


'  Hi?  body  was  first  buried  at  Seville,  in  the  chapel  of  the  monastery  of  San  Isiaro.  In  1562. 
il  was  removed,  by  order  of  his  son,  to  Mexico,  whore  I;i  the  monastery  ii  .it.  I'rancis,  Tezcn90, 
II  was  laiil  by  tlie  side  of  a  daii;;hter  and  ot  his  motfter.  In  .3^  the  remains  were  awain  re- 
iiioveO  -this  time  to  the  church  of  St.  Francis,  in  the  capital.  The  ceremony  was  conducted  with 
tlie  i)omi)  suited  to  the  occasion.  A  military  and  religions  procession  was  formed,  with  the 
Arclibis!iop  of  Mexico  at  its  head.  Nor  were  his  hones  permitted  to  rest  undisturbed.  In  1794 
tliey  \.ere  removed  to  the  Hospital  of  Jesns  of  Nazareth.  It  was  a  more  fitting  place,  since 
it  was  the  same  institution  which,  under  the  name  of  "Our  Lady  of  the  Conception,"  had  been 
founded  and  endowed  by  Cortes,  and  which,  with  a  fate  not  too  frequent  in  similar  charities,  has 
Dcon  administered  to  this  day  on  the  noble  principios  of  its  foundation.— /VmcoW. 

See  ••  History  of  the  Conquest  of  Mexico,"  Vol.  III.  p.  385. 

'  "Once  he  had  Janded  in  Mexico,"  writes  Arohbisbop  Spalding,  "  and  conceived  the  idea  of 
conquerinf;  the  empire,  he  burned  his  fleet;  thus  cutting  off  all  hope  of  retreat,  and  leanng  his  men 
iioaitcmativebut  to  conquer  or  to  die.  He  then  buckled  on  his  good  sword,  and  with  his  httle  army 
fallowed  fearlcisly  the  banner  of  the  Cross,  which  he  had  resolved  to  plant  on  the  loftiest  pin- 
nacle of  the  city  of  Montezuma.  On,  on  with  the  battie-cry  ot  God  and  San  Jaqo!  No  dangers 
.'ippall— no  difficulties  discourage  him.  Labor  and  toii,  and  hardships  and  reverses  are  his  daily 
I'road.  His  soul  rises  with  obsticles,  as  the  ship  rises  with  tiie  waves.  A  chihi  of  fortune,  he 
K'>ems  to  rise  superior  to  fortune;  or  rather,  hia  genius  traasmates  misfortuuea  into  brilliant 
wiccess," 

'  PrcBCott. 


t.  ' 


808 


EEBNANDO  CORTSS. 


skill,  and  indomitable  energy  of  Scit)io,  and  like  him  he 
destroyed  ii  capital;  but  unlike  Seipio,  he  caused  this  capi- 
tal to  rise  ajiain  from  its  ashes  more  splendid  than  ever. 
He  conquered  like  Ctesai-,  and  like  him,  "he  wrote  his  own 
commentaries,"  almost  amid  the  stirring  scenes  of  the  bat- 
tle-tield  itself.  He  had  the  iron  nerve  and  the  fertile  inven- 
tion of  Hannibal,  and  the  same  unconquerable  energy  in 
encountering  dilliculties;  but  he  was  much  more  fortunate 
than  Hannibal.* 

"  He  preferred,"  writes  good  old  Bernal  Diaz,  "to  be  called 
Cortes  by  us,  to  being  called  by  any  title;  and  with  good  rea- 
son, for  the  name  of  Cortes  is  as  famous  in  our  day  as  was 
that  of  Cjesar  among  the  llouians,  or  of  Hannibal  among  the 
Cartluigiuians." 

Nor  was  the  Conquei'or  of  Mexico  simply  an  illustrious 
commander.  He  was  a  sincerely  religious  man.  He  was  a 
great  statesman.  He  was  a  consummate  man  of  business. 
He  was  an  eminent  discoverer.  These  are  qualities  rarely, 
if  erer,  found  in  the  same  person. 

Were  we  to  overlook  the  religions  aspect  of  the  Con- 
quest, it  would  be  utteily  impossible  to  nndeistand  or 
rightly  appreciate  its  cluiracter."  The  spread  of  the  true 
Faith  Avas,  in  fact,  its  great  end  and  aim,  its  very  life  and 
sonl.  Cortes  felt  that  he  had  a  high  mission  to  accomplish 
as  a  soldier  of  the  Cross.  He  felt  that  he  was  engaged  in  a 
holy  crusade.  He  felt  that  he  could  not  serve  Heaven  bet- 
ter than  by  planting  the  blessed  sign  of  man's  Redemption 
on  the  blood-stained  towers  of  pagan  Mexico!* 


•  Spalding. 

«  There  mny  be  those  who  think  that  the  Conquest  of  Mexico  was,  perhaps",  not  jiiftifiable. 
Here  w-  'vive  no  spnre  to  difcnss  the  matter.  Th;;  learned  Arcliliishop  Spatdinfr  in  liis  review  of 
Pre.so.>u's  ///v to-!/,  auks:  "\Vi!9  the  Conquest  jnstlfiahlet"  and  answers:  "If  ever  a  ((iiniiicst 
was  jnstifiahle,  that  of  Mexieo  hy  the  Spaniards  was  so."  We  refer  the  reader  to  his  able  urgu- 
Ment  on  this  subject.    See  "  Misc.  llanca,"  Vol.  I.  p.  863. 

'  Speakincc  of  the  new  career  of  discovery  and  conquest  opened  to  European  nations  by  th« 
genius  of  Columbus,  the  historian  Prescntt  tnily  i-ays:  "  Other  nations  entered  on  it  also,  but 
witli  diiTe.rent  motives.  The  French  sent  forth  their  missionaries  to  fake  up  their  dwelling 
amono;  the  heathen,  who,  in  the  pood  work  of  winning  souls  to  Paradise,  were  content  to  wear- 
nay,  sometimes  seemed  to  court — the  crown  of  martyrdom.  The  Dutch,  too,  had  their  mission, 
but  it  was  one  of  worldly  lucre,  and  they  found  a  recompense  for  toil  and  siifFerinir  in  their  gain- 
ful traflic.  with  the  natives,  while  our  Puritan  fathers,  with  true  Anglo-Saxon  spirit,  left  Ilieir 
pleasant  Uomea  acroea  the  waters,  and  pitched  their  teuts  in  the  liowling  wildeniuiss,  that  they 


I  I.J'wi...- 


HERNANDO  CORTES. 


309 


m- 


Ilis  noble  kindness  and  religious  sjm-it  shone  out  in  the 
very  last  act  of  his  life.  By  a  clause  in  his  will,  he  ap- 
plied the  revenues  of  his  estates,  in  the  city  of  Mexico,  to 
establish  and  permanently  endow  three  public  institutions 
of  charity — a  hospital  dedicated  to  the  Imraacnlate  Concep- 
tion, a  convent  for  nuns,  and  a  college  for  the  education  of 
missionaries  to  preach  the  Gospel  among  the  Indians.  He 
also  appropriated  a  sum  for  the  celebration  of  two  thousand 
Masses. for  the  eternal  repose  of  the  souls  of  those  who  had 
fought  with  him  in  the  campaigns  of  Mexico. 

We  conclude  by  a  few  pen-pictures  from  the  hand  of  a  com- 
panion. "His  whole  appearance,"  says  the  veteran  Bernal 
Diaz,  "in  his  discourse,  his  table,  his  dress,  in  everything,  in 
short,  he  had  the  air  of  a  great  lord.  His  clothes  were  in 
the  fashion  of  the  time.  He  set  little  value  on  sillv,  dam- 
ask, or  velvet,  but  dressed  plainly  and  exceedingly  neat; 
nor  did  he  wear  massy  chains  of  gold,  but  simply  a  fine 
one  of  exquisite  workmanship,  from  which  was  suspended  a 
jewel  having  the  figure  of  our  Blessed  Lady  and  her  pre- 
cious Son,  with  a  Latin  motto  cir  upon  it. 

"He  was  acquainted  with  Lirin,  and,  as  I  have  under- 
stood, was  made  Baclielor  of  Li  vs;  and  when  he  conversed 
with  learned  men  who  addressed  liim  in  Latin,  he  answered 
them  in  the  same  language,  lb'  was  also  something  of  a 
poet.  His  conversation  was  agr^'  >able,  and  he  had  a  pleas- 
ant elocution.  In  his  attendaii  -e  on  the  services  of  the 
Church  he  was  most  punctual,  devout  in  his  manner,  and 
charitable  to  the  jjoor. 

"When  he  swore,  he  used  to  sny.  On  my  conscience;  and 
when  he  was  vexed  with  anyon(\  Ecil  betide  you.  With  his 
men  he  was  very  patient;  and  tht^y  were  sometimes  imperti- 


:ii 


might  onjoy  the  sweets  of  chil  and  religions  freedom.  Bnt  the  Spaniard  came  over  to  the  New 
World  in  tlie  true  epiril  of  a  liniijlit-errant,  coin-  inir  adventure,  however  perilous,  wooing 
danger,  as  it  would  seem,  for  its  own  sal^e.  Wifl-  <word  and  lance,  lie  was  (n:er  rea'ly  to  do 
hattle  for  the  F.iith;  and,  ns  he  raised  his  old  w;i'  v  of  St.  Jago,  he  faneied  himself  fightini; 
under  the  hanner  of  the  military  apostle,  and  felt  l:,-  :  n  a  match  for  more  lliaii  a  liumlred  infldelsl 
It  was  tile  expiring'  age  of  chivalry;  and  Spiiii-,  roinaiitic  Spain,  was  tlie  land  where  Us  light 
lingered  longest  above  the  horizon."'— '//;■•/(«(/ '^'''"'  Conqueft  of  Mexico.'" 

This,  from  u  Protestant  pen,  is  a  well-merited  tribute  to  the  brave  old  Catholic  p'oncers  of 
America. 


310 


BEtlNANDO  CORTES. 


nent  and  even  insolent.  When  very  angry,  the  veins  in  his 
throat  and  forehead  would  swell,  but  he  uttered  no  re- 
proaches against  either  officer  or  soldier. 

"  He  was  affable  with  his  followers,  especially  with  those 
who  came  over  with  him  from  Cuba.  In  his  campaigns  he 
paid  strict  attention  to  discipline,  frequently  going  the 
rounds  himself  during  the  night,  and  seeing  that  the  sentinels 
did  their  duty.  He  entered  the  quarters  of  his  soldiers 
without  ceremony,  and  chided  those  whom  he  found  with- 
out their  arms  and  accoutrements,  saying.  It  was  a  had 
sheep  that  could  not  carry  its  oion  wool. 

"On  the  expedition  to  Honduras  he  acquired  the  habit 
of  sleeping  after  his  neals,  feeling  unwell  if  he  omitted  it; 
and,  however  sultry  or  stormy  the  weather,  he  caused  a  car- 
pet or  his  cloak  to  be  thrown  under  a  tree,  and  slept  soundly 
for  some  time. 

"He  was  frank  and  exceedingly  liberal  in  his  disposition, 
until  the  last  few  years  of  his  life,  when  he  was  accused  of 
parsimony.  But  we  should  consider  that  his  funds  were" 
employed  on  great  and  costly  enterprises,  and  that  none  of 
these,  after  the  Conquest,  neither  his  expedition  to  Hon- 
duras nor  his  voyage  to  California,  were  crowned  with 
success. 

"It  was  perhaps  intended  that  he  should  receive  his  re- 
compense in  a  better  world ;  and  I  fully  believe  it ;  for  he 
was  a  good  cavalier,  most  true  in  his  devotions  to  the  Virgin, 
to  the  Apostle  St.  Peter,  and  to  all  the  other  Saints.'" 

1  '-HUtorla  de  la  CoDqaidt*;"  Prescott's  transtation,  in  lii8"HiBtoi7  of   the  Conqaeet  of 
Mexico." 


<*'f '-  f 


his 
re- 

hosp 
s  lie 
the 
inel.s 
liers 
dth- 
had 


labit 

a  it; 

car- 

ndly 


I 


tion, 
id  of 
were 

ie  of 
aon- 
with 


'  i 


re- 
r  he 
gin, 


leet  of 


!'J   i 


1    «, 

i 

1         1 

i 

i 

1 

il 

1 

ST.   ROSE   OF    LIMA, 

THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  8A1NT.' 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  CHILDHOOD   OK    AMERICA'S   FIRST   SAINT. 

BirtJb  of  St.  Rose— How  she  got  thn  name  of  Rose— Takes 
St.  Gatharhie  of  Sienna  as  her  model— Her  mio  a  fite 
years  of  age— Her  heroic  ohedlence—Ifer  spirit  of  pen- 
ance— Rose's  demotion  to  her  father  and  viother. 

"First  floweret  of  the  desert  wild, 

Whose  leaves  the  sweets  of  grace  exhale, 
We  greet  tlice,  Lima's  sainted  child — 
Rose  of  America — all  hail!" 

— Father  Fdhvr. 

Rose  Florez,  the  holy  and  renowned  subject;  of  our  sketch, 
was  born  at  Lima,  the  capital  of  Peru,  in  South  America, 
on  the  2()th  day  of  April,  in  the  year  1580.  Her  ])arents, 
Gasper  Florez  and  Mary  Olivia,  were  persons  of  virtue  and 
high  birth. 

Her  aunt.  Lady  Isabella  of  Herrera,  beinf?  chosen  as  her 
godmother,  gave  her  the  name  of  Isabella  in  Baptism.  Three 
months  after,  however,  as  the  child  slept  in  her  cradle,  her 
mother  and  several  other  persons  saw  a  beautiful  rose  on  her 
sweet  little  countenance.  Fiom  that  time  they  called  her 
by  tlie  name  of  Rose. 

Rose's  godmother  thought  herself  slighted  by  this  change 
of  name.     So  much  offended  was  the  lady  that  she  lived  at 


■  Chief  authorities  used:  Fnther  J.  B  Fpiiillot  O.  P..  "  Life  of  St.  Roto  of  Lima,"  trannlatpd 
fmmthr-  Kroncti  by  the  Fathers  of  the  Engllsli  Oratory  and  •dited  by  Kev.  F.  W.  Faber,  D.i)., 
BulliT,  •  Lives  of  the  Sainta.' 


i      !a 


H-i 

i     r 

n  1  >1 

1 

312 


ST  ROSE  OF  LIMA. 


variance  with  the  child's  mother  until  an  end  was  put  to  the 
unhappy  dispute  by  the  action  of  the  Archbishop  of  Lima, 
who  gave  her  the  name  of  Rose  in  Contirmation.' 

As  a  cliild  she  was  very  remarkable,  bore  many  severe 
afflictions  with  unflinching  heroism,  and  was  exceedingly 
neat  in  her  dress.  In  prayer  she  was  most  fervent.  We 
are  assured  that  she  received  from  God,  at  a  most  tender 
age,  an  inspiration  to  follow  in  the  footsteps  of  St.  Catliarine 
of  Sienna,  by  a  perfect  imitation  of  the  virtues  of  that  great 
and  saintly  woman. 

To  Rose's  pure  heart  and  girlish  mind,  innocence  was  the 
grand  and  only  attraction.  Slie  loved  purity,  because  it  is 
"the  beautiful  and  white  virtue  of  the  soul."  At  live  years 
of  age,  we  are  told,  she  made  a  vow  of  virginity,  consecrat- 
ing her  whole  life  to  Heaven  Thus  we  may  say  of  America's 
first  Saint,  what  a  celebrated  Doctor  of  the  Chui'cli  said  of 
the  lovely  St.  Agnes— that  her  piety  and  virtue  weie  above 
her  years,  and  far  beyond  the  strength  of  nature.' 

Her  obedience  was  in  the  highest  degree  heroic.  Her 
mother — lil^e  many  others  who  love  their  children  more  for 
this  world  than  for  Heaven — often  begged  Rose  to  take  much 
care  of  her  beauty,  and  even  desired  he:'  to  use  i)aint  and 
cosmetics.  But  the  pure,  sini[)le  soul  of  our  Saint  saw 

the  folly  of  such  advice.  She  knew  that  modesty,  virtue, 
and  simplicity  in  dress  are  the  highest  ornaments  sanctioned 
by  religion  and  good  sense ;  and  she  earnestly  entreated  her 
mother  not  to  oblige  her  to  obey  in  such  matters. 

'  Rose,  wlicti  older,  had  sonif  scniplos  aliont  it  on  learning  that  it  was  not  tlie  name  she  had 
rcei'ived  in  Haplisin.  Sho  thou^-hliit  was  an  elTcet  of  tlie  eoniplaisance  oi  riuiity  of  her  parents, 
who  wished  to  nial<e  her  beauty  more  nttrac(iv(>  hy  this  agreeable  name.  Disturl)ed  l)y  tliis  con- 
duct, wliich  she  llioiij;lit  unworthy  of  the  spirit  of  a  Cliristian,  she  went  to  the  Cluireli  of  thu 
Domiiuean;-:.  She  entered  the  Chapel  of  tlie  Hosary,  cast  lierself  at  the  feet  of  (he  Blessed  Vir 
Kin,  and  made  Ijnnwn  her  nnensii.ess.  Our  Blessed  Motlier  immediately  consoled  lier,  assuring 
her  lliat  the  name  of  Hose  was  pieasmsr  to  Jesus  Clu'ist  ;  and  tliat  as  n  marl<  of  lier  alfection,  elie 
would  also  honor  her  with  her  own  name,  and  tliat  lienceforward  che  should  lie  called  Hone  of 
SI.  Miifij.  So  that  we  may  say  that  of  nil  the  saints  whose  names  Almighty  Hod  ha«  changed 
by  an  extraordinary  favor,  St  Rose  of  Uma  is  the  first  and  perhaps  the  only  one  whose  surname 
has  l)een  also  (hanged  by  Heaven.— i^(7//if/'  Fc.niltet,  0.  P. 

^  Fioni  Itie  testinuMiy  of  lier  confessors,  it  is  certain  that  Rose  began  to  ha'  e  the  use  of  reac-on 
fvoni  her  fifth  year :  ai'd  so  pleased  was  God  with  the  generoii-s  action  related  above,  that  Uo 
fhoueri'd  down  u|ioii  her  His  eh.icest  benedielions,  ana  enriched  her  with  so  many  graces,  that 
•he  pretervid  her  liaptiirmal  innocence  till  her  Om&\X\.— Father  Feuillet,  0.  P. 


ST.  HOSE  OF  LIMA. 


313 


On  one  occasion  the  n.othpr  ordered  lier  daughter  to  wear 
a  gai'lnnd  of  tlowei's  on  lier  1i(\t(1.  ]-{ose  did  not  think  lier- 
seir  stroiiu;  ei:oiigli  to  elfcct  a.  change  in  tills  command,  and 
obeyed.  ]iut  she  ,s:inctihed  lier  suiimission  by  tlie'i)aini'iil 
mortilication  witli  wliicli  she  accompanied  it.  Our  Lord  hav- 
ing recalled  to  her  mind  the  remembrance  of  the  cruet  thorn.s 
which  C()m])osed  lIis(Jro\vn  in  liis  i^assion,  she  took  tiie  gar- 
lanjl,  and  lixed  it  on  her  head  with  a  large  needle,  which 
penetrated  so  deeply  that  at  night  the  maid  could  scarcely 
remove  the  garland.  Thus  she  contrived  tt*  elude,  without 
resisting,  the  orders  of  her  mother,  Avhen  they  were  openly 
opposed  to  the  high  virtue  at  which  our  h^aint  aimed;  aftd 
sh:!  punished  herself  severely  when  she  obeyed  her  in  any- 
thing that  i)artook  of  tli:^  vanity  of  the  world. 

It  may  be  said,  in  trutli,  that  from  her  infancy,  Rose's 
patience  in  suffering  ami  her  love  of  mortification  wero 
extraoidinary,  and  whilst  yet  a  child  she  ate  no  fruit,  fasted 
three  days  a  week,  allowing  herself  on  them  only  bi'ead  and 
water,  and  on  other  days  taking  only  herlis  and  pulse.  AVhen 
she  was  grown  up,  liei'  gardiMi  was  p)lante(l  with  nothing  but 
bitter  herbs,  interspei'sed  with  ligures  of  cross(>s. 

By  the  changes  of  worldly  fori  une,  (Jasper  Floi'ez  fell  from 
a  state  of  opulence  into  great  distress.  Tlie  ])ious  wife  of 
the  Ti'easurer  (Jonsalvo  took  Hose  into  her  family;  and  the 
young  Saint,  by  working  there  all  day  i)i  the  garden,  and 
late  at  night  with  lier  needle,  nianag("d  to  telieve  and 
comfort  her  father  and  mother  in  their  necessities. 

She  was  a  perfect  mistress  of  needlework,  eitluT  in  de- 
signing liowers,  or  in  tiMijing  them  ouembi-oidery  or  tapestry. 
So  much  beauty  and  delicacy  had  her  work,  that  it  seemed 
to  surpass  art  and  nature.  And  what  is  nu)]'e  sui'prising  is, 
that  though  her  mind  was  often  elevated  to  Hud  dui'ing  her 
hours  of  toil,  yet  her  hand  guided  the  work  as  faultlessly 
JUS  if  her  mind  was  solelv  inter <"  upon  it. 

I?('si(h's  needlework,  she  cultivated  a  little  garden,  in 
which  she  raised  violets  and  otiier  Uowers.  These  she  sold, 
to  lii'lp  her  parents  in  their  necessities;  and  as  all  her  indus- 
try was  insulUcieiit  to  save  them  from  poverty,  she  con- 


i  I'i  i 


m 


?!V 


n\ 


si 


m 


I'PI 


314 


8T.  ROSE  OF  LIMA. 


fessed  to  a  holy  person  that  Jesus  Christ  himself  graciously- 
supplied  the  deficiency  by  secret  and  wonderful  means. 
Her  parents  she  attended  in  sickness  with  angelic  kindness 
and  assiduity.  She  was  always  at  their  bedside,  ready  by 
day  and  by  night  to  perform  the  vilest  and  most  diihcult 
services. 


CHAPTER  II. 

GLANCES   AT  VIRTUi:   IN^  ACTION. 

Matrimonial  annoijances — Hose  becomes  a  member  of  the 
Third  Order  of  fSt.  Domi/iic — Her  hiimilitij — Iler  ehar- 
■ity  and  great  self -control — Iler  wonderful  pnritij—Ihr 
fasts — Horn  she  chastised  herself— Her  singular  bed — 
The  honor  paid  to  her  eeen  by  Irrational  creatures. 

As  Rose  grew  up  to  womanhood,  lier  extreme  beauty,  the 
refinement  of  lier  mind,  her  deh'ghtl'iil  conversntion,  and 
even  her  virtue  itself,  Avhicli  greatly  enlianced  her  personal 
attractions,  captivated  many  hearts.  To  her  tliis  was  a. 
great  annoyanc(^,  as  she  nt.'ver  for  a  moment  forgot  her  vcnv 
of  virgiuitv.  iShe  invented  all  sorts  of  means  t(i  disCii'-ure 
iierself.  She  made  her  face  pale  and  livid  with  fasting,  and 
washed  her  hands  in  hot  lime  to  take  the  skin  ofl"  them. 
She  sought  solitude,  shut  herself  u])  closely  in  the  house, 
went  out  vei'y  seldom,  and  then  only  when  it  was  quite 
nec(\ssary.     Thus  several  years  passed  away. 

But  notwithstanding  all  these  precautiotis,  tlu'good  young 
lady  was  not  able  to  prevent  several  jiersons  fi(;m  sct'king 
lu'r  hand  in  marriage.  Among  others,  one  of  the  nu>st  dis- 
tinguished women  in  the  ci'pital.  as  much  delighted  with 
her  virtue  as  her  beauty,  wished  her  to  l)ecome  the  bride  of 
ht'i'  only  son.  The  lady  openly  made  the  I'equest  to  Rose's 
pai'ents,  who,  having  eleven  childi-eu  to  provide  for,  received 
the  ])roposal  most  favorably,  thinking  the  idlinuce  would  be 
very  advantageous  to  tluMUselves  and  their  family. 

Our  Saint  was  the  only  person«to  wlu)m  this  oli'er  was  dis- 
agreeable.    Siie  blamed  herself  for  it.     Slit>  saw  thut  there 
was  now  no  means  of  escape  luit  by  o[)euly  declaring  her 
liiin  resolution  not  to  nuirry.     Jler  [jaicuts  were  surp:ise(l. 
315 


mC) 


ST.  nOSE  OF  LIMA. 


but  (lid  iK)l  lose  hopes  of  inducing  lier  to  comply  witli  their 
wislies.  'I'hey  tried  (laresses,  threats,  and  Jlnally  blows ; 
but  i!  was  all  in  vain. 

After  tliis  storm  blew  ovei-,  Tlose  sought  a,  port  of  safely 
in  the 'IMiiril  Ord(>r  of  St.  Dominic.  She  solemnly  I'eceived 
the  habit  at  the  hands  of  tht'  Kev.  Fatlier  NClasipiez  on  the 
10! Ii  of  August,  1000,  being  twenty  years  of  age.  This 
stale  of  life,  it  may  ])e  ol)served,  did  not  i)ievent  the  Saint 
from  continuing  to  assist  her  father  and  mother. 

It  is  said  that  he  who  knows  not  how  to  belinmbk  hnows 
nothing.  Humility  now-a-days  is  a  rare  viitue,  but  it  is, 
nevertheless,  a  great  one.  Tliis  wise  young  lady  was  a 
model  of  deep  humility.  All  her  actions  i)i-ocIaimed  it.  At 
confessioi'jtho  abundance  of  her  tears  might  make  her  ])ass 
in  the  eyes  of  a  stranger  for  a  great  public  sinner.  Yet; so 
pure  and  innocent  was  the  life  she  led.  that  her  confessors 
Juid  often  great  dilliculty  in  finding  matter  for  absolution  in 
those  things  of  which  she  accused  hei'self  with  so  many 
tears. 

She  kept  so  strict  a  watch  over  herself,  that  she  was  never 
heard  ti>  s]ieak  one  wcud  louder  than  another,  or  to  find  the 
least  fault  witli  the  actions  or  conduct  of  otiiers.  There 
was  untiling  in  her  behavior  that  could  givt'  iinnoyance  to 
lliose  witli  whom  charity  or  duty  obliged  hei'  to  converse; 
on  the  contrary,  her  sweet  and  obliging  manners  made  Inn' 
(.()  agreeable  to  eveiTone,  that  it  ^\as  commonly  said  that 
the  name  lloi^e  did  not  suit  her,  because  she  had  not  its 
thorns. 

llei'  charity  towards  mankind  was  so  univt>rsal,  that  this 
queen  of  virtues  seemed  to  be  tlie  soul  which  animated  her 
words,  actions,  and  entire  conduct.  The  love  which  she  had 
for  God  and  her  neighbor  filled  lier  whoh>  heart,  and  had  so 
entirely  disengaged  it  from  earthly  things,  that  she  was  in- 
sensible to  the  jileasures  wb.ich  most  men  lo^ve  so  passion- 
ately. Being  asked  one  day  if,  in  the  midst  of  the  delights 
and  consolations  which  Almighty  God  infused  so  abun- 
dantly into  her  soul,  she  did  not  feel  her  lieart  attachi^d  to 
worldly  things,  she  confessed  that  it  was  imp(jssible  for  her 


\m 


ST.  ROSE  OF  LIMA. 


'CAl 


to  fliink  of  fliem,  or  to  take  tlie  least  pleasure  in  tliem.  By 
this  womleri'ul  detacliineiit  i'rom  creatur(^s,  slie  attaiiH^d  to  ;i 
I'are  purity  of  heart,  in  some  (ley;ree  similar  to  that  which 
the  an<j;e]s  possess  l)y  the  privilege  of  their  natui'e/ 

Her  spirit  of  p(Mian('e.  the  mark  of  the  true  Christian,  was 
not  less  nrirvelous.  By  Ioul;;  tniinini^  she  reached  an  as- 
tonishing- degree  of  ahstinenee.  (.)rien  lov  tlu;  space  of 
twenty- lour  hours  she  would  take  nothing  but  a  piece  of 
bread  and  a,  little  water.  This  must  liuve  been  at  the 
expense  of  great  sullVring,  for  tlie  extreme  heat  of  Peru  is 
vci'v  exhaustive  of  i)!iysieal  strength. 

During  the  last  few  yeai's  of  her  life,  Rose  accustomed 
herself  to  fast  in  the  following  manner:  She  observed  very 
strictly  the  fast  of  her  Oi'dcr  i'rom  the  festival  of  the  Exalta- 
tion of  the  Holy  Cross  until  Easter  Sunday.  From  the 
lieginning  of  LiMit,  she  left  off  bread,  contenting  hei'self  with 
a  few  orange  pippins  every  day  of  the  forty  that  are  cons(^- 
crated  to  ])enance.  On  Fridays  she  took  only  live.  She 
ate  so  little  during  the  rest  of  the  year,  that  Avhat  she  took 
in  ciuht  days  wns  scarcely  sufficient  nourishment  for  twenty- 
foiii'  lioiirs.  Indeed,  sh(^  was  known  to  make  u  moderate- 
si/.etl  loaf  and  a  ])itcher  of  wat(M'  last  fifty  days,  lint  what 
seems  miraculous  in  lier  austerities,  is  tliat  the  Saint  derived 
moie  strength  from  her  fasts  than  from  the  food  which  she 
took.  » 

Hose  likewise  daily  ch;i'<tised  her  body  with  instruments 
of  ])'man"e,  so  mu'']i  so,  that  her  confessors  wer*^  obliged 
to  resti'ict  her  in  tln>  use  of  them.  After  she  liecame  a  nun, 
shi'  was  not  content  with  a.  common  soi't  of  discipline.  She 
made  one  for  hei'seif.  composed  of  two  iron  chains,  and  used 
it  daily  with  nen'cih^ss  se\-erity.  She  disci])line(l  heiself, 
first,  for  her  own  sins;  siM'ondly,  for  all  souls  engaged  in 
sin;   thirdly,   for  the  pressing  necessities  of  the    Church; 


^:i. 


m 
m 


m 


'  niirinif  the  whole  oonrso  of  her  life— which  lusted  thirtyoiin  yciirs— she  wa"  never  ciillty  of 
till' >li'.'!i(('.«t  farlt  iii::iinst  |)iirify;  iiiiil,  vv  hut  is  soiii  ,\i\-\\i  n>iriU'nloiis,  she  \v:i«  never  even  iis- 
c:ille,l  with  (hoiitrlilH  contrary  to  that  holy  mid  hcMiitifiil  virtue,  .\\\i\  [\\U  i"  a  privilc^'e  not 
L'rinteil  to  (he  most  cherished  and  fa\oreil  saints  of  Ood.  Kleven  learned  priests,  six  Domini- 
cans  ani  five  ,Ie-^iiits,  who  had  several  limes  heard  her  general  confcssious,  Uejiost'd  this  on  their 
tiulenin  oaih. 


;3i8 


ST.  HOSE  OF  LIMA. 


fourtlily,  for  Lima  or  Peru,  Avlien  threatened  witli  any  great 
111 ist'ort line  ;  lil'tliiy,  for  tlie  souls  in  purgatory  ;  sixthly,  for 
those  in  theii-  last  agony ;  and,  seventlily,  in  reparation  of 
the  outraiies  oll'ered  to  Aluiightv  Crod. ' 

The  bed  llijse  used— and  which  she  constructed  herself — ■ 
was  in  the  form  of  a  rough  wooden  box.  Inio  it  she  i)Ut  a 
quantity  of  small  stones  of  dilferent  sizes,  that  her  body 
might  suii'er  more  and  more,  and  might  not  enjoy  the  re- 
I)os(!  which  a  smoother  c(mch  would  liave  alTorded.  Nor 
did  this  seem  hard  enough.  She  afterwards  added  pieces 
of  wood  and  broken  tiles;  and  such  was  the  luxurious  bed 
on  whii.'h  this  young,  delicate,  and  beautiful  girl  took  the 
rest  necessary  to  recruit  lier  exhausted  strength  for  the 
space  of  iifteen  years! 

When  some  good  x)ersons,  through  charity,  entreated  the 
Saint  to  moderate  her  austerities,  she  answered:  "As  I  can- 
not do  any  good,  is  it  not  just  that  I  should  suffer  whatever 
I  am  capable  of  suffering  T' 

Rose's  body  being  so  obedient  to  the  laws  of  her  mind, 
and  her  mind  so  perfect!}'  submissive  to  the  will  of  God,  it 
is  not  surpi'ising  to  learn  that  even  irrational  creatures  re- 
spected her  virtm^  The  dampness  of  the  earth,  and  the 
foliage  of  the  trees  which  surrounded  her  little  hermitage, 
drew  thither  a  countless  multitude  of  mosquitoes.  It  is 
well  kno\fn  how  tliese  small,  malicious  busybodies  love  the 
shade,  and  take  such  a  queer  delight  in  ceaselessly  annoy- 
ing all  who  are  within  th(>ir  reach.  But  there  was  one  whom 
they  touched  not.  It  was  Rose.  Not  one  of  the  legion  of 
mosquitoes  that  C(jvered  the  walls,  windows,  and  dooi's  of 
lier  gnrden  cell  presumed  to  annoy  her.  On  the  contrary, 
they  showed  so  much  respect  for  the  purity  and  sanctity  of 
her  person  that  they  seemed  to  honor  in  her  the  sovereign 
power  of  the  good  God  who  had  created  them.  To  the 
Saint's  moth»'i',  however,  and  other  persons  who  came  to 
visit  her,  the  mosquitoes  exhibited  no  such  marived  defer- 


'  After  till-  SnintN  (lr>nfli.  Mury  of  ITfnteciii  kopt  some  liiiksof  this  discipline,  wliicli  it  is  eaid, 
exhiiled  so  sweet  an  odor  tliiit  ull  who  exniniiied  tlicm  were  obliged  to  confess  that  so  strange  a 
phenomenon  wim  suiiernatiiral. 


ST.  HOSE  OF  LIMA. 


319 


ence.  They  attacked  all  comers  Avitli  that  vigor  and  vonom 
for  which  they  are  so  renowned  even  to  this  day  in  the 
backwoods  of  America. 

In  the  last  year  of  her  life,  a  bird  whose  melody  was  most 
charming  placed  itself  opposite  her  room  during  the  whole 
season  of  Lent.  As  soon  as  the  snn  began  to  sink  in  the 
west,  Hose  ordered  the  little  warbler  to  employ  its  notes  in 
praising  God.  The  bird  obeyed,  and,  raising  its  tiny  voice, 
it  sang  vigorously,  until  the  Saint,  unwilling  to  be  outdone 
in  offering  canticles  of  praise  and  benediction  to  God,  began 
most  sweetly  to  sing  hymns  to  His  glory.  When  she  had 
finished,  the  little  songster  of  the  grove  commenced  again, 
and  thus  together  the  Saint  and  the  bird  composed  a  choir  in 
which  they  sang  alternately  for  an  hour  the  praises  of  the 
Almighty.  At  six  o'clock,  she  dismissed  her  little  feathered 
companion  till  next  day,  and  so  punctual  was  it  that  never 
did  it  fail  to  appear  at  the  time  fixed  I 


CHAPTER  m. 

ALONG  Tin<:  STRAIGHT  AND  XAHKOAV  WAY. 

Hose's  spirit  of  'pra.ijer-—Ik'r  deep  inslgld  into  Uie  riiys' 
terles  of  rdigion. — ^1  lonnoiter  at  home — Perseeutlon — ■ 
SicJiness — The  Saint' s  char  it// — IL  r  eonJi<l(  nee  in  (ioii— 
She  learns  of  the  day  of  her  death  by  recelatlon — Ihr 
last  sufferings — The  end. 

The  path  that  leads  to  sainth'ness  is,  it  is  trno,  n  str;n\u]it 
and  naiTOw  one;  but  it  lias  its  piii-e  joys,  and  jn  :;ce,  and 
beauties,  and  consolations.  Many  were  tlie  exij-aoidinary 
graces  Avliich  God  bestowed  npon  tljis  iioly  American  lady; 
and  Christ  once  in  a  vision  called  hei-  soul  ids  Spous". 

"The  more  a  man  is  united  within  himself,  ai.d  inte- 
riorly simple,-'  writes  the  autlio)'  of  The  Iinlidlion  of 
Christ,  "the  more  and  liiti,her  thinij:s  does  lif^  understand 
without  labor,  for  he  receives  the  light  of  undcishindiiiij; 
from  above.  A  pure,  simj^le,  and  steady  spirit  is  not  dis.si- 
I)ated  by  a  multitude  of  afTairs,  because  he  perfoiiiis  them 
all  to  the  honor  of  Ood,  and  endeavors  to  Ite  at  n-si  within 
himself,  and  irvo  from  all  seeking  of  himself." 

It  Avas  thus  Avith  Tiose  of  Lima.  Tlnv'^upei'natural  liuhts 
with  which  God  enriched  her  nndm-standinu-  intlanicd  her 
heart  with  so  ardent  a  love  for  praj^er,  tliat  (-ven  sle(>p  itsell 
could  not  distract  her  from  it.  .  So  complet<dy  absorbed  was 
her  imagination  in  this  holy  exercise,  that  she  was  oft(Mr 
heard  to  repeat  while  asleep  the  same  nund)er  of  vocal 
prayers  as  she  had  said  during  the  day. 

She  meditated  every  day  for  three  hours  on  the  benefits  of 
God,  And  the  countless  graces  she  had  received   from  His 
mercy.     Her  vocal  prayer  Avas  continual.     Indeed,  it  is  be- 
yond the  power  of  our  imagination  to  conceive  hovA',  thoiigli 
320 


ST.  ItOSE  OF  LIMA 


321 


llie  i)r('.sence  of  G<xl  entirely  ongi'ossed  all  the  interior  pow- 
ei's  of  her  soul,  she  still  acted  in  exterior  things  with  great 
})ivsen('(^  of  mind,  giving  the  pioper  answers  to  questions, 
and  carefully  tinishing  any  work  she  commenced.  "When 
in  church  slie  kejjt  her  eyes  iixed  on  the  altar,  and  never 
looked  at  anythin.i;'  else.  Thus,  according  to  the  advice  of 
I  lie  Holy  Book,  .sli_!  kept  God  in  her  mind  all  the  days  of 
liei'  life. 

The  Almighty  rewarded  this  purity  and  simplicity  of 
mind  hy  giving  her  a  deep  insight  into  the  most  piofound 
niysteiies  of  religion.  Some  learned  tlieologians  hearing 
of  this,  had  the  curiosity  to  convei'se  with  her  on  such  sub- 
Jiiiic  siilijccts  as  the  Blessed  Trinity,  the  Incarnation,  ^race, 
and  ])redestination;  and  after  a  loJig  coid'erence,  they  con- 
fi'ssi'd  rliat  tii(\v  had  never  known  a  more  enlightened  soul, 
and  that  the  Saint  had  not  acipiired  the  knowledg;.'  of  these 
elevated  truths  of  faith  by  the  vivacity  of  her  nund,  or  by 
application  to  study. 

Ihit  thei'e  is  another  feature  in  her  career  to  wliich  we 
must  d.n'ot3  a  i^\v  W)rd5.  A^  th  )i-as  sprinj;  forth  v/ith 
roses,  so  grief  and  pain  seem  to  have  been  born  with  the 
blessed  Kose.  Her  life  was  one  h)ng  chain  of  sufferings, 
sickness,  pains,  and  crosses,  which  exercised  her  patience 
from  the  cradle  to  the  tomb  by  a  tedious  martyrdom. 

The  sweet  disposition  and  religious  sjiirit  of  the  Saint 
were  often  sever.dy  tried  I)y  the  passionate  temper  of  her 
mother,  who  found  fault  with  (everything  her  daughter  did. 
She  condemned  her  reserve,  blamed  her  fasts,  disliked  her 
taking  up  so  much  time  in  pi'ayer  and  retirement  so  op- 
posed to  the  maxims  of  the  world  ;  and  for  these  reasons 
she  often  scolded  Jlose,  and  went  so  far  as  to  use  a  thou- 
sand abusive;  epithets,  as  if  slie  had  been  an  infamous  ])er- 
siin.  At  the  le:ist  provocation  she  gave  her  blows  on  the 
cheek,  I)ut  when  she  was  carried  away  by  the  fury  of  anger, 
shf^  put  no  bounds  to  her  malicious  aViuse.  Slu;  even  as- 
sailed her  daughttu'  with  blows  and  Ivicks ;  and  on  one  oc- 
casion slie  took  a  thick,  knotty  stick  and  struck  lier  with  all 
her  strength.     She  began  to  treat  Kose  thus  when  she  cut 


li 


i^* 


322 


ST  ROSE  OB'  LIMA. 


n 


olT  Ihm-  lifiir,  nflor  liaving  consecrated  her  virginity  to  God, 
and  she  continned  the  same  treatment  on  many  other  oc- 
casions. 

Those  with  whom  the  holy  lieroine  lived;  were  also  actu- 
ated towards  her  by  the  viU>st  ffolings  of  envy  and  vexn- 
tion,  and  all  because  they  snw  Ixn*  lead  a  life  so  different 
fioni  theirs.  To  disobliu"  mtkI  annoy  her,  they  did  evei'y- 
thiug  in  their  X)ower.  Tlicv  men  thicntened  to  report  her 
to  tlie  Inquisition. as  a  deluded  girl  and  a  hypociite,  who 
was  deceiving  the  world  by  a  false  ajipearance  of  vii'tue! 

Sickness  came  upon  her  in  all  soits  of  shapf^s.  She 
was  three  years  in  bed  a  x^aralytic,  suffering  great  tortuie 
without  shedding  a  tear,  or  making  the  least  complaint. 
These  diseases  arose  fi'om  diiferent  causes,  which  all  united 
in  her  body  to  give  her  an  increase  of  torture.  Even  the 
physicians  were  surprised  to  see  her  suffer  so  long,  some- 
times from  tertian,  sometimes  from  quartan  fevers,  which 
nuide  her  bui'u  with  heat  and  then  shiver  with  cold;  for  so 
dried  up  and  attenuated  Avas  her  body  that  there  seemed  to 
be  scarcely  anything  remaining  to  nourish  fever. 

On  her  part,  this  heroic  woman  adored  the  hand  of  God 
in  her  infirmities,  acknowledging  that  they  did  not  proceed 
in  her  from  any  derangement  of  the  system,  as  is  the  case 
with  others,  but  from  the  particular  dispensation  of  Christ, 
who  sent  them  to  exercise  her  patience,  and  to  furnish  her 
with  opportunities  of  grace  and  merit.  Shevv^as  a  daughter 
of  aflliction.  But  in  the  midst  of  her  pains  and  sorrows, 
she  would  look  at  her  crucifix,  and  exclaim:  *'0h,  Jesus, 
increase  my  sutferings,  but  increase  also  Thy  divine  love  in 
my  soul !"' 

Her  charity  was  boundless.  One  day  when  she  had  noth- 
ing to  give  a  poor  woman,  who  begged  her.  for  the  love  of 
God  to  give  her  some  old  clothes  to  cover  her  poor  little 
half-nak(Hl  children,  Rose  took  a  large  cloak  belonging  to 
her  mother,  and  without  any  permission  beyond  that  which 
she  intei'iorly  received  from  God,  who  inspired  her  to  per- 
form this  action,  she  bestowed  it  upon  the  unhappy  mendi- 
cant.    Her  mother  was  displeased  with  this  sort  of  liberal- 


I ) '  hI 


iH    li  i 


1 


ST.  ROSE  OF  LI.VA. 


323 


i(y;  but  tlie  S:iint  humbly  Mifr(>nt(>il  hor  not  to  be  uneasy; 
tun  I  assuied  her  tliat  Alniiglity  God  woukl  make  her  a 
ii'turn  I'ar  beyond  the  cost  of  her  cloak.  Nor  was  she 
deceived  in  her  expectations.  During  tlie  same  day  a  stran- 
ger came  in  and  g;ive  lier  Jii'ty  pieces  of  money.  Tliree  days 
iiltiM',  a  lady  sent  iicr  by  a  servant  a  ])iece  of  cloth  large 
ciiough  to  make  another  cloalc;  and  the  Dominicans  added 
to  this  by  sending  her  another  line  piece  of  cloth. 

Kose  made  herself  the  attendant  and  inlirmarian  of  the 
pool'.  She  took  home  with  her  Jane  de  Eovadilla,  a  young 
<)i'l)han  lady,  who,  besides  her  great  poverty,  had  a  cancer  in 
her  Ineast,  (jf  whicli  no  one  could  bear  the  insupportable 
odor  God  revealed  her  condition  to  the  Saint.  She  went 
iinuK-'diately  to  see  tln^  unloi'tunate  girl,  offered  to  wait  upon 
her,  and  that  slie  might  be  able  to  do  it,  she  persuaded  her 
to  come  to  her  fatlu-r's  house,  where  she  could  rcMider  li(>r 
every  kind  of  assistance.  Still,  as  the  Saint  knew  that  her 
mother  was  a  little  too  much  attached  to  her  own  interests, 
she  told  her  i)atient  that  sue  would  hire  a  room  in  the  house, 
1111(1  that  she  wuuld  give  her  tln^  money  to  pay  for  hers(df, 
only  nnptiring  that  tin?  young  lady  should  keep  this  a  se- 
cret. lioHi)  hired  the  room,  brought  Miss  deBovadilla  to  it, 
charitably  waited  upon  her,  and  worked  more  than  usual  to 
ol)tain  the  money  necessary  for  the  payment  of  the  lodging, 
which  the  young  lady  did  not  quit  till  she  was  perfectly  re- 
covered. 

A  little  Avhile  after,  her  mother  became  acquainted  with 
till"  foregoing  case,  and  gave  her  leave  to  bring  home  sick 
persons.  On  receiving  this  i)'?i"mission.  Rose  exercised  lier 
charity  towards  the  poor  women  and  girls  whom  she  met  in 
the  streets,  whatever  might  be  their  condition.  Nor  was 
she  satisfied  with  merely  giving  them  a  lodging.  She 
nm'sed  them,  made  their  beds,  dressed  their  ulcers,  washed 
their  clotiies,  and,  in  short,  rendered  them  every  sort  of 
pcrvice,  making  no  distinction  between  the  Spaniard  and 
the  Indian,  the  free  and  the  slave,  the  European  or  the 
African  Negro. 

We  are  told  in  the  Holj  Book  that  the  shadow  of  St. 


■'i: 


i 


<t 


32t 


t>T.  iiosi-:  ar  i.ima. 


Peter  V'slorcd  llic  sick  to  IkmIiIi.  'I'lie  more  siivlit  (if  our 
Saint  «aifii  cUccti'd  ;i  ciirc.  On  one  (iccasion  Don  .lolm 
dWlinaiisii,  a  ^■cntlcinan  of  lii,uli  rank,  bein^-  daniivrously 
ill.  desired  vei'y  much  (o  speak  lo  K'osi^  once  more  liefoic  he 
died.  She  went  to  see  him,  to  allord  Jiini  this  satisfaction. 
A\"heii  I  he  saintly  lady  entered  liis  room,  he  rejnarked  (jnite 
a  h('a\<nly  l)e;iiity  on  hei-  pure  countenance,  from  which  he 
conceived  a  liiiii  hoi)e  that  slie  woidd  ()))tain  liis  cure  j'rom 
Almiiihty  <»od,  who  ahna*  could  raise  him  IVom  the  sad 
state  to  which  he  was  I'educed.  AVhile  she  was  sneMkin" 
to  him,  he  fell  asleep  with  this  consoling-  thoiiu'ht  in  hi.s 
7n 
been  ill  I 

Jjike  hei- cliai'itv,  our  Saint's  childlike  conli(h'nce  in  (lod 


iiid.  and  awoke  as  perfectly  recovered  as  11'  he  had  never 


was  wondi'ifid.     One  da^■,  seeiim-  that  there 


was  no  7noney 


in  the  house  to  buy  provisions,  or  a  bit  oT  lu-ead  to  eat.  she 
went  Id  open  the  chest  in  the  assurance  that  the  Almi.ulity, 
who  nevei' al)andons  those  who  trust  in  him,  would  iiro\ide 
for  thosi>  so  dear  to  hei'.  She  was  not  (h^'eived.  She  fonnd 
the  bi'ead-chest  full  of  loaves,  whiter  and  of  a  dilVerent 
shape  fi'om  the  ones  th(>y  were  accaistoined  to  eat. 

On  anotiier  occasioUjtlie  sn[)ply  of  jioney — which  ismucji 
"used  in  I'^'ru — havinu;  failed,  and  her  biothers  havini,' 
brought  word  that  theri>  was  not  a  sin<:,le  diop  remaining, 
Rose,  fidl  of  coniidence  in  (rod,  went  to  the  place,  and  found 
the  vesM'l  ipiite  fidl  of  excellent  honey.  It  histed  the  family 
ei!.;ht  months, 

A\'hen  hei-  father,  Gasper  Florez,  was  sick  and  Avei^hed 
down  with  sorrow  at  not  J)einu''able  to  pay  the  sum  of  Jifty 
livjes  which  he  owed,  and  which  he  wits  pressed  to  return, 
Rose  was  infoiined  of  the  alfaii'.  She  went  to  the  church 
and  beuued  of  t'hrist  to  assist  him  on  the  occasion,  and  not 
to  allow  hei'  parent  to  bt^  ])ut  to  confusion.  As  slie  returned 
she  saw  a  sf ran<;'er  entei'  the  house.  He  ft'ave  her  father  a 
little  purse,  which  contained  precisely  tlie  sum  wanted  to 
satisfy  his  creditor.  On  many  other  occasions,  in  the  g-i'eat 
necessities  to  which  her  family  was  often  reduced,  (Jod 
favored  its  members  by  nuracidous   means,   to  reward  the 


ST.  NOSE  OF  LI.VA 


n25 


Saint's  udniir.ible  coufidenco  in    His  almighty  power   aid 


■|)0( 


111  ess 


llose  It'iirncd  by  ivvt'latioii  tliat  slio  would  di<'  on  tlio  Fes- 
tival of  St.  liartliolomew,  and  when  s\u'  icaclu'd  her  thii-ty- 
iii'st,  year — whicli  sIk.'  knew  slie  wuuld  nut  live  to  (;oin[»U'to 
—she  made  the  wife  of  Don  (ron/ale/,  her  great  benefactor 
jiml  till'  jji'ot^'etor  (if  her  family.  ae(iuainled  with   the  day 


mil  I 


);:((■ 


of  her  (U'ath.     8iie  was  in  perfect  lu.'alih   \\ii!'n 


sh. 


commiiniiMted  tliis  s; 


.  i:i( 


1  11 


Ixcwise  enlin'iih 


•ned 


:ite]li,i;'ence. 

uur  Saint  as  to  tlif  extreme  s 


iif- 


ferinu's  sIk^  was  to  endure  at  the  closer  of  hei'  holv  and  lium- 


l)lc  lil. 


lb' showi'il  her  their  numltei',  and  ii-vcah-d  to  iier 


that  her  pains  would  be  so  violent  that  each  meml)er  of  her 
boily  woidd  have  its  own  particidar  torment.  Slu'  was  ttdd 
that  she  wotdd  have  to  suffi-r  the  same  thii'st  which  tor- 
iin'Uir(i  our  lilessed  Rt»deem"r  on  the  Ci'oss,  and  also  a 
lull  iiini;'  heat  which  woidd  dry  up  the  very  marrow  in  her 
l)i)iies.  lint,  tile  lieroine  trembled  not  at;  the  thou,uht  of  thi.!i 
woi'l'ul  sjiecies  ol'  martyrdom. 

(ill  the  iiiu'ht  of  the  1st  of  Aii,<i,-nst,  ]lose  I'etired  to  her 
room  ill  pi'ri'ect  h(>alth;  but  at  mi'dni.u'lit  she  was  heard  pite- 
(iiisly  cryim;'  and  motininu-.  The  wife  of  Don  Gonzalez,  at 
whose  house  she  lived,  hastened  to  the  Saint's  room,  and 
found  her  exttuided  on  the  floor,  half  dead,  cold,  pulseless, 
luoiioiiless,  and  scai'cely  bnuithinu,-. 

Skilli'd  ])hysicians  were  at  once  summoned;  an<l.  after  a 
iimst  carel'id  diagnosis, they  all  declared  that  hei' inlirmities 
and  sulferiiigs  wen;  beyond  human  endurance,  and  that  such  a 
union  of  incoinpatilih;  symjjtoms  was  something  truly 
iiiiiaculous.  They  were  of  opinion,  in  short,  that  her  illiu'ss 
.ot  natural,  but  that  tlie  hand  of  (lod  had  seni  the  tor- 
iiuii,-  whicli'thu.s  afflicted  llis  servant.  As  for  iJose  hei'self, 
ill  il  midst  of  her  agonies  of  ]Kiin.  she  exhibited  the  great- 
c:>t  1  'ace  of  mind,  and  conlinually  thanked  all  who  at- 
teiiddl  li(>i'  f<u'  their  kindness  and  devotion. 

A!  liMiuth,h(>r  last  hour  arrived.  It  was  towards  midnight, 
;ni  i  a  mysterio'  <  noise  warned  lier  that  the  angel  of  death 
had  c;)ine.     She  received  the  aunouucenient  with  joy.     Just 


ili  I 


i 


326 


ST.  ROSE  OF  LIMA. 


before  exijiring,  she  requested  her  brother  to  remove  the 
bolster  from  beneath  lier  head,  and  to  place  some  pieces 
of  wood  in  its  stead.  He  complied,  and  she  thanked  him 
for  this  last  act  of  kindness.  Slie  placed  her  head  npon  the 
jiieces  of  wood,  to  die,  as  it  were,  upon  a  sort  of  Cross,  and 
said  twice,  "Jesus  be  with  me!"  and  thus  passed  away  (o 
its  heaveidy  home  the  pure  and  beautiful  soul  of  America's 
tirsfc  Saint,  liose  of  Lima.  Her  i)recions  death  took  place 
on  the  'ilfh  of  August,  the  Feast  of  St.  Bartholomew,  in  the 
year  1(517.' 

So  lovely  did  death  itself  appear  upon  her  countenance, 
that  tliose  who  remarked  the  freshness  of  her  complexion 
and  rlie  redness  of  her  lips,  which  were  separated  so  as  to 
form  a  p-leasing  smile,  doul)ted  for  a  long  time  whether  her 
soul  had  ri'ally  quitted  ilie  body.  They  beheld  so  much 
brightK.\ss  in  her  eyes,  and  such  apparent  marks  of  life, 
that  they  could  not  be  satisfied  till  they  had  i)laced  a  mirror 
before  Ikh'  mouth,  and  perceived  that  she  did  not  in  the  least 
taniish  it  with  h<n-  lu-eath.  Tlien  they  knew  that  their  holy 
friend  had  forever  bade  adieu  to  the  scenes  of  this  world. 


>  On  llio  snitic  nifilit  ii  Inily  niiincd  Aloysia  <U'  Simtmiio  Imd  ii  nivpliifiou  of  tlio  Saint's  ilcnili, 
unci  :i-^  Kdsi!  iiiul  sIk'  Ii:u1  inomiscd  one  luiolluT,  Iliat  the  one  who  tlicil  lirst  would  mMiv  it  known 
to  till'  v.[\w\\  l(o<c  li(|it  liiT  word  and  iiU'u.-mcd  Utf  IriuuU  of  liur  de«lU  uud  of  the  Uuppincts  sii* 
eujojcd.— i''a</it;'i'V«i//*<,  0.  /*. 


ill 


CHAPTER  IV. 

MIRACLES   AXD   OANONIZATIOIf. 

Examination  of  one  Innulrexl  and  ciglity  persons — A  visit 
to  the  Saint's  tomb— What  a  physician  saw — The  vis- 
ions of  a  pious  lady — Sinners  mnoerted — 7\do  persons 
raised  to  life — xVn  incurable  arm  cured — A  poor  crip- 
ple healed  of  his  infirniities — ^1  child  cured  of  leprosy 
— Canonization  of  St.  Hose. 

The  Saints  die  only  to  live.  Tlnnr  true  glory  is  beyond 
tlie  tomb.  So  it  was  with  the  holy  daughter  oi'  Peru.  The 
fame  of  her  sanctity  was  so  great  that  in  j\iay,  1030,  an 
Apostolic  Brief  was  received  at  Lima,  by  wliicli  the  Sacred 
Congregation  of  Kites  estal)lished  n  triV^unal  for  the  pnrpose 
of  examining  canonically  into  tlie  life,  actions,  and  mii'ach'S 
of  Sister  Hose  of  the  Tliird  Order  oC  St.  Dominic.  Two 
years  were  employed  in  hearing,  juiidically,  one  hnndred 
and  eighty  persons  who  presented  tliems(dves,  and  deposed 
on  their  solemn  oath  what  they  had  seen. 

Nothing  more  remained  to  terminate  the  proceedings  but 
to  visit  the  relics  of  the  S(M'vant  of  God.  It  was  lifte(^n 
years  after  her  death.  The  m(^mbers  of  the  examining  tri- 
bunal went  to  lier  tomb,  and  having  opened  it,  they  found 
lier  bones  entire,  covered  with  dry  llesh,  which  exhaled  a 
delightful  odor  like  that  of  roses. 

A  physician  well  known  for  his  virtue,  Dr.  .Fnan  do  Cas- 
tile, swore  beffU'e  the  examining  commissioners  that  lloss 
h;ul  appeared  to  him  seveial  times,  lifteen  years  after  her 
d>'ath,  environed  with  an  extraordinai  y  light,  and  that 
111'  saw  her  in  the  midst  of  this  light,  clothed  in  her 
I'cliii'ious  habit,  but  so  gloi'ious  and  uiajest-ic  tliat  he 
LU'.iM  iMid  no  words  to  depict  her  splendor.     In  her  jighfc 


OA 


'28 


!ST  nOS]::  OF  LIMA. 


Il 


liaiifl  slip  hcid  a  lily,  the  ertiMcm  of  her  vir.f^in  purity;  and 
.she  spoke  ol!  th<^  linppine.ss  of  tlie  Siiiiits  in  so  sublinie  a 
iiiaiiiicr  that  he  woukl  try  in  vain  to  express  their  gk)ry. 

In  llie  last  exaniii7'  Lion,  made  at  Lima  in  1031,  Dr.  Jnnn 
do  Casrile  deposed  on  oaih  that  for  six  months,  wlienever 
\e  made  his  meditation,  either  by  day  or  ni,i;'ht,  he  had 
b^cn  piMrnitted tosee  the  more  than  royal  ma'4'ni!icence  with 
uhich  Almi,i;lity  God  rewarded  the  merits  of  St.  JJose. 
This  lie  saw  1)\-  means  of  an  anu'el  whom  slie  sent  from 
Heav''n  to  inviic  him  to  witness  such  a  celestial  spectacle. 

Sht'  appeared  likewise  to  a  ]iions  widow  that  lived  in 
Lima.  One  dny  when  this  good  lady  was  enraptured  to  see 
the  Snint  anud  a  multitude  of  the  blessed,  Eose  snid  to  lier: 
"Mother,  this  state  of  glory  is  oidy  acquired  by  generous 
efforts.  Much  labor  is  necessary.  But  the  recompense 
with  which  Ood  crowns  our  trials  is  exceedingly  great. 
You  see  how  Ills  mei'cy  rewards  abundantly,  and  even  be- 
yond my  ho])es,  the  })!>ins  1  sidlVred,  and  tlie  few  good 
actions  I  p(M'roj'med  while  on  eai'th." 

During  life  tli(^  H;unt  often  exhibited  her  love  for  her  native 
city  and  its  inhabitnnts  ;  and  it  s<H>ms  that  she  testified  the 
s;nne  interest  for  them  in  Heaven.  The  pious  lady  already 
mentioned  was  ono  day  praying  for  Lima.  Kose  a]>peared 
to  her  and  said:  "Mother,  1  will  {\o  wind  you  recpiesc. 
God  has  promised  to  grant  me  for  these  dear  people  what- 
ever concerns  their  stilvatidU.  Tliose  things  which  have 
beiMi  recommcndcil  to  my  iuterctvssion  I  remember  well,  and 
1  shall  not  fail  to  ask  for  tluMU." 

The  mirach's  Avrought  by  the  Saint  after  death  cannot  bo 
liere  recounted.  According  to  her  biographer,  the  number 
was  so  g'lcat  that  a  volume  might  be  lilled  on  this  subj(M't 
alone.     We  niereh'"  notice  a  IVnv  of  the  most  remarkable. 

\Vh(Mi  hiM'  body  was  exposed  before  burial,  it  was  observed 
that  some  young  libertines  who  came  to  the  clmi'cli  merely 
to  gaze  on  tlu^  ])nre  beauty  of  "Lima's  holy  child,''  whom 
they  had  not  been  able  to  look  upon  attimtivdy  during  life, 
returneil  home  [xMietrated  with  great  contrition,  and  resolved 
to  change  their  sinful  ways. 


ST.  ROSE  OF  LIMA. 


329 


^fagdalen  (1(^  Torrez  wns  tlio  daiigliter  of  a  poor  laborer, 
Avlio  dwelt  in  the  outskirts  of  Lima.  81ie  was  seized  with  a 
violent  fever,  and  died.  Everytliing  Avas  ready  for  the  girl's 
Imiial,  when  her  mother,  placing  her  oonlidence  in  God  and 
Sr  lloSe's  protection,  laid  on  the  mcmth  of  her  dead  daugh- 
ter a  piece  of  a  garment  which  had  belonged  to  our  Saint, 
Wonderful  to  relate,  this  girl,  who  was  quite  cold  and  whose 
liody  was  stiiF,  opened  her  eyes,  and  in  tlie  presence  of  her 
father  and  several  others  who  were  in  the  room,  arose  from 
the  mattress  in  as  perfect  health  and  strength  as  if  she  had 
never  been  unwell.     This  hap]ienedin  October,  1G27. 

In  the  year  lO'U,  Antliony  liran,  the  servant  oL"  a  pious 
lady,  died  of  a  complication  of  diseases.  His  mistress  Avas 
nuu'h  aftiicted.  0\\  visiting  the  room  of  the  departed,  she 
saw  a  ])aper  picture  of  St.  Hose  on  the  pillow  of  the  bed, 
'i'he  lady  immediately  entreated  the  Saint'..,  protection  in  her 
■sorrow,  and  eai'n(\stly  besought  her  to  obtain  from  God  the 
life  of  this  good  servant.  She  placed  the  picture  on  the 
corpse,  and  prayed  again  with  others  avIio  were  in  the  room. 
Anthony  came  to  life,  rose  up  in  a  sitting  position,  and  pro- 
chiinKMl  in  a  loud  voice  the  marvelous  favor  he  had  receivcnl 
tlirough  tlu^  intercession  of  St.  Hose.  The  same  day  he 
Avt?nt  to  her  tomb,  to  return  thanks  to  God  and  his  kind 
benefactress. 

During  tlie  time  that  the  remains  of  the  Saint  were  lying 
in  chnrch  before  interment,  Elizabeth  Durand  visited  the 
place.  She  wished  to  touch  the  \\v.\y  body,  in  order  to 
recover  the  use  of  her  arm,  which  the  i.nrgeons  pronounced 
iii('iiial)le.  She  returned  home  with  the  arm  perfectly  re- 
stored. 

The  nu'racidous  cid'o  of  Ali)honsns  Diaz  is  not  less  authen- 
tic, lie  was  a  poor  cripple,  well  known  to  hundreds,  and 
begged  his  bread  from  door  to  door  in  Lima.  AVith  nuich 
diliictdty  he  dragged  himself  along  on  little  crntches,  on 
iiccount  of  a  contraction  of  the  nerves,  which  had  some 
veins  l)eforo  so  ilried  up  and  shortened  his  feet,  that  he 
could  no  longer  support  himself  ui)on  them.  In  this  uti- 
liappy  condition  he  prayed  near  the  coflin  of  St,  Rose,  and 


;^l 


If 


330 


ST.  ROSE  OF  LIMA. 


earnestly  invoked  her  assistance  that  he  niiivht  be  cured. 
Suddenl^^  he  felt  his  feet  stretcli  out.  lie  tried  his  weiglit. 
upon  them,  to  see  if  he  couki  walk.  He  Avas  no  longer  a 
cripple.  He  Avas  overjoyed  to  tind  his  feet  once  more  i')os- 
sessed  of  all  the  vigor  and  elasticity  of  youth! 

In  November,  1031,  an  orphan  babe,  ten  months  old, 
named  ]\fary,  lived  at  the  house  of  Jerome  de  8oto  Alvarado, 
Avho  had  taken  her  through  charity.  This  little  sufferer  Avas 
afflicted  Avith  leprosy,  and  was  truly  a  horrible  object.  Tli(> 
servant  of  the  house,  seeing  that  the  physicians  (l(\sp:iired 
of  curing  the  child,  AA'ent  to  the  Church  of  St.  Dominic  to 
pick  up  a  number  of  roses  Avhich  had  been  jilaced  on  the 
statue  of  our  Saint.  She  took  them  home,  and  Avithout 
mentioning  her  intention,  applied  them  U^  all  the  marks  of 
leprosy  Avhich  appeared  on  the  child's  body.  She  then 
Avrapped  her  unhappy  little  chai'ge  up  carefully,  carried  her 
to  bed,  and  the  next  morning  found  her  cured  of  the  lep- 
rosy. In  ecstasies  of  joy  she  ran  to  accpuiint  her  Inaster. 
Alvarado  hastened  to  vieAv  tb.e  Avonderful  cure ;  and  so  as- 
tonished was  he,  that  he  iirocecdcd  at  once  to  give  testimony 
of  it  before  the  Apostolic  (,'(miniissionej's  avIio  weie  then 
examining  the  life  and  miracles  of  St.  llo.s(\  'I'liis  miracle 
Avas  so  public  and  Avell  authenticated  that,  to  kei'p  ii  in  mind, 
they  o)-dered  that  the  little  girl  should  be  calletL  Mary  Hose, 
Avhich  name  she  bore  all  her  life. 

The  crowning  glory  of  Rose  of  Lima  Avas  yet  to  come. 
She  was  canoni/ed  in  lOTl  by  Pope  Clemeiu  X.,  avIio  ap- 
pointed August  80th  for  her  festival.  Thus  the  Church  of 
God  solenndy  set  the  seal  of  her  uneriing  ai)proval  upon 
that  chain  of  Avonders  Avhich  extended  from  the  cradle  to 
the  grave  in  the  career  of  America's  fii'st  Saint.  AVhat  a 
life  of  i)urity,  beauty,  and  childlike  simi)li(ity!  In  this 
hollow,  heartless  and  pretentious  age,  it  lu-ings  forcilily  to 
our  minds  the  profouiul  philosophy  embodied  in  the  Avords 
of  Jesus  Christ :  '"  Unless  you  l)eeome  as  little  ( h"ldren,  you 
shall  not  enter  into  tlie  Kingdom  of  Heaven." 


^lii 


#■ 


SAMUEL  DE  CIIAMPLAIN, 


T  H  E 


FOUNDER  or  THE  CITY  OF  Ql'EDEC  AND  FATHER  OF  CANADA.' 


CHAPTER  I. 

GLANCES   AT   CIIA:MPLArx's   EAKLY    CAllEEK. 

Birth  and  parents — Earlj/  y oars— Henry  IV.  and  CJiam- 
ptain  —  Ylsit  to  theWe^it  Indies — Discovery  of  Canada 
—  The  Commander  de  CJiastes — Chaniplai)C s  first  visit 
to  Canada — De  Molds  a)td  his  schemes — Acadia — Visit 
to  the  Bay  of  Fundy  —  Champtain' s  latjors  —  Father 
Anhry  lost  in  the  woods  —  St.  Croix  —  The  Coast  of 
Maine — Winter  ar/ain  —  TJie  first  yarden  in  North, 
America  — Fight  with  Massachusetts  Indians  —  TJie 
''Ordre  de  Bon-Tonps.'' 

Samuel  (Te  Cli'iniplain,  whose  Cntliolic  name  is  one  oT  tlie 
In'iy-htest  in  tlu^  early  history  of  Xorfli  America,  was  l)()rn 
in  Franc",  in  l.")!')?,  at  Broiiai^e,  a  small  seaport  on  the  Bay 
of  Biscay.  Ilis  worthy  panMits  wei'e  Anthony  de  Cliam- 
plaiii  and  Mariraret  le  l?oy.  Of  his  yonth  we  l:no\v  little. 
But  his  dear  head,  luTive  heart,  and  active  spirit  obtained 
•  arly  reco!i;nition,  as  we  iind  liini,  tlion,^'h  yonng  in  years,  a 
("1  ptain  in  the  royal  navy.     Xor  was  he  a  stranger  to  tlie 

'  Cliii'f  iiuthoritles  used;  Clinmpliun,  "  Xnrnitivo  of  n  Voyiizo  to  tho  West  Tiirtip-'  ami  Mrxico, 
LMW  to  Kjdj,"  tr:iiisl:Uu(l  l)y  A.  Wiiincrc;  '•(Eiivrfs  de  Chiimplaiii,"'  i>iililioi'.>i  imr  I'Ahbu  C  II. 
LivordiiTc;  Vvv^•  Chiirli'voix.  S.  J.,  "History  ami  Oi'iUTal  Dcscriiitioii  of  Now  Fraiui',"  tniiiH- 
lalt'd  by  ,1.  (f.  Slu'a;  Alilii'  FcrliUKl,  "Coiirs  ITIINloiro  dii  Canada;"'  I'arkmiiii.  "  Pioneer,--  of 
France  in  llie  New  World;''  I'arUnian,  "The  .le-^iiits  in  Nortli  .Xnierica;  "  I'arlunan,  "  The  Old 
l;i'!;ime  in  Canada;"  Ilelkna]).  "  HioL'rniiliie"  of  llie  Karly  Dii-coverersi;"  Uarnemi,  "  Hi~loire  du 
Cnn.ida;  "  l)e  lAjutiitrtuis,  "Lee  Franyais  en  Anieriiinc," 

331 


SAMUEL  DE  CUAMPLAUV. 


]')n(l.  for  we  arp  told  tliat  he  drew  Lis  good  sword  on  mn^-^ 
liiiiii  oiKi  lield  of  iier\'  coiitlict. 

At  tliis  period  tlie  famous  Henry  IV.  guided  tlie  des- 
tinies of  France;  and  with  tlie  keen  eye  of  a  soldier  he  did 
not  fail  to  see  that  Clianiplain  was  no  ordinary  man.  Tlic 
Monarch  lcei)t  him  near  his  person,  and  as  his  small  pui'se 
and  great  merit  were  rather  out  of  harmony,  Henry  settled 
il  ])ension  on  the  future  Founder  of  Canada. 

When  peace  returned,  Chami)lain  determined  to  visit  the 
West  Indies  in  the  interests  of  France,  Spanish  jealousy 
liad  hitherto  excluded  all  foreigners,  and  mystery  over- 
shadowed the  affairs  of  tliese  islands.  The  young  French 
commander  felt  that  it  would  be  a  good  work,  however  peril- 
ous, to  throw  some  light  on  such  a  dark  corner  of  the  world. 
He  set  out  on  his  journey.  Through  the  inliuence  of  an 
uncle,  he  obtained  tlie  command  of  one  of  the  vessels  of  a 
Spanish  stpuidi'oii  about  to  sail  for  the  West  Indies.  What 
was  the  result  i 

At  Dieppe,  in  France,  there  is  a  curious  old  manuscript 
in  clear,  decisive,  and  somewhat  formal  handwriting  of  the 
sixteenth  century,  garnished  with  sixty-one  colored  pic- 
tures. Ilei'e  we  see  many  ports,  harbors,  islands,  and  rivers, 
adoi-m^d  with  rude  portraitures  of  birds,  beasts,  and  fishes 
])ertaining  thereto.  Ilei'e  ai"e  Indian  feasts  and  dances— 
liere,  too,  are  descrii)tions  of  natural  objects,  each  with  its 
singular  illustrative  ske'ch,  some  drawn  fi'om  life,  snme  from 
memory — as  the  chameleon  with  two  legs — others  from  hear- 
say, among  which  is  the  portrait  of  the  griffin  said  to  haunt 
certain  districts  of  Mexico,  a  monster  with  the  wings  of  a 
bat.  the  head  of  an  eagle,  and  the  tail  of  an  alligator.  This 
is  Chanijilain's  journal.  It  is  written  and  illustrated  b}'  his 
own  hand,  and  with  the  most  complete  indejiendence  of  the 
laws  of  art.  The  AVest  Indian  adventure  occui)ied  hiiu 
t\v(j  years  and  a  half.'  He  visited  tlie  principal  jiorts  of  the 
inlands,  made  plans  and  sketches  of  them  all,  and  then, 
lauding  at  Xnn  Cruz,  journeyed  inland  to  the  city  of 
Mexico.     Ileturning,  he  made  his  way  to  Panama.     Heie, 


CI 
his 

Oill 

tlh 

ex- 
ill 

si  (11 


«  1509  to  16(«. 


Mil 


^2^ 


mhiml^mmmm 


f^AMUEL  ni-:  CIIAMPLATX. 


333 


Tiiorv''  tliaii  ;  wo  oenfurios  and  a  lialf  ai,^o.  his  bold  and  active 
laiud  conceived  tlie  plan  of  a  ^sliip-canal  across  flie  islliinus, 
■•by  wlii/li,"  lie  says,  "the  voyagi^  to  the  South  Sea'  would 
be  shortened  by  more  than  lifteeu  hundred  leagues.'"'' 

When  our  her(j  returned  to  France,  the  work  of  his  life 
awaired  him.  In  the  first  half  of  the  sixteenth  century,' 
Jam.(^s  Cartier,  a  pious,  hardy,  and  enterprising  captain,  of 
St.  ]\ralo,  discovei'<id  Canada,  explored  its  great  river,  and 
erected  crosses  in  its  soil.  Many  were  the  attempts  made 
to  colonize  the  new  country,  but  failui'e  frowned  on  them 
all.  Pvovideiice  ]'(>served  such  a  gloi'ious  achievement  for 
Samuel  de  Cliamplain  ;  and,  as  a  jvreparation,  he  was  to  serve 
u  leiig  ai)]n'enliceship  in  another  tield  of  exploration. 

At  this  time  thei'o  lived  in  Fi'ance  a  man  to  whom  Henry 
1\'.  was  nnudi  indebted,  a  white-headed  vetei'an,  a  devout 
Catholic,  and  a  stern  soldier.  Tt  was  the  Commander  do 
Chastes.  He  wishi^l  to  end  liis  davs  enu-aged  in  some  noble 
woi'k.  To  plant  the  Cross  and  the  y^v/r-f/e-//.?  Mn  the  wil- 
iliM'uess  of  Canada  became  the  object  of  his  landable  ambi- 
tii)ii.  lie  went  to  Court  to  beg  a  patent.  "  And  thongh  his 
head,"  writes  Cliamplain,  "was  crowned  with  gray  hairs  aa 
wirh  years,  he  resolved  ro  proceed  in  person  to  New  France, 
and  dedicate  the  rest  of  his  days  to  the  service  of  God  and 
his  King.'' 

The  patent  was  readily  granted.  "With  himself  He 
(^hastes  associated  several  mei'chants  of  Hieppt\  and  fixed 
his  eye  on  Cliamplain  as  one  of  the  mtiii  to  aid  in  carrying 
out  such  a  cherished  enterprise.  Well  the  veteran  knew 
th<'  young  oflicer's  merit  and  experience.  A  preliminary 
exploration  was  agreed  r.pon.  T'wo  small  vessels  were  put 
iinvadinessat  ITontleur.  and  spreading  his  canvas,  Cliamplain 
sidorl  aci'oss  the  Atlantic  in  the  year  1()03."  After  buifeting 
thi'  l)illo\vs  for  many  a  day.  they  came  in  sight  of  the?  wild 
shores  of  the  New  World,  and  lu'ld  tlieir  course  np  the 
liiiu>]y  St.  Lawi'ence.     For  the  lirst  time  the  eagle  glance  of 


'  Till'  I'iU'iflp  Oronn.  '  Pnrkmnn.  '  1.5.11-35.  *  Tlio  royal  insignia  of  Franco. 

'  In  lliis  vdyimc  l'll,lInJl^lln^v,•^srl<■(■OIn|)lHli('(l  tiy  I'oiiIl'Mvc''.  n  iii'TcliiiU  of  St.  Malo,  ulio  liuil  al- 
ri'iidy  boon  in  C:iu:ul;i  ;  lie  liail  spout  .souio  limo  in  tnidiiig  at  Tailuiii-aao. 


•jy4  SAMUEL  DK  CllAMFLAlX. 

Cham  plain  took  in  tlie  bare  flilfs  oC  Quebcr,  but  all  was 
bulitude,  and  the  little  ships  bi'avely  bore  against  the  stream 
until  the  island  ol'  Montreal  was  reached.  There  stood 
Mount  .Ho\al,  clothed  in  its  wild  but  stately  forest  garment, 
rising  before  the  (^ye  in  all  the  majesty  of  savage  grandeur. 

Chamj)hiin  explored  a  portion  of  the  island,  and,  with  the 
aid  of  a  few  Indians,  tried  to  pass  the  St.  Louis  Kapids. 
lie  tried  in  vain,  however,  and  was  forced  to  return.  He 
then  made  many  iiupiii'ies  of  the  redmen  concerning  their 
country,  its  rivers,  falls,  lakes,  mines,  and  mountains.  Cn 
the  deck  of  his  vessel  the  Indians  drew  a  rude  map  of  the 
river  above,  exhibiting,  with  more  or  less  correctness,  its 
chain  of  rapids,  the  vast  lakes  by  which  it  is  fed,  and  the 
wandering  tribes  living  near  its  banks. 

The  hardy  but  baflled  explorer  now  turned  the  prows  of 
liis  vessels  liomeward,  and  reached  Havre  de  Grace  only  to 
learn  of  the  death  of  the  worthy  veteran,  the  Commander 
de  Chastes. 

The  mantle  of  De  Chastes  fell  upon  the  shoulders  of 
Peter  du  Guast,  Sieur  de  Monts.  This  nobleman  Avished  to 
coloni/e  AcrtrZm,'and  the  French  King,  by  granting  liim  a  pat- 
.cut.  encouraged  the  enterprise.  He  Avas  constituted  Lieu- 
tenant-General  of  all  the  territory  from  the  fortieth  to  the 
forty-sixth  degree  of  north  latitude,  with  power  to  subdue 
the  natives  and  convert  them  to  the  Ca,tholic  faith.  De 
TvLonts  equipped  two  vessels,  and  sailed  for  his  new  goveni- 
meni  in  March,  Kj!)-!.  Champlain.  was  pilot  of  the  expe- 
dition. 

In  ^Fay  they  arrived  at  a  harbor  on  the  southeast  side  of 
the  ix'uinsuhi  of  Acadia,  where  they  found  one  of  their 
count I'ymen,  named  Ilossignol,  trading  with  the  Indians 
without  license.  They  seized  his  ship  and  cargo;  but  left 
liim  the  poor  consolation  of  giving  his  name  to  the  harbor 


'  .\(ii<l!;i.  or  Acnrtid,  was  thi'  iiiimo  of  llio  pi'ii.ii^nii  iui\vc.".ll(il  Xovn  Scotiii,  from  its  llrst  sct- 
tlpnirnf  hy  rlic  Frcnrh.iii  ICiOl.tiil  Us  tiniil  (cvsion  to  llic  Kiinli^li.in  1713.  In  tlic  orij,-iiml  commi^i- 
hioii  or  llir  Kin;;  of  Kmna'.  Ni'W  Hnir.^wicU  and  a  part  of  :Main«  were  incliuk'd  in  Acailia,  but 
pi'acli''ai;y  the  colony  was  n'slriclci!  to  the  pcnin-ula,— J//)- /■;<■((«.  Cijvt«]MiUii. 

^  Po  Sloiits,  ;lK)iigh  a  Culvinibt,  was  oliligcd  to  pioiuisu  that  tUe  IiiUiaus  would  be  iustructai 
lu  tlic  uiK'  Faith. 


1 


iniMUEL  BE  CILUrPLAIK 


335 


where  lie  was  t;iken  The  provisions  found  in  liis  vessel 
Averoa  most  seasonable  supply,  tor  without  them  tlie  enter- 
l^risemust  have  been  abandoued.  The  place  is  now  called 
Liverjxx)]. 

Coastin,<T^  alonf?  the  peninsula  to  the  s()Uthw(>st,  they 
doubled  Cape  Salile,  and  came  to  anchor  in  St.  Maiy's  I'ay. 
One  day  a  party  went  on  shore  and  stroll. 'd  ihrnu,i;li  tlio 
forest.  Among  them  was  l-'athfr  Nicholas  Aid)ry,  of 
Paris.  IFe  sei)arated  from  liis  comi)anions,  and  got  lost 
in  the  dens(>  woods.  In  vain  they  searched,  shouting  his 
name  to  the  echoing  solitudes.  Truniiieis  wi-i'e  sounded 
an( 


u 


1   cannon   jircd,  but   Father  Aubry   ai)peared   not.      ]Ie 
as  given  up  for  dead,  and  after  sixteen  days  they  quit- 
ti'<I  the  place. 

The  voyagers  n()\vpi'(H'('ediMl  to  explori^  the-  l^ayof  Fundy,' 
called  by  l)e  Monts  La  Bay  Frang-oisc  On  the  eastern  side  of 
flic  Bay  they  discovertnl  a  narrow  strait,  info  \\iiich  they  (mi- 
ti'red.  and  soon  found  themselves  in  a  spacious  basin,  envi- 
roned with  liills,  down  which  trickled  streams  of  fn^sh 
Avater  in  all  theii'  silvery  beauly.  Between  the  hills  ran  a 
line  navigable  rivei',  whii'h  i  hey  named  the  Ivpiille.  Baron 
le  Ponli'incourt,  ti  menihei'  of  the  expedition,  was  dcdighted 
with  th(3  scene.  Here  he  even  deteimined  to  make  his  resi- 
dence, and  having  obtained  a  grant  of  it  from  Be  Monts, 
the  Catholic  nobleman  gave  it  the  name  of  Poit  Boyal.' 
oni  this  ')oiu(  thev  sailed  I'arthei'  into  the  u'reat  Bav,  to 


< 


V\ 


visit  a  coppei'-mine.  It  was  a  high  rock  on  a  juoniontory 
between  two  bays.  The  copper,  though  mixed  with  stone, 
Avas  f(jund  to  be  very  pui'e.  (^^rystids  and  cui'ious  colored 
stones  were  also  found,  and  specimens  of  these  were  sent  to 
Ueniy  IV. 
On  a  furtluM"  examination  of  the  coast,  thev  came  to  a 


u'ri^at  rivei-  to  which  tlu^v  uave  the  name  of  the  St.  .loh 


n. 


It 


wiis  swarming  with  lish  and  full  of  islands.     The  voyagers 
sailed  iip.this  river  abont  lifty  leagues,  and  were  extremely 


'  Thr  Bnv  of  Fiimtv  i'  "hnut  ItO  inili's  loiu'  iind  I'ldiii  .'^O  lo  .V)  mill's  wiilc.  It  N  ri'iii.-U'kiililc  for 
it'i  cxtiMdVilirmrv  iiilrs.  wl'.icli  r\\A\  up  t'lMiii  (he  .  ou  willi  sulIi  niiiidity  no  s^oiiiL'tinics  to  ovenuko 
tu  inr  fii'diiiL'  on  >lirlUL-li  oil  thu  sUuR'S. 

^  Now  Aiiiun.olis. 


Im 


II 

A 

1 

1 ''' 

11 

] 

1 

i 

I 

iJiNj 

i 

i 

L 

886 


bAMUEL  Tfk  CILUT PLAIN. 


dcliiilih'd  with  the  vast  (innnfity  of  uTJipes  wliiHi  grew  on  its 
biniks.     At  last  tliey  aiicliured  in  l^assaiiiaqudddy  Bay. 

'i'li(>  iinlii-iii;;'  Champlaiii,  exploriii*;',  siiivcyiiisi,',  soundinix. 
Imd  made  charts  of  all  the  priiicii)al  joads  atid  harboi's;  and 
now.  ])ii!'suini'^  his  research,  he  enteicd  a  river  which  he  calls 
La  lii\irit'  dcs  I^techt'iniiis.  JS'car  its  ni(nilh  la;  Tound  an 
islet,    fenced  ar' ii'id  with  nxdvs  and    shoals,  and  called  it 


St.  Crifix,  a  name  now  home  ))v  the  river  itse 


AViih  sin- 


gMilar  infelicity,  tliis  s[)ot  was  chosen  as  the  site  of  the  new- 
colon  v.     It  commanded  the  I'iver.  and  was  well  lilted   for 


defeii 


se. 


Tli(> 


wi'i'e   its   onl\"   niei'ils.     Cannon,  however, 


were  landed  on  it,  a  baltery  was  planted  on  a  detached  rock 
at  one  end,  and  a  iovX.  begun  on  a  ri>ing  gromal  at  the 
other.'^ 

At  St.  ]\rary's  ]?ay  the  A-oyagers  had  I'ound,  or  thonii'lit 
they  had  I'onnd  traces  oi'  iron  and  silver.  A  ]illot  was  now 
sent  l);ick  to  purine  the  search.  As  he  and  liis  men  lay  at 
anchor,  iishinu',  nv)t  far  l'i\)in  land,  one  of  them  heard  a 
stran^'i^  sound,  like  a  weak  liiimau  voice.  'I  hey  looked  to- 
wards tlie  shore,  and  saw  a  small  black  lignre  in  motion, 
seemingly  a  hat  waved  at  the  end  of  a  stick.  Kowing  in 
haste  to  the  s})f)t,  they  found  Father  Aubry.  For  sixteen 
days  the  rinhappy  priest  had  wandered  in  the  woods,  sus- 
taining ]if(;  on  berries  and  wild  fruits,  lie  was  but  a  shadow 
of  liis  former  self.  A\'hen  he  Avas  carried  to  St.  Croix,  his 
companioiLs  greeted  him  as  one  risen  from  the  grave. '' 

\'ai'ious  habitations  v\-ere  erected  on  St.  Croix.  It  was 
detei"n\ined  to  found  a  colony.  The  winter,  Iiowever,  proved 
extremely  severe,  'i'o  add  to  th(^  mi'^eiies  of  tlie  ice-bound 
Frenciimen.  scurvy  attacked  them,  and  thirty-six  of  their 
nnndier  soon  peopled  the  little  cemetery.  Tlie  remaining 
foi'ty.  who  WiM'e  n-yarly  all  sick  and  dispirited,  lingtnvd  till 
the  spriir^.  when  their  woes  diminished,  and  they  gradually 


'  Tlie  n:iiii('  of  St.  Croix  (or  TTol.v  Cross)  wiis  Rivoii  to  the  islnnrt  localise  ^Imt  two  lensneg 
liiflher  then'  were  brdok^;  whic!'.  "  emne  cross-wii^e  to  lull  uiihiii  llii.-i  l:ii;;e  branch  of  tlie  ;?eii."— 
Bel  k  I  Id  p. 

Tlie  St.  Croix  Hirer  now  forms  the  N.  E.  boniulary  between  the  United  States  and  Brltiih 
America.    It  is  about  I','.")  miles  long. 

'  I'arknian.  ^  Ibid. 


1^' 


i 


SAMVHL  1)1:   CIlAMl'LAiy. 


337 


ivrovci'cd  l)y  iriouns  of  the  frcsli  vofjetntion.  ''Yet  among 
llu'iii,*'  writes  I'iiiiviiiaii.  'MliHre  was  one  at  least,  wlio,  amid 
]an<i,'noi'  and  deredioii,  held  fo  his  imrpose  with  an  indoni- 
itahlo  tenacity;  and  where  Clianii)laiu  was  present  there 
was  no  room  for  despair." 

"W^'ury  of  St.  Croix,  De  ISIonts  would  fa!n  seek  out  a 
more  ausijicious  site,  wlieieon  to  rear  the  cajyital  ol"  liis  wil- 
derness (lomiiuon.  During-  the  previous  8e])tenil)er,  Cham- 
plain  luul  rauiivd  the  westward  coast  in  a  pinnace,  visited 
;;a{l  nanu'il  the  cliifs  of  Mount  Desert,  and  entered  the 
mouth  of  the  River  Penobscot.  Now,  embarking  a  second 
time  in  a  bark  of  iiftecu  tons,  with  De  Monts,  several  gen- 
ilemen,  twenty  sailors,  and  an  Indian  and  liis  squaw,  the 
future  Founder  of  Quebec  set  forth  in  June,  IGOo,  on  a  sec- 
ond voyagt'  of  discovery.  Along  iho  strangely  indented 
coast  of  Maine,  by  reef  and  surf- washed  island,  black  head- 
land and  deep-end)osonied  bay — by  Mount  Desert  and  the 
Penobscot,  the  Ivennebt-c,  Portsmouth  Harbor,  and  the 
Isles  of  Shoals — landing  dail}%  iiolding  conference  Avilh  In- 
dians, giving  and  receiving  gifts — they  held  their  course, 
like  some  adventurous  party  of  pleasure,  along  those  now 
faiailiar  shores.  Chaniplain,  who,  vre  are  told,  "delighted 
murvelously  in  these  entei'prisfs,"'  busied  hinL-elf,  af(er  his 
w.nit,  with  taking  observations,  sketching,  making  charts, 
and  exploiing  with  an  insatiable  avidity  the  wonders  of  the 
land  and  the  sea.  Of  the  latter,  the  horseshoe-crab  awak- 
ened his  es[)erial  curiosity,  and  lie  descril)es  it  at  length, 
Avith  an  amusing  accuracy.  With  eqiud  care  and  truth  he 
l):dnts  the  Indians,  whose  round,  mat-covered  lodges  they 
CMuld  see  at  times  thickly  strewn  along  the  shores,  and  who, 
from  Iiays,  inlets,  and  sheltering  islands,  came  out  to  meet 
the  Fi'enchnuMi  in  canoes  of  baik  or  Avood.  They  were  an 
agricuttund  race.  Patches  of  corn,  beans,  tobacco,  squashes, 
and  various  eatable  roots  lay  near  all  their  wigwarns.' 

'i'he  voyagers  iinally  came  to  Cape  Cod,  on  the  coast  of 
]\Itiss:u'husetts.  In  some  of  the  places  i)assed,  the  land  was 
most  invitinu'.  and  ])aiticidar  notice  is  takf^i  of  the  grapes. 


m  I 


m 


3:^8 


t^AMCKL  Ui:  CliAMPI.Aiy. 


J3ut  llio  snvMO'i-  unlives  jii-.pejmnl  to  be  numerous,  unfi'it'udly, 
and  lliii'visli.  Dc  >ri)iits,  liowcver,  prt-ffrrod  safety  lo 
pli'iisuiv,  auil  rettii  iu'd  lii'st  fo  St,  Ci'oix,  and  tiieu  to  I'oit 
lioyal.  Here  he,  found  a  ship  fi'oin  Fi'ance  \vith  fresh  suj)- 
plies,  and  a  reinforcenient  of  forty  nx.'n.  The  stoies  wliicli 
bad  been  deposiied  at  St.  Croix  Avci'e  removed  acioss  tlie 
B.iy  of  Fuiidy,  but  tlie  buihliu.'4':s  were  left  standiuu'.  New 
liouses  were  ei'ected  at  the  nioutii  of  tile  liver  which  runs 
in!o  the  basin  of  l*ort  Jloyul.  There  the  stores  and  peopU? 
were  lod.ued. 

l)e  Mours,  havbig-  put  liis  aft'aii's  in  good  order,  embarked 
for  France,  leaving!;  Poiit^';rave  as  his  lieutenant.  Chaniplaiu 
and  another  i)ilot  were  to  pei'fect  the  settlement,  and 
colli inui'  to  explore  the  country. 

The  winter  of  10()o-6  came  on.  The  colonists  it  seems 
were  plentifully  sujiplied  by  the  Indians  with  venison,  and 
a  great  trade  in  furs  was  carri(  cl  on.  Nothing'  is  said  of 
the  scurvy;  but  they  had  a  short  allowance  of  bi'ead.  This, 
liowevei-,  was  not  from  any  scarcity  t)f  ji-rain;  but  because 
tliey  li:i(l  no  other  mill  to  .urind  it  tlian  the  hand-mill, 
which  ie((uiied  liai'tl  and  uiu'easiui;'  laboi'.  So  much  did  the 
red  men  hatci  this  uniomnntic  exei'cise  that  tliey  ])iei'erred 
liunu'er  to  the  task  of  .u'liudinu'  corn,  th()U<ili  they  were  of- 
I'eivd  hair  of  it  in  payment.  Only  six  men  died  in  the  course 
of  this  winter. 

Spring'  came  around,  and  Baron  de  Poutrincourt  be.crnn  his 
plantation.  A  s])ot  of  sxround  was  cle.ued.  A\"itliin  fifteen 
days,  he  so\vt>d  <xrains  and  S(!veral  kinds  of  garden  vegeta- 
bles. Tliiis  the  first  field,  cultivated  by  wliite  hands,  that 
mariced  the  wild,  shaggy  continent  of  North  America  from 
Florida,  to  tlie  Pole,  owed  its  existence  to  the  enthusiastic 
industry  of  a  Catholic  nobleman.  This  is  a  trilling  fact,  but 
one  not  unwoi'thy  of  remembrance. 

In  tiie  fall  of  1000,  Champiain,  accompanied  by  Poutrin- 
court, again  set  forth  on  a  voyage  of  discovery.  Their 
vessel  "was  a  miserable  craft  of  eighteen  tons.  It  was 
roughly  handled  by  the  gales  of  autumn.  Coasting  along 
to  Nantucket  Sound,  they  became   disgusted,  and  turned 


SAMUEL  DE  CIIAMPLAIX. 


3:;9 


l):ick.    It  was  baltlin.ii;  with  (laiigt^r  mid  hiiidsliip  foi-  iKitliiiii;. 

AliMig  the  castt'ru  vci'^o  of  Cai)i!  Cod  the  v»\  aL;x'is  J'liUiid 
the  slioro  thickly  studded  with  tho  wigwuin.s  oi' a  riu-e  who 
were  Ujss  huiitor.s  than  tillors  of  the  soil.  At  Chat  ham  liar- 
1><)1'  live  of  the  coiniiaiiy,  who,  contrary  to  ordci.s,  had  rc- 
iiiMiiK'd  oil  shoiTiall  ni^!^-ht,  wert!  asstillcd  as  tlu'V  slept  aioiind 
their  lir(^  b\'  a  shower  of  arrows  from  four  hundred  Indians, 
'J'wo  were  killed  outright,  whilt.'  the  frightened  survivors 
lied  for  their  bout,  bristle*!  like  porcupines.  The  scene  is 
oddly  porti'ayed  by  the  pencil  of  Champlain.  He,  with 
Poutriiu'ourt  iind  eight:  nrui,  liearing  the  cries  for  aid,  and 
the  war  wh'V)]-)s  of  the  savages,  spi-ang  up  from  sleep,  and 
chargej  ih"  yelling,  dusky  multitude,  who  lied  before  their 
?:•,;>(•[ iMi  assailants.  The  French  buried  their  dead  comradc^s; 
but  as  they  chanttNl  their  funeral  hymn,  the  Indians,  at  a 
suf(!  distance  on  a  n^'ighboring  hill,  Averi?  dan<iiig  in  glee  and 
ti'iumph,  and  mocking  them  wll:h  unseemly  gestures,  and  no 
.Soulier  had  tli(3  party  re-embarked  than  Ihey  dug  nj)  the 
dead  bodies,  burned  them,  and  arrayed  themselves  in  their 
shirts.' 

After  a  p(M'ilous  voyage,  Champlain  and  liis  companions 
arriveil  at  Port  Royal  on  the  14th  of  NovembiU".  The  man- 
ner in  which  they  spant  the  third  winter  was  social  and 
festive.  At  the  chief  table — to  which  fifteen  ])ersons  be- 
longed— nu  Order  was  established  by  the  name  of  '•  L"0]-dre 
de  Bon-Temps."  It  was  the  work  of  the  ever-cheerful 
Champlain.  • 

Ivicli  was  Grand  ^Master  for  a  dav,  during  wliich  lie  wore 
the  collar  of  the  Order,  dtmned  a  napkin,  and  carried  the 
staff  of  oflice.  After  supper  Ik^  re-signed  his  accoutrements, 
with  the  ceremony  of  drinking  a  cup  of  wine  to  the  h(>alth 
of  his  successor.  It  seems  this  was  an  excellent  institu- 
tion. Its  advantage  was  that  each  member  was  emulous 
to  be  jirepared  for  his  day  as  Grand  IMaster,  by  i)i'eviously 
hunting  or  lisliing,  or  purchasing  lish  and  game  of  the 
sini])le  natives.  It  was  a  point  of  honor  to  fill  the  post 
with  er(>dit. 


II 


1  Purkman. 


\l 


n  ' 


340 


SA^rUEL  DI'J  CUAArPLAIX. 


m 


The  invited  guests  were  Indian  chiefs.'  Those  of  humblep 
degree— wan-ioi's,  stiuaws,  and  chihlrcn— sat  on  the  Ihjor.  or 
crouched  togi'thiM-  in  the  corners  cf  the  haJl,  eagerly  waiting 
tlieir  pwriion  of  biscuit  or  of  bread— a  novel  and  mucii- 
coveted  luxury.  Treated  idways  wiih  kindness,  tliey  be- 
came tond  of  the  Freucli,  Avho  often  followed  them  on  their 
moosediuiits,  and  sliared  their  winrer  bivouac' 

Only  four  died  this  v/inter;  and  it  is  remarked  thiit  they 
were  ''sluggish  and  iVei fid." 

Leaving  the  stoiy  of  French  Acadia,  i's  struggles  and 
niisfortuiies,  we  must  now  follow  the  footsteps  of  Chaniplain 
to  a  new  lield  of  activity  and  enterpris(^— a  Jield  where  he 
toil(Ml  with  rlie  shilling  virtue  of  a  true  Christian,  and  ttio 
indoinlrable  energy  of  a  hero,  where  success  iinally  smiled 
on  his  enliii-litened  and  weil-directed  toil,  and  lui  founded  a 
nation,  whiidi  to-day  liiids  a  conspicuous  place  on  the  ma[) 
of  North  America. 


'  Tlu'  principil  of  llio-'i'  was  an  olil  rliii'f  In  llu'  umw  of  Jtoinborlon,  a  fast  f  riiiiil  nf  llir  Finu  u, 
atiil  .'-till  n  !i'(|oii1)|cm1  w.'irrior,  Ihoiiyli  dmi-  (iiic  liuiiilrcii  years  of  iif;o.  lie  wa.-^.  |i<|iiaiis  il.o 
flM  ailiill  ciimiTt  made  liy  llio  I'lcii'.  li  iiiissimi.irii  s  in  Nniili  Anuricn.  Fatlur  J.a  Ilcclic  iiai-  n.s 
jiiniis  in><inic'or.  "  Mi'mhcrton  was  lli-st  cali'i'liiscil."  says  Parknian.  ■'confcsscil  iiU  ,-iii-.  aiidri'- 
noiini'cil  tlu'  l)c-vil.  wlioiii,  \w  an'  tolil,  he  li.i;l  fuillifiilly  scfvcil  iliirin}^  u  hundred  and  len  \c  u-s. 
nis  s(|na'.vs.  Ills  children,  his  ^'randclnldrcn,  his  iiiiirc  clan,  were  ne.\t  won  over.  It  u.i.  u 
.Tnne.  the  Day  of  St.  .John  thi^  T5:i!>'i'*t,  when  the  nak.'d  proselytes,  twenty-one  in  miinher,  were 
tralhered  on  the  shore  at  Port  Uoyal  Here  was  the  prii'st  in  the  vestments  of  his  olllce;  nert! 
were  jrentlemen  in  -jay  attire,  soldiers,  laborers,  lacUey«— all  the  Infant  colony.  The  convens 
':;;■■.  1  'd:  111"  s  i-red  rite  w  is  finished,  the  T.'  T)'iim  w.".s  siiiii;.  and  the  roar  of  ■.iniioii  proclainuTJ 
to  he  ••i^roiii.'hed  wilderness  this  (riiiinpli  ov  a'  the  jw>wers  of  darkness.  M.anherton  was  named 
He,n-i,  after  ihe  KiiiL':  In's  prlneip  il  sipiaw.  .Marie,  afler  the  (Jiieen.  One  of  his  .<ons  received  the 
name  of  Ihe  Pope,  a-iolher  tlial  of  Ihe  t).iii|)hin;  his  daiii;liter  was  called  MaiL'iierile,  after  Mar- 
guerite of  Valois,  ainlfiii  like  manner,  the  rest  oi  the  sunalid  company  e.xchaniied  tlieh'  harharlc 
iippellalions  for  Ihe  names  of  princes,  n.)hles,  and  ladies  of  v.mk.^'—Pioatiis  qf  I''mnciiin  tilt 
j\f!r  iVoif>/.  II.  'r.). 

Old  .Memhcrton,  or  neiiri,  continued  faithful,  and  died  a  devout  Christiaa. 
'  Paikman. 


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BH    Mi 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE  TRIXCE   OF   PIOXEEI!^    IX   CAXADA. 

Cliam 2^1(1  iii  ft  lore  of  adDcnture — He  founds  tlui  clf>/  of 
Quehen  —  IToio  he  strangled  a  eonyy/rac// — i'^jX'tidiiu./  (fm 
II' i.  '  r  at  Qneheo — A  looefiil  scene  of  destitiiflo)i — The. 
Jfurons  and,  Algonquins — The  Iroquois— Disi-oeerij  of 
Lake  Chanrplaui — A  hattte  lo'dh  the  Iroquois— liome- 
icard  bound. 

Turnino^  away  fi'om  Aciidia  and  its  riiiiu'd  hopivs.  I)i3 
Monts,  at  the  .siig-2,v.stioii  ol'  Olianiplain,  lixed  his  cyt's  on 
CaiKidn.  He  made  liis  projects  known  to  Henry  IV"..  and 
solicited  a  nionepoly  ol"  the  fur  ti'ade  for  one  yoai'.  His  re- 
qnest  was  ii'ranted.  This  privile,i?e  l)egaii  in  January,  ]G08. 
Many  advanta.cfes  were  expecteil  to  How  from  establisliing'  a 
cohony  on  i  he  River  St.  Lawicnce. 

Cliamplain,  at  this  time,  was  in  Paris;  bnf  liis  nnqni(4- 
tlionujhts  turned  westward.  He  was  enamored  of  tlie  New 
Worhi,  whose  rugi:;'ed  cliarms  had  seized  his  fancy  and  his 
lieart;  and  as  explorers  of  Arctic  Seas  have  pined  in  their 
repose  for  polar  ice  and  snow,  so  did  he,  with  restless  lonii'- 
ing,  revert  to  the  fog-wi-apjied  coasts,  the  piny  odors  of  for- 
ests, the  noise  of  waters,  tiie  shnr])  and  ])iercinpi;  snnli,Lrli(, 
BO  dear  to  his  riMiKMiibrance.  '  Fain  would  he  nn^■eil  the 
mystery  of  that  boundless  wilderness,  and  plant  tlie  Oatlio- 
lic  Faitli  and  the  power  of  France  amid  its  ancient  l)arba- 
rism.  I''ive  years  befoi-e.  he  had  explored  the  St.  Lawrence 
as  far  as  tlie  raiiids  abi)ve  Montreal.  On  its  banks  as  he 
thousi'ht,  was  tlu^  true  site  f(»r  a  sntt  Icmcut.  a  fortified  ])os', 
.whence,  as  fiom  a  seciin;  basis,  the  waters  of  the  vast  inte- 

341 


i    .!-»!(!> 


'Rl 


mw 

,.v  m 


34rJ 


SA  M  UKL  1)E  CII.  I HPL  AIN. 


T,ti^ 


rior  might  be  traced  b.ick  to,v  ird<  tli^Ir  sources,  and  a  west- 
ern route  discovtMvd  to  China  ;snd  the  East 

Early  in  iln-'  sniumer  of  IGl'S,  a  vessel  ])ursued  its  solitary 
course  ui)  rlic  St.  Lawrence.  It  was  from  Honiieur,  and  was 
conuiiauded  by  Samuel  de  Chiunplain.  ATtei'  sailinii;  ninny 
a  leagne  up  tin-  lordly  river,  the  hardy  voyaiiers  came  to  a 
jioint  whciH  the  vast  channel  narrows  to  a  mile  in  width. 
Tilt'  bold  dill's  of  Quebec  mirrored  their  bare,  rugged  features 
in  the  \va!tvs  below.  Here  the  anchor  was  cast  on  the  ?A  of 
July,  for  rhc  keen  eye  of  Chaniiilain  marked  tlie  wild  but 
picturesque  spot  as  the  site  of  a  city — to-day,  the  most  his- 
t(jric  ciiy  in  America.'  '"Two  centuries  and  a  lialf, "  says 
Farkman.  •■have  quickened  the  solitude  with  swarming  life, 
covered  the  deep  bosom  of  the  river  with  barge  and  steamer 

'  i'.'irktnaii. 

5  Till;  wiinl  Qiii'lii'c  is  nf  Indian  oriclin,  and  mean?  a  slraif,  ornan'OH'inr;  of  tfie  ririr.  Tlio 
Icnrni'd  Alibc'  FitUuhI  writes;  "  yiiant  iui  mot  Ju/j/itk  (.Qiieliof),  il  n"y  a  pai*  ii  doiiliT  (|ifil  .-.  t 
d'oriL'imi  iilti'miiiiiii;'.  Cliamiilaiii  ot  Li'sciirlwt  lu  disfiif.  cxpro-iwenn'iit;  Ic  pfciiiirr  Ic  rr|  (.'■•.o 
j'.isilii'a  ik'tix  fill?;.  Dill,-  Ics  (lilVoP'iits  dialcctcs  ali,'oiiqiiiiis,  Ki-jHtk  on  AVi^t'^fignilli;  r(JtriJci.--C'iinM;li 
d'lini.' rivir'.c."  •  \'i!rl>c  <■.'  dit  M.  Hicliui'  Lallcdiu,  'vuut  diro,  chez  ius  Cris  c'e-^l  /joioiu.  II 
viont  do  K';:nk.  tiiiiii-  iiidulliii  du  vorbt'  Kiliao." 

"Voici  t\' qir.Ti-iv.iit  a  cc  snjft  M.  ifean-Alarii- l!i.'llani.'C'r,  anoion  niis^ioiiairc.  iiii  ili-<  lioniim-) 
de  notre  tt-Mips  (i'umiiiI  k;  niiciix  cjiiim  la  iati;_'iiL'  des  Micinacs;  •  Keln'C,  en  luiciiiac,  vent  diiu 
rilrirUsantnt  <li^  CHUX  imnw\t■^x  Oien-x.  lan!_'iies  on  iionites  de  teiTo  qui  s-e  eroi.-eiit.  Daii'^  Jo 
premiers  teitips  que  j'etais  daii.s  les  missloiir'.  je  des.'endal!»  de  Ki^tlL'oiielie  :\  (.'aflcton;  les  deiix 
f^ava^.'e.s  qiii  me  nieiian'iit  en  caiiot.  repelant  smiveiil  le  mot  KeheV,  je  leiir  deinaiidai  s"il,~  «'  pro 
parai-'iit  a  allrr  bieiitut  a  Qneiiec.  lis  me  repoiidirent:  Nun;  n-ijardf  Ux  di  i/.i-  /iiihi/' «  e/  I'l-dii  i/ul 
es/  r&nKerrU-  tu  djilan^<— on  ajiiictlti  ccld  Kiljcc  en  nulre  laiigne." — Cours  d'HUI<nre  du  C'ftiiaiia, 
Vol.  /.,  /).  UK 

(Jiieliec  is  now  tlir  r:ipi!al  of  tile  Province  of  (Jiieliee.  II  is  isi1  miles  X.  V..  of  Mnntrcal,  ai;d 
nearly  4<Xi  mil  s  fniin  ilie  ijiilf  of  SI  l/vwrence.  lis  |iopiilat.ioii  in  ls;i  was  .V.mi.I;);  aad  of  tUew) 
Ei;,:i."'  were  Calliolics.  Il  is  a  walled  oily,  and  on  aceoiint  of  its  massive  fortilirations.  lias  been 
Ktyled  tlie  "  (lilirallar  of  Ameiiea,"  Tlie  aiieieiit  eolieire.  fonnded  liy  the  Je-iiit  l-'alleTs  in  lii;i.'l, 
was  or-eupii'd  as  a  harraek  by  the  English  troop.-  afn-r  1S10. 

Of  tlie;.'reat  iiistitiiti  )ns  in  tli.'  eily  fonnded  by  Cliainplain,  tlit^  most  famnns  Is  I.aval  I'liiver- 
pity.  This  (^'atlioiie  seat  of  learniiit;  was  founded  in  PCii,  by  tlie  Seminary  of  (iiiebec!,  which 
was  itself  founded  in  pif,,),  by  the  venerable  Laval,  Urst  liisliop  of  Canada.  Iiy  Royal  eluirler  it 
confers  di'iirce  in  arts,  science,  law  and  medicine  ;  mil  il  possesses  iloiirishitii;  sclriols  in  each 
of  these  departments.  'I'Ik;  Holy  ,See  imiinwered  the  I'niversily  to  confer  nil  dcirrees  in  theidoiry, 
and  ill  isrii.  liie  Illustrious  IMus  IX,  by  Letters  Aiiostidic,  raised  it  canoiiically  to  the  rank,  dii,'- 
nily.  and  jir.vileu'es  of  a  fatliolic  Ciiiversily.  It  lias  several  of  the  liriest  museums  and  collcctinnn 
for  the  study  of  science  in  Ainerieu,  besides  a  complete  |)hilosoiiliical  apparatus,  cluinical  lalioia- 
lory,  licrlHirinm.  splendid  gallery  of  pa!iiliiii.'s,  and  a  lib.-ary  of  rM.imi)  volumes.  Anion;,'  its  dis- 
tinguished professors  li.tve  lii'en  the  Abbe  Ki  riand,  anihor  of  Cniir<  il'lH'lairc  du  I  'iliiadn;  Kev. 
Dr.  B.  I'aqiiet,  author  of  1^  Liheri'Umc;  Kev.  lir.  Hegin,  anthorof  Aa  I'rimwtU-el I' InfmlUhilile 
ilv  Stiiin-vdin  /'n/ithV;  Abbe  Laverdiere,  editor  of  Ilc'i'.t'iony  dCK  Jrniii/fx;  .Indies  Morin,  Crema- 
zle,  ar.d  others.  The  Very  H'V.  Thomas  E.  naiiiel.  M.  A..  V.(t.,  Kector  of  the  rni\ersity,  is  a 
native  of  (Quebec,  and  was  born  ill  lK:iO.  He  made  a  special  ttudy  of  tciencu  in  France.— ••7/j*. 
tory  (if  the  CathuHc  Chiirdi  Int'ie  United  titales,,"  p.  105. 


SAMUEL  DE  CIIAMriAiy. 


343 


and  glidin^e;  sail,  and  reared  cities  and  villages  on  the  site  of 
iorests.  but  nothing  can  destroy  the  surpassing  grandeur  of 
the  scene  " 

A  lew  weeks  passed,  and  a  pile  of  wooden  buildings  rose 
cii  the  brink  of  the  St.  Lawrene(»,  on  or  mwv  the  site  of  the 
market- place  of  the  Lower  Town  of  Qin4)e<'.  The  pencil  of 
Chanipiain,  always  regai'dless  of  proportion  a;ul  perspective, 
lias  preserved  its  semblance.  A  strong  wooden  Avail,  sur- 
mounted by  a  gallery  loop-holed  for  musketry,  enclosed 
three  buildings,  containing  quarters  for  hinis(^lf  and  his 
men  together  with  a  court-yard,  from  one  side  of  which  rose 
a  tidl  dove  cot  like  a  belfry.  A  moat  surrounded  the  whole, 
and  two  or  three  small  cannon  were  planted  on  salient  i)lat- 
fonns  towards  tlie  river.  There  was  a  large  magazine  n(nir  at 
band,  and  a  part  of  the  adjacent  ground  was  laid  out  as  a 
garden.  Thus  began  the  oldest  city  on  the  St.  Lawrence, 
the  future  capital  of  Canada,  and  the  strongest  fortress  in 
the  New  World.-' 

Jiir  habitation/'  wrote  Champlain,  "is  in  forty-six  and 
a  half  degrees  north  hititnde  The  country  is  pleasant  and 
1/niutiful.  It  is  suitable  foi-  all  sorts  of  grains.  Tiie  foii'sts 
are  stocked  with  every  kind  of  tre<'s.  Fruit  trees  are  jilcn- 
tiful — wild,  of  course,  none  being  cultivated — as  rhe  walnut, 
cherry,  plum,  raspberry,  gooseberry,  etc.  The  rivers  produce 
lish  in  abundance,  and  the  quantity  of  game  is  intinire.'" 

Scarcely  was  the  corner-store  of  Quebec  laid,  when  a  seri- 
ous piece  of  news  came  to  the  ears  of  Champlain.  Several 
base  and  turbulent  spirits  among  the  workmen  were  hatch- 
ing a  plot  to  kill  him,  and  to  deliver  the  place  into  the 
hands  of  certain  Spaniards,  then  at  Tadoussac.  All  this 
was  not  to  be  done  for  nothing.  A  vagabond  locksmith, 
named  Duval,  was  at  tlie  head  of  the  movement.  One  of 
the  conspirators,  conscience-smitten,  no  doubt,  discovered 
the  whole  liendish  affair  to  Champlain. 

'  Parkmnn. 

•  CliiiiiiplMin  mnntr.i  \t\  sflroto  ile  son  rniip  il'<i'il  iinn-oeulninjul  ilnns  lo  clinix  qn'il  fi'  iVnw  pnsf- 
tior.  liilviintaircii-i^  Ihiui-  la  lu;;iii'  ciiiitdlr  dii  CaiiiiilM.  innis  nuorc  Inrsqnc.  iim  dc  iciiip'*  iiiirc'M, 
1  (KVK'iiii  lo  site  d'uu  uuirc  fort  a  I'cinlroit,  qui  c'i?t  Uuvoiui  Ic  cuuiru  du  la  villu  ilu  yiouitiaX.—AM 
IcilanU. 


^ir:r 


\  f.   \f 


•1 


'  *?»! 


344 


SAMUEL  DI-:  CHAMPLAiy 


After  a  careful  examinuiion,  rigorous  justice  was  ir.etcd 
out  to  tlie  ringleader.  '"  Duval's  body  swiugiiig  Iroiri  a  gilt- 
bet,"  wril<'s  Fai'kni:ni,  "gave  ■\vbo!e,soiiie  wuriiiiig  to  those 
be  bad  seduced;  and  bis  bead  was  displayed  on  a  I'ike, 
from  tbe  bigbest  roof  of  Ibe  building,  I'ood  lor  birds,  and  a 
lesson  to  sedition.''  Tbis  act  of  vigor  re-establislied  su))- 
niissiun  among  tbe  malcontents,  Tbe  otbei'  guilty  ones  ac 
kiiowledged  their  fault,  and  received  jiardon.  And  thus 
ended  a  conspiracy  which  placed  the  infant  colony  <m  the 
very  verge  of  destruction,  by  menacing  the  days  of  tbe  only 
man  capable  by  bis  prudence  and  marvelous  enei-gy  to  build 
u])  such  a  vast  eutei'pri.'se,  surrounded  by  difficulties. 

With  twenty-eight  men,  Champlain  resolved  to  s|-.end  the 
winter  at  Quebec.  T!ie  woi'ks  alrendy  begun  progr(\ssed  as 
tbe  fall  passed  away;  but  during  tbe  long  winter,  all  hands 
found  suflicient  occupation  to  cut  and  caj'iy  lire-wood,  ov 
to  battb^  with  tbe  inevitable  scurvy. 

Tt  seems  that  tlie  Indians  around  the  new  settlement  were 
a  uiiseiable  herd.  Their  la/.iness  was  nearly  boundless,  amt 
their  accoiuplishmeTts  maybe  bi'ietly  summed  up  by  say- 
ingtbattbey  were  skilled  liars,  filthy  and  cowardly  in  auex- 
ti'eme  degive.  "With  such  neighl)ors,  it  is  scaicely  necessaiy 
lo  say  that  rham|)lain  had  abundant  oj^portunity  for  tiie 
exercise  of  his  patience  and  charity. 

On  one  occasion  a  grou])  of  wretched  beings  was  seen  on 
til!'  farther  bank  of  tlie  St.  Lawrence,  like  wild  animals 
driven  by  famine  to  the  borders  of  the  settlers'  clearing'. 
Tin- river  was  full  of  driftijig  ice;  none  could  erttss  without 
risk  of  lilV.  Tlu^  Indians  in  tlieir  desjieration  made  tbe  at 
/I'Uipt;  and  midway  their  canoes  were  ground  to  atoir.s 
anionu'  the  tossing  masses.  Agile  as  wild-cats,  tlsey  all 
]e;i))('d  u]»on  a  liuge  raft  of  ice,  the  S(pia\vs  cai'rying  tlieir 
children  on  their  sb.ould.'r:>  a  feat  at  which  Cham]ilain  mar- 
veled when  he  saw  their  starved  and  emaciat'Hl  ccmdition. 
Here  they  began  a  v.ail  of  despair;  Avhen  ba])pi]y  the  pres- 
sure of  other  masses  ltiru->t  the  sheet  of  ice  against  the 
nortbi'i'ii  ^.liore.  Tjnndini:'.  they  soon  made  their  appearance 
ut  the  fort,  worn  to  skeletons  and  l;orrible  to  look  upon. 


- 

1 

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1 

' 

i 

1 

1 

f 

/ 

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t 

rf'  ■ 

M 

■ 

'**•     >.;    -  =• 


nil 


FAMISHED    INDIANS   SEEKING    FOOD   AT  •QUEBEC. 


SAMUEL  DE  CUAMPLAIN. 


345 


Tho  French  p;ave  them  food,  which  they  devoured  with  a 
frenzied  avidity,  and,  unappeased,  fell  upon  a  dead  do<]^  left 
on  the  Hiiow  by  Ohamplain  for  two  months  past  as  a  bait 
for  foxes.  Thev  broke  this  carrion  into  frau'iuenls,  thawed 
and  devoured  it,  to  the  disgust  of  the  spectators,  who  vainly 
tried  to  prevent  them.' 

At  length,  the  ice  drifted  down  the  river,  and  the  sun  of 

Mav  chased  the  snow  from  hill   and   vallev.     The   hardy 

Cliamplain  and  but  eight  of  his  men  survived  the  winter. 

The  other  twenty  had  succumbed  to  the   grim   light  with 

scurvy,  and   taken  their  solemn  way  to   the   silent   tomb. 

The  UiiLie  French  colony  had,  indeed,  come  to  sit  down  on 

the  banks  of  the  mighty  St.  Lawrence ;  but  ere  it  became 

lirmly  Piiached  to  the  soil,  it  was  condemned  to  be  shaken 

by  storins,  to  be  scourged  by  disease,  to  be  tormented  by  the 

Iroquois,  and  to  be  attacked  by  its  neighbors  of  New  England. 

l"OJ?a  long  time  it  was  really  on  the  point  of  perishing  ;  but, 

aidoJ  by  Providence,  it  gradually  took  firm  root,  and  lin- 

ished  by  becoming  naturalized  under  the  rigorous  sky  of 

Canada.' 

The  summer  came,  and  with  it  fresh  supplies  from  France. 
Champlain  resolved  at  once  to  begin  his  long-meditated  ex- 
plorations, by  which,  like  La  Salle  seventy  years  later,  he 
had  good  hope  of  finding  a  way  to  China.  But  tliere  was  a 
lion  in  the  path.  The  Indian  tribes,  Avar-hawks  of  the 
wilderness,  to  whom  peace  was  unknown,  infested  v/ith  their 
scalping  parties  the  streams  and  pathways  of  t1ie  forest, 
increasing  ten-fold  its  inseparable  risks.  To  danger  the 
Founder  of  Canada  was  more  than  indifferent,  but  he  pru- 
dently sought  to  make  friends  of  the  red  men  who  roamed 
the  vast  wilderness  that  stretched  along  the  north  side  of 
the  St.  Lawrence. 

At  that  time,  two  great  Indian  families — the  Ilnrons  and 
Algonquins — ranged  the  woods  of  Canada  and  claimed  pos- 
Kpssiou  of  its  soil.  The  Algonquin  territory  may  be  said  to 
have  exf(mded  from  Queliec  along  to  the  headwatei's  of  the 
Ottawa  river ;  while  the  Huron  country  lay  south  of  (leor- 


'  w 


i  S  I.I.       1 


'  rarlvinan. 


'  Fcrland. 


•-; 


t 


340 


SAMUEL  DE  ClIAMri.ATN 


eiaii  Hay,  whliiu  cuiiiparalivcly  narrow  limit.^  Tlic  Hiivons 
and  Ali^onquin.s  \v('ie  allies  in  a  deadly  struggle  with  tlio 
Iroquois,  or  Five  iSations.  These  occupied  the  central  pait 
of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  were  famous  warriors,  cif 
hardy  mould  and  licrce  disposition. 

The  hour  U)i'  aclion  on  the  part  of  Chanipilain  soon  ar- 
rived. An  Algonquin  chief  IVom  the  wild  banks  of  tlie  Ot- 
tawa caiiui  to  Quebec,  and  begged  the  commander  to  aid  liim 
against  liis  enemies,  the  Iroquois.  Champhiin  consented, 
and  Ihrew  liis  power  on  the  sidti  of  his  red  neighbors.  War 
and  exi)loration  were  thus  destined  to  go  hand  in  luind. 

Early  in  the  summer  of  IGUO,  a  war  party  in  higlr  glee  niiglit 
be  seen  paddling  up  the  St.  Lawrence,  from  Queljec  towards 
some  distant  point.  It  was  a  band  of  Huron  ai)tl  Algonquin 
warriors,  and  Champlain  was  in  company.  They  were  on 
their  way  to  attack  the  Mohawks.  Let  us  follow  them: 
On  coming  to  the  Richelieu,'  they  turned,  pursued  their 
course  up  its  channel,  and  entered  the  beautiful  lake  which 
to-day  bears  the  name  or  Champlain.  He  was  the  first 
white  man  who  gazed  on  its  crystal  bosom.' 

A  review  of  their  forces  showed  that  they  mustered 
twenty-four  canoes  and  sixty  warriors.  To  these  may  be 
added  Champlain  and  his  two  Frenchmen,  well  armed. 

The  canoes  shot  along  the  waters  of  the  lake,  and,  when 
not  far  from  the  historic  site  of  Crown  Point,  the  allies  fell 
in  Avitli  a  party  of  their  enemies.  The  mingled  war-cries 
were  echoed  by  the  neighboring  hills  and  mountains.  Even- 
ing was  casting  its  shade  over  land  and  water.  The  Iro- 
cpiois  landed,  and  spent  the  night  inactive  preparations,  but 
the  TTnrnns  and  Algonquins  remained  on  the  lake,  their  ca- 
noes being  made  fast  together.  Both  parties  had  agreed 
.that  the  light  should  be  deferred  till  daybreak. 

It  was  the  oOth  of  July.     As  day  approached,  Champlain 


>  The  Ricliclieii  rivor  i-^  tlip  outlet  at  Lnkc  Champlain.  It  falls  into  the  St.  Lawrence  at  tho 
town  of  Soi-i'l,  D  iiiili'-^  Iiciow  Montreal.    It  is  about  80  miles  In  length. 

'  Lnkn  fh.nniilain  lii's  hetween  New  York  and  Vi'imont  and  extends  from  Whitehall  In  thii 
former  Slate  to  St.  John"-^  in  Canada.  Jt  is  fJ!  miles  lonj:.  and  varic.  in  lireadlli  from  40  roc!:'  lo 
V,  miles.  It  contains  many  isianils  and  is  navignhlo  thrnu-liout  Us  whole  extent.  Many  an  hii- 
torie  Bceno  liei  al.j:;j  its  hhoKi.— Amerkwi  Cyilopitdin. 


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SAMUEL  DE  CIIAMPLAIS. 


347 


iiiid  his  two  followery  put  on  the  liglit  armor  of  the  time. 
Cluimpkiin  wore  the  doublet  aud  long  hose  then  in  vogue. 
Over  the  doublet  he  buckled  on  a  breaytplate,  and  probably 
a  ])ack-piece,  while  his  thighs  were  protected  by  cuifsses  of 
steel,  and  his  head  by  a  plumed  c.  sque.  Across  his  shoul- 
der hung  the  strap  of  his  bandoleer,  or  ammunition-box ; 
at  his  side  was  his  sword,  and  in  his  hand,  his  arquebuse,' 
which  he  had  loaded  with  lour  balls.  Such  was  the  equip- 
ment of  this  an(!ient  Indian  tighter,  whose  exploits  date 
(dev(?n  years  before  the  landing  of  the  Puritans  at  Ply- 
mouth, and  sixty-six  years  before  King  Philip  s  War.' 

At  the  iirst  rays  of  the  morning  sun,  the  Hurons  and 
Algonquins  landed,  taking  care  to  conceal  Champlain  and 
his  two  loUowers  in  the  mklst  of  their  ranks.  On  the  other 
side,  about  two  hundred  Iroquois  advanced  from  their  rude 
barricades.  They  were  bold,  fierce-looking  warriors,  and, 
stepped  to  the  battle  ground  with  much  order  and  steadi- 
ness. At  their  head  were  three  chiefs,  whose  long  plumes 
made  them  conspicuous. 

The  contending  hosts  were  soon  face  io  face.  The  allies 
now  opened  their  ranks,  and  loudly  called  on  their  champion 
to  advance.  Clmmplain  came  to  the  front,  and  only  halted 
about  thirty  stops  from  the  Iroquois.  lie  appeared  like  a 
warlike  ap[)ariti(jn  in  their  path,  iind  they  stood  staring  in 
mute  nstonishment  at  the  odd.  clothing  and  calm,  dauntless 
hearing  of  the  stranger. 

But  after  a  moment's  hesitation,  however,  they  prepared 
to  attack  the  allies.  Champlain  quickly  raised  his  gun  to 
his  shoulder,  and  took  a  Avell-directed  aim.  Two  of  the 
Iroquois  chiefs  dropped  dead,  and  one  of  the  warriors  was 
mortally  wounded.  Then  arose  a  wild  yell  such  as  would 
luive  drowned  a  tliunder-clap,  iind  the  air  was  thick  with 
:n'rows.  Suddenly  the  two  Frenchmen  came  to  the  front, 
aud  another  deadly  discliai'ge  of  lire-arms  did  its  work,  'i'he 
Iroquois  broke  and  lied  in  terror,  and  the  victory  was  com- 


'  Tlio  tirfiiicliii>'('  "ax'i  inntrh.ni";  or  flrcMoik  somi'wliiii  like  llie  nwdcra  tarbini',  xivX  from  lu 
tliortiii'si  not  illsuUcil for  use  m  lUc  toicsi,— 7'u/Av/iu«. 

"  rarknmn. 


348 


SAMUEL  DE  CHAMPLAll.. 


plete.  The  savage  joy  of  the  Hurons  and  Algonquins  at 
the  speedy  aud  triumphant  issue  of  the  conflict  was  inde- 
scribable.' 

The  victors  made'a  prompt  retreat  from  the  scene  of  their 
triumph.  Tiiree  or  four  days  brought  them  to  the  mouth 
of  the  Richelieu.  Here  they  separated  ;  the  Hurons  and 
Algonquins  made  for  the  Ottawa — their  homeward  route — 
each  with  a  share  of  prisoners  for  future  torments.  At 
parting  they  invited  Champlain  to  visit  their  towns,  and 
aid  them  again  in  their  wars — an  invitation  which  this  pala- 
din of  the  woods  failed  not  to  accept.* 

«ThiiB  (lid  New  France  rush  Into  collision  with  the  redoubted  warriors  of  the  Five  Nations. 
Hcr)>  wiiH  the  liosliiiiInK— in  some  ntoasurc,  doubtloss,  the  cnuse  of  a  loiif;  suite  of  murdfrous 
con/tu.'ts,  boarliii;  Imvocand  llamo  to  Roiieratlona  yet  unborn.  Champlain  had  luvndod  the 
tlK<-r'9  dim.  and  now,  in  smothered  tury,  the  i)Atient  savatfo  would  He,  biding  bis  day  or 
blood.— /'ur<:n'j<M. 

a  rarkJBMt. 


CHAPTER  IL. 

irOW  A  PATHWAY  TO  CHINA  WAS  NOT  FOUinj, 

Chcuqdaii's  visit  to  France— Returns  to  Canada — T7ie 
attack  on  an  Iroquois  fortress— Meets  two  hundred  In- 
dians—Death of  Henry  IV.— Marriage  of  Champlain 
— His  iinceasing  toil  and  act'vity—TJie  imposter  Du 
Vignon^  and  the  voyage  up  the  Ottawa— Coming  down 
the  stream— Algonquin  fear  of  the  Iroquois— At  the 
Chaudicre  Falls — In  France. 

Chnmplain  OH  his  return  to  Quebec,  resolved  to  proceed 
to  France,  in  order  to  render  an  account  to  De  ^Monts  of  the 
work  which  lie  had  accomplished  in  the  wilderness  of  Can- 
ada, during  the  last  twelve  months.  He  sailed  in  the  fall  of 
1600,  in  company  with  Pontgrave,  leaving  as  commandant 
in  his  absence  Captain  Peter  Chauvin. 

The  hero  of  the  Canadian  forests  was  favorably  received 
by  TTenry  IV.,  to  whom  he  jnesented  a  belt  wrought  in  em- 
broidery of  the  dyed  quills  of  the  porcupine.  The  lively 
King  listened  with  pleasure  as  Champlain  r*>counted  his  ex- 
peditions and  adventures  by  lake,  and  land,  and  rushing 
river.  The  stay  in  France,  however,  was  biief.  Early  in 
the  sp'  ing  of  1010,  he  again  put  to  sea,  and  soon  reached 
Quebec.     Re  found  his  men  in  excellent  health  and  spirits. 

Nor  did  Champlain  take  a  moment's  rest.  He  longed 
to  explore  the  unknown  solitudes.  He  was  met  by  Indian 
deputations.  He  was  earnestly  sought,  as  a  valuable 
ally.  He  was  both  to  light  and  to  explore,  but,  to  usf 
his  own  words,  he  had  "two  strings  to  his  bow."  The  Al- 
gonqulns  piomised  to  guide  him  to  Hudson  Hay,  theHurons 
said  they  would  show  him  the  Great  Liik'^s,  with  the  mines 
of  copper  on  their  shores;  and  to  each  the  same  reward  was 

849 


II 


■U   ■ 

3i 


SCO 


S'AMUKL  DK  CHAM  PLAIN 


promised-  to  join  fliem  against  tUe  roTtiinon  roe,  thp  deadly 
Iroqiuis.  Tlie  rendezvous  was  at  tbe  mouth  of  tlie  Kiver 
Riclielieu,  and  thither  Chainplaiu  now  repaired.' 

It  was  past  the  middle  oC  ,fune  when  the  ever  active  ex- 
ploi'nr  readied  the  point  of  destination.  He  was  acconijjanied 
by  four  of  his  men,  and,  as  for  Ali^onquin  wurriois,  tliey  were 
iii  abundance.  Suddenly  a  war-cry  was  raised.  A  y:\y\\  of 
Al.i^'oncpiins  had  discovered  about  one  hundrt'd  lioquois 
sti'ongly  entrenched  in  the  woods  at  some  distanc  e  away. 
The  (-neniy  liad  formed  Ji  circular  bairicade  by  njcans  of 
lar<i;e  fallen  trees,  with  the  branches  crossed  and  intei'liued. 
Willi  wild  yells  the  savages  rushed  to  attack  tills  wooden 
fortress. 

(Miami)lain  and  his  men  were  left  beliind  in  tlie  race  ;  and 
without  wait inj^'  for  them,  the  Al.uoiiquin  warrioi's  chai'<red 
the  Iroquois  entrenchnu^nts.  Th<\v  were  very  warmly  re- 
ceived, and  were  far  from  liaving-  made  any  prog'iv.^s  wlien 
Champlain  ajtpeared  on  the  scene.  A  shout  now  ai'ose  that 
resonnded  for  miles  thron<ih  the  unbroken  foiests.  and  the 
attack  was  renewed  with  despei'jifion  as  the  allies  surrounded 
the  enclosure.  The  Iroquois  l'ou<iht  like  ti;j,ers ;  bur  af:'am 
the  ft'un  did  its  work  Even  the  tierce  Moliawk  quailed  be- 
fore the  dt>si!ii(  five  fire  of  tlie  white  man;  tli(i  bjii'i'icades 
were  scaled,  and  tlie  awful  work  of  carna^tjesoon  tei-minated. 
"By  the  ;;':'ace  of  (lod,"  wrote  Champlain,  "behold  tho  bat- 
tle wohI"  But  he  did  not  escape  unharuied.  A  stone- 
headed  arrow  had  split  his  ear,  and  toin  its  way  through 
the  mnscles  of  his  neck. 

The  next  day  n  i<'inforcement  of  two  hundred  TTnrons 
and  Alfjonquins  arrived,  under  the  command  of  a  fauions 
chief  Cidled  lioquet.  In  harsh,  guttural  tones  the  newcomers 
loudly  e.\p'es;ed  regret  at  not  being  in  time  to  take  part  in 
the  recent  light  with  the  Mohawks  ;  but  lln'iijoy  was  un- 
bounded at  seeing  for  the  lii'st  time  the  Kuiojicans  of  whom 
they  had  heard  ;iO  much.  The  rude  son  of  th(^  forest  viewed 
the  haidy.  courteous,  and  .tdventuroussonof  Fiance,  wiihhis 
strange  dress,  strange  appearance  and  stranger  weapons,  as  a 

■  Purkman. 


SM  MUhl.  DE  CHAMPLAIX 


3:>i 


Avonderful  human (nirios'ty-in shnrt-,a  moslniystei-ioiisboiiiL,'. 

Before  bidding  adieu  to  bis  dujsky  friends,  Chaniplaiii  re- 
quested the  rhief,  Iioquet,  to  take  '.vith  him  a  young  l-'ieiich- 
luau,  who  was  to  visit  the  lakes,  rivers,  and  i.Jnes,  and  at 
the  same  time,  learn  the  Indian  tongue.  The  chief  not  only 
consented,  but  promised  to  treat  the  young  man  as  his 
own  son;  and,  in  return,  Champlain  took  with  Jiiiii  and 
carried  to  Paris  a  young  Huron,  to  wliom  he  gave  the  name 
of  Savignon. 

When  Champlain  readied  Quebec,  he  heard   sad  news 
Henry  TV.  had  fallen  under  the  knife  of  an  assassin.     The 
royal  friend  who  had  smiled  on  all  his  enterprises  was  no 
more.     lie  at  once  hastened  to  France  in  the  interest  of  the 
colony. 

At  this  time  there  lived  at  Paris  a  gifted  and  beautiful 
girl.  Mile.  Helena  ]ioiill«'\  daughter  of  Ni(;lio]as  Boulle, 
Secretary  of  the  Royal  Chambtu*.  Slie  was  but  twelve  years 
of  age,  and  was  destin*  d  to  be  Champiaiti's  bride.  The  mar- 
riage took  place  early  in  1011.  The  hardy  veteran  of  sea  and 
land  not  only  loved  his  child-wife,  but  became  her  in- 
structor, and  had  the  glory  of  making  her  a  i)ious  jmd  sin- 
cere Catholic.  She  had  l*fen  secretly  brought  up  a  l*ro'(^st- 
ant--a  fact  unknown  to  him  for  some  time.  Cod  blessed 
tliH-m,  and  to  the  end  they  were  most  happy  companions. 
On  account  of  her  extreme  youth,  ho^vever,  Champlain  left 
i)is  wile  to  reside  at  Paris,  near  her  parents;  and  ten  years 
passed  away  before  she  followed  him  to  Canada  to  share  his 
toils  and  !iis  hardships. 

In  May,  IGll,  Champlain  was  again  in  Qne})ec,  passed  up 
the  river,  nnd.with.in  the  present  limits  of  the  city  of  ^^on- 
treiil,  cleared  a  i)iece  of  ground  as  a  site  for  a  trading  post. 
He  called  it  i*lace  iloyalt\'  He  had  manj'  a  long  conference 
with  the  Indians,  and  on  one  occasion  he  made  the  experi- 
ment of  shooting  Si.  Louis  Rapids  in  a  birch-baric  canoe.' 


'  The  ho'ipital  of  the  Gray  Nuns  was  hiii'.t  on  a  portion  of  Ohaniplaln':'  P.'aro  Tloyalc.— 
/'iikman. 

'  TIic  first  wli'lc  man  to  dcpoond  Ihc  rapMx  of  St.  Louis  va.s  a  j-oiuh  who  had  voliinloon  d  tiu-  pro- 
'.iiiii!'  KiiiMiiu'r.  to  CO  with  the  lIuronH  to  tholr  country  and  winter  union;;  thorn  .1  propn^.il  10 
wii.rh  ("hunipl:iin  KhiiUy  aisefutcd.    The  Bvcond  was  ayoaaginan  named  LoHis,  who  had  nr^iw  up 


'; 


i 


352 


SAMUEL  DK  CUAMPLAIN. 


liM! 


A  few  TTioTifhs  later  we  lind  blm  in  France.  In  spite  of 
all  his  eil'orts,  the  little  colony  in  Canada  was  fading  away. 
He  alone  was  its  life  and  soul.'  But  something  more  was 
necessary.  Another  was  wanted.  A  powerful  protector 
must  be  had — a  great  name  to  shield  the  enterprise  from 
assaults  and  intrigues  of  jealous  rival  interests.  On  reach- 
ing Paris,  he  addiessed  himself  to  a  prince  of  the  blood, 
Charles  of  Bourbon,  Comte  de  Soissons ;  described  New 
France,  its  resources,  its  boundless  extent,  urged  the  need 
of  unfolding  a  mystery  pregnant  perhaps  with  results  of 
the  deepest  moment,  laid  before  him  maps  and  memoirs, 
and  begged  him  to  become  the  guardian  of  this  new  world. 
The  royal  consent  being  obtained,  the  Comte  de  Soissons 
became  Lieutenant-General  for  the  King  in  New  France, 
with  vice-regal  powers.  These,  in  turn,  he  conferred  upon 
Champlain,  making  him  hia  lieutenant,  with  full  control 
over  the  trade  in  furs  at  and  above  Quebec,  and  with  power 
to  associate  with  himself  such  persons  as  he  saw  lit,  to  aid 
in  the  exploration  and  settlement  of  the  country.' 

Again  Champlain  is  on  the  Atlantic,  with  the  prow  of  his 
vessel  turned  toAvards  the  New  World.  He  arrived  at  Que- 
bec in  May,  1013,  after  an  absence  of  nearly  two  years,  dur- 
ing which  he  had  been  unceasirgly  occupied  in  furthering 
the  interests  of  the  little  colony.  He  found  all  in  excellent 
health,  a  proof  of  the  salubrity  of  the  climate. 

It  had  long  been  the  desire  of  Champlain  to  penetrate  the 
great  country  of  the  west.  One  of  his  men,  named  Nicholas 
du  Vignon,  had  passed  a  winter  with  the  Algorquins  of  the 
Ottawa,  lie  came  back  with  a  tale  of  wonders;  for,  writes 
Champlain,  "he  was  the  most  impudent  liar  that  has  been 
seen  for  many  a  day." 

He  averred  that  at  the  sources  of  the  Ottawa  he  had 
found  a  great  lake,  that  he  had  crossed  it,  and  discovered  a 
river  fion'ing  northwards;  that  he  had  descended  this  river, 

with  Indians  (o  an  iplanrt  in  the  rapids,  to  shoot  herons,  and  was  drowned  in  the  deeccnL    The 
third  WHS  Champla.n  himself  —Parkinan. 

■  S'ncc  ihc  ttraili  of  Henry  IV.,  Oc  Honta  had  loit  all  the  inflaence  which  ho  had  before  pos- 
aesBcd  at  Conrt.— ylW«  Ferland. 

■  Parkmon. 


SAMUEL  DB  CUAMPLAIN. 


3fi» 


and  reached  the  shores  of  the  sea;  that  here  he  had  seen 
the  wreck  of  au  English  ship,  whose  crew,  escaping  to  land, 
had  been  killed  by  the  Indians:  and  that  this  sea  was  dis- 
tant from  Montreal  only  seventeen  days  by  canoe.  The 
clearness,  consistency,  and  apparent  simplicity  of  his  story 
deceived  Chatnplain.' 

Anxious  to  set  out  on  the  path  of  discovery,  the  illustri- 
ous explorer  left  the  isle  of  St.  Helena'  in  May,  with  two 
canoes,  four  Frenchmen,  and  an  Indian.  They  passed  over 
Lake  St.  Louis,  and  entered  the  Ottawa  river.  Champlain 
recounts  his  voyage  with  such  clearness  that,  among  the 
many  details  given,  it  is  still  quite  easy  to  recognize  the 
spots  which  he  vi  ''ed.  His  description  of  the  picturesque 
site  of  the  present  city  of  Ottawa  is,  indeed,  most  accurate. 

Pushing  along  his  rugged  way,  he  came  to  the  Isle  des 
Allumettes,  the  principal  seat  of  the  Algonquin  nation. 
Nothing  can  picture  the  astonishment  of  the  dusky  horde, 
when  they  saw  Champlain — the  ''great  French  war-captain." 
Warriors  stood  in  amazement,  squaws  stared,  and  naked 
children  ran  away.  A  chief  offered  the  calumet,  exclaiming: 
''These  white  men  must  have  fallen  from  the  clouds.  How 
else  could  they  have  reached  us  through  the  woods  and 
rapids  which  even  we  lind  it  hard  to  pass?  The  French 
chief  can  do  anything.  All  that  we  have  heard  of  him 
must  be  true." 

After  a  repast  of  fish,  Champlain  hastened  to  pay  his  re- 
spects to  Tessouat,  one  of  the  most  powerful  of  the  Algon- 
quin chiefs.  Tessouat  was  astonished  and  overjoyed.  lie 
gave  expressions  to  his  feelings  of  unusual  delight  by  mak- 
mg  a  solemn  feast.  All  the  neighboring  chiefs  were  invited, 
and  the  cabin  was  well  swept. 

The  singular  ceremony  and  what  followed  it  cannot  be 
(letter  described  than  in  the  picturesque  language  of  Park- 
nan.  Champlain  and  his  Frenchmen,  Avrites  the  prince  of 
American  word-painters,  were  seated  on  skins  in  the  place 

'  Pnrkman. 

'  A  little  island  In  the  St.  Lawrence,  near  the  city  of  Montreal.    Cbamplain  named  it  in  honor 
uf  Ilia  wife. 


XA 


SAMUKI.  DK  VUAMPLAIN. 


-r--:- 


of  honor,  and  the  naked  guests  appeared  in  quick  sucoes- 
sion,  each  with  liis  wooden  dish  and  spoon,  and  each  ejacu- 
lating his  guttural  sahite  as  he  stooped  at  the  low  door.  The 
spacious  cabin  was  full.  The  congregated  wisdom  and 
])rowess  of  the  nation  sat  expectant  on  the  bare  earth, 
Kach  long  bare  arm  thrust  forth  its  dish  in  turn,  as  the  host 
served  out  tlie  banquet,  in  which,  as  courtesj' enjoined,  he 
himself  was  to  have  no  share. 

First,  a  mess  of  i)ouiKlrd  maize,  wherein  were  boiled,  with- 
out salt,  morsels  of  tisli  and  dark  scraps  of  meat;  then,  lish 
and  fiesh  bioiled  on  the  embers,  with  a  kettle  of  cold  water 
frcMu  tlie  river.  Cliamplain,  in  his  wise  distrust  of  Ottawa 
cookery,  conlined  himself  to  tlie  simpler  and  less  doubtful 
viands.  A  few  minutes,  and  all  alike  had  vanished.  The 
kettles  were  empty. 

Then  ])ipes  were  filled  and  touched  with  fire  broufrht  in 
by  the  dute(jus  squaws,  while  tlie  young  men  who  had  stood 
thronged  about  the  entrance  now  modestly  withdrew,  and 
the  door  was  closed  for  counsel.  I'''irst,  the  ])ipes  were 
])ass('(l  to  ("Iianiplain.  Then,  for  full  halfanliour,  the  as- 
sembly smok(>d  in  silence.  At  length,  when  the  littingtinie 
was  come,  he  addressed  them  in  a  sjxH'ch  in  which  he  de- 
clared that,  moved  by  affection,  he  visited  their  country  to 
see  its  richness  and  its  b(\iuty,  and  to  aid  them  in  tlieii- 
wars;  and  he  now  begged  tli(>m  to  furnish  him  Avitli  four 
canoes  and  eight  men  to  convey  him  to  the  counti-y  of  tlie 
Xipissings.  a  tribe  dwelling  northward  on  the  lake  ;\hicli 
bears  their  name. 

His  audience  looked  grave,  for  they  were  but  cold  and 
jealous  fi'iends  of  the  Nipissings.  For  ?  time  tliey  dis- 
coursed in  murmuring  tones  among  themselves,  all  smok- 
ing meanwhile  with  redoubled  vigor.  Then  Tessonat,  chief 
of  these  forest  republicans,  rose  and  spoke  in  behalf  of  all: 

"We  always  knew  you  for  our  best  friend  aiuoiiu'  ii.;' 
Freiiclimen.  We  love  you  lik(?  our  own  childien.  Fiut  why 
did  you  break  your  womI  wi;h  us  last  year,  when  we  all  went 
down  to  meet  you  at  Montreal,  to  give  you  presents  and  go 
with  vou  toward     You  were  not  there,  but  ofluM-  French- 


SA)rV!-:L  DE  (IfA.Vrf.ALV. 


nnfi 


men  were  llicrc,  avIio  almsfd  us.  We  will  never  j?o  .i<:;!iiii. 
A^  for  the  four  canoes,  you  sliall  liav«'  fht'iii.  if  you  insist, 
upon  it;  l)ul  it  grieves  us  to  think  of  llie  liaidshipsyuu  must 
cmlure.  Till!  Aipissin<j;s  have  weak  hearts — they  are  tjood 
for  nothing"  in  war,  but  they  kill  us  with  charms,  and  they 
pi)is(ju  us.  Therefore  we  are  on  bud  tei'ins  with  Iheui.  They 
will  kill  you,  too."' 

Su(;h  was  the  ])ith  of  Tessouat's  discourse,  and  at  each 
."lauso  the  coucluve  responded  in  unison  with  an  ai)proving 
grunt. 

(■hani])l;iin  uri^ed  his  petiti(jn;  .sou,L,d!t  to  relievo  their 
teiidtM'  scruples  in  his  brhalf;  assui'cd  them  that  he  Atas 
clririu-proof,  and  that  he  feared  no  hardshi])s.  At  lenuth 
lie  >i;aiue'l  his  i)alMt.  The  canoes  and  the  men  were  promise*!, 
and  seeint?  himself,  as  he  thought,  on  the  highway  to  liis 
phantom  Northern  Se:i,  he  left  his  entertainers  to  tht^r 
])ipMs.  and  with  a  iiii,hl  heart  issued  from  tln^  close  and  smoky 
(leii  to  ])reathe  the  fresh  air  of  tin'  aftei'uoon.  lie  visited 
lip'  Indian  lields,  with  tli<'ir  youn.i^ci'ops  of  pumplvins.  beans, 
■uu\  l-'icnch  pe;i.s— the  last  a  novelty  obtained  from  the  trad- 
eis.  Here,  Thomas,  the  inleri)reter,  soon  joined  him  with  a 
coiinleuaiice  of  ill  news.  In  the  absence  of  (Jhamplain.  the 
assenil)ly  had  reconsidered  their  assent.  The  caiioe;i  were 
denied. 

With  a  troubled  mind  he  hastened  again  to  the  hall  of 
council,  and  addr"ssed  the  naked  senate  in  terms  better 
siiiteil  to  his  exigencies  than  (o  their  di.ijnity : 

"  I  thought  you  were  men.  I  thounht  you  would  liold 
fast  to  your  word;  but  I  ilnd  you  children,  without  truth. 
You  call  yourselves  my  friends,  yet  you  break  faith  with 
nie.  Still,  I  would  not  incommode  you;  and  if  you  cannot 
f,nve  m<!  four  canoes,  two  will  serve." 

Till!  burden  of  the  reply  was,  rapids,  rocks,  cataracts,  and 
the  wi(;kedness  of  the  XipissiuLrs. 

'•This  yoiuiii;  man,"'  r(\joined  Champlain,  ])ointin,i;  to 
Vi^iiuii,  who  sat  by  his  side,  "has  been  to  their  country, 
and  did  not  lind  the  road  or  the  people  so  bad  as  you  have 
said." 


3CC 


SAM  UK  f J  T)R  GUAMPLAIN. 


"Nicholas,"  demanded  Tossonat,  "did  yov  say  that  you 
had  been  to  tlie  Nipissingsi" 

The  impostor  sat  mute  for  a  time,  then  replied : 

"Yes,  I  have  been  there." 

Hereupon  an  outcry  broke  foi'th  from  the  assembly,  and 
their  small,  deep-set  eyes  were  turned  on  him  askance,  "as 
if.*' says  Cbamplain,  "they  would  have  torn  and  eaten  him.'- 

"You  are  a  liar,"  returned  the  unceremonious  Iiost; 
"you  know  very  well  that  you  slept  here  among  my  chil- 
dren every  night  and  rose  again  every  morning;  and  if  you 
ever  went  where  you  pretend  to  have  gone,  it  musr,  have 
been  when  you  were  asleep.  How  can  you  be  so  impudent 
as  to  lie  to  your  chief,  and  so  wicked  as  to  risk  his  life  among 
so  many  dangers?  He  ought  to  kill  you  with  tortures  worse 
than  those  with  which  we  kill  our  enemies." 

Chaniplain  urged  him  to  reply,  but  he  sat  motionless 
and  dniub.  Then  he  led  him  from  the  cabin  and  con- 
jured him  to  declare  if,  in  truth,  he  had  seen  this  Sea  of 
the  North.  Vignon,  with  oaths,  affirmed  that  all  he  had  said 
was  tru(\  Returning  to  tlie  council,  Cbamplain  repeated  his 
story — how  he  had  seen  the  sea,  the  wreck  of  an  English 
ship,  eight  English  scalps,  and  an  English  boy,  prisoner 
among  the  Indians. 

At  this,  an  outcry  rose,  louder  than  before.  "You  are  a 
liar ! "  "  Wh ich  way  did  yo ii  go  ? "  "  By  what  rivers  ? ' ' 
"  By  what  lakes?"     '  'Who  went  with  you?" 

Yignon  had  made  a  map  of  his  travels,  which  Chamjilain 
now  produced,  desiring  him  to  explain  it  to  his  questioners; 
but  his  assurance  had  failed  him,  and  he  could  not  utter  a 
word. 

Cbamplain  was  greatly  agitated.  His  hopes  and  his  heart 
were  in  the  enterprise;  his  reputation  was  in  a  measure  at 
stake ;  and  now,  when  he  thought  his  triumph  so  near,  he 
shrank  from  believing  himself  the  sport  of  an  impostor. 
The  council  broke  up;  the  Indians  displeased  and  moody  ; 
and  he,  (.n  his  part,  full  of  anxieties  and  doubts.  At 
length,  one  of  the  canoes  being  ready  for  departure,  the 
time  of  decision  came,  and  he  called  Vignon  before  him. 


BAMUEL  DB  CUAMPLAIN. 


809 


"If  you  havfe  deceived  me,  confess  it  D;.vv,aiad  lae  pasf 
sliiili  be  forgiven.  But  if  you  persi-*.  ^(W  will  be  dlucgfT-. 
ered,  and  then  you  shall  be  hangeu.  ' 

Vignon  pondered  for  a  moment;  then  fell  on  his  knees 
owned  his  treachery,  and  begged  for  mercy.  Champlaic 
r)roke  into  a  ra^^,  and,  unable,  as  Sad  says,  to  endure  the 
sight  of  him,  ordered  him  from  his  presence,  and  sent  th« 
interpreter  after  him  to  make  further  examination.  Vanity 
the  love  of  notoriety,  and  the  hope  of  reward,  seeja  to  huy\ 
been  his  inducements;  for  he  had,  in  truth,  spent  a  e;aiai 
winter  in  Tessouat's  cabin,  his  nearest  approach  ?  the 
Northern  Sea;  and  he  had  flattered  himself  that  he  imghi' 
escape  the  necessity  of  guiding  his  commander  t*?  this  pre 
tended  discovery. 

Tlie  Indian'^  were  some-^hat  earaltant.  **Wliy  di^.  70a 
not  listen  to  chiefs  and  warriors,  instead  of  beli-^;  ing  the 
lies  or  this  fellowP'  And  they  counseled  Champlain  to 
have  him  killed  at  once,  adding  that  they  would  save  t/iieiT 
friends  trouble  by  taking  that  office  upon  themselves/ 

Thus  vanished  the  dear  hopes  of  finding  a  way  to  C'liEa 
and  the  Indies.  Champlain,  however,  possessed  his  soul  ir 
patience,  and  turned  to  pursue  his  route  homewards,  adowp 
the  rapid  current  of  the  Ottawa.  He  was  accompanied  by  r 
part  of  Tessouat's  people,  who  were  bouTid  for  Montreal  for 
the  purpose  of  trading.  As  the  band  descended,  the  fleet  of 
canoes  grew  larger  and  larger.  When  about  ten  or  twelve 
leagues  below  the  Isle  des  AUumettes,  all  stopped  to  add  to 
their  stock  of  fresh  provisions.  Fish  was  in  abundance 
here.  But  towards  the  middle  of  the  night  the  dusky 
fishers  grew  alarmed.  It  was  suddenly  announced  that  four 
canoes  of  the  enemy  were  seen  at  a  distance.  Nor  was  the 
fact  improbable,  as  the  Iroquois  were  swift  and  mighty 
hunters,  skilled  alike  in  chasing  beast  and  man. 

Three  canoes  were  immediately  dispatched  to  reconnoitre, 
but  could  discover  nothing.  Still,  a  cloud  of  fear  hung 
over  the  voyagers,  and  while  the  warriors  slept  on  the 
g  ound,  the  squaws,  little  reassured,  remained  in  the  canoes. 


"  Pioneers  of  France  in  the  New  World.' 


ms 


SAMUEL  DE  CHAMPLAm. 


\\i"    4 


Just  before  daybreak,  one  of  tlie  Indian.^  'n  his  nK-coay 
Bliiinber  dreamed  that  they  were  attacked  by  the  Iroquois. 
He  jiiniixnl  u]),  yelling  lliat  he  was  killed,  and  sprang  for 
the  water.  His  frightened  companions,  hearing  his  slionts, 
also  k'ai)ed  up  in  terror,  and  sprang  into  the  river.  Tlie 
noise  alarmed  the  French,  who  were  sleeping  at  some  dis 
tance.  They  hastened  to  the  spot ;  but  what  was  their  sur. 
prise  on  seeing  the  Algonquins  tumbling  about  in  the  water, 
t5ome  up  to  their  necks,  and  shouting  without  any  apparerr 
cause.  The  scene  was  one  worthy  of  u  crowd  of  roaring, 
half-.lrowned  lunatics. 

Having  found  out  the  cause  of  the  uproar,  Champh.ln  re- 
established tranquillity  among  ihe  savages,  and  laughed  the 
tirror  pinic  away.  Sucli  was  the  fear  inspired  by  the  Iro- 
quois throughout  the  whole  country  that  ludii-rous  scenes 
of  this  kind  were  not  uncommon  among  the  Algonquin 
tribes. 

When  day  came  the  fleet  of  canoes  was  again  in  morion. 
At  the  Chaiidiere  Falls'  Champlain  was  jn-esent  at  a  cere 
niony  Avhich  the  Indians  never  omitted.  The  pas.sage  at 
this  i)()iut  became  doubly  dangerous.  The  waters  not  only 
plunged  down  with  violence,  but  it  was  a  favorite  spot  for 
Iroquois  ambuscades. 

Having  cairied  their  canoes  to  the  bottom  of  the  cataract, 
all  the  voyagers  assembled  They  stood  in  a  ciirle.  A 
wooden  plate  was  passed  around,  and  each  deposited  on  it  a 
small  piece  of  tobacco.  The  collection  made,  they  danced 
and  sang  aroiind  the  plate.  A  harangue  was  pronounced. 
Then  all  followed  to  see  the  tobacco  thrown  into  the  falls, 
and  this  olfering  to  the  guardian  Manitou  was  accompanied 
by  a  general  and  prolonged  shout.  To  pass  down  without 
makii'g  the  accustomed  gift  would  be  to  insult  the  Manitou 
and  call  forth  his  sure  vengeance! 

On  his  return  to  the  St.  Louis  Eapids,  Champlain  becamo 
couvinctMl   that   nothing  more   could   be   done   during  th.e 

'  The  <  liuuiliorc  V:\\\*  now  Hliiiui  iit  tlio  wc-tcrn  I'Xtn'mily  uf  lln'  city  of  (Itt.iwa,  llic  riipit.'il  <if 
tlii-  lioiiiiiiion  of  (';iimilii.  The  wmUtm  pinnae  forty  f(.\'t,  ami  luiitly  disappuur  by  mi  iiiulcrtrjuiid 
paKSiiije,  till'  outlet  of  wWiib  i*  BukiiBvvu. 


SAMUEL  DE  CHAMl'LAIK 


369 


coming  winter,  and  decided  to  proceed  to  France,  where  bis 
presence  would  prove  useful  in  i'urtheriiiu,'  intere.sts  of 
the  colony.  He  kept  his  word  with  Du  V'iguon.  left  the 
scoundrel  unpunished^  bade  farewell  to  the  Indians,  em- 
barked in  a  trading  vessel,  and  in  the  fall  of  IGlii  stood 
once  more  on  the  soil  of  la  belle  France.  Under  the  protec- 
tion of  the  Prince  of  Condo  he  labored  to  form  a  powerful 
trading  company  composed  of  the  merchants  of  ISt.  Malo 
and  Kouen.  Aft(>r  many  difficulties  his  scheme  was  crowned 
with  success,  and  the  company  was  duly  constituted  for- 
eleven  years,  with  the  approval  of  the  King  and  the  Prince 
of  Conde. 


II: 


i^™ 


iU^I 


:\ 


lit 

'"V 


I-    ! 


ac 


,y  ii 

'i. 


iii 


CHAPTER  IV 

Ai*^U6I0]M:.^I^  THE  WJWi^BNESS. 

WmmpvUtTo fts  a  'nmsioTtdiy—Theftr'iv  priests  in  Canaaa 
— Mass  at  Quebec— Beginning  o/  the  Canadian  hJs- 
eions—Fatlier  Bolheau— Father  ho  Caron—  Voyags  co 
the  Huron  country—  (Jhamfplaln  again  on  the  loar-path 
— The  Huron  NatiGU—The first  Masn  in  Upper  Canada 
—The  march  for  the  Izjnd  of  the  Iroquois— A  picture 
of  early  warfare — TJie  'idurn  to  Canada —  Wintering 
among  the  savages — State  of  affairs  at  Queb2c~Ot7ier 
important  everUs — Madame  de  Champlain  comes  to 
Quebec. 

"The  salvation  of  a  single  soul,"  writes  the  noble  Jham- 
plain,  "is  worth  more  than  the  conquest  of  an  empire,  and 
kings  should  seek  to  extend  their  dominions  in  countiies 
where  idolatry  reigns,  only  to  cause  their  submission  to 
Jesus  Christ."  And  he  adds,  that  he  undertook  his  Cana- 
dian toils  and  laboif^s  v;ith  patience,  in  order  "to  plant  in 
this  country  the  s  mdard  of  the  Cross,  and  to  teach  the 
knowledge  of  God  and  the  glory  of  His  Holy  Name,  desir- 
ing to  increase  charity  for  his  unfortunate  creatures." 

The  favorable  circumstances  of  the  colony  now  convinced 
Champlain  that  the  proper  time  had  arrived  to  invite  mis- 
sionaries to  visit  the  banks  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  reviving  and  sustaining  the  Faith  among  the  French 
and  of  preaching  the  Gospel  to  the  dusky  sons  of  the  for- 
est. He  would  fain  rescue  fiom  perdition  a  people  living, 
as  he  says,  "like  brute  beasts,  without  faith,  without  law, 
without  religion,  without  God." 

To  accomplish  such  a  sublime  enterprise,  he  "sought  out 
some  good  Religious,  who  would  have  zeal  and  affection  for 
360 


1^^ 


SAMUEL  1)K  CUAMPLAIX. 


361 


(ioX 


lol'V 


As  tliose  who  carnestlv  seek  tilwnys  liiul,  so 


('iKiniplaiu  did  not  look  in  vain  ior  apostolic  men.  Four 
Fniiielscan  Fathers  oJ'i'ivd  their  services,  but  as  they  •■wertt 
as  weak  in  resources  as  Chaniplain  himseli',"'  to  us(^  the 
words  of  Farkman,  "he  repaired  to  Paris,  then  tilled  with 
hishops,  cai'dinals,  suid  nobles  assembled  I'or  tlu;  Siates- 
(Jcneral.  llesp')ndin^-  to  his  appeal,  tht-y  subscrlbr-d  lilleen 
liundred  livres  for  the  purchase  of  vestments,  candles,  and 
ornaments  I'or  altars.  The  Pope  authorized  the  niission,  and 
the  Ivinu;  gave  letters-patent:  in  its  favor, 


The  Tour  reli,<j,lous  pion: 


irs  named  for  the  Canadian  nns- 

h.L 


sioa  wei-e  Fatliei's  D.'uis  .la met,  John  Doibeau,  Joseph  .Le 
Fa.ion,  and  F>rother  Pacific  du  Plessis— men  "who  were 
h;)iiie'  away  by  holy  affection,  who  ])urned  to  make  this  voy- 
nLi-e,  if  so,  by  (ioJ's  grace,  they  might  gain  some  fruit,  and 
might  phint  in  these  lands  the  stamhird  of  Jesus  Christ, 
v.ith  lixed  resolution  to  live,  and  if  need  were,  to  die,  for 
Ills  Sacred  Name."' 

The  necessary  preparations  for  depariuro  being  made, 
''each  of  us."  to  quote  ont-e  more  the  words  of  Chami)lain, 
••examined  himself  and  jturginl  himself  of  his  sins  ))y  peni- 
tence and  I'onfession,  so  as  best  to  say  adieu  to  France.and 
to  place  himself  in  :i  state  of  grace,  that  ench  might  be  con- 
scientiously free  to  give  himself  up  in  the  keeping  of  God, 
and  to  the  billows  of  a  vast  and  perilous  sea." 

Champlain  ordered  the  sails  to  be  sTiread.  and  the  good 
ship  stood  out  to  sea,  leaving  Tlonlieur  in  April,  10 lo. 
Qllel)e(^  was  I'euched  towards  the  end  of  yiny.  A  little  con- 
vent and  chapel  were  erected  for  the  nussionaries,  and  on  the 
'J')[\\  of  June,  Father  Diilbi^au  had  th<'ha])iMness  of  celebrating 
the  first  Mass  ever  said  in  the  rude  rock  built  capital  of  the 
little  colony.' 


'  rtmmplain. 


■'Till-  Kriiii'wriiiix,  \vriti>-<  P;\rUm;in.  m  uln  ini  n!(iir,  nnrt' rplchnitcil  ttio  /Ir.-/  Mn*"  cvrr  siiid  in 


Cllliul;!         I)l)ll)C;l!l  was    tllC    OlllcillillU'    IH'il'^t;    Hll    \l'W    TrM 


(•W'lt 


M'c  l.i 


'  (vinli  iiini'tul 


li.Mi,  mill  (MiiMon  from  Ilic  ship  ;iml  Ctw  i.uiiiiarl"  liillcd  the  iii\>lic  rftc.  -"finiif'/:.  it'  Finncf  in 
I'll'  \(  ir  }y<iiil."  l<.  :li!i1. 

Tlic  At'lii'.  IV'iliiiul  (Iocs  not  appear  to  think  that  this  was  thi'  tint  Mass  ri'V'hratcd  in  Canarla. 
Ill'  '.Nrilci; 


I," 
,'!oh 


ini;fiinq   juin,  IRiri.  Ic  P.  nolboiiii  ont  In  honlinrr  dc  dirp  la  proniic'iP  mossc  qui  ait  rl« 


V-  i;0,  Vol.  I. 


i\  (iMthcc  (ipu'ts  ks  voyages  lie  Carder  el  dc  lioOerral.— "tours  V'JIhtoire  du  Canada,' 


\\ 


3G2 


SAMUEL  DE  VllASIPLAiy. 


i  I 


If 


■Xotliing  wns  Avanting,''  writes   Fatlier   Lp  CI.mcij.    •■(.. 
renilprtliisiK'tion  .solemn,  as  far  ii.s  the  siiiipliciiy  of  iIm"  inr.inr 


coluiiy  A\(>ul(l  permit. 


All  iiKule  tlicii'  coiircssioiis  and 


ivceivt'tl  liolv  (JotuniMiiiun.     Tlit^  Tc  D 


I'll  in  was  ( 


liant 


•  '(I 


and 


its  suuiids  niin,ii,-k'd  witli  the  loar  of  the  arlillciy  and  tlin 
aoelanialiotis  of  joy,  wliich  were  re-echoed  by  the  sui'ioiiiidii;!; 
Moliliidcs.  of  whieli  it  might  be  said  that  Ihey  wcic  changed 
inlo  a  ])aradise,  all  therein  invoking  the  King  of  Ib-aven, 
and  calling  to  their  aid  the  guardian  angels  of  these  vast 
provinci's."  ' 

A  month  after,  Mass  was  celebrated  regularly  every  Sim- 
day  at  Quebec.  Truly  it  was  a  grand  and  beauti  I'ul  day  for 
Chauiplain  ami  for  the  colonists  who  clustered  arf»und  hiiu 
ill  the  poor  little  chapi'l  of  Qiu4)(>o.  as  they  assisfr'd  foi'  th;^ 
iir.st  time  at  the  ll')ly  Sacrilice  o-n  the  banks  of  the>  miiihtv 


jSt.   Jyawreiu' 


This  was  the  beuinning  of   Catliolicitv  in 


Canada.  Dui'ing  a  century  and  a  half  the  churdi  of  Quebec 
was  the  center  and  almost  only  focns  of  tht^  Faith  in  the 
immense  regions  which  extended  from  Hudson's  J^a^'  to  tlie 
tiuif  of  Mexico." 


J'.ach    JsUlier  lienan   the  woik  assi<i;ned  hi 


m. 


It 


was  a. 


vast  jidd.  with  few  laborers.  The  Huron  mission  fell  to  Le 
Caron.  Dolbeau  was  charged  with  tlie  roving  })ands  of 
Algonqiiins  b(>low  Queliec.  For  the  presimt  .lamef  and  J)u 
Plessis  were  to  remain  at  Quebec.  Let  ns  glance  for  a  mo- 
ment along  the  thorny  pathway  of  Dolbeau  and  Le  Caron — 
the  p'oncer  missionaries  of  Canada.  The  .picture  is  from  a 
non  Catholic  pen. 

"  I)o'i!)eau,  full  of  /eal,"  wiites  Fi-ancis  Pai'kman,  "set 
out  foi'his  ]iost,  and,  in  the  next  winter,  ossa\'ed  to  follow 
the  roving  hordes  of  Tadoussac  to  their  frozen  hunting- 
grounds.  He  \\as  not  roluist,  and  liis  eyes  were  weak. 
Lodged  in  a  hut  f>f  biich  baik,  full  of  abominations,  dogs, 
lleas,  stench,  and  all  uiu-leaidiness,  he  succund)ed  at  length 
to  the  smoke,  which  well-nigh  blinded  him,  forcing  liiin  to 
rcMuaiu  lor  several  days  with  his  eyes  closed.     After  debat- 

'  "  E^tablit^sptr  'nt  dc  la  Foy,"  I.,  02. 

'J  The  Cutliolic  colony  of  MMijiaiid  was  Ihc  only  I'xcpiilion. 


sA.^fUI•:r.  jjij  champlaik 


'm: 


ing  witliin  liinisf'lf  wlietlK^r  God  reqiiiivd  (;f  him  tlie  .^ncri- 
iico  of  his  s;,hf,  he  solved  his  doubts  A\ilh  u  Ti('<:afiv(',  iiiid 
I'ctui'niMl  to  Quebec,  only  to  set  I'orlli  ii<.':iiu  \vit('  ojieiiiii^L; 
.•^lirip-.i;'  on  :i  tour  so  extensive, tluit  it  broUi!;ht  hiui  hi  cuntiU't 
^\i!'.l  the  outlyini!,'  bands  ol'  the  Esquimaux. 

">[ean\vhile  Le  Caion  had  lonii,- been  absent  on  a  mission 
of  moi'e  nf)te\voitliy  adventui(>.  While  his  brethren  Avero 
buililinp;  tlieir  convent  and  garnish ini;-  theii-  altar  at  (jiiel)ee, 
tliP  a'llent  Fi'iar  had  hastened  to  llie  site'  of  Montreal,  then 
thronged  with  a  savage  concourse,  come  down  to  the  yeaily 
trade.  }1;>  mingled  with  them,  studied  their  mannei's,  tried 
to  learn  their  languages;  tind  when,  so(jn  after^  Chanii>laiii 
and  Pontgi'ave  ari'ived,  he  dechii'ed  his  jjurpose  of  win- 
leiing  in  their  villages.  Dissuasion  availed  nothing. 
'What,'  h(>  demanileil,  'ai'e  ])iivalior.s  (o  him  who.'ie  lile 
is  devoted  to  perpetual  poverty,  who  has  no  ambiiion  l)iit 
to  seire  (-Jod^'"  ' 

The  asstMublcd  Iliirons  and  /Jgonquins  begged  Cham- 
plain  to  aid  them  against  the  connuon  enemy,  the  Iroquois, 
lie  consented,  ])!'omising  to  join  them  with  all  the  men  at 
his  command.  The  Indians  weic  to  muster  without  delay 
t^^<'nty  live  hundred  men,  and  the  iiei'C(>  enemy  would  f-(.on 
b'i'l  ihe])owerof  such  ;i  formidable  combimttion.  To  has- 
t(  ii  -[iK'iJaiations,  Chanii)lain proceeded  m Quebec,  whil<'  the 
Indians  av.aited  his  return.  But  they  soon  grew  impatient 
of  delay,  and  liastened  to  their  village:-;,  accomiianied  by  the 
indefatigable  Father  Le  Caron.  I'he  vovau'e  was  long  and 
painful. 

"It  Avould  be  hard  to  fell  yoii."'  the  a]-)ostolic,  pi'iest 
Avi'ites  to  a  friend,  "how  tired  I  was  with  paddling  all  day, 
villi  all  my  strength,  among  the  Indians;  A\ading  the  riveis 
a  hundred  times  and  more,  through  the  mud  and  over  tlic! 
f:Ii;n[)  roeks  (hat  cut  my  feet;  carrying  the  canoo  and  lug- 
gage through  the  woods,  to  avoid  th(^  rapids  and  frightful 
cataracts,  and  half-starved  all  the  while,  lor  we  had  nothing 
to  eat  but  a  littl(«  ftngavi !(;\  a  sort  of  poi'ridgt>  of  water  and 
])i)unded  nuiize,  of  which  they  gave  ns  a  very  snndl  allow- 


'  "  I'ionccra  of  Frnncc  in  the  New  World." 


3r*4  .s.i.iiry-;/.  ni-:  liia.mpi.m.x. 

aiiC.»  (M( -y  TiioriiinL!:  nnd  ni.iilit  But  1  must  needs  tell  you 
A\li:it  uiuiiuhiiii  '•uiJMj';iliuii  1  i'ouud  \inder  r,ll  my  lioulilc:;; 
J'ol' w itfU  uu(  sees  so  iiiuny  iut'dels  iieedilii;'  liotFiiiii;'  but  a 
dioD  of  ^v;lU  r  to  muke  llieiii  eldldifu  i)!"  (uxl,  he  feels  ;in 
)ne-\!.)!<'-.'il>l('  ai'dor  fo  VArjv  for  their  eouveisK)n,  iiiid  sai'ii 
lice  to  il  his  lepose  tiiitl  liis  life.  '' 

Aboi'l  a  Week  iil'ier,  the  demoted  Champhiin  Mas  I'oilow- 
h)'X  Oil  tlit^  track  of  tlie  })ious  Franciscan.  Witii  two  ca- 
noi's,  t<'ii  Indiairs,  ]iis  interpreter,  and  a  Frerichuian.  lie 
])U.s]ietl  ii|)  llie  currents  of  tlie  Ottawa,  ]iassed  into  tlie  -I'lhit- 
tawan,  and  was  soon  on  the  shores  of  Lake  >,'ipis.';in;j:.  Hoe 
lie  was  well  received  by  the  Indians,  and  rested  loi-  t\so 
days,  iliscanoes  tlieii  skiuimeddown  the  Fi'ench  river,  and 
80011  his  eyes  beheld  the  ])laeid  Avaters  ol  J^ake  Iluioiijo 
which  he  ^ave  the  name  of  "]\Ier  Douce.  l'addhl!,^•  l(j 
th'>  souili,  along  the  eastern  slioie  of  Georujau  i'ay  Jie 
landed,  and.  on  the  1st  oi  August,  loin.d  liimselJ'  in  the 
IV.ined  country  of  the  Ilurons. * 

'i"ii(>  Huron  territory  ^.tre(( lu d  from  north  to  south  be- 
twi^en  the  rivers  to-day  naiiKd  the  Severn  and  Nottawasaga; 
and  from  east  lowest  lietweeii  Lai^e  Simcoeand  tiie  Cieorgiaii 
I'ay.  Its  ieiioili  was  about  twenty  or  twenty  iive  lea^uues, 
a;;d  its  width  not  more  than  seven  or  eight  leagues.  Al- 
(lioeoli  the  '.oil  was  sandy,  it  was  quite  fertile,  and  iirod need 
ladiin  coi'ii,  bi'ans,  and  ])unii)]viiis  in  abundance.  Indeed, 
I'a.'  ITiiron  country  was  regarded  as  thegrauary  (  f  th(^  Al- 
goiKiuin  nations.  Avhos(>  liall-naked  hordes  came  hiilK-r 
yeaily  fi'oin  the  bordeis  of  Lake  ^'ipissing  and  the  banks  of 
the  Ottawa  river,  to  buy  theirprovisions.  Champlain  found 
eigliteen  villages.     "Iiy  the  Indian  standard,"  writes  Parl;- 


'  rarkman's  Iransljilion.  With  the  cxrrptloii  of  thn  last  spntcncp,  this  extract  tan  to  found 
In  Ftrhind,  '  Cnnrs  d'Hi^^loirc  dn  Cimiiria."'  Vol.  I.  p.  Yi'i.  The  ori};iiial  Konrcc.s  arc  S:iu:iir(l. 
"  lli-tniio  (Ic  la  Xoiivollo  Franco,"  and  I.o  ricrcc].  '  Estahlissement  do  la  Foy."  The  fore^oini;  i>i 
quoted  from  "  Pioneers  of  France  In  the  New  World,"  p.  ;!0:l. 

'■•  For  more  than  a  hiuulrod  miles,  his  conrse  was  nlonp  the  eastern  f-hores  of  llie  (Jeonrian  Hay 
lhroni;h  lorltioiis  ehaiinels,  of  isN  Is  coiinlless  as  the  sea-sands^an  arrliipelai:o  of  rocks  worn 
for  aues  liy  the  wash  of  waves.  Not  to  this  day  doi  s  the  handiwork  of  man  lireak  the  saviiKe 
charm  of  lliox'  lonely  coasts.  He  crossed  Fiviil;  Inlet,  Franklin  Inlet.  I'lirry  Sound,  and  the 
\\;der  Hay  of  Malchedash,  and  seems  to  liave  lieharked  at  the  inlet  now  called  Thunder  I'.ay.  at 
the  enlrance  of  the  Fay  of  Matehedash  uiul  a  little  to  the  west  of  the  harlior  of  l'enetanj;i:irh- 


SAMUHL  DK  CIIAMPLAIX 


oOj 


innn,  "it  was  a  niip;hty  nnlion;  yet  ihf'  entire  TIt;ron'  ])()|)n- 
latiou  (lid  not  extH.-ed  tint  of  a  .second  or  lliiitl  class  .\nicii- 
ciin  city,  and  the  drain  of  twenty-live  liundred  wariiors, 
])](' l.m'd  to  Chaniijlain,n)n.-Jt  have  left  its  villages  bereft  if 
li^litiiiu,'-in('ii." 

Fatlit^r  Le  (Jai'on,  on  his  arrival,  took  up  his  tibu(l(>  in  the 
viliai!,''..'  of  CarhaL!,'onha.  Here  he  built  for  himself  a  cabin 
oi"  poles  and  bark,  in  which  he  erected  an  abar  for  tin?  cdc- 
h'-ii!Oii  of  th,>  Sacred  ?^jystciies.     Chaniijlaii'  came  just   in 


liaii'  to  assist  at  thii  lirst  Miv 


W 


icn  the  liulv  S;u'riiic(.> 


was  ended,  a  lai'^'e  wo  )den  ("ross  was  made,  blesseil,  ar.d 
])lanted  in  tiie  >^P,,  while  all  the  Fi'enchnien  present  chanted 
the.  7\:  DciiiN,  and  a  vollev  of  musketrv  resounded  through 


t'u 


tresis. 


'I' 


liis    was  tlie    I 


)rei";( 


)us  siiin  of   Kedeai'idc 


Hi 


ere.^N  d  for  the  first  lime  in  a  land  covered  wiih  tiie  dall^.- 
ness  of  i)aii,':'n!sm. 

0\\  the  1st  of  September  tlie  little  araiy  of  llui'ous  be;^'an 
the  ai.irch  nmh  i-  the  lead-rship  of  Champlain,  v>ho  was  ac- 
ceaipiiiied  by  tw!'lv(?  l-'renchmen.  The  lU-et  of  canoes 
skimm  il  ovej-  Lal\e  Simcoe,  then  followed  the  coni'se  oI'  o. 


lannoer  ot 


itle  rivers, 


and 


pa^ 


d 


ovtu'  a   iioriau'i 


iai\e 


whicli  b»rm  tlu>  sources  of  the  River  Treat. 


lo  the 
s  thev 


t:ave!sed  a  country  full  of  <;-;nne  and  lish,  thei'e  was  no  dan- 
uer  of  starvation.  i'a;-sin^"  down  the  Trent,  tlie  lit;l(>  lleet 
eati  red  tiuj  ]*>ay  of"  ^^ainte,  and.  after  a  voya^u'e  of  thii'ty-live 
days,  Ohamphiin  b.elield  the  sp,  r'\l in i^  waters  of  the  ,2:rari(l 


;ui( 


1  beautifid  LaK(>  Ontario. 


Iier. 


he  writes,  '*is  the 


beu'iniiiiiii;  of  the  u'l'eat  IJiver  St.  L;nvrence.'" 

T1h»  nind)!"  padilhvs  cait  the  smonih  surface  of  Ontario, 
and  soon  the  bircdidi.ark  squadi'on  tou(died  the  Ncnv  Yo!  k 
sliore.  We  sliall  let  th(>  ]diotoixraphic  pen  of  Paikman  re- 
count what  bf>f(>]l  tlie  hardy  inva(hns. 

A  ft  (M' hiding' their  li^ht  craft  in  th(>  woods,  the  warrioi'S 
tnnjv  up  their  swift  and  wary  n'ai'ch,  liiinic  in  silence  between 


■  TliU  jwoplo  received  the  name  of  Ilnrnns  n'lout  the  ycnr  1000;  tluy  called  llitiindtei 
Wj'inUofs. 

E'.ix-niiMiic:'  PC  iioiniivii"nt.  'Wcmlnt';.  11-  avnii'iif  ri'rii  lo  noin  di  IlMrrJH''  vrrs  I'.'iiiiu'c  VitM), 
|.ii-:';:i"  ;iy;iiit  ciiIimhIii  |ni'lrr  dcs  [''niiir'ii- <|ui  f:il.-;iii'rit  la  tniito  ii  Tii(loii'!>.if,  Us  y  Ol.liciit  Jo- 
ecciuhis  pourOcIiangcr  lenr  iii'llckTius,— .IMt'  FerUvtU. 


:ii 


^!^;! 


i 


" 


Jl 


300 


SAM''LL  :>K  C.'LIMJ'LALY. 


Ilif  woods  niul  tlic  lukB,  for  tut-lve  miles  iiluiii:,'  (lie  ji'.bMy 
sh'.UKl.  Tlicii  tljfv  struck  ii)Iaiid,  thivadcd  tliM  forest,  (•i(),s.s(  d 
Ihi-  l{iv(M' (JiioiKliiga,  and,  aflcr  a  mai'cLi  uf  four  days.  \v<'r(t 
di'i'j)  \siili;ii  liic  wt'stera  limits  of  tl:e  Iroquois.  Some  dl! 
(lu'ir  scouts  lut't  a  lisliiM,u,--i)ai'ty  of  this  piioplc,  and  ca])(iii( d 
Ihciu,  eleven  in  imni))er — men,  women  and  cliildreii.  'i'lu  y 
were  brou^'ht  to  tlie  cami)  of  the  exultant  [luifuis.  Asa 
(le^inniiig  oC  the  jubilatiun,  a  chief  cut  a  linij,t'i'  of  one  of 
1  iie  women  ;  but  desLsted  from  further  torturii;g  ou  the  angry 
])io!est  of  Chainplain. 

]jii',hl  broke  in  i;])ou  th(^  foi'ost.  Tr^e  hostile  town  wr.s 
tlo.se  at  hand.  Hugged  liddslay  before  them,  with  a  slovenly 
and  savage  cultivation.  The  young  liurons  in  advance  si.w 
tlie  li'o;[uois  at  work  among  tlie  iinnii)i\ins  and  iiiai/.e.  galh- 
ei'ing  their  rustling  harvest,  foi' it  wi'.s  the  KMli  (  f  (/cieiit^r. 
r.'othing  could  restrain  the  han^-brained  a.nd  iir.g(. seined 
crew.  They  screamed  their  war-cry  and  rushed  in;  i  !il  th.e 
Iroquois  snatched  their  wea{;(ir.s,  kilh-d  and  wc-undevl  live 
or  six  of  1  he  assailants,  and  (h(>\<^  back  tlie  rest  disconllited. 
Chamiilain  and  liis  Fi'cnclnncMi  wei'e  ujrced  to  interpose  ;  aiid 
tlie  crack  of  their  pdeces  from  th.e  b-order  of  the  wcotis 
Htopped  the  pursuing  enemy,  who  withdrew  to  the'v  de- 
fenses, bearing  with  them  their  dead  and  wounded. 

li  was  a  (own  of  tlit^  Senecas,  the  n:()st  ]  oi)ulous  and  (  n(^ 
of  the  most  warlike  of  (he  live  lr(([uois  tribes;  and.  its  site 
was  on  or  near  the  lakes  of  Central  Xew  Ycirk,  ])ei'hap.5 
Lake  ( 'anandaigiKi.  Champlaiu  desci  ibes  its  defensive  works 
a-;  r.Mch  sti'onu'cr  than  thosi>  of  the  Huron  villages.  They 
con-^isii'd  of  four  concentric  rows  of  i)alisade,s,  formed  of 
trunl;sand  trees,  thirty  feet  high,  each  aslant  in  the  t>arth 
iinl  intei'sectiirii"  each  other  near  the  top,  when^  they  sup- 
ported a  kind  of  gallery,  well  defi  nded  by  shot-proof  liin- 
iiei'.  and  furnished  with  wooden  gutters  for  cjuetiching  lire. 
A  |iond  or  lake  which  washed  one  siih'  of  the  i)alisade,  and 
Was  led  by  sluices  within  the  town,  g,.ve  an  ample  sn])ply  of 
water,  while  the  galleries  were  well  })iovided  with  magazines 
i)f  stones. 

Champlain  was  greatly  exasperated  at  the  desultory  and 


SAMUEL  LE  CHAM  PI.  MX. 


307 


» 


fiitiitj  pruccJui'H  of  Ills  Huron  :illirs.  At  tlit-ir  cvciiiii,!^ 
camp  in  tlic  adjacfiit  I'uivst,  lif  upbraided  Tlie  throng  oE 
c'liiol's  and  warriors  fsoinewiiat  shai'ply,  and^  liaviiii;'  iinisljed 
liis  admonition,  he  ^jroci't-dcd  to  in.strnt't  them  in  the  art 
of  war. 

In  tlie  morning,  aided  doubtless  by  Lis  ten  oi'  twelve 
I'renchmen,  tliey  betook  themselves  with  alaerity  to  their 
])rescril)(^d  task.  A  wooden  tower  was  made,  high  enough 
to  ov'tIooiC  the  j)alisade,  and  large  enough  to  shelter  J'our 
or  tlv(i  marksmen.  Huge  wooden  shields,  or  movable  i)ura- 
l),'ts,  like  the  mantelets  of  the  Middh^  Ages,  were  also  fon- 
structed.  Four  hours  sudiced  to  linish  th(!  woi'k,  and  then 
t!ie  assault  began.  Two  huuili't'd  of  the  strongest  wairiors, 
v.ith  unwonted  prowess,  dragg'il  the  tower  forward,  and 
l)lantel  it  within  a  ]iike's  length  of  the  i)alisade.  Three 
r.rquebiisiers  mounted  to  the  top  and  opened  a  raking  lire 
along  the  galleries,  now  thronged  witli  wild  and  naked 
d<M'endei'; 

lint  nothing  could  restrain  th  ungovernal)le  Ilurons. 
Tliev  al)andone(l  their  mantelets,  an  1,  deaf  to  everv  com- 
r.iani].  swarmed  out  like  bi-es  nj)nu  tlie  open  held.  lt'a]>ed, 
filiouted,  shrieked  tlniir  war-cries,  and  shot  off  their  arrows; 
while  the  Iro:piois,  hui'Hug  dtjliance  from  their  ramparts, 
f^ent  back  a  shower  oi  stones  and  ai'rows  in  J'eply.  A 
Huron,  bolder  than  the  rest,  I'an  f  trward  with  lirebi'ands  to 
burn  th!>  })alisade,  and  others  followed  with  wood  to  letMl 
the  llaine.  ]Jut  it  was  stupidly  kindletl  on  the  leeward 
side,  without  the  protecting  siiields  designed  to  cover  it; 
and  torrents  of  wat<'i'  poured  down  from  the  gutters 
above  (piickly  extinguished  it.  The  confusion  was  re- 
doubled. Champlain  stroviM'n  vain  to  restore  order.  Each 
■(varjior  Avas  yelling  at  the  top  of  his  throat,  and  his  voice 
ivas  di'owned  in  the  outi'ageons  din.  Thinking,  as  he  saj'-s, 
that  his  liead  would  split  with  shouting,  he  gave  ov(n;  the 
attempt,  and  busied  himself  and  his  men  with  picking  off 
the  Iroquois  along  their  ramparts. 

The  attack  lasted  three  hours,  when  the  assailants  fell 
back  to  their  fortilied  camp,  with  seventeen  warrior.-j  wounded. 


•::j3 


SAJIUICL  DE  ClfAMFL.Uy. 


■J- 


(Mi:in'.]j];iin.  (uo,  li:i(l  r<'r<^iv«^J  ;i;i  :in'uw  in  liis  kii;.'.?  :i;i(l  an- 
otluM'  ill  his  I(',!^\  Avhifli,  fur  thr  time,  disublt^d  hiiii.  lie  wns 
urgHUt,  !ii.)".v'.'V('i',  to  r^'iiew  tlit^  utltick;  while  tlihi  lIiiKiis, 
civsMail'';!  :iiid  (lislu'tirtt'iu'cl,  ivriisi'd  lo  move  Iroiii  Heir 
(•iiiiip  iinle-;s  the  live  liiuiJi'ed  alli;'.^  Tur  some  time  f.Nic  cU  d 
Khuuld  apijear. 

'i'hey  waited  iive  days  in  vain,  b;\u:uilin,ti,'  tlie  int(  r\al  with 
rrequeal.  ,skii'mish!:':s,  in  wiiicli  they  were  always  worsted  ^ 
then  br'jan  hastily  lu  retreat  in  eonfiised  lines  akm^-  the 
sonibe;"  rovi'st-])athways,  whih;  the  Irocfuois,  sallyin;;-  from 
liieii'  ^^lroa,^•hoid,  showen.'d  arrows  on  their  Hanks  and  lear 
Their  wj.ui  led— t/iiamplain  !iinon<i;  the  rest^md  been 
])aekevl  in  basinets  i"or  t.ansiiortalion,  each  boi'neoii  thebiick 
oL"  II  Htroasj;  v.'ai'rior,  'bnndhnl  in  ii  lieap,"  f^ays  ('liam|ilidTi. 
"do'.ibiHi  and  strai)])ed  to^-ether  alter  sno.li  u  rasliion  ih.at 
one  eould  move  no  more  than  an  inl'aut  in  swaildlin/j,-- 
clotlies.  .  .  ,  I  lost  all  patience,  and  as  Poon  as  1  roidd  bear 
my  wi'in'ht  I  got  out  ol'  this  prison,  or,  to  speak  plainly,  out 
of"  hell." 

At  lenQ;th  the  dismal  march  was  ended.  Tlit^y  leached 
the  siiot  where  their  canoes  w(M'c  liiddiMi.  i'onnd  tliem  un- 
toucii"!l,  eni!nii'k<Ml.  and  recrossed  to  the  northern  shore  of 
Lake  ()a!a;io.  The  llurons  had  prondsed  Champlain  an  es- 
cort to  Qael)ec;  but,  as  th(^  chiefs  hnil  little  power,  in  peace 
or  war,  bi^yond  that  of  pers',iasi(in.  each  warrior  found  good 
reason  for  refusing' to  i^-o,  o'r  lend  his  canoe. 

(/hamjilain,  too,  had  lost  prestige.  The  "man  with  the 
h'on  br(>ast"'  had  proved  not  insepai'ably  wedded  to  victory; 
and  though  the  lanlt  was  their  own,  yet  not  the  less  was  the 
luster  of  thiMr  hero  tai-nished.  There  was  no  alternative. 
He  must  winter  with  the  Tlurons.  The  great  war  party 
broke  into  fragments,  each  band  betaking  itself  to  its  hunt- 
ing-ground. A  chi(d'  named  Durantal  ofl'ered  Champlain 
the  shelter  of  his  lodge,  and  he  was  fain  to  acce.pt  it.' 

Winter  wor(>  aw.iy.  sp)ringcame,  and  tinally  summer.  It 
was,  in  truth,  a  n)vel  and  stii-i'ing  time  for  Champlain. 
lleri^  his  manv  adventures  '•])v  iloo;!  and  field"  cannot  b(; 


'  'Tion.eix  of  France  in  tlio  New  World.'' 


ffAMVIU,  DK  CIlAMri.MX, 


IJOO 


roronnf('(l.  Our  spaon  is  too  siiinll.  A\'(Miiiist  Iiiistcn  on.  It 
\v;is  tlic  1  Itll  of  .liily,  Kil';,  ns  lie  a.u'Jiiii  liod  llir  iiidf  streets 
of  (^ii('l)t'(',  accoiiipaiiied  liy  liis  Huron  !,<isi,  Duranlal. 
(Jrcat  w'Tc  til"  r<'joiclnnN,  fof  the  Indians  liad  i(]i()iird  ilmt 
]i!"  w:!s  di'iiil.  I'arluT  Ii(>  (,'aJ'on— Avlio  liad  ictufnid  a  ]iltl(! 
b('for(>  liiin  -welcomed  the  brave  ('oni|iaiiion  of  liis  l(»ils  ; 
and  flio  I-'ranci^cans  olTei-ed  np  a  ,'50^•nln  .Mass  of  ihanks- 
irivinu;  in  llieii'  little  chapel. 

Serious  wdi'lc  now  reiniiined  for  Tl  .imiiliiin.  Tn  liis  :d)- 
sence  tlie  puny  colony  had  l)e»Mi(hiily  wastin.u'  a\\;iy.  and  witli- 
ont"  the  coiist.'int"  sni)]>o!'f  of  his  stroni;:  aim  and  nia,tj,'i(^ 
pr(^sence.  \\  ninsf  soon  intdorionsly  p(>ris!i.  lie  v.as  the  life 
and  so;d  of  (' uiadn.  yet  tlie;'>  were  colonist-;  on  whose  friend- 
ship he  d;ir(>  not  count.     His  was  a  stern  and  thankless  (oil. 

Tlie  picture  of  alFairs  e-iveu  by  Parkanin  is  dismal.  At 
Qaebec  all  was  discord  and  disorder.  Cliamj^lain  was  the 
no!nin:i!  comnian  h'r;  but  Ih;  a;;tiuil  anihoi'ity  was  with  the 
m"i'r'!i:iiits,  who  held,  excepting-  th.e  h^'iMUciscan  l';ilhei's, 
nearly  i'x^'vy  one  in  their  pay.  Each  was  jealous  of  the 
other,  but  all  were  united  in  a  common  jealousy  of  ("ham- 
plain.  Fron).  a  short-si^'htcMl  view  of  self-intei'est,  they 
sou!!,ht  to  check  the  colonization  which  th(\v  wcn'o  pledu'ed 
to  ])roino!:e.  Some  of  the  nieicliants  were  of  Ikfuien,  some 
of  St.  Malo;  some  wore  Catliolics,  soine  v/er(>  Ilu.u'uenots. 
1  fence  nnceasin'_!;  bick(n'in,c?s.  All  e?cercise  of  (h(>  IJefornied 
ll'liii'loa,  0:1  land  or  water,  was  prohibited  within  the  limits 
of  New  France;  but  tlui  ITu.sjjuenots  set  the  pi'ohibition  at 
nMU.i^lit,  rf)ai'in^'  their  heretical  ]isalmody  with  such  ^■i^■or 
from  tlieir  .ships  in  the  I'iver  that  (he  unhallowed  strains 
])o]luted  the  ears  of  the  Indians  on  shore.  Cham])l:iin,  in 
this  sinu,'alarly  tryiu'jj  position,  displayed  a  niin.uled  zenj 
and  fortitude.  Ho  wimt  every  year  to  France,"  laboring  for 
tlie  interests  01.  the  colony.' 


'  "  PionfTs  of  France  In  tlio  Xcw  World." 

T)'nnni'' !  rn  iiiiiicio,  Ics  nii'mc-"  liifficiilli'-'  j-oursnivaiont  lo  fon(!iit<'ur  flo  Qiiilicc.  En  Fninc', 
tracasfcrics,  k'sinoric^.  ili'lais,  du  r'r.io  dca  iis>iorio«;  jaloii>;i(M,  proci'.",  cnipii'tinicnts,  C,v  la  iiart 
lies  niarotiands  ciraimcrs  a  la  coniiiaL'nic;  indilTc'n'nco  do  la  coiir,  (jni  i;o  pouvait,  ni  r.p  vmilait 
ti'occiiper  dc  cos  pi>-;si"i-iioiis  loinlaiiu's;  stir  iniT,  dc-j  vova;:i's  lon'4'<,  prnililos  ct  por.vcnt  duMijcr- 
ciix'  I'll  Ani-.'ii']!!".  la  discttc  ct,  Ic-j  ni:il,iilii'>j  purini  li's  Fraiv-aU,  la  r'^crcto  cl  la  malvcillaiir^,'  t\vi 
liauoud  iiuli„'cucs:   voila  ks  t'preuvcs,  toujours  rcmiisouutos,  qiiu  Ctia;n;)laiu  oLait  toiiJainuc  i 


870 


SAMUi:/.  in:  rjfjjji-f^_[/x^ 


Tljf  ruuiKjci- of  Qui'Ul'c  ivmaiufJ  iu  Fi;inc.'  dmii!;,^  Idli). 
Ill  tlic  tiiidst  of  tlif  I'Vt'Ufs  which  thfi)  jiiiilaft'd  that  Kiii"-- 
(h.)iii.  it  was  .scaict'ly  (u  b.' fxpet'tcd  Ihal  ihi-  di-!aiit  ('(pNiiv 
(»l'  (y'aiiada  would  foiuijiaiid  iiiiich  alfcutiou.  Siill,  (he  \oiin"r,^ 
Diikc  dc  Moiitmoivucy  purchas.'d  Troiii  the  J'linct'  of  ('( iidA 
th(!  jiioliialih'  lii'iitt'iiaiu'v  of  the  (■(»li»iiy.  He  \i\k\  Jl,((() 
crow  us  for  the  bargain,  and  constllutud  C'hauii)hiiii  his 
J^iculcuaul  (ii'uci'al. 

Loui,-.  Mil.,  i('co:;in/ing  (Ik^  services  rendered  to  r<']i,!',ion 
and  lo  Fi'ance,  addressetl  the  ToJlowing  h'tier  to  the  intrepid 
exj)h)rer : 

"Ciianiiilain :  Haviiiii;  li^aiaied  of  tlie  coninns.-i(,ii  \vliic]i 
you  liave  icceived  from  my  cousin,  Ihi'  Drdve  i\v  Mc/uinio- 
rency,  Admiral  of  France,  and  my  \iceroy  in  Canada,  tf) 
l)rocc(Ml  to  that  counti'y  as  his  liientenant,  and  to  liave  u 
care  foi'  wJKtt  concerns  my  .service,  I  have  great  ])leasni('  in 
a(h'iessing  you  this  letter,  in  order  to  assure  y(  u  hov/  \-erv 
figreealile  sliall  be  the  services  wliicli  you  will  icndei'  m*  on 
tins  occasion,  above  all,  if  you  |ireserve  the  colony  in  ray 
obt>dieuce,  leading  tlio  iidiabitants  to  ]iv(^  in  c()nA)rmity 
■svith  the  lav.s  of  J-'rance,  and  having  due  care  for  the  j'l'og- 
ress  of  the  C'atlu)li(!  Faith,  to  the  end  that  you  Uiay  tlicieby 
call  dowit  the  Divine  blessing  on  yourself,  and  that  yen  may 
succeed  in  all  youi"  entei'prises  for  the  gloi'y  of  (n;d,  wlu^m 
I  besfMH'h  to  keep  you  in  His  holy  th'ace.  Given  at  Paris, 
the  7th  day  of  Afay,  lOJO." 

The  prospects  of  the  colony  ■weic  growii.g  I  lighter, 
C'hani})l;iin  engagi'il  a  numhei'  of  jierson.s  to  emigrate  with 
Inm  to  Canada,  and  he  ev(>n  decided  to  make  his  own  ];er- 
rnaneiit  residenc(^  on  the  banks  of  the  St.  J.invicnce.  He 
Maili'd  from  l'"'rance.  acconijianied  by  his  uifeand  se\eial  of 
lier  relations, Mild  landed  at  Quebec  in  the  summer  of  3(i2('. 
The  Covernor  was  received  with  every  mark  of  joy  and 
respect.  A  solemn  Tc  T>cinii  Avas  clianted  in  the  claiiiel 
of  the  Franciscans,  and  new  life  and  happiness  seemed  lo 


siibir  (1  in."  riuo()nii)lis''cniciif  do  so  noble  misulon.  Et  crpnnfinnt  sa  fol  an  snrcpss  dc  son  crnvre 
ftait  ?!  fcnni',  ■'on  drsiriN-  fiiiidcr  iiii  cinpiro  fraiirais  en  Aiiu'riqnc,  ct  d'appclcr  Ics  iiaiioiic  saii- 
va^'iwMa  civilization  ctiila  rciiL'ion  tliri'licnnc  etait  si  ardent  ct  si  pcr<cv('ranl.qiio  ricii  lu'iioavait 
6braulcr  son  diJvouoincnt,  iii  Uimiuiier  su  coullance  dans  la  protection  dc  Uicu.— .14W  Ferland. 


sAvn:/.  hi:  ciia-.ii'i.mx. 


'Ml 


\w  Infuse  I  into  t:i  ■  roii^li,  motley  surlcty  of  the  !l!llf  lo.'Ic. 
built  (.ipiliil  (>r  CiiiKiil:!. 

ll  \v;is  surely  a  period  of  no  stnull  ])le:isur(>  to  thi'  mil)le 
('ii.ihiplaiu.  on  ruHlinij,'  liiai^cH',  alter  so  many  ralii;iie.-«, 
anxieties  au'l  voya,i^es,  in  lli"  bosom  (jT  his  Taniily,  liajipily 
I'eunife;]  ni'ur  ]iini.  in  the  cnlony  wliicii  lie  had  I'oandi'J, 
and  wliicli  was  to  l)e  -oiue  his  adopted  country. 

The  y  )un,i2;  and  amia'ile  Madajui'  de  (Jliamplain  had  Ial;fii 
v.ii.i  ]i"r  (w  )  or  tlirei-  ladles,  atiaclu'd  to  In-r  service,  and 
who  \vei't3  to  her  a  necessity  in  thi:*  midst  ol'  a  society  com- 
posed almost  entiiely  of  men.  Althoii;;h  but  tw»'nty-two 
years  ol"  a,:;'',  she  had  e.xliibiteil  no  common  conra,ue  iu 
n.'idertakln,:.^  smdi  a  loau'  and  ]riinrul  voya/^ie  at  that  e:;rly 
cj)  ich  ol'  Anii'i'ican  hi^!^)ry.  Durinii;  the  I'oui'  years  she 
ii'Uiained  in  (Janada,  she  won  ihe  rt-spect  !ind  alleciiun  uL" 
1)  )th  the  Fieiudi  and  thi»  Indian  ;.  'i'ho  poor  savages  wcro 
deligiitt'd  with  her  b.MUiy  and  Q;))lne.s.s.  And  she  with  the 
most  praiseworthy  ener^^y  :ind  devotion,  h'arned  the  Alunn- 
(]uin  dialect,  and  tau.^ht  cate(diism  to  the  liMh;  tawny  lialf- 
naked  children  wlio  <'rowd;.'d  aivjund  her  knee.  cai'TKMl  her 
sweet  smile,  an  1  heard  words  oL'  holy  instnction  lall  I'lom 
\\n'  li])s. 


Throu,<;]iont   iier  A\h>:e   lil'e  ?dailame  de  Tdiamphiin  (< 


)n- 


linu''d  to  testify  tlic  deep  interest  s]ie  took  in  th"  Cana.diaii 
ni!ss:()ns;  and  whi-n,  after  tin;  death  of  her  illiistiious  lius- 
baivl,  Kim  retired  to  the  I'lsnline  convent,  ar.  ^^'aux,  in 
l''i'ance,  she  ceased  not  to  lemember  tlie  simphMdiildien  of 
the  forest,  some  of  w  horn  had  listened  iu  other  days  to  the 
sound  ol'  lier  maternal  voice. 


.  / 


f  i 


I 


1  1 


Hi 


CHAPTER  V. 

THK    UKATir    OF    .1!  A.M  IM.A  I  X. 

Oroioih.  of  lite  colon /i—Hrlh/ioiis  Ohu-ord—Qmhrc  talrn 
b'j  (I/e  Eiujll^h  -The  fed; nil  in  France— The  hfl// 
enerifii  of  (Jhaniplain-^iJanada  rey.lored  to  FrvnCe— 
Vhanrplaiu.  become;^  O'oKiiu.r—nisinfiunce  over  the 
iSaraijcs-  Onmanl  pioyrcH.^  or'  the  coiony—A  eolttqe  at 
Quebec— Glance  at  Champtain  s  daitt/  iife—lUs  death, 
on.  Chii.sl/nas  Da//,  1 0;],") -— ///o,-  Vliaraet(i\ 

TliH  relig'ioiis  con{Iovorsi(^s  wl.ich  picvnilrd  in  Franco 
addetl  tt)  the  number  of  (ciJoiiiMs  ihar  soiioht  new  iionies 
in  Canadn.  Cli.iniiilain  v>as  iaijoring  late  and  eaily  (or  tlio 
welfare  of  the  colcjiiy.  A  setth-ntent  was  naah^  at  Tliree 
Rivei-s,  and  a  bi'i.'sk  trade  was  cavried  on  at  Tadous^fac.  In 
1()-J()  Qiiel)eebe,uan  to  aysimie  ihe  face  of  a  city.  Most  WL 
the  old  l)iiih]in,us  liad  1  ei  n  h'Veieil.  wii.h  the  Ground,  and 
new  ones  erecl(>(L     The  fortress  was  jvbiiilf  with  stone.' 

]\eIi,U'ioiis  troubles,  liowever,  i:idia j,[jily  be.uali  lo  disturb 
file  p.'ac(>  of  tlie  colony.  The  jeople  were  divided  in  their 
relioians  principles.  The  Caens.  who  lield  tlie  monepuly  of 
tiade.  w.'ie  bitter  Calviiiisis.  Tlii-^  luhh d  to  the  diiiicuitie.'j 
of  (]h  tnipiaiiVs  position.  H,.  was  ,h-ei  \\  scandali/.;  il  by  Iho 
contiiinacious  her(\sy  of  Emery  de  Caen,  wlio  lior  (  n!y  as- 
send>led  his  Iliig-iienot  sailors  at  prayers,  but  forced  Catho- 

'  Thi>  yc.ir  1(i-.n  u;is  rcndnv,:  niomoial.;-  a!  (^ii-lu'c  l.y  S:,  ,Io~,i,li's  bi'li,^-  :\,nsm   ;h  \U-  I'lr^t 
r,itro!i  Sa'iil  nr  (\inarli. 

I/aniu-'c  I(i;i  flit  m.'irqiKV  i\  (Jiiohor  pnr  mo  ^n!,  mnito  roli-ioii-o,  ;\  lar|iu>llp  nssUi(-n'iil  ton.  los 
Fninvawct  pliHlcnp.  .s.utva-.N.  Kik.  f„t  ,(.\Ohxvo  rn  oxmi.ion  .n.n  va.n  fnit  a  ri,<,i,i,...  r  <!,■  Saint 
.Io.,.i.li.  HMiMlans  vono  nc.nsinn,  fiit  -hoM  ooinnu-  prnnin-  ].„!rnn  do  la  Nciivllc  rnii(v 
n.-iMH-  c,.  tr!np<.  la  drvotinn  rnv.-rs  Saint  ,Jo.r|,h  sVst  loiijniirs  -nnsiTvoc  vivo  ot  cnic'icTimil 
,os  ran.id.rns,  ain-i  ,1,10  I'attostonf  lo.  noinhio,i...s  c^-lisos  placoos  ^oii.s  sa  pvolootion.  el  !,■.  en- 
frori('>  I'lahlii's  on  son  )ioiinciir.— .IMr'  Fnlniul. 

'I'll,'  fh-t  Ivind  of  J(-iiiis  that  tiwl  iho-oil  of  Canada  landed  at  (Jiiol.or  i,,  Id--,      p  ,0.  ■-■,,•  „f 
rulluTs  Charl-s  [.aloDicnl,  Jolm  do  liroboar,  [:tiuiiMnrl  AU^.-o,  and  two  ILoIuts 


SAMUEL  Di:  ClIAMPLArX. 


'\\v<  to  join  lli(>in.  C;u':i  v.-ns  oi'ili'iv^J  liienccrortli  to  ])i'o1iil)ifc 
his  crews  IVoin  :ill  prnyiu;;'  iiiul  ],':i!!n-singin,u:  d'.i  llic  llivor 
Sr.  I.,  .leiice.  'i'lif  (!i't'v.s  revolli'iK  ;iiid  ;i  coinpruiuiso  avus 
■\\v.i\<\  l!"  Avas  ii!J:)v.>d  that,  i'ci-  tlie  present,  they  nii.uht  i)i'ny, 
Ital  wn\  siiiu^.  ••  A  bail  bari;'aii),"'  f-ay.s  the  pious  (Jhanijilain, 
'•i)ut  we  r.Kuli^  tli(>  best  of  it  we  could."'  Caen,  eniaued  at 
(lie  \'i:'ei'>)y"s  reproofs,  lost  no  opportunity  to  vent  his  spleen 
tiirainsr,  the  Jesuits. ' 

In  t'ais  divid(^d  srate,  the  colony  v/us  suddenly  attacl;ed  by 
r,n  Iv.iLilisli  arnianiMit,  under  tli(^  command  of  Sii-  David 
Rill;,  in  Iii2).  II'^  s.iile  I  ui)  the  St.  Lawivnce,  appeared  be- 
i';)!o  Quebec,  and  demanded  tin.'  surrender  (jf  the  ]>lace. 
<  'hamplain,  thon^-li  ill  prepared  to  resist  an  attack,  fi'av(^  a 
bold  and  di^'uilit^d  refusal.  But  tho  town  was  so  miserably 
,'inppliod  with  ])rovisions,  that  in  a  fliort  ti'.ne  each  man 
Avas  reduced  to  live  on  st'vcii  onnce.s  a  day  of  ]'(>;!s.  A  re- 
lief stpiadi'on  ii'om  France  entered  the  river,  but  was  cajv 
tuiod  by  the  En,o,'lish.  This  last  blow  iiinde  fnrtluM-  resist- 
anc(»  useless,  and  Champlain  was  reluctantly  obli,i>ed  to 
ca]iitulat(3. 

lie  was  carried  to  I'^'anee  in  a  British  vessc^l,  and  fcnnid 
the  minds  of  the  rulers  there  much  divided  with  reu'ard  to 
('anaila.  Sonn^  consith'^red  it  not  worth  r(\i:,'aining,  as  it  had 
cost  the  n'overnnient  vast  .sums,  Av'ithout  makinii'  any  return; 
others  deeme.l  the  hshery  and  fur  trade  to  be  ii'reat  national 
objects,  especially  as  they  pi'oved  to  be  a  nursery  for 
seamen. 

Champh\in  still  ardently  hoped  to  see  his  colony  re-estab- 
lished. V\'i;h  him  ])atiiotisni,  reliixion  and  civili/.ation  W(>re 
inseparabl(\  To  found  a  Christian  eni]iin>  in  America,  to 
civili/.e  the  Tndian  and  nial;e  him  a  child  (if  tiie  Church — 
such  were  the  gi'and  obj(>cts  to  wliich  thi;i  illustrious  man 
c  )ns(M'rated  liLs  (>nei';:y,  liis  alTection,  liis  life.  ]h.>  now  used 
nil  his  infliK^nc*  and  liis  eloquence  to  show  the  value  of 
Canada  to  the  mother  country.  Nor  were  his  eiforts  in  \ain. 
By  the  Treaty  of  St.  Germain,  in  1032,  Canada  wa:5  restored 
lo  France. 


% 


t  ■„■ 


,)l- 


SAJIUEL  DI-:  CHA}! PLAIN. 


'i 


Til  ]\ray,  1G'3n,  Clunnplnin  hnideJ  at  Qiubcc.  He  carried 
Avith  liitn  liis  cotiiniis-^ion  as  (Tuveniui-  oC  Canada,  signed  by 
Cai'diiial     Hiciu'licu   in    Lxdadf   uf    tlie    company   of   Now 


Fian 


(■(' 


il 


f   wa 


s    handed  flic  l\e\s  cS  I  lie  citadel,  and  \v 


MMued  command,     'i'lie  joy  ol'  the  colonists  was  l.onndh^s.s 

on  seeing  the  fonnder  ol"  their  countiy.     All  ](■((  gni/.ed  and 

admired  his  (h^votion,  and  liis  noble,  iiidonntsible  chaia<'te)'. 

]iut  a  few  days  i)assed  away,  uhen  I.e  held  a  great  conn- 


to   Wllicll   lie 


inv!te( 


I  jiis  duskv   fiifrds,  the  Alj 


;onqnin 


Cllli' 


He  had  heard  that  it  was  their  intention  to  liiule 
with  th(5  Mnglish,  and  he  spoke  to  them  witli  snch  skill  .and 
insinuating  eh>quenco  lliat  ilie  Indians  iiimnsed  to  hokl  no 
connnerce  with  the  enemies  of  the  Flench.  On  sucli  occa- 
sions, Champhiiii  was  actaistomed  to  gain  over  tiie  savages 
not 


o;i 


y  by  his    tact,   prudence,   and    j^ointed  reasoni 


nii-. 


bnt  even  more  so  by  his  gayety  and  (excellent  good  hnnuir. 
"You  are  always  the  same,"'  said  a  cliiff,  addressing  liim  at 
tlie  (dose  of  this  asseniblv.      ''You  1; 


ive  always  sonietlijng 
to  say  v.hirh  ghaddens  oi'.i'  liearls  aid  juts  lis  in  gxi-d 
tem])eT.*' 

Ttie  blessing  of  Heaven  now  seemcHl  to  \v^\  on  the  colony, 
and  it  a.d'.'anced  with  rapid  strides  on  llie  k  ;id  of  p(>nce  and 
pros])erity.  Immigi'ants  llowed  in.  Tic  .iesnit  Fathers  es- 
lablislu'd  the  llurou  missions.  ati(i;ded  lo  the  sj'iiitcal 
welfai'e  of  the  colonists,  and  lounded  a  college  at  (^hii'liec, 
the  first  college  ei'ec((>d  in  North  America  f;om  Iludscn's 
r>ay  to  the  (iulf  of  ^fcxico.  '"Its  frnndation  was  laid,  ' 
writes  I'ancroft,  ''uii'ier  happy  auspices  in  UiHi),  jus!  beli  re 


CI 


lamplaiU  ])a; 


d    fr 


(>m  amon'i'  the 


\[\\\\i 


and  two  \<'ar; 


before  the  immiu'ration  of  John  lla.rvard,  and  one  year  befoie 
tht>  General  Court  of   ]'\[assaclius(>tts  liad   nnule  provisions 


a  cf) 


liege. 


for 

Since  his  return  to  Qaebec  lln^  venera])le  Cliamplain  led  a 
most  active  and  saintly  lile.  JTe  estal)lislied  siicli  admir- 
able ord(n' among  liotli  citizens  and  soldiers  lliat,  according 
to  Father  Le  Jeune,  S.  J.,  'Mh(>  foi't  resmnbled  a -well  I'egu- 
lated  acad(Mny."     Fodowing  the  (>xample  of  their  chief,  all 


'  "  Ilitlory  of  tliu  United  .Stnti'P,"  Vol,  HI. 


{|J   \ 


SAMUEL  1)E  rilAMVJ.MX. 


Vu.i 


appr 


oaclu'd  the  Snri'MiiKMil'!.    'rlicir  cruKlucI  v/ns  rciriilnr  wvA 


('(111  viM,u-. 


Chiiiiiiihiiu's  t;il)l 


Jesuit    ]"';illi('i's  and  scMrfcd   dHiccis  iiiii!u.!i'(l  ;it 


lit'i'c  \v;i>  little  ('(inervatioii,  lull  in  ii 


jiidiul.  ;l^ 


i^es  (if  the  saints  were  lead 
in  the  rc-t'eeroi'v  ol'  a  nionasteiy.        In  the  eveniiii;', 


phiee  .n'DO'l  liistories  ami   the  i 


]i: 


vc  a  In 


(!■(' 


le  i'atiier,   the   (eiNcnior   rennite(I  fli 
h"'!'  in  his  room  to  make  tlie  examination 


e   ^dlitiers    to- 
ol' cc  iliseicnce, 

ami  to  say  tile  pi'a vers  I'or  tiie  iiiulit.  lie  al>o  eslal  lislied 
the  custom — so  iviiuionsly  eontiniH'(!  to  (lie  prescnl  time — 
of  soun(linu'  tlie  Aim'elns  liell  tliree  times  a  day. 

In  the  midst  oi"  all  these  happy  eiicumstances  the  anu'el 
oC  death  came.  On  Cliiistmas  day,  1():],">.  the  .■■;!'I  news  wa.s 
\vhis]>ei'ed  around  (Quebec  that  ('ham|ilain 
And  tlias.  at  thea,u'(>  of  sixty-eiuiit. 


was  i|(i  more. 


alter  iccei\liu 


i<'  lioiv 


con-olations  of  reliu'ion.  on  the  most  !canti!'ul  resti\al  in  th(^ 


cahMidnr  of  111-'  Churcli,  tlie  illust 


ran; 


'on'mh'r  oi'  ( 'aiuidii 


went  to  ree:>iv( 


tlie  reward  of  the  faithful  ser\aii( 


'•Christmas  ]).iv,  10  ].■)."'  writes  Parhman, 


was   a  (la 


av  m  t'le  anna 


Is  of  New  V 


i'an( 


In  a  cliamoer  of  tlie  fort, 


hreathless  and  co'd,  lay  llie  liardy  fiaiiic  whicii  war,  the  wil- 
;lerness,  and  the  s(>a  had  ball'e'ted  so  lon.u'  in  vain.  After 
two  mi)nths  anl  a  liaU'  of  illness,  (J!iam})::un.  a.t  iln^  ap' or 
sixtv-eiL'ht,  wasdeail.     ITis  last  cares  wi'ic  for  liis  co'.oiu  and 


ill-  SI 

tr.-id.- 


iccor  of  Its  snIl'eriiiL';  families.     .ie;uiits,  o{Ti('(»rs,  soldiei's, 


,d  the  l'(>w  s^'tl! 


of  (.^lebee  follou'el  liis  remain- 


ail' 


to  the  chnrch,  1j(^  .reiine'  ])i'ononneed  his  eidoir 
J'ee'']e  c  )mainn;ty  bnilt  a  fomh  lo  his  honor  '" 

("liamplain  passed  away,  loveil  anil  Iioiiohm]  by  all.  ?>faiiy 
T(^ais  afterwards,  a.  desnii  missionary  liearl  anionu'  iiie 
iluion  Indians  the  warmest  testimony  of  their  admiral'oii 
for  tlie  \  irtues  wliicli  they  liad  r(>marlse(l  in  ('liamplain  dnr- 
hig  the  winttH"  that  In;  ])asserl  in  their  coimtiy.  They  lidd 
liis  memory  in  thi^  p;r(>atest  respect. 

A  careful  stndy  of  his  life  an'l  claiiacler  will  show  ns 
tliat  he  poss(»ss(>(l  all  the  qualities  to  he  expected  in  the 
foamier  of  a  colony — constancy,  hianness,  conra,i::e,  disinPa'- 
cstedness,  honor,  loyalty,  patriot isni,  and  above  all  a  liviii;j; 


>  Th  •  ^■ii;i"ri(r  nf  tin?  Jc-i;i!  Fattii-rs  at  (Jiiebcc. 


I 


\i 


''AA'-M 


iMf 


376 


SAMUEL  JJE  CIIAMPLAIX. 


pi'actin:il  faitli  Avliich  rrownt'd  llie  ])o:iuty  of  Ills  nohlo  char- 
acter, and  led  liiin  to  reti'ard  ''tlie  .salvation  of  a  single  sonl 
as  woiTii  nioi'e  tinin  the  concinest  of  an  empire.'"' 

'i'o  profound  rdiuMous  convictions,  he  atldt^l  grandeni'  of 
views,  lirniness  in  the  midst  of  reverses,  and  a  nia!v<'lous 
p('rseveranc(>  in  tlie  principal  Avork  of  liis  life.  His  unwav- 
ering conlidence  in  the  i)rotectiun  of  (lod,  and  his  faith  in 
the  snccess  of  liis  enterprises,  are  v.orthy  of  unr  adniii'a- 
tion.  Jn  the  tni  1st  of  a  thousand  dillicullii's  he  niaiched  on 
courageously  towards  the  goal  at  which  he  aimed  ior  the 
glory  of  (vod  and  the  honor  of  France. 

Thirty-two  years  befoi'e  his  death  he  had  visited  tlie  ma- 
jestic St.  Lawrence  for  the  first  time,  and  formed  the  gi'and 
project  of  planting  the  French  flag  on  the  heights  of  Que- 
bec. Year  after  year,  he  persevered  in  this  glorious  enter 
prise.  Tn  war,*  in  councils,  in  his  long  voyag<\s  of  discov- 
ery, and  in  every  position,  he  never  ceased  to  exhibit  an  en- 
ergy, courage,  skill,  and  constancy,  wdiich  were  beyond  all 
piajse. 

He  founded  the  city  of  Quebec,  and  with  rare  happiness 
chose  the  sites  on  which  stand  to-day  tlie  cities  of  Thivi; 
llivej's- an  1  Mouti'eal."  S.)  carefully  did  he  protect  the  pub- 
lic and  private  interests  of  both  the  Frencii  colonists  and 
the  Indians. ihat  they  regarded  him  as  a  iath(>r;  and  in  the 
midst  of  contests  and  disputed  matters,  Avhicli  he  had  often 
to  decide,  never  was  a  doubt  raised  as  to  the  supreme  recti- 
tud(>  of  his  intcuitions. 

"Of  the  pioui'ers  of  the  Xorth  American  fcu-ests,''  says 
Parkmnn,  '"his  name  stands  foremost  on  tin*  list.  It  was 
he  whosti'uck  th'^deejiest  ami  boldest  strokes  into  th(>  heart 
of  their  pristine  barbaiism.     At  Chantilly,  at  Fontainebleau, 


'  CliiiinpliiM's  ;;i';il  for  ili"  |iro|i,i'^iiinM  of  llic  e,illio!ii'  rcli'.'ioii  was  >o  jrcat  t'.iat  it  vviis  ii  cuiii- 
iniiii  siiyiii;;  with  liirii  that  '•  llu'  f^ahatioi.  of  imc  i-oiil  was  of  morf  value  than  Iho  coikihoI  of  an 
cmiiliv."—  ltnm>i  tliHixip. 

-  Tlip  city  of  Thn'c  IJivcr'*  !<  Ik  twern  (Jirlii-;-  and  ;Moiilrral.  It  i:-  IIk-  pi-c  of  a  Calliolic 
Iii-hoi>. and  in  IHTl  had  a  population  ofT.rim. 

"  Montronl  in  today  the  lar;;fst  city  in  the  Dominion  of  f'annda,  and  llu'  commercial  capital  of 
the  country.  Ir  stands  cm  an  isiand  of  the  panic  naino.  v.ldcli  is  uhont  W  miles  Pniii  by  W  wide. 
In  isri  tlic  io;i:d.ition  was  lilT.'.ii"),  of  wincli  77.  !li>'U  wire  Cutliolic;*.  Mo;int  Koya',  lioiu  which  It 
lierivc*  its  nanie.'ritcs  I'O  feci  above  the  he.rljGf, 


SAMUEL  DE  CIIAMPLAm. 


377 


at  Paris,  in  tlie  cabinets  of  princes  and  of  royaUy  itself, 
niin^liuL^  with  tbe  proud  vanities  of  tLe  Court:  then  lost 
from  sii;ht  in  tlie  depths  of  Canada,  the  companion  of  sav- 
ages, slnirer  of  their  toils,  privations,  and  battles,  more 
luirdy,  patient,  and  bold  than  tliey — such  for  successive 
years  were  tlie  alternations  of  this  man's  life.  A  soldier 
from  his  youth,  in  an  age  of  nnbi'idled  license,  his  life  an- 
swen^d  to  his  maxims;  and  Avhen  a  generation  had  jiassed 
afrer  his  visit  to  the  lliirons,  their  elders  remembered  wiLli 
astonislmuMit  the  continence  of  the  great  French  war-chief.'" 
'"That  wliicli  we  most  admire  in  him,"  Avrites  Charlevoix, 
"was  his  consliincy  in  carrying  cut  his  enteiiuises,  Ids' 
bravery  in  the  greatest  dangers,  hii^' courage,  which  was  proof 
against  tlie  most  trying  niisfoi'tunes,  his  ardent  and  disinter- 
ested  ze;d  for  his  country,  and  his  tender  and  C()mi)assionate 
heart.  He  was  th(>  very  soul  of  honor  and  charity.  But 
what  gave  the  crowning  f(\iture  to  all  these  good  qualitins 
was  that,  in  his  Cijnduct  as  well  as  in  his  writings,  he  wii:j 
ever  a  true  Christian,  zealous  for  the  service  of  God  and  full 
of  candor  and  reliuion."  " 


'  In  !hi'  pr'Mwrntion  of  tho  forctjoins;  skotch  wo  osporially  prknovvicrtscoiirsrcaf  imli'titodiip-'sto 
I'.iikmairs  •  I'loiuHTs  of  Fraiux'  in  the  Now  Woilil,"  mvl  to  Abbe  Kerlimirs  "  Conrn  tiaiistoire 
(Im  i':in:iila." 

'  Hi'sidos  ilii-  vnlnnii-  "  I)i-«  Si!iv:i'^i>s,"  iM^iii'il  in  1(10?,,  fliiiMiiiliiin  pnhlislicd  "  Vny;it'r«"  in  ini:j, 
villi  vrry  viiiiialilc  (•liiirt<  of  ilu!  New  Flnaland  coast.  In  Hi:!','  lii'  piihli^hi'd  a  xvorli  coiilninini.'  a 
very  hadly  I'xi'ditrd  al.ridiinicnt  rf  tlio  pnnioMs  vnyaLrc^.  willioiil  ilicir  valiiahliMiiapK.  This  vol- 
ume also  ronlains  a  calcchism  in  Huron  and  .ayors  ni  .MonlaL-nais.  It  was  rcpiininl  at  I'arls  i;i 
InW.  wilhoiit  nia|)«.  As  sriiolar.s  ri'oiiiri'rl  a  I  llic  voyaci-s  to  know  wlint  Champlain  ri'ally  wintf, 
two  icarnrd  (■.•illiolic  clfiu'ymcn  of  (^urlu'c,  (ho  Al)lio.s  I.avordiori'  and  Cascrain.  well  known  lor 
tlii'cr  hwuiricai  siiidios,  pulilishcd  in  isrO  tho  wholo  fcrios,  ini|iii!ln<_'  liis  Mexican  vovai;o,  ir;  i 
vols,,  Willi  uoiod  uud  lac-iiimltu  of  aU  the  m»pb  imd  WH-Mlx-iVinii.—Amtikan  Cy  iojudM. 


}  '■ 


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ii 


FATHER  ISAAC  JOGUES,  S.  J. 

THE  APOSTLE   OF   THE  IROQUOIS. 


FATHER  ISAAC  JOGUES,  S.J, 

THE  APOSTLE  OF  THE  HIOQIOIS," 


CHArTEK  I. 

THE   YOITH    OK    A    (illKAT   :MIS.i;iOXARY. 

jofjiies''  hirih  and  family — His  woilter — Education — Be- 
roiiieii  a  Jcsiii/ — Ordination — ^ceks  a  foreign  mission — 
Is  sent  to  Canada — Letter  to  7iis  mother — Another  let- 
ter— Is  seid  to  the  Huron,  mission — Description  cf  the 
jonrnen — His  rnissioiiari/  toils— Dijficutties  of  the  mis- 
sionaries— His  joumeij  to  the  Tobacco  2s(dion. 

Ts;i;ic  Jorriies,  "one  of  tlie  purest;  exani})l('S  of  Cntliolif! 
virtue  wliirli  tliis  Westei'n  Continent  has  seen,"  w;is  iKniiJit 
Oileatis,  Fi'anee,  on  the  KUii  of  Jnntiaiy,  KiOT.  Tft^  lidoiip  il 
to  a  most  Avortliy  family.  At  an  eai'ly  age,  tlie  hoy  ww.i 
dejii'ived  of  his  father,  but,  ]iai)pily.  he  i'ound  in  his  motlur 
u  nol>le  woman,  wlio  inKhn'sfood  ilie  lioly  mission  ^\lli(•i^  Ciod 
h;id  confided  to  lier  in  tlie  (MJiication  of  lier  ehildii'U. 

In  Ins  tentli  yeai'.  Isaac  enfci(  d  llie  collc^ac  just  openiMl  by 
the  .lesiiit  leathers  in  his  nativ(>  city.  As  hegrew  inap',  lie 
made  rapid  pio^ress  in  Ids  studies,  and  always  stood  ]ii<;h 
in  Ins  <'Iass.  When  talent  is  backed  by  haid  work,  the  re- 
Avard  is  ntner  uncertain.  In  this  instance,  ue  are  told,  suc- 
cess was  the  fruit  of  constant  api)!ication.  sec(;nd('d   by  w 


'  rtiii'f  aiilhnrili"!"  iispd:  Pern  V.  M.'irlin.  '•  I,o  Re.  P.  Tsanc  Jo'^iiios.  do  In  C'lmipiiiriiic  de  Jt'cim, 
Prrniicr  Apc'ilrc  dcs  Iroqno's;  "  Pi'ic  F.  .1.  Biossiini,  •'  Rcliirnn  AhirL'i'C  dc  (^fiicUjiic^  .Missi()rl^," 
ridiivillp  (''ililjon.  I8TT;  At>l)e  Prrliind,  "  Coins  (rui-ioiic  dii  Canmla;"  Hanciort,  "  llisidry  of  llie 
Tiiilt'd  Stiili';-;"  Parkman,  '•The  il<>Mits  in  Noiih  America;'  Ktwa,  "  Fli-lory  of  tlic  Calliolic 
Missions  amotif;  llio  Indi  n  Tribes  of  lliemited  i•^tat('H,"  MacLeod,  "  Ili'^otlon  lo  tlic  Hlcsstd 
Viriiin  in  Nortli  America;'"  Spaldiiiu'.  "  Mi-cellaiica;'"  Dc  Coiircy.  '-Tlic  Caliioiic  Clmreli  in  the 
Imiled  Stiitei-;"  "ilisiory  of  ihe  CuUiolic  fliurth  in  thu  Vuitcd  Slates." 

370 


'I   IH 


Jl 


i 


;  I 


■i  i 


I'  ; 
■is 

i!  ' 


38!) 


FATllird  ISAAC  JOUCICS,  S.  J. 


fioliil  jiidu-nuMit,  an  cxfellcut  incit.ory,  inucii  pt'iictnition,  ;ui(l 

ol"  heart.     >.'()tliiii"'  is  mure  favorable  tu 


lappy  .(lisjtDsitiuns 


lln'  liiiihcst  develoiJineni  of  intelligence  llian  a  good  heaii; 
and  truly  a  piii'e,  good  heart  beat  in  the  boyish  bo.-oiu  ui 
Jsanc  .loLi'iies. 

With  til"  cousi'iit  and  biessin;j;  oi'  liis  mother,  ne  entered 
the  novitiatti  of  the  SixMety  of  Jesns,  at  llouen,  in  his  seven- 
t'M'iiili  year.  Here  tlui  fiituK^  Ai)ostle  of  the  Iroquois  foniid 
a  master  profoundly  verse;l  in  the  knowledge  and  piaelice 
of  the  things  of  Ood.  This  wixn  the  famous  I'^aliier  Louis 
Laleuiant,  S. .).     The  virtue,   apiii  udes,  and  happy  di.spci- 


lion  oi  tli(^  vounir  novu'-e  wei 


itrikiiu 


11( 


idvaneed  in 


■\vis(h)ni,  age.  and  grace   Jiefore   (lod   and   man."'     After  a 
time  he  taught  with  ap;)!ause,  passed    lhioi<.h  various  toi- 


h-' 


(>S  o 


f  th 


5(i( 


ietv,  and  Avas  oidained  in  1C;,(1 


Fatlun- dogues'  desire  for  a  foreign  mission  Avas  soon  grati- 
fied, and  in  the  spring  of  ICyM)  he  was  oidei-ed  fo  Dieppe, 


\\ 


here  a,  S(piadron  was  about  to  rail   for  Canada.     ]jid' 


f)re 


quitting  Konen,  he  wrote  a  few  v.ords  of  consolation  lo 
liis  UKjther.  The  letter  hears  the  maiks  of  haste,  Init  it 
(ihows  the  simplicity,  grandeur  of  soul,  and  filial  all'ection  of 
the  wi'iler : 

*'Most  Honored  jMotlier: 

"It  would  be  failing  in  the  first  du  v  of  a  rnod  sor,  to- 
wards  so  excellent  a  mother,  if,  ])eing  on  the  point  of  step- 
))ing  upon  the  broad  oconin,  I  should  forget  to  say  adieu.  1 
sent  you  a  letter  la.st  month  i^y  ^.Ir.  Tanzeau,  slating  that 
I  started  for  Dieppe.  We  hoped  to  sail  about  Holy  Week, 
but  headwinds  and  unfavoi'able  wenther  have  caused  delay. 
I  hope  that  God  will  deign  to  give  ns  a  fair,  |)ieasant  voy- 
age, as  our  squadron  is  made  u]^  of  quite  a  number  of  ves- 
sels, and  many  good  sonls  pray  foi-  us.  T  am  sure  you  \vin 
please  contribute  something  to  the  success  of  our  voyage 
by  your  pi'ayers,  and,  above  all,  by  a  generous  resignation 
of  your  will  to  the  Divine  will,  conforming  your  desires  to 
those  of  Divine  Providence,  which  are  never  other  tlian 
most  holy  and  honorable  for  us,  since  they  emanate  from 


mimsa 


.' 


FJTlliril  ISAAC  JOG UES.  S  J. 


381 


the  licnrt  of  a  F.itlicr  passioiiiitcly  solicitous  foi-  our  \vciriin\ 
"I  hope,  as  I  liave  said  on  auoilicr  occasion,  tliut  if  voii 
receive  tins  little  alfliction  in  the  projjer  spiiit,  it  will 
be  extremely  agreeable  to  the  .\lniighty,  for  the  love  of 
anIioih  should  be  "iven  not  only  one  son,  but  all  the  others. 
;;!!([  even  life  itself,  if  it  werc^  necessary.  Vov  a  little  i:ain 
men  travers(3  the  seas,  endiirin.i,^  at  least  as  much  as  we; 
and  for  the  love  of  God  we  hesitate  to  endure  what  men  do 
in  the  interest  of  the  world! 

*'Adieu,  my  dear  iMother.  I  thank  you  for  all  your  tender 
ail'ection  to  me.  Should  we  not  meet  a<i-;tin  in  this  woild, 
God  will  call  us  together  in  the  land  of  the  Jilessed. 

'^Please  to  give  my  most  humble  regards  to  my  bi'otliers 
and  sisters,  to  wdioso  alfectionate  prayers,  as  to  your  own,  I 
commend  mvself. 

Your  most  liumljlu  son  and  ohcdiont  servant  in  J.  C., 

ISAAC  J  OGLES. 

D:i;iTi:,  April  Otli.  10.16."' 

The  pv'Mits  connected  with  his  voyage  and  landing  in 
r.iu'id.i  are  recounted  in  the  following  letter  to  liis  .Mioiiipr, 
dated  at  Tlu'ee  llivers,  August  SOth,  IGIJO: 

"At  last,  it  has  ph'ased  our  Loi'd  that  I  si  ould  stand 
V]u)i\  the  soil  of  Xew  France.  This  is  something  foi-  \\i;i''h  [ 
liad  long  hoi)ed.  We  sailed  from  Dieppe  (>n  the  Hlh  of 
April,  eight  vessels  in  company,  and  arrived  eight  weeks 
after  our  departure.  I  landed  on  an  isle  called  Mlscous, 
Avliere  two  of  our  Fathers  are  eiur^loyed  in  mini.- fering  t(>  tho 
French,  avIio  have  one  haliitation,  and  in  beginning  the  work 
of  conversion  among  the  savages.  After  speriding  lifteen 
days  with  them,  I  boarded  another  vessel,  whiidi  brought 
nie  to  Tadoussao.  This  is  a  place  where  the  ships  stop, 
whilst  the  baiks  and  smaller  vessels  proceed  up  the  great 
and  lengthy  River  St.  Lawrence  to  Quebec,  a  Frenidi  ])0st 
which  is  daily  growing.  I  arrived  there  on  the  2d  of  July, 
?he  Day  of  the  Visitation  of  Onr  Ladv. 


'  A  copy  from  Iho  orijiiniil  of  this  letter  ran  be  found  m  Murlin's  Ia^  P.  fxaae  ./ogiiex,  Premier 
Aprtfre  rffv  JrmjiKiU.  p.  18.  of  which  the  Kov.  author  sayj<  lltat  ihc  'aii;onraphe  est  conserve 
»vcc  un  rcligicux  ruspuct  dans  Id  famille  du  servitLur  dc  Dieu,  et  que  nous  copiona  litterulemeut.  ' 


38!, 


VATllEU  ISAAC  ,JU(iUi:s,  8.  J. 


sm^ 


'•I  li;iv(!  eiijoyt'd  such  cuiitiiUK'd  iiiid  excellent  ln'iillli  on 
se.i  wild  land,  tliaiiks  be  (u  (lod,  tiiai  il  is  a  cuiise  ol"  asioii- 
isliiiit'iit  to  111}. self,  iis  it  is  not  by  any  iiicans  an  ordinal y 
tiling  to  nuike  such  a  long  jouincy  without  bniiig  an- 
noyed by  either  sea-sickness  or  the  least  indisposition. 
Tlie  vestments  Tor  Mass  have  been  ot  the  greatest  u;ie  to  me, 
i'.)r  L  have  oll'ered  \\\^  tlie  Holy  Sacrilice  fvciy  day  dining 
i'avorable  weather,  a  hapidiiess  of  which  1  would  have  uci  ji 
(.iei)rived  but  for  the  thoughtful  generosity  of  ou"  family; 
this  has  been  a  great  consolation  for  nie,  and  a  favor  \\hi(  ir 
oiii'  Fathers  did  not  enjoy  in  preceding  years.  The  s(iiiail- 
]oa  jH'olited  thereby.  Without  this  the  eighty  voyagers 
who  were  on  our  vessel  would  have  been  two  months  witii- 
oat  'issisting  at  the  Holy  Sacrilice,  in  ])lace  of  which,  on  ac- 
count of  the  faculty  which  I  had  to  ci'lebrate,  they  all 
made  their  confessions  anil  received  Ccjinmunion  on  the 
festivals  of  Pentecost,  Ascension  Day,  and  Corpus  Christi. 
(lod,  ill  His  gratilude,  will  not  fail  to  bless  you  and  Ma- 
dame Hondelln,  for  having  contributed  to  this  good  work. 

'"And  nov.-,  dear  Mother,  every  year,  with  the  grace  of 
God,  you  will  receive  letters  from  nie.  and.  in  return,  I 
shall  exjiect  to  hear  from  you.  It  shall  ever  be  to  me  a  con- 
solation to  hear  front  you  and  from  our  family,  as  I  scarcely 
hope  to  see  you  again  in  tliis  world.  ]>ut  may  God  merci- 
fully grant  that  we  shall  meet  again  in  the  abode  of  the 
blessed,  to  i)raise  Him  for  all  eternity  !  .  .  . 

"I  write  this  separated  from  you  by  more  tlnm  a  thousand 
leagues,  and  it  may  happen  that  during  the  present  year  I 
shall  be  sent  on  a  mission  to  a  rafu-n  called  the  Hurons. 
Their  country  is  three  hundred  leagues  distant.  It  is 
said  they  are  well  disposed  to  eni'orace  the  Faith.  Hut  it 
matters  not  wlie.re  we  are,  providtnl  that  w^e  are  always  in 
the  hands  of  Providence  and  in  His  holy  grace — this  is  the 
wish  which  from  the  altar  I  shall  every  day  breathe  to 
Heaven  for  you  and  all  our  family." 

A  few  days  after  this,'    the  devoted  Jogues  was  on  his 


'  H"  i'V(>n  ri'fiT."  to  hn  r.''\v  m.siion  in  tlu-  poitxcript:     "  I".  S.  Je  vions  di:  rencvoir  I'ordie  de 
liK'  .li-  ;)()s(T  ;i  parlir  duns  li;)i.-i  oi  qUHtrc  jo-.ir.s  [)o;ir  allcr  chcz  lea  Hiirous." 


VAT  n  Ell  ISAAC  JOUUFS,  S.J. 


:j83 


way  up  tliH  St.  Laurence  to  the  country  of  tlu'IIurons.  In 
u  It'fte*!-  written  tlin  siibstqiicnt  year'  tu  liis  iiiotlier,  the  iiiis- 
si(»ii:ii'y  <nve.s  us  a  ^111111).^"  at  the  details  oi"  tlie  l()n;;uiHl  pain- 
ful jounu'y;  and  ceriai.!!*,  it  was  soineiliiriL!:  far  dilicrent 
lioMi  a  steamboat  exclusion  of  our  day  up  the  Hudson  or 
on  tlih-  St.  Laurence. 

"Ah  it  is  not  every  year  that  an  opjiortnnity  may  present 
itself  to  write  to  you,"  lie  beii'ins,  "I  iiou'  sei/t.  an  occasion 
to  accpiit  myself  of  this  duty  to  so  <;(;od  a.  ?uother.  1  am 
sine  you  will  be  exceed in<i,'ly  ^lad  to  leaj'n  the  Divine  p;ood- 
lU'ss  to  me  since  my  arrival  in  the  country  of  the  llurons. 
I  wrote  to  you  last  year,  in  the  month  of  Aii<iust,  jui^t  at 
the  moment  that  I  was  about  to  be/xin  the  journey.  I  left 
'I'hr^e  Rivers  on  the  twenty-fourth  of  .vu^Misr,  M.  liartholo- 
niew's  Day.  I  was  put  in  a  birch-bark  canoe, which  would 
not  carry  more  than  live  or  six  persons.  It  is  not  very  easy 
to  recount  to  vou  all  the  annoyances  of  such  a  vovat-e;  but 
the  love  of  God,  which  called  ns  to  these  missions,  and  tlm 
desire  to  contribute  in  some  v/ay  to  the  conversion  of  thrt 
poor  barl)arians,  renders  all  that  so  sweet  that  we  would  not 
change  these  pains  for  all  the  joys  of  tlie  woild.  The  food 
of  the  vovaa;ers  was  a  little  Indian  corn,  cj'ushed  between 
two  stones  and  boih^d  in  water,  witlutut  any  other  seasoninii'. 
We  slept  on  the  earth  or  on  the  frij^'htful  rocks  which  guard 
the  banks  of  the  great  river,  and  always  in  the  glimmer  of  the 
moonshine.  The  posture  which  wo  are  obliged  to  take  in 
The  canoes  is  extremely  unpleasant.  So  small  and  narrow 
was  the  space  that  you  need  not  think  of  stretching  your 
legs.  You  could  scarcely  stir,  feai'ing  to  be  upset  into  the 
water.     I  was  obliged  to  keep  a  profound  silence. 

"Other  things  added  to  the  sum  of  our  troubles  and  fa- 
tigues. During  the  voyage  we  met  between  sixty  and  eighty 
I'apids  or  waterfalls,  which  descend  with  such  impetuosity 
tliat,  by  approaching  too  near  them,  the  canoes  are  frequently 
engulfed  It  is  true  that,  as  we  were  going  against  the 
KTream,  we  were  not  exposed  to  these  dangers;  but  we  were 


It  18  dated  June  6th,  1037. 


384 


FATHER  ISAAC  JOGUES.  S.  J. 


none  the  less  obliged  to  travel  over  rocks,  pnsh  tlirongh  tlifl 
woods,  and  take  our  way  over  by-paths,  loaded  at  the  same 
time  with  all  the  bnggnge,  and  even  the  canoe.  As  for  me,  I 
not  only  carried  my  little  package,  but  lent  a  hand  to  the 
Indians,  until  a  boy  ten  or  twelve  yeai's  of  age,  who  be- 
longt^d  to  our  party,  fell  sick,  and  I  took  charge  of  him,  carry- 
ing  him  on  my  shoulders  at  the  portages  occasioned  by  the 
cataracts  of  which  I  have  spoken. 

"We  pushed  along  the  route  with  such  diligence,  that 
instead  of  twenty-nine  or  thirty  days,  which  this  joui'uey 
commonly  occupies,  we  reached  the  end  in  nineteen.  Heie 
J  found  live  of  our  Fathers,  some  of  whom  have  resided  in 
the  country  for  live  or  six  yeai's.  The  two  la;st  arriva.Is  were 
Fatliei's  (Jarnie^  and  Cliastelain,  who  reached  tlui  mission  a 
mouth  before  me.  And  tlius  has  God  preserved  me  to  this 
day  full  of  health  and  stnMigfh."' 

On  tiu^  11th  of  Septemb  M',  KJ')  ?,  Father  ,To,gu<^s  ai'rived  at 
the  Huron  village  of  Ihonafiria,  surnamed  h^t.  J(j;u'ph. 
Tliis  was  the  point  of  destination.  It  was  the  abivlf  of  the 
missionai'ies.  Great  was  the  joy  in  the  cabin  of  (lie  l''atlH'rs 
en  the  arrival  of  the  new  bi'other  who  came  to  be  a  pai'talvcr 
in  tlieir  toils  and  ho])ivs.  'I'he  illustrious  S;i[)i'i'ior,  l''atli('r 
.Tolia  de  Brebeuf,  received  liiiu  wilh  open  arms,  as  an  angel 
from  Heavt>n. 

A  few  days  aftiu' his  ariival.  Father  Jogues  fi'll  sick.  A 
pestilential  disorder  broke  out  and  swept  the  land  of  the 
Jlui'ous.  The  cabin  of  thn  missionaries  b(M'ame  a  veritable 
hospital.  At  one  time  the  priests  were  all  down,  exc(^])t 
Father  de  Erebeuf  and  two  others.  Ihit  all  tinallv  recovered, 
and  rushed  lo  the  care  of  tle^  sick  and  dying.  At  the  same 
t  me  every  village  resound(Ml  Avith  the  orgies,  games,  feasts, 
find  other  rites  in  ]iom)r  f>f  (lu^  TiTanitou.,  Autoci'hj,  ordered 
by  the  medicine-num,  in  Avhoni  the  savages  had  unboundeil 
coniidence,  and  Avho  attributed  the  scourge  to  (In;  auger  oi 
that  god. 

Amid  this  tumult, the  missionaries  continued  their  task. 
Th(^  catechumens  were  \\\o  first  object  of  their  solicitude.  No 
ellort  was  spared  to  prevent  their  dying  unbaptized ;  but 


FATHER  ISAAC  J'^GUh'S,  S.  J. 


ns") 


whrn  the  wi'ciclu'd  iiu'diciiH'-nicn  accused  the  Fatlu'i's  of 
hi'\ui':  tln^aufliors  of  the  disease,  the  ludiaus  drove  tlie  hitler 
fjoin  their  wigwams. 

Singular  as  it  may  seem,  nf)r  the  h^ast  of  tlie  didiculfies 
Avhicli  tile  man  of  (lod  ht!;'  to  encounter,  A\as  to  icjic-eiit 
himself  in  Ids  i)roper  character  to  tins  ignorant,  seiisuah  ar.d 
superstitious  race.     Ofien  lie  was  hated  and  jieisrciilcd  as 


a  s( 


)!'t  of  superior   medicine-man  who  luul  evil 


ill'Si 


i:i:s  in 


visiting  the  Indians.  Tiie  presence  of  ''llie  mysl (Miens 
strangei'.s  garbed  in  black,"'  aroused  fear  and  siisiiicion. 
They  were   narrowly   watched.     Their  lives  were  in  con- 


stant per 


:1. 


Thev  wen?  generallv  hcht  ncoonntaMe  for  all  the  niisfor- 
tunes  that  befell  the  villau'e  in  which  thev  had  come  tomak 


\e 


their  abode.     Sickness,  small-pox,  bad  crops,  want  of  suc- 
cess in  war — all  were  laid  to  the  charge  of  the  priests  !    Their 


ch 


)Clv, 


bead 


s,  crucilixes, 


1)1 


cviaries,  wjre  ad,    in  turn,  sus- 


ptH'tedof  being  charms  for  the  destruction  of  the  red  race. 
AVhole  tribes  came  to  regard  Baptism  with  horror,  as  ji 
deadly  incantation.  One  of  the  .h.'suit  Fathers  had  a  little 
box  in  which  he  cai'ried  liis  stationery  ;  and  it  was  seriously 
thought  tolxMiscd  tor  the  ];!U'pose  of  holding  the  souls  of 
d(^•ld  Indians,  v.hich  l:e  l-ore  away,  and  toimenlcd  for  iiis 
amusement  I 

In  short,  the  pagan  Indians  thought  lliat  the  missionaries 
weip  mighty  magicians,  masters  of  life  and  death  ;  and  they 
c;inie  to  tlidU  for  sp  'lis  — soait 'times  to  d(>s!roy  I  heir  enemies, 
and  sometinu'S  to  kill  grasslioi)peis.  It  took  yeais  of  in- 
struction and  sublime  e\am|)le  t(^  eiadicate  this  false  and 
ridiculous  impression  fiom  the  cnuh'  savagi^  mind. 

Aft'r  toiling  tiir<>e  years  among  tli<'  iliirons,  the  new 
and  iMU'iloiis  mission  ot'  tli(>  Tobacco  .Nation   fell  to  I'^allur 


Joii'ues  and  Father  (Jarnier, 


'hev  Av«>re  well  chosen;  and 


Vet  n(uther  of  them  was  robust  bv  nature,  in  bodv  or  mind, 
though  Jogiies  was  noted  for  ]tersonal  activity.  The  To- 
bacco Nation  lay  at  thedistanci^  of  a  two  tlays'  journey  fioni 


the   Huron   towns,   among  th*^  mountains  ai    ilu 


nea( 


I    of 


lNottuwassau;a.     The  two  missionaries  tried  t(j  lind  a  .eiiiilo 


i 


336 


FATUER  ISAAC  JOGUES,  il  J. 


at  Osso<<saiu' ;  biif  nunc  would  ^uo  with  thoiii,  nnd  t hoy  sot 
is:l\\  on  their  wild  :uid  iiiikuowu  pilgrinuige  nlone. 

The  roi'csis  were  full  of  fsnow ;  and  the  (soft,  nioist  ihiiccs 
ware  still  {'iilling  thickly,  obscuring  the  air,  beplasteriiig  tlie 
g'.ay  trunks,  weighing  to  the  earth  the  boughs  of  sjtruci,'  ami 
])int},  and  hiding  every  footprint  of  the  narrow  path.  Tiie 
Fathers  missed  their  way,  and  toiled  on  Mil  night,  shaking 
down  at  every  step  from  the  burdened  bi-anches  a  shower  of. 
lleeicy  white  on  their  black  cassocks.  Aight  overtook  them 
in  a  spruce  swamp.  Here  they  made  a  lire  with  great  ditfi- 
cilty,  ciU  the,  evergreen  boughs,  piled  them  for  a  bed,  aiul 
lay  down.  The  storm  presently  ceased ;  and,  "inaised  be 
God,"  writes  one  of  the  travelers,  '*we  passed  a  very  good 
night." 

In  the  morning  thev  breakfasted  on  a  morsel  of  corn  bread, 
and,  resuming  their  journey,  fell  in  with  a  small  jiaity  of 
Indians,  whom  they  followed  all  day  without  food.  At 
e.'ght  in  tJie  evening  they  reached  the  lii-st  Tobacco  town;  a 
miseiabh^  clustei' of  bark  cabins,  hid(h'n  among  forests  ami 
half-buried  iu  snow-drifts,  whore  the  savage  children,  seeing 
the  two  black  apparitions,  screamed  that  Famiiie  and  Pest 
were  coming. 

Their  evil  fame  had  gone  before  thorn.  They  were  un- 
v.olcome  guests;  ntn-ertlieless,  shivering  and  fami.^Iied  as 
they  were,  in  the  cold  and  dai'kness,  th(»y  boldly  ])ushe!l 
tlieiv  way  infr)  one  of  these  diMis  of  barbarism.  It  was  ]>i'e- 
cisely  like  a  Huron  ho!is:».  Five  or  six  lires  })la/.ed  on  t!ie 
earthen  lloor,  and  around  them  wer(^  huddled  twice  that 
number  of  familios,  sitting,  crouching,  standing,  oi'  tlat  on 
the  ground  ;  old  and  young,  w"omea  and  men,  chihlren  and 
dogs,  mingled  pell-mell. 

The  scone  would  hav(>  ho>^n  a  strange  one  by  daylight ;  it: 
was  doubly  so  by  the  llicker  and  glare  of  the  lodgo-lires. 
Scowling  brows,  sidelong  looks  of  disfiaist  and  fear,  the 
screams  of  scared  children,  the  scowling  of  scpiaws,  the 
growling  of  ■woKish  dogs — this  was  the  greeting  of  the 
strangers. 

The  chief  man  of  "llio  household  treated   the  pricT'ta  at 


FATHER  ISAAC  JOG UES,  S  J 


387 


0W'- 


first  with  tilt'  Joct'iicies  of  Indian  hospitality  ;  but  wlum  lie 
saw  theiu  kneeling-  in  the  litter  and  ashes  at  their  devotions, 
ills  suppressed  fears  found  vent,  and  he  began  a  loud  ha- 
i,;u,u'u;',  addressed  half  to  them  and  half  to  the  Indians. 
'•^'o\v,  what  are  tlie.se  a^vVy  doing  !^  They  are  making  ehariii.s 
fo  kill  us.  and  destroy  all  tiiat  the  pest  has  sjuiied  m  this 
house.  1  iii'ard  tiiat  tliey  were  sorcerers;  and  now,  when  it 
is  too  h\U\  I  believe  it.''  It  is  wonderful  that  tlie  Fathers 
escaped  the  toinahawlv.  Xowlu.'ie  is  the  power  of  coui'age, 
iiiiih,  and  an  uniliiu-hing  purpose,  more  strikingly  displayed 
than  in  the  ri^cord  of  these  missions. 

In  other  Ti)bacco  towns  their  reception  was  much  the  same; 
hin  at  th(3  largest,  called  by  them  iSt.  Peter  and  St.  Paul, 
they  fared  worse.  They  i-eached  it  on  a  winter  afternoon. 
KvcM'y  door  of  its  cajiacious  bark  houses  was  closed  against 
thi'Mi  ;  and  tli(\v  heard  the  f-ipiaws  -within  calling  on  tiie 
ynimg  men  to  go  out  and  split  their  heads,  while  children 
.sci'i'anKMl  .abuse  at  the  black-robes.  As  night  approached, 
they  left  tlx'  town,  when  a  band  of  young  men  followed 
them,  hatchet  in  hand,  to  put  them  to  death.  Darkness, 
tile  foiesr,  and  the  mountain  favored  them;  and  eluding 
their  ]tursuei"s.  they  escaped.  Thus  began  the  mission  of 
(he  Tobacco  Nation.' 


1  PuiKOiiUL 


'  ] 


^  ■} 


u 


CnAPTEP.  11. 

A  CArTIVK  AMONG  THK  ?i()irA"\VKS. 

T7ie  Cross  1)1(11116(1-  in  2[lclii(jan  —  T]Le  Huron  mission— 
Father  Joijues  on.  his  icai/  to  Qacbcc — Is  talcen  on  tlia 
r( turn  To>/age  Tjij  the  Jlohmchs — Sir/Tcrinr/s  and  adncn- 
t'ln's  on  the  ica.ij from  the  R.  L'lrorenne  to  the  hind  of 
the  MuhntcJcs — LaJce  George — Jlecolting  tortures — The 
death  of  Goivpil — The  m'irt>/r-missionar]f  s  life  among 


tf;e  s:irag!"i — His   cscaj_)e  and    arrival   in    2rcio 
derdaut. 


ii:i- 


I.i  [\>\  f.iil  of  IvOll,  Fatlicr  Jogncs  and  liis  companion, 
Fatlier  ]l.:ynibaiiU,  pnsstHl.  nortlnvanl  along  (lie  slion^s  of 
Lake.  Ilui'on,  eiiteivd  the  strait  tlii'ongli  uliicli  JaxV.o  Su- 
])',M'ior  discliarixivs  itsolf,  puslifdonasfaras  Sault  Sainto}*[arie, 
and  p!'^'a('ln>  I  t!ie  Faith  to  two  thousand  A!:!;onquin  Indians 
tlicro  asscmbl(ML  Tlio  clutds  invited  tli(>  Fatliers  to  dwell 
anionu' tlieni,  and  hopes  were  insjvlred  of  a  pt^rnianent  mis- 
sion. '*  Wo  will  ombraco  you."  said  they,  "as  brothers; 
■we  will  (bM'ive  profit  from  your  words."  Thus  Father  jogues 
was  the  first  to  jilant  tlie  Cross  in  the  soil  of  Midu\i;an.' 


'  Thii.'  (lid  the  n-lj'^ious  zoiil  of  the  Froncli  lionr  t!u'  Cross  to  the  bnnks  of  the  St.  Man-  nnd  lyio 
coiitliios  of  I.:ikc>  Siiponor  luid  look  wisll'ul'.y  towards  t'.u^  lioini?  of  tlio  Sioux  in  tlic  valley  of 
till'  Mis'iissippi,  live  y(•ar^^  lii'fori!  Ilio  New  Kii-'land  i^lliot  had  uddrfs.^ml  thu  triljo  of  Indians 
tliat  dwelt  witldn  nix  niilci  of  Iloslon  Iiarhor. — Dittn'rofi. 

Till' "  New  ICnLdand  I'lliol,'' should  not  lie  nieiitioned  on  the  fnirr  piur.' with  tlie  very  liuin- 
lik's;  of  llie  Jesuit  nii'^-ioniiries  Did  I'.e,  or  any  other  rrot"'it,uit  m'uisler,  ever  make  any  ijrci', 
pacrillres  for  Ihe  spiritual  henelTt  ol  the  Indian'*  ?  l^id  he  "  leavi'  fathir  nnd  mother,  and  home 
and  wife,"  to  devote  himself,  lioily  nnd  soul,  for  their  salvation,  amid  "  perils  of  rivers,  in  porili 
o  robbers,  in  perils  in  the  wilderness,  in  labors  and  painfulneps,  in  watehiui;  often,  in  lmu;;i  r 
nnil  thirst,  in  many  fastings,  in  cold  and  in  ii'ikedness  •."  Was  ever  a  I'roteslant  minister  known 
to  eiidare  all  this,  Oi  even  any  considerable  iiovtion  of  it,  for  the  love  of  t'hrist,  nnd  tlio  convcr- 
pion  of  the  heathen?  Ali  theso  iirivatious,  however,  Ihe  .Jesuits  elieerfiilly  endured,  and  many  of 
them  much  more  besides;  for  many  of  them  (.dadly  laid  down  their  lives  in  this  cause.  Tho 
flrsf  missionanes  amoiiL'  the  Iliirons— Katbers  Daniel,  Di;  Urebeuf.  and  Lallomont— all  fell  plori- 
ous  marlyrH  to  thru  devoted  zeal.  Tlie  "  New  Knirljind  Elliot"  is  not  known  to  have  pene- 
trated much  further  into  thf!  Indian  wilderness  than  six  miles  from  Hoston  harbor;  and  he  did 
very  HI  tie  nnd  siiccei'dcd  very  poorly,  cvfn  when  hu  reached  thiij  umazing  distance  from  homo  I 
•r-.lrchlUhop  S^ialillny. 

388 


/'.I  TlIKll  y.s'.klC  JOG  U EH,  S.  J. 


:j«.9 


Kpverses  were  now  beginuin;^  to  overshadow  the  Huron 
mission.  It  mus  in  a  state  of  destitution.  Tiiere  was  need 
of  ('lotliin,^  for  the  ])riests,  of  vessels  for  thi^  altars,  o'i  hread 
and  wine  for  tiie  Holy  Saei-ilice,  of  writing  nialeiials— in 
Ldiort,  of  everytliing.  Father  .loirues,  jicc(ani>anied  by  a 
train  of  Indians,  was  sent  down  to  Q  lebec  ior  su{ij)lies.  It 
was  a  most  dan;i,e;'()as  journey,  at  tliat  time,  for  the  Iroquois 
v.cre  ravagin;;' tiie  Huron  territoiy,  and  tlieir  iierce  war-cry 
ivsounded  uK)iig  tiie  banks  of  tlie  St.  Lawrence. 

Fathe'r  .logues  ariived  at  Quebec  in  safety,  executed  his 
various  commissions,  and  laejiared  to  letnin  witli  tlie 
Ilurons.  Tliis  was  in  ltjl"2.  After  commending  themselves 
to  (fod,  tlie  party,  which  consisted  vA  twelve  canoes,  set 
fvtrtli  on  the  return  voyage.  Having  reached  the  western 
extremity  of  Lake  St.  Peter,  tin;  frail  ciafts  weie  hugging 
the  shore  to  avoid  the  strong  currents  of  the  river,  when 
suddenly  the  v/ar-whoopof  the  Iroquois  rang  through  iheair, 
;;ud  a  shower  of  balls  rattled  about  theni.  Several  canoes 
of  tiie  enemy,  filled  with  warriors,  pushed  out  from  their 
concealment,  and  bore  down  upon  the  de\()ted  Jogues  and 
his  companions.  In  a  m;)ment  the  pagan  liurons  like 
f^iiameful  cowards  lea^ied  irom  the  c:inoe;  but  tlie  Jesuit, 
the  three  Frenchmen,  and  a  k^w  Christian  Indians  with 
liirn,  '"olfered  up  a  prayer  to  Christ,  and  faced  the  enemy." 
At  the  lii'st  whistling  of  tlie  balls,  a  catechumen  thivw  him- 
r;'lf  on  his  knees,  and  the  fearless  priest  ba])ti/(-d  liini. 
.Shout  a  do^'tm  of  tliem  fought,  but  the  Iro(pi<»is  were 
seventy  in  number.  Th(»  inissionnrv  did  not  (.\en  try  to 
escape,     (foupil  was  taken,  iighting  like  a  lion. 

The  next  brought  in  was  a  famous  Christian  oldef.  Alias- 
istari,  who  cried  out:  ''My  Father,  did  I  not  swear  to  live 
or  die  with  you!''  Finally,  Couture,  a  young  Frenchnnin 
Avlio  had  escaped,  <^ame  Inick  iind  gave  inmself  up,  saying, 
''I  cannot  abandon  you,  my  dear  Father."  This  lieroism 
won  him  tlie  lionor  of  torture.  Tln^  Iroquois  sti'ij)])ed  him 
:ifc  once,  tore  away  his  nails,  crushed  his  lingers  with  their 
tectli,  and  ran  a  sword  througli  his  right  hand;  and  Father 
Jogues,  v,-ho  consoled  the  l.'rave  fellow,  v.as  also  violently 


:MI 


m 


li 


■>\:  * 


390 


FATHER  ISAAC  JCaU!-:S,  8.  J. 


attacked,  beaten  till  lie  fell  senseless,   for  tl:ev  rnslied  on 


im 


lik 


\.e  wolves,  and.  not  content  witii  (>lo\v: 


lOre  ont  his 


nniN,  and  u'nawed  his  liiiu'ers  to  the  verv  Ikjik, 


'i'hi^  ti'o  jiiois  now  einhai'liiHl  with  tlieii'  iney  ;  but  7)ot  un- 


til they  had  knockec 
Jouai 


I  on 


iiiii^ 


es.  wif  11    Ins    ma 


A\ 


head  an  old  llni'on,  Avhuni 
n.u'led   hands,  had  just   baptized,  and 

lio  rei'iis(>d  1()  leave  the  place.  Then,  under  a  burning 
sun,  they  crossed  to  the  spot  on  which  (Ik?  town  oC  Soiel' 
now  stands,  at  the  month  of  the  lliver  Kichelieu,  where  thev 
encampi'd. 

'I'lieir  course  was  southward,  up  the  IJiver  Kichelieu  and 
Lake  (.'ham.  ■  'u;  tlunu'e,  by  way  of  L-ake  (ieoi'/^e,  to  tlie 
JMohawk  .        Tlie  pain  and  fever  of  their  wounds,  and 

the  ch)n(I  i  ^,,.  iiius([uitoes,  whicli  they  could  not  dri\  e  oil',  left 
th'i  prisr)ners  no  peace  by  day  nor  slei^p  1)y  nii::lit. 


0;i  th 


Nii'li    '  ua' 


f  1- 


\v  learned  that  a  large  Iroquois  war- 


party,  on  flieir  way  ic  (,':inada,  were  n(>ar  at  hiiiid ;  and 
they  soon  at^proached  their  camp,  on  a  small  island  near 
the  Routhei'ii  end  of  Lake  (jhainplain.  The  Avari'ioi-s,  two 
liundred  in  nunii)er,  saluted  iheir  victorious  countrymen 
wiih  volleys  from  tlieir  ,uiins;  then,  a.rmed  wilh  c  ,ibs  and 
tiiorny  sticks,  ranii,ed  tlienise]v<'s  in  two  lines,  betwe<Mi 
which  the  captives  were  compelled  to  jtass  np  the  side  of 
a  roekv  hill.     On  the  wav,  ihev  were  l^eaten  Aviih  sndi  furv 


Ihal 


lou'ucs,     who   was 


ast    \\\     the 


line 


lell    ]iou('i'|('ss, 


drenclied    in    blood   niid     half-dead.      .Vs    the   chief     man 


ainon.u'st    the  I'^reiieh    captives,    lie    faretl    tlie    wo: 


Hi 


hand 


s    were 


aiiain  manu-leil,  and  lire  ai)pli(Ml  to  his  ])ody 


Avhile  the  Huron  child",  Aliasistari,  was  subjected  to  tortures 
even  more  atrocious.  When  at  niuht  the  exhausted  suf- 
ferers tried  to  rest,  tin*  younij;  warrioi's  came  to  lacerate  their 
wounds  ',n\^\.  y)iill  out  their  hair  and  ])eards. 

In  the  niornini,^  thev  resumed  tlieir  iournev.     And  now 
the  lake   narrowed  to  the  semblance  of   a  tranquil   rivei'. 


Tlip  town  of  Surd  is  iibniit  t.')  mill's  liclciw  Mcnili-cal,  lit  (lie  iiKintli  of  llif  l!ir1ic>lirii  river.    It 
orcupifH  till'  site  nf  llic  olil  fnrt  liiiill  liy  llic  I'niuli  in  Kit;."!.     In  ISVl  ils  i>ii|ml.itii)!i  u;is  ri.ii'ili. 

''  '•  (tiHl  ■linn"  ■  111-  nrii'n\ sr  1^  urnt."   "  fiir  who^o  Imi'  niul  glory  it  ia  swcel  and  ^ioiioiis  lO  euf- 
fiT,  (viu  ti'll  \vh:it  ci'iiellicH  llii'y  pcriii'tnitnl  on  ino  tlicn." 


FAT II Eh  ISAAC  JOG UF.S.  S.  J. 


391 


Before  them  ^Yas  a  woody  nioimtain,  closi^  on  tlicii-  i  iiilif  a 
rocky  proinontory,  aiul  between  these  lluwed  u  stream,  tlie 
outlet  of  Lake  George. 

On  tliose  rocks,  more  tlian  a  hundred  years  after,  rose  the 
7aini)ai'fs  of  'I'iconderoga.  They  landed,  shouhlcrcd  tlieir 
caiiDi's  and  ba,i!:,-ra,u"e.  tdok  tln.'ir  way  tln'ough  tin'  woods, 
]>ass!'d  tlie  sjiot  w  liere  thi^  lit^ree  lliii'hlanders  and  iIm'  ie,iri- 
nii'nts  of  J^igland  breasted  in  vain  the  sloian  of  leail  and 
\h\\  and  soon  reached  the  shore  where  Abercroinl)ie  landed 
and  Lord  Howe  fell. 

First  of  white  men,  Father  Jogues  and  liis  c'oin}iaiu(in.s 
fca/,c(l  on  the  romantic  lak(^  tliat  bears  the  mime,  not  of  it^^ 
iivntle  discoverer,  but  of  the  dull  Hanoverian  King.  Like 
a  fair  Naiad  of  the  wildei'n<'s.':,  it  slumbered  Ix'tween  the 
guardian  mountains  that  bi'eat lie  from  crag  and  forest  the 
stern  poetry  of  war.  But  all  then  Avas  solitude;  and  the 
clang  of  trumpets,  the  roar  of  cannon,  and  the  deadl\' crack 
of  the  riile  laul  never  as  vet  awakened  their  aiiurv  echoes.' 


Au'ain  the  canoes  were  launched,    and  the  wild   1' 


old 


glided  on  its  way.     The  Tro(piois  landed  at  ov  near  the  fu- 
ture  site  of   Fort  AVilliam  llenrv,  left  their  canoe 


h  their  prisoners,  began  their  march  for  tho  nca 


IC.^t 


law 


town.     Ivicli  bore  his  share  ^)f  the  plunder.     l\ 


ami, 
veii 


.bvi:ues,  though  his  laceraletl  hands  were  in  a  fri,<:htful  con- 
dition and  his  body  covered  with  bruises,  was  forc'd  tostag- 
tvr  on  with  the  rest  under  a  heavy  load.  He,  with  liis  fel- 
low-prisoners, and  indeed  the  whole  i>a)1y.  were  hall-starved, 
subsisting  chiefly  on  wild  beri'ies.  They  cro:-se(l  the  upoer 
Hudson,  and,  in  thirteen  davs  after  leaving  the  St.  Law- 


i 


'  r.iikc  (Ji'oriic  i<  ;\  ])i('tiirp^'f|iu'  sliocf  (if  water  in  tlic  Ktatc  (if  New  YoUi,  !!(!  liiilcH  Ion;,'  ntul 
from  llip.'i'-f.i.irilis  of  >\  milo  to  I  iuik'<  wi,l  \  In  s,)ni''  phic  •-  it  i-*  H)  feet  (iccp.  It  (lis(lm";:os 
its  «:itci''<  info  Lake  Clianiplain  on  tlic  norlli.  It  Is  rcniarkalilc  for  the  Inin^paroncy  (if  itK  v.-atcr, 
its  nui'ililii(!i'  of  lllilo  islands.  ])Opnlarly  snpposcil  to  correspond  In  nnnilwr  with  \\w  days  of  tlio 
year.  Itranllt'nl  is  I  lie  scenery  on  its  shores.  Black  .Monnt.ain,  on  I  lie  cast  shore,  lias  an  elevation 
of  alioiit  '.'.','0(1  feet  alcove  the  siirfarc  of  the  lake;  and  1-^  miles  distant  fnmi  it  is  a  \ery  :  tci  |i  Kick 
ri.-ini;  a>i)  feet  from  the  water,  down  which  it  is  said  .Major  KoLjers,  when  piirsned  liy  Indians 
dnrinu'  the  rrencli  war,  slid  and  landed  safely  on  the  ice.  Not  far  from  this  spot  Is  the  place  where 
Il.o  ICnL'li^h  under  Lord  Howe  landeil  pre.ionsto  tlieir  nltaek  on  the  I-'rerich  stroiiL'hold.  Fort 
Ticonilero'_'a.  The  ruins  of  that  fort  can  still  he  seen  at  (ho  east  end  of  the  narrow  channel 
tiiMiiu'li  wliicU  thu  wuter.i  ot  Lake  Ueorgo  uro  coiivt7(.i.l  to  Lake  ChampUiiii.— .Imtvican 
VycloihtUta, 


'    •  imittiTtErnc 
■nrt,iFi 


3,)i 


FATHER  ISAAC  JOGUES.  S.  J. 


m 


!l 


\  f 


r!MU'(\  iicnri'd  tlie  wretclied  goal  of  tlicir  i/ilgriiiiage,  iij.ali. 
s.i:li".l  town,  standing  on  a  hill  by  the  banks  of  the  Kivel 
!M(>!ia\vlv. 

The  whoops  of  th(;  victo'\s  announced  their  ni)proa<^h,  and 
the  savaij,-!^  liive  sent  forth  its  swarms.  They  throu.^cd  the 
f^idc  of  th"  bill,  the  (tid  and  tlie  yoim^-,  eacli  with  a.  stick  oi- 
;i  slender  iron  I'o i.  bought  from  tin'  Dutchmen  on  the  lliul- 
S()!i.  Tli;'y  I'.iaj,- '  I  tli.'ms:'lv(>s  iu  ;i  double  line,  reaching; 
npwar  I  to  the  enrr.iiKv^  of  the  town;  and  through  this 
"ji:ii'row  roail  of  Paradise,"  as  .logues  calls  it,  the  captivea 
wei'e  b'd  iu  single  lilc.  Contni'e  iu  front,  after  him  a  half- 
score  of  llui'oiis,  ihi'ii  (loupil,  til  u  tlu>  I'emaining  llurons, 
and  at.  last  .logues.  As  they  p;issed,  they  vejv  saluted 
■Willi  yells,  screeches,  and  a  tempest  of  l)lows.  One,  heavier 
tlviii  ill'  orliers,  knicke  I  Jogues'  breath  from  his  body,  and 
SLrt'lclu'd  him  on  Ihe  ground;  but  it  was  death  to  li<'  there, 
ani.  reg.iininu'  his  feer.  he  staggered  on  with  the  rest. 

When  rhev  reached  the  town,  the  Idows  ceased,  an<^  they 
w<M'e  all  ])laced  on  a  scail'old,  or  high  ])latform,  in  the  nud- 
die  (d'  the  place.  The  t  ■■ -co  Frenclimea '  liad  fared  the 
■worsi.  and  wi>re  friuM  fully  disligured.  (rouitil,  especially, 
vas  streaming  with  blood,  and  livid  with  bruises  from  head 
to  foot. 

They  w(M'e  allow(Ml  a  few  minutes  to  recover  tliejr  breath, 
nndistui'bed.  except  by  the  Jiooting  and  gilx^s  of  the  mob" 
below.  Then  a  chief  call'^d  o!it ;  "Come,  let  us  caress  these 
Vreiichnien  I'" — and  the  crowd,  knife  in  hand,  began  to 
niDunt  the  scail'old.  They  ordered  a  Christian  Algontjuin 
^voman,  a  ],i'isoner  among  them,  to  cut  off  Jogues''  left 
thumb,  which  she  did;  and  a  tliund)  of  Goupil  was  also 
sevei'ed,  a  clam-shell  being  used  as  the  instrument,  in  oi'der 
to  increase  the  ]>ain.  It  is  needless  to  specify  further  the 
tortui'es  to  wliich  they  wei-e  subj<>cted,  all  designed  to  cause 
the  greatest  possible  sull'ering  without  endangering  life. 

At  night,  they  were  removed  from  the  scaffold,  and 
placed  in  one  of  the  houses,  each  stretched  on  liis  back, 
with  hifi  limbs  extended  and  Ills  ankles  and  wrists  bound 


'  JojjiK'S,  ('(iiilinv,  and  (.ioiiiiil. 


FATHER  ISAAC  JOG  UES,  S.  J. 


303 


fast  to  sfnKPS  diivon  into  tlie  earthen  floor.  Tlie  cliildren 
now  i)r(ilit('(l  by  the  exampk^s  of  their  parents,  and  amused 
themselves  by  pLacinii;  Jive  coals  and  red  hot  aehes  on  llie 
naked  bodies  oi"  the  pi'isoners,  wlio,  Ixtund  last,  and  cov- 
t'red  v.'ith  wounds  and  bruises,  which  made  every  7nove- 
ment  a  torture,  were  sometimes  uiud)Ie  to  shake  them  off.' 

The  captives  weiv  led  about  to  other  villaires,  but  in  all 
they  met  the  same  barbarous  treatment.  In  one  of  these 
the  scalfold  was  already  occupied  by  Huron  prisoners,  sev- 
ci'nl-of  whom  were  catechumens.  On  reaching  them,  Father 
.logues  made  instant  inquiries  as  to  their  religion.  He 
heard  the  confessions  of  the  Christians,  and  i)rei)ared  the 
oth<n's  for  the  Saci'ament  of  Baptism.  But  he  was  a  pi'is- 
oner  himself,  and  alas  !  could  not  procure  u  drop  of  water. 
At  till'  mom  Mit,  however,  a  Avarrior  passinl  by,  and  threw 
him  a  stalk  of  Indian  corn.  The  moriung  dew  still 
glistened  on  tln^  bright  green  leaves.  The  Jesuit  r.sed 
the  pearly  dro[is  so  as  to  bai)tize  two,  and  shortly  after,whil6 
ciDssiiig  a  streaui,  he  conferred  the  Sacrament  on  another. 
Heaven  was  opened.  The  Mohawk  mission  had  commenced. 
A  council  of  chiefs  was  held,  and  it  was  decided  that 
all  should  dit>:  but  on  further  consideration  the  French 
^vHi-e  reserved  as  jirisoners,  and  but  three  of  the  Ilurons 
were  sentenced  to  death.  Among  these  was  the  noble 
Ciuistiiiu  chief,  Ahasistari.' 


I  •■  It  \v;i<  on  till'  -jnili  of  Soptfitnbor,  Ifil',',"  writos  Fathor  Joanos,  "  tliiit  this  nn','('l  of  innocotico 
tlii^  miirlvr  of  .Icmis  V\\\\>\.  at.  the  iiso  of  tlilrty-llvc  yi'iirs  was  iininolMtcd  to  lliui  w ho  hiid  pivn 
his  \\U-  for  liis  rcilomiHloii.  He  hiul  cons^ucratcil  his  hrart  and  his  soul  to  (iod,  and  Ids  hand  and 
his  .■xisli-ir."  to  tlic  service  of  the  poor  Indians."  Keiu'  Goupil  liart  been.'dncatfd  fortlie  iniMli. 
cnl  profession.  Me  attached  himself  to  the  Canadian  ir.issions  as  a  ,U,n'i,!',  that  is  "a  man  «ho 
h.is  <;iven  himself  l.>  the  mission  without  any  hope  of  earthly  reward. "-See  Hressaui's  Uitutwn 
Ahn'ijie  \)  Va;  and  .Martin's  \lr  ik  7.-n'icJogiit.«.  p.  SV,. 

The  brave  Coiilnrewas  adoplcdby  tlicMohnwks,  but  did  rot  live  U-nu'  anionc  them.  In  \M9 
he  married  Anne  Aymart.  and  established  himself  at  Point  Levis,  opposite  (^ueliec.  where  he 
held  a  ^•overnment  position.  He  .lied  in  1702.  at  theaL'c  of  tllyears.  llisdeseendanlsare  numer- 
ous. Amon;:  these  have  been  Mgr.  Turyoon,  Archbishop  of  Quebec,  and  JIgr.  li..urf:el,  Uishojiof 
Miuitreal,—.l/y/V /"t )•/««(/. 

'  Anion;;  the  converts  made  by  the  illnstrionR  T)e  Ilrebenf  and  his  companions  of  the  Huron 
mission  there  is  none  tliat  staml  forth  so  prominently  in  the  records  of  the  time  as  Aliasi^^tari. 
Nature  had  planted  in  hi-  mind  the  .seeds  of  religious  faith.  "  Hefore  you  came  to  this  country," 
he  would  say  to  the  missionaries,  "  when  I  have  incurred  the  createst  iierils  and  have  alone 
oecaped,  I  have  said  to  myself  ;    '  Some  powerful  spirit  ha»  the  guardianship  of  iny  days  ;'  "  aii4 


394 


FATUEIi  ISAAC  JOG  UES.  S.J. 


f  ,iii 


U     il 


Fallier  Jogues,  fo  quote  Parkinau,  los*"  no  o]iportiinity  to 
baptize  clyiii.ii;  infants,  while  Goupil  taught  children  to  make 
the  sign  of  the  cross.  On  one  occasion  he  made  the  sign  on 
the  I'oreliHiid  of  a  cliild,  grnndson  of  an  Indian  in  whose 
lodge  they  lived.  The  sujjerstition  of  the  old  savage  was 
aroijsp;!;  some  Dutchmen  had  told  hitn  that  the  sign  of  the 
cross  c;iiu'^  fio  u  the  devil,  and  would  cause  mischief.  He 
thought  that  (xJiipU  wiis  bewitching  the  child;  and,  ivsolv- 
ing  to  rid  hirnsplf  of  so  dangerous  a  guest,  applied  I'or  aid 
to  two  young  braves. 

Jogues  and  Goupil,  clad  in  their  squalid  garb  of  tat- 
tered skins,  were*  soon  after  walking  together  in  the  for- 
est that  adjoined  the  town,  consoling  themselves  with 
prayer,  and  mutually  exhorting  etich  other  to  suffer  pa- 
tiently for  the  sake  of  Christ  and  Ilis  Holy  Mother,  when, 
as  thej^  were  returning,  reciting  their  rosaries,  they  met 
the  two  yoiuig  Indians,  and  read  in  their  sullen  visages 
an  augury  of  ill. 

The  Indians  joined  them,  and  accompanied  them  to  the 
entranci^  of  the  town,  wliei'e  one  of  the  two,  suddenly  di-aw- 
ing  a  hatchet  from  beneath  his  blanket,  struck  it  into  the 
head  of  Goupil,  who  fell,  murmuring  the  name  of  Christ.' 
Jogues  diopp'l  oa  his  knees,  and,  l)owing  his  head  in 
prayer,  awaited  the  blow,  when  the  murderer  ordered  him 
to  get  up  an  1  go  home.  He  obeyed,  but  not  until  he  had 
givea  absolution  to  his  still  breathing  friend,  and  presently 


he  professed  his  belief  in  Jesus  Cli'ist,  iii.  the  C'lod  (genius  and  proleetor  whom  he  had  before  iiii- 
coiiscioiisiy  adored.  AI'Icv  trials  of  his  siiirerity,  he  was  baptized;  and  enlistiii;;  a  troop  ot  enn- 
verts  savaijes  liUe  hiiii-eff,  ■'  Let  us  strive,"  he  exclaimed,  "  to  make  the  wliole  world  embrace  tlm 
fuith  111  Jesus.''— yy((;i(vy,'Z. 

'  Kene  Ooiipil,  or  "the  L;ood  Rene,"  as  all  called  him,  was  a  native  a!  .Anjers,  and  educated  aa 
n  physician.  He  entered  tln'  Society  of  Jesus,  but  was  rornpelled  to  leave  from  want  ol  health. 
On  his  recovery,  he  olTered  himself  ns  a  dciini'to  the  Canadian  mission.  He  here  rendered  sig- 
nal service,  especially  in  the  care  of  the  sick,  and  was  a<lmired  by  all  for  his  t-'ooilness.  piety, 
zea'.,  and  devotion.  He  was  put  to  death  September  '«1lh,  KVia.  The  fullest  sketch  of  his  life  is  in 
n  m.ii.usciiit  of  F.ather  Jolmics  :  and  that  illustrious  missionary  does  not  hositatu  to  call  him  "a 
martyr.  Tio-.  only  to  obedience,  but  also  to  Faith  and  the  Pross." — S/im. 

The  l,r-^\e  I'outure  was  adopte.l  by  the  .Moliavks,  but  did  not  live  long  amon2  them.  Tn  IfiJfl 
he  married  Anne  Aymart,  and  established  him^^elf  at  Point  T.evis,  op|)Osite  (Quebec,  where  ho 
he  id  a  ;;overnii.(>nt  position.  He  died  in  ITll'J,  at  tlie  a^e  of  !H  years.  His  descendants  .are  name- 
oHs.  Anionic  thi-.-e  have  been  Mgr.  'iurgeou,  Archbishop  of  Quobcc,  and  JIgr.  Iluurgot,  iliuiiop  o* 
Montreal.— .iftfti  PtHanU. 


-•■«-:»' 


FATHER  ISAAC  JOOUES.  S.  J 


39o 


saw  tlip  lift'li'ss  body  dragged  tbrougli  the  town  amid  hoot- 
ings  and  rejoicings. 

Jogiies  passed  a  night- of  anguish  and  desolation,  and  in 
tlip  iiiorningset  torfU  insHarohoC  CT0U[)irsren»ains.  ""  Wiiere 
are  you  going  so  ta-.  i"  dfiuaiidt'd  the  old  Indian,  his  mas- 
ter. "Do  you  not  see  those  lieire  young  braves,  who  are 
watching  lo  ivill  you?  '  Tlie  hei'oic  ]ii'iest  ]iersist( d,  ;ind  the... 
old  man  asived  another  Indian  to  go  with  him  as  u  pro- 
lector. 

'I'lie  corjise  had  been  Hung  into  a  neigliboring  ravine,  afc 
the  bottom  of  wiiich  ran  a  torrent;  and  liere,  with  \ho  In- 
dian's helj),  Jogues  Toiind  it,  stri})ped  naked  and  gnawed  by 
dogs,  lie  dragged  it  into  the  water,  and  covered  it  with 
stones,  to  save  it  from  further  mutilation,  resolving  to  return 
alone  on  the  following  day  and  secretly  bury  it.  I5ut  with 
the  night  there  came  a  storm;  antl  when,  in  the  gray  of  the 
morning,  Jogues  descended  to  the  brink  of  tlie  sti'eam,  he 
fouuil  it  a  rolling,  turbid  flood,  and  the  body  was  nowhere 
to  be  seen. 

Had  the  Indians  or  the  torrent  boi'ne  it  away?  Jogues 
waded  into  the  cold  current;  it  was  the  1st  of  Oc'obei-;  he 
sounded  it  with  his  feet  and  with  his  stick;  he  seai'ched  the 
Kicks,  the  thicket,  the  forest,  but  all  in  vain.  Then, 
ciouched  by  the  pitiless  stream,  lie  mingled  his  tears  with 
its  watei's.  and,  in  a  voice  broken  with  groans,  cnanted  the 
f'ervice  of  the  dead. 

The  Indians,  it  proved,  and  not  the  flood,  had  robbed 
hitn  of  the  remains  of  his  friend.  Early  in  the  s]"»ring, 
when  the  snows  were  melting  in  the  woods,  he  was  told  l)y 
^fohawk  children  that  the  body  was  lying,  where  it  had 
been  flung,  in  a  lonely  sjiot  lower  down  the  stream.  lie 
went  to  seek  it;  found  the  scattered  bones,  stripped  by  the 
foxes  and  the  birds;  and,  tenderly  gathering  them  np,  hid 
them  in  a  hollow  tree,  hoping  that  a  day  might  come  when 
he  could  give  them  a  Christian  burial  in  consecrate  1  ground. 

After  the  mjirder  of  Goiipil,  Father  Jogues'  life  hung  by 
a  hail'.  He  lived  in  hourly  expectation  of  the  tomahawk, 
and  would  have  welcomed  it  as  a  boon.     By   signs   and' 


390 


FATIIEn  ISAAC  JOGUEii,  8.  J. 


words,  he  was  wiirned  that  liis  hour  was  near;  but,  as  he 
iit'ver  shunned  his  fate,  it  tied  IVoni  him,  and  each  day, 
vviih  leni'wed  astonishment,  he  found  himself  still  among 
tliH  li\■i^^^' 

>i'o\v  s(jlitary  amid  the  Afohawks,  the  man  of  God  devoted 
his  leisure  moments  to  the  spiritual  comfort  of  the  Huron 
captives,  who  were  scattered  through  the  towns.  The  Mo- 
hawk dialect  differed  so  much  from  the  Huron,  that  he  was 
iinal)le  to  address  himself  on  religious  toi)ics  to  the  natives, 
and,  as  he  daily  expected  death,  he  deemed  it  useless  to  at- 
tem])t  a  compai'ison  of  the  two  dialects.  Led  as  a  slave  to 
the  hunting-grounds,  he  drew  on  himself  ill  treatment  tuid 
threats  of  death  by  liis  firmness  in  refusing  to  touch  food 
wliich  had  been  offered  to  the  demon  of  the  forest.'  He 
also  excited  the  ill-wIU  of  the  fierce  savages  by  his  constant 
prayer  b^^fore  a  rude  cross  carved  on  a  tree. 

But  he  bore  his  load  of  griefs  manfully;  and  found  solace 
in  his  sonows  by  reflecting  that  he  alone,  in  that  vast  re- 
gion, adoi'ed  the  Ci'ealor  of  eai'th  and  heaven.  Iloaming 
through  the  stately  forests  of  the  Mohawk  valley,  he  wrote 
the  name  of  Jesus  on  the  bark  of  trees,  engi'aved  crosses, 
and  entered  into  possession  of  these  countries  in  the  name 
of  (iod  -often  lifting  up  his  voice  in  a  solitary  chant. 
"^Vliat  a  theme  for  the  pen,  what  a  subject  for  the  pencil — 
this  living  nuirtyr,  half-clad  in  shaggy  furs,  kneeling  on  the 
snow  among  the  icicled  rocks,  and  beneath  the  gloomy 
l)ines,  bowing  in  adoration  before  thegloiious  emblem  of  the 
Faith,  in  which  was  his  only  hope  and  his  only  consolation! 


'  "The  Jesuits  in  Nortli  America." 

''  \Mo  in  t'hc  nutiimn,  a  party  of  Indinns  pet  forth  on  their  yearly  dcer-hnnt,  and  Jotiues  was  or- 
dered to  tro  with  them.  Shivering  and  lialf-famit^hed,  hi'  followed  them  throiifjh  tlie  chill  Ko- 
vemher  forest,  and  shared  their  wild  hivoiiac  in  the  depths  of  the  winter  desolation.  The  game 
they  too!<  was  devoted  to  ,\reskoni,  their  pod.  and  eaten  in  his  honor.  Jofjnes  would  not  taste  tho 
meat  olTereil  to  a  demon;  and  thiisjie  starved  in  the  midst  of  plenty.  At  nif;ht,  when  the  kettle 
svas  slunj;,  and  tho  savat'e  crew  ma(k'  merry  around  their  fire,  he  crouched  in  a  corner  of  the  lint, 
gnawed  liy  hunger,  and  pierced  to  the  bono  with  cold.  They  thought  his  presence  unpropitiou.s 
10  their  huntlni;.  and  Uie  women  especially  hated  him.  His  demeanor  at  once  astonished  and  in- 
censed his  masters.  Ho  brmipht  them  firewood,  like  a  squaw;  he  did  theijr  bidding  without  a 
murmur,  and  patiently  bore  flierr  ahuse;  but  when  they  mocked  at  his  God,  and  laughed  at  his 
devotions,  their  slavs  assumed  an  air  and  tone  of  authority,  and  sternly  rebuked  them.— 
Parkman. 


FATHER  ISAAC  JOGUES,  S.  J. 


397 


As  time  prisscd,  however,  Fiithor  Jof^nea  hernino  more 
f;iniili;u'  with  tlio  Mohawk  l!in,u;uage.  lie  couJd  ('(invei^t/ 
!i  little.  The  chii.'fs  bei,'au  tort'spect  him,  and  as  he  showed 
IK)  disposition  to  escape,  lie  was  allowed  a  larjje  liberty, 
rs'or  was  h(i  slow  in  availing  himself  of  this  itrivilege.  lie 
visited  otlier  towns,  and  when  lie  ]»assed,  (Un\  j^iisscd  with 
him.  Ue  ministered  to  Clirisiian  prisoners,  often  ]ii'epar- 
iiig  them  for  eternity  amid  the  very  flam(\s.  lie  bajitized  in- 
fants in  danger  of  death  ;  and  when  grace  tonclied  the 
piigan  fn^art,  he  was  consoled  by  a  C(mvei'si(m.  Thus  not 
witlidiit  frnit  was  the  ca])tivity  of  the  martyr-missionary. 

II.'  accompanied  his  Indian  masters  on  several  trading  ex- 
clusions to  the  Dutch  settlement  of  Kensselaerswyck.'  It 
was  while  here  in  Angnst,  1(J4',],  that  .Togiies  wiote  the  fam- 
ous letter  to  Ids  Provinciiil,  in  which  he  recounts,  in  ele- 
gant TiUtin,  the  scenes  and  siiU'erings  that  had  marked  the 
days  of  his  captivity." 

But  scarcely  was  the  ink  dry  on  liis  letter,  Avhen  the 
Jesuit  learned  that  the  Indians  were  plotting  his  destruc- 
tion. Some  of  the  xirincipal  Diitidi  inhabitants  pressed  him 
to  escape,  and  kindly  olFered  him  every  aiil  in  their  power. 
The  priest,  however,  hesitated,  and  spent  a  ni^ht  in  jtrayer 
befori'  coming  to  any  decision,  lie  concluded  that  it  was  the 
will  of  (lod  to  embrace  tiie  opportunity  given  him. 

But  the  heroic  missionary  passed  through  many  an  adven- 
ture and  "hair-breadth  escajte"  l)efor(3  regaining  his  lib- 
erty. On  one  occasion,  while  crossing  a  fence,  he  Avas 
severelv  bitten  in  the  leg  l)v  a  li«>rce  do"'.  He  Avas  stowed 
a\v:iy  f(ir  several  days  in  the  hottora  of  a  boat  in  the  river, 


ill 
5f 


'  Now  All)iiiiy.— '•the  ccntro  of  tills  mile  little  scttlciiicnt,"  cnys  I'liikniiiii.  "  was  Fort 
Oraiiiri;,  II  misor.iljli.' stnictiiro  of  lo;;^,  staiuliiiL.' on  a  spot  now  uitliiii  tin-  limits  of  the  olty  of 
All)aiiy.  It  contiiiiied  soveral  lionscs  and  n-licr  hnildmszs  ;  ninl  licliiiid  it  wm"  n  small  cliiirch,  ro- 
contly  crfctcil,  and  sirviiij;  as  the  abode  of  till'  pastor,  llominie  Me^iipoUnsis,  known  In  our 
(lay  as  the  writer  of  an  Intereslin.L'.  tlion^rli  sliort  aceoniit  of  llie  Moliawks.  Some  S)  or  :)()  houses, 
rnuu'hly  l)\illt  wilti  hoards  and  roofed  with  thatch,  were  scattered  at  intervals  on  or  near  tho 
hordcrsof  the  Hudson,  above  and  below  the  fort.  Their  Inhabitants,  about  100  in  iniinber, 
Vere  for  (lie  mos|  p.nt  rude  Dutch  farmers,  tenants  of  Van  liensselaer.  the  p;itroon.  or  lord  of 
t\n-  miunjr."~'j'/:t  Jci-aili'  in  Aor/h  Aiiitiica.  t<uch  was  the  capital  of  the  .Stale  of  New  York 
in  u;t;j. 

=  It  is  dated  ".-1/  tin-  rclonij  of  Henyfdafr.in-'fh.in  Xnr  Il<-h/i>im.  the  '<lh  of  A'ir/iisf,  104a." 
This  letter  (ills  from  paL-e  I'.'O  to  jiaire  v,:\  of  Uressaui'.s  lltUlttOn  Abiigii,  where  a  rrench  lrau8- 
latioii  is  giveu.— -5ie  Marline  ittw  (.dU'wu, 


J'i' 


K  *fi 


■  t. '1; 


(If"' 


:!l 


\)0S 


FATHER  ISAAC  JOGUES,  S.  J. 


and  as  the  weatlier  was  excessivelj'  warm,  he  got  nearly  suffo- 
cated. Furious  at  liis  escape,  the  savages  ransacked  the 
settlement.  The  ollicers  of  the  boat  were  tei'rified,  and 
.Togues,  for  greati^r  safety,  was  i)la('ed  in  the  garret  of  an  old 
house  in  Fort  Orange.  lie  was  visited  in  this  hiding-place 
by  the  minister,  Megapolensis,  who,  to  this  honor  be  it  said, 
treated  him  with  extreme  kindness. 

As  the  clamors  of  the  Indians  for  their  captive  redoubled, 
and  each  interview  grew  more  boisterous  than  the  last,  tlie 
Dutch  friends  of  the  Jesuit  determined  once  for  all  to  take  a 
bold  stand.  "The  Frenchman  for  whom  vou  search,"  ex- 
claimed  a  brave  Ibdlander,  "is  under  my  iirotection,  and  I 
shall  not  give  him  up.'*  He  then  reasoned  with  the  noisy 
savages,  and  linished  by  sayir.g:  "Here  is  money  for  the 
ranscuu  of  your  prisoner,''  handing  them  the  sum  of  three 
hundred  livres.  This  manlj%  generous  action  gave  Father 
Jogues  his  freedom.'  lie  boarded  a  small  vessel,  and  was 
soon  carried  down  tlu;  lordly  stream;  and  thus  for  the  first 
time  a  Catholic  priest  passed  along — 

"  Wiiuro  Hudson's  wiivo  o'er  silvery  sands 
Wiuils  tliroui^li  the  liills  afiir." 

>  F.'itlicr   .J(>L'iR'-<'  cn]itivity  among  ihu  iluUawkb  1hiiIu4  liltcou  Muullis,  Juxiiig  wL:cU  time  tie 
baptized  ubout  iiuvt-uiy  per<:uuii. 


1    I 


P  '     !' 


W  ^ 


f  'n  I 


•  .1, 


'I  i 


THE  PALISADES  OF  THE  HUDSON 


iiii 

— r*  r 


CHAPTE-R  III. 


THE  GLORIOUS   EXD. 


New  YorJc  City  two  centuries  and  a  half  ago  — Two  Cath- 
olics— A  2'>ious  Irishniaii — Father  Jo</iies  is  wrecl-ed  an 
the  Engl i sit  coast — Lands  in  France  on  C/irislmas  Dug 
— Pathetic  incidents — At  the  College  of  Rennes—Thc 
nation  honors  him  as  a  saint  and  niartgr — Jictiirns  to 
Canada — Again  among  the  Mohawks — Ji< turns  to  Que- 
bec— Comes  hacTc  as  an  apostle — TJce  glorious  deatli 
of  Father  Jogues. 

On  arriving  at  Xew  Amsterdam,'  Fatliei"  .Touiu's  w.m  re- 
ceived with  mnch  honor  by  Governoi'  Kiel't,  uitli  whom  lie 
remained  for  some  rime.  This  was  in  the  fall  of  I(;4;i.  Man- 
hattan Island  was  then  a  rnde  i)lace,  containin.ii- about  live 
Inindred  inhabitants,  a  motley  crowd  ol'  many  nationalties. 
The  Governor  informed  Father  Jognes  that  eighteen  lan- 
fna""es  were  spoken  in  their  midst.  The  go^ul  Jesuit  found 
iust  two  (^atliolics— a.  young  Ii'isliman  and  a  Portuguese 
woman.'  Tlu^  good,  wai'in-hcarted  son  of  Va\\\  had  the 
honor  and  happiness  of  making  liis  confession,  and  receiv- 
ing- absolution  from  the  martyr-missionary  of  the  fierce  Mo- 


>  No\.  New  York  City. 

a  Of  IhcsR  two,  F:itli"r  ATMrliii,  S.  .T..  in  his  "  T".'  *  7Vrf  Jonvr.'^r  writo":  «on  fmlmrrnf  fiit 
^Tiind  iivrc-  line  f.'mm"  M'oriL'im'  pnrtUL-ii^c  Tri  ciitniiit  ilmis  mw  iiiMiM.n  pivs  dii  fort,  il  I'vail 
(•■n'  iiizirablcninil  siirpris  dc  voir  sur  In  cliomiiu'.-  doiix  mv.m-*,  1  ':ih'  <!.-  In  Saiulc  V.crjfc.  rmitrt- 
d.  Saint  I.oiiiH  dc  (Joiizairm- :  il  inl.i'rroi,'o  ct  appn'nd  <vic  la  matt-c-sn  (In  l(  k'is  .'lait  la  f.'iMinc  dn 
fmu-vn<vKnc  d  .iirrllc  (-'lait  catlioliiiuf.  MallicMr.MiMUiifiit  I'lk;  nu  HUait  auciuie  iU'»  lan^iu's 
qii.'  parlait  Ic  P.  .To'^uos. 

II  trnuva  \M<  dc  oo.isolatlon  dins  so-  rapport-  •w.  c  nn  Iv>n  calliollniio  irl.indals.  (pa  arrivii  s'lr 
c.'s  cntrcfait.-*  dcs  cote?'  dc  la  Viru'ini.'.  \  la  nonvi'ilc  dc  la  present  .I'nM  prOlrc  catlioliipic,  il 
•■'cut  ricii  dc  pliw  prcssc  ipic  dc  ninnifc«t.T  nu  scrvilciir  dc  r/cu  toct  IMiitcrct  ([u'll  prcnait  il  «m 
sort,  ct  dc  pn)lil''r  dc  -.,n  ;  linislr-c  ponr  appro -her  d  k  sacninciil-.  Vi->\  par  liii  <iii<'  Ic  I' 
.lociics  appril  lis  proirrV  dc  la  foi  ..an-  .-.'Cc  -ol.),iii'  an^  aisc  dcs  liords  dc  Clicsap."iku.  Kond»''c. 
ilcpiMs  p.Mi  d'am  .'.•  imr  nn  lord  raflioli.pic  .pii  fii.vait  -a  i  airic  pocr  j.iuir  .!.■  la  lih.rl.'  r.^liiiU-iiso 
ct  \i>ri'  .'Il  pais  (Uilis  sa  fui     tllo  \mi  Ic  iiom  Uc  .\Lir/mJ,  n\  riioniicur  dc  lil  rcinc  HcnricUi*- 


•It 


»      ,  ■: 


400 


FATHER  ISAAC  JOQUES,  S.  J. 


^11 


hawks,  tlie  first  jiriest  whc  ever  set  foot  on  Manhattan 
Island.  This  was  the  ^ist  time  i;he  Sacrament  of  Penance 
was  administered  in  the  great  commercial  Metropolis  of 
America,  wiiicli  is  now  t  lie  s^e  of  a  Cardinal- Archbishop),  and 
contains  hfty  Catholic  Churches, 

The  hospitable  Dutch  Governor  gave  Father  Jognes  anew 
suit  ol  clotlies — something  he  was  painfully  in  need  of — and 
procured  him  a  passage  in  the  iirst  ship  bound  for  the 
shores  of  beautiful  France.  A  storm  drove  the  vessel  on 
the  English  coast,  and  the  martyr  Jesuit  fell  into  the  hands 
of  some  thievish  wreckers — a  class  of  men  little  removed  in 
b..rbinism  from  the  Mohawks  that  ranged  the  forests  of 
Kew  York.  He  was  stripped  of  everything  in  his  posses- 
sion. Even  his  clothes  were  not  spared.  After  many  hard- 
ships, however,  he  found  his  way  across  the  English  Chan- 
nel, in  a  collier's  bark,  and  was  landed  on  the  shores  oi! 
Brittany,  on  Christmas  Day,  1G43. 

In  a  rude  sailor's  coat,  dragging  himself  along  withjiain, 
aided  by  a  stall',  the  venerable  piiest  was  no  longer  recognized. 
IIosi:)itality  was  cordially  extended  to  him  in  a  peasant's 
cot;  here  he  was  invited  to  share  the  simple  morning  meal, 
but  the  missionary's  only  thought  wns  to  celebrate  didy  the 
festival  by  receiving  the  Blessed  Eucharist.  He  had  the 
nearest  church  pointed  out,  and  there  had  the  supreme  hap- 
piness of  approaching  the  holy  altar.  For  nearly  a  year 
and  a  half  ho  had  been  deprived  of  Communion. 

The  good  Bretons  lent  him  a  hat  and  a  little  cloak  to  ap- 
pear more  decently  in  Church.  They  thought  him  to  bo 
one  of  those  unfortunate  children  of  Catholic  Erin,  whom 
persecution  frequently  drove  to  the  shores  of  France;  but, 
when  on  his  return  from  Mass,  his  charitable  hosts  saw  the 
frightful  condition  of  his  hands.  Father  Jogues  was  com- 
23elled  to  satisfy  their  pious  curiosity,  l)y  modestly  relating 
his  history.  The  iieasants  of  Leon  fell  at  liis  feet.  oA-ercome 
with  pity  and  admiration.  He  himself  relates  how  the 
young  girls,  moved  by  the  story  of  his  misfortunes,  gave 
him  their  little  alms.  "They  came,"  he  says,  ''with  so 
much  generosity  and  modesty  to  offer    me  two  or  three 


FATHER  ISAAC  JOQU.HS,  8.  J. 


401 


pence,  wliich  was  j)robably  ail   their  treasure,  that  I  was 
moved  to  tears." 

By  the  assistance  of  these  good  peasants.  Father  Jognes 
was  enabled  to  reach  tlie  city  of  Kennes,  which  contained 
a  college  of  the  Society.  It  was  early  morning,  and  when 
the  porter  came  to  the  door  to  answer  the  call,  he  beheld  a 
poor  and  almost  deformed  beggar.  The  stranger  humbly 
asked  if  he  could  see  the  Rector.  The  porter  hastily  an 
swered  that  lie  was  about  to  say  Mass,  and  ccnl'"'  not  be 
seen  at  that  hour.  ''But,''  persisted  the  stranger,  "tell 
him  that  a  poor  man  from  Canada  would  gladly  speak  with 
liim.''  AVhen  the  porter  whispered  the  message,  the  Father 
Rector  was  putting  on  his  vestments.  At  the  name  of 
"Canada,"  which  was  then  the  great  missionary  held  of 
the  French  Jesuits,  the  Supiiior  disrobed,  and  proceeded 
to  the  parlor.  Tlie  poor  and  ragged  traveler  handed  Jiim  a 
certilicate  of  character  from  Governor  Kieft.  Without  even 
glancing  at  it,  the  Rector  hastily  inquired: 

"Are  you  from  Canada f 

"Yes." 

"Do  you  know  Father  JoguesT' 

"YeryAvell." 

"The  Irocpiois  have  talicn  him,"  continued  the  Rector; 
"is  he  dead?   ^Ilavo  they  murdered  him?" 

"Xo,"  answered  Jogues,  "he  is  alive,  and  at  liberty,  and 
I  am  he."  And  as  he  uttered  these  words  he  fell  ujion  his 
knees,  asking  the  benediction  of  his  Superior.  .  .  . 

That  was  a  day  of  almost  boundless  joy  in  the  College  of 
Rennes.  Nor  was  there  less  rejoicing  among  his  fellow- 
religious  over  all  France.  He  was  supposed  to  be  dead,  and 
liis  sudden  reai)pearance  among  them  was  something  extra- 
ordinary. 

At  the  French  Court  ho  was  received  as  a  saint  and  mar- 
tyr. Queen  Ann  of  Austria  kissed  his  mutilated  hands. 
The  nobility  and  ladies  of  the  Court  vied  in  exhibiting  their 
deep  sentiments  of  respect  and  veneration.  Indeed,  ^he 
slave  of  the  Mohawks  bo(  imo  tli^  r(»vered  and  "adiuired 
of  all  admirers."     The  Vo\)0  granted  him  a  dispensation  to 


'^■m, 


403 


FATHER  ISAAC  JOG  UES,  S.J. 


.!::.! 


i  fl 


cplebmle  i\ra.ss  with  his  Tniitihated  hands,  sayin<^ :  "It  woiikl 
be  unjust  to  refuse  a  martjT  of  Christ  the  privilege  of 
drinking-  tlie  IMood  of  Christ." 

It  was  the  earnest  desire  of  all  that  Father  Jogues  should 
remain  in  France ;  but  he  sighed  after  the  American  mis- 
sions, and  returned  to  Canada  in  164;).  In  July  of  the  fol- 
lowing year  he  was  present  at  the  peace  negotiations  at 
Three  Rivers  between  the  French  and  Hurons  on  one  side 
and  the  Mohawks  cm  the  other.  This  evi'ut  led  the  apos- 
tolic [)i'ie.st  to  conceive  bright  hopes  of  founding  a  perma- 
nent mission  anu)ng  the  Iroquois. 

In  May,  KMO,  he  set  out  with  a  companion  for  the 
Mohawk  castles,  in  order  to  confirm  the  peace  already  made. 
He  went  less  as  a  missionary  than  as  an  ambassador.  He 
even  laid  aside  his  religious  habit  on  this  occasion,  for  an 
Algonquin  chief  urged  it,  saying:  "There  is  nothing  more 
repulsive  at  iirst  than  this  doctrine,  which  seems  to  extermi- 
nate all  that  men  hold  dearest;  and  since  your  long  gown 
preaches  it  as  nuudi  as  your  lips,  you  had  better  go  in  a 
short  coat."  On  this  journey  he  reached  the  portage  of 
Lake  George  on  the  eve  of  the  festival  of  Coipus  Christi, 
and  named  it  Lac  Saint  Sacrament,  or  Lake  of  the  Holy 
Sacrament. 

He  visited  Fort  Oiange,  and  spent  some^days  with  the 
kind  Dutch  friends  to  whom  he  owed  his  life.  Then 
passing  further  up,  he  soon  reached  the  first  Mohawk 
town.  The  French  embassy  was  well  received.  After  a 
council  and  much  smoking  of  pipes,  the  priest,  as  am- 
bassador from  the  Fi'ench,  began  to  harangue  the  dusky 
assembly.  Gi'unts  of  applause  kept  pace  with  his  periods, 
and  the  usual  presents  Avere  made  with  great  formality. 
Having  thus  established  peace  on  what  he  considered  a  firm 
basis,  Father  Jogues  returned  to  Canada,  Avith  tlie  inten- 
tion of  making  all  necessary  preparations  for  the  conver- 
sion of  the  fierce  Mohawks.  He  set  out  again  with  three  or 
four  Ilurons  and  a  donne  of  the  mission,  named  Lalande,  in 
August,  1G40.  The  braye  missionary  had  a  singular  pre- 
sentiment of  his  fatt;,  for  previous  to  leaving  Canada  he 


FATHER  ISAAC  JOGUES,  S.J. 


4C3 


wrote  to  a  friend:    '■'' I  sJiaJl  go,  hut  shall  not  return.''^' 

It  was  only  too  true.  On  the  way,  some  Indians  crosb^vd 
tlieir  path,  and  warned  them  that  a  change  of  feeling  had 
taken  place  among  the  Mohawks.  The  Huronstled  on  hear- 
ing such  news,  but  Father  Joguesand  his  young  conipunion, 
lialande,  pressed  on.  Scarcely,  however,  liad  the  (wo 
tiavellers  reached  the  confines  of  the  Mohawk  territory 
wliHU  their  danger  became  apparent. 

A  Utile  box,  which  the  Jesuit  had  left  behind  on  his  first 
visit,  was  now  returned.  The  savages  considered  it  the 
secret  cause  of  much  mischief.  The  bad  crops,  the  siekness, 
and  all  the  misfortunes  that  had  rec<Mitly  befallen  the  nation, 
were  attributed  to  the  mysterious  box !  It  sealed  the 
martyr's  fate. 

A  band  of  warriors  seized  the  priest  and  his  companion, 
stripped  them,  and  hurried  them  to  the  nearest  town.  A 
barbarous  crowd  gathered,  howling  like  ferocious  beasts.  A 
furious  savage  sprang  on  Jogues,  and  cut  strii)s  of  tlesh 
from  his  back  and  arms,  exclaiming  ;  "  Let  us  see  if  this 
whi"3  liesh  is  tiie  iiesh  of  a  nmnitou  !'' 

"I  am  a  man,  like  yourselves,"  replied  the  intrei)id 
Jesuit;  "but  I  fear  neither  death  nor  tortuie.  AVliy  do 
vou  kill  me  ?  I  have  come  to  your  country  to  confirm 
l)eace,  to  strengthen  the  land,  and  to  show  you  the  way 
to  Heaven,  and  you  treat  me  like  a  dog.'" 

The  star  of  Father  Jogues'  earthly  hope  had  set.  He 
looked  but  to  Heaven.  Like  our  dear,  Divine  Lord,  he  was 
to  water  the  scene  of  his  labors,  captivity,  and  sufferings 
with  the  last  drops  of  his  blood.  In  the  evening,  smarting 
with  his  wounds  and  l)ruises,  he  was  sittitig  in  one  of  the 
lodges,  when  an  Indian  entered  and  asked  him  to  a  feast. 
To  refuse  would  have  been  an  ofTenc(\  He  aiose  and  fol- 
lowed the  savage,  who  led  him  to  the  lodge  of  the  "  E(;'ar" 
Chief.     The  missionary  bent  his  head  to  entei'.  when  an- 


'■"Lr  ciiur  oiio  (lit  ([iK'  si  jai  Ic  liiini  il'i'iro  I'liiployc  liaiis  cclii'  nii.-si(in,  xIhk'  n'lii  ruliho;  inais 
]''  HiTais  liciircux  si  Xolr;  -Sciirnciir  voiilail  n('tiov<T  lo  Haprllloo  la  (»>  il  I'li  ooiniiionci'  ct  iiiu'  li^  pen 
do  fm\s  ri'paiulii  en  cotte  lerru  fut  comiiio  k'S  urrlioa  de  cclui  (luo  ju  lui  douiRTai-  do  toulca  lf» 
Vclnus  (l(i  iiioii  cori'H." 

'  Bt(.  ilurtin'B  li.  F.  Isaac  Jogues,  p.  275. 


404 


FATHER  ISAAC  JOGUES,  S.J. 


other  Indian,  standing  concealed  within,  at  the  side  of  the 
doorway,  struck  him  with  a  hatchet.  An  Iroquois,  called 
by  the  French,  Le  Berger,  who  seems  to  have  followed  in 
order  to  defend  liim,  bravely  held  out  his  arm  to  ward  olf 
the  blow  ;  but  the  hatchet  cut  throu,uh  it,  and  sank  into  the 
martyr's  brain.  He  fell  at  the  feet  of  his  murderer,  who  at 
once  finished  the  awful  work  by  hacking  off  his  victim's 
head.'  The  saintly  and  immortal  Jogues  was  no  more  !  Ills 
liead  was  placed  high  on  the  palisades,  with  the  face  turned 
towards  the  roatl  by  which  he  had  come  to  the"  land  of  tho  ■ 
Mohawks." 


'  I'mkmiiti, 

'•i  Tliu  young  niul  faithful  I.alamlc  nlno  bravely  met  death. 

The  Iniiaii,  L(,'  Derircr.  voluntarily  came  to  Three  Kivers  two  y:>ars  nfterwards.  and  env3 
himself  up  to  a  party  of  Freiiehmen.  He  was  eonverted.  baptized,  and  earriedto  France,  where 
his  behavior  is  reported  to  have  been  edifyiiij;,  but  when.'  ho  soon  died.  "  Perhaps  he  lunl 
ei'.en  his  share  of  mure  than  llfiy  men,"  is  tho  rellection  of  Father  Itiiguuneau,  after  i'ocouuU.';^ 
bi-  exemplary  eoiuliu't, —  I'/ifVinnn. 

aUo  dulb  ui  i'uiuui  Ju^iiea'  jiloiiuiu  UvuLii  wufe  LUm  IbUi  of  Octobur,  l(i4S> 


)f  Iha 
L'lilled 
ed  in 
1(1  off 
to  the 
I  ho  at 
L'tini's 
Ills 
urned 
3f  tho 


and  cav3 
ci'.  wlitro 
!*   lie  Ik'.ii 


I  i 


!  i: ! 


FATHER  JOHN  DE  BREBEUF,  S.  J, 


FOUNDER    OF    THE    HURON     MISSION. 


FATHER  JOHN  DE  BRfiBEUF,  S.  J., 

THE  APOSTLE  OF  THE  IIURONS.' 


CIIAPTEE  I. 


TIIIKTY-SIX  EVENTFUL  YEARS. 

The  Pioneer  Jesuits  of  North  America— John  de  Brehenf 
— His  hlrtli — Illsfamllii — Enters  the  Society  of  Jesus— 
Ills  humility — Goes  to  Canada — Hardships — Is  sent 
on  the  Huron  Mission — Among  the  red  men — All  alone 
— His  recall  to  Quebec — Returns  to  France. 

After  cnrefully  examininc^  tlie  lives  of  the  early  Jesuit 
Fathers  in  North  Ariieri(.'a,  the  historical  student  is  forced 
to  the  conclusion  that  they  were  a  band  of  almost  incompar 
able  men.  The  more  thoroughly  the  records  contaiiiinu;  theii 
history  are  sifted  and  scrutinized,  the  more  iirmly  does  this 
conviction  become  rooted  in  the  mind.  Though  difl'iMing  in 
i'bility,  physical  strength,  and  personal  character,  there  is, 
however,  one  shining  quality  possessed  in  common  by  them 
Jill — the  most  lofty  Christian  heroism.  Men  more  capable 
of  attracting  our  admiration,  and  whose  glorious  footsteps 
point  out  the  way  to  Heaven,  were  not  produced,  even  in 
the  first  ages  of  Christianitv. 

The  biography  of  Father  John  de  Brebeuf  is  not,  indeed, 


•  Ctjief  authoriticg  used:  Father  Felix  Martin,  S.  ,7.,  "Lo  Ti.  Jean  flo  Brebeuf,  sa  vie,  ses 
tr.T-aiix,  Hi)!i  ninrtyre;"  "Relations  des  Jesuites,"  Fattier  Bressani,  S.  .T..  '-Relation  Atireeee, 
t-ndiiite  de  ITtallen  par  Ic  Pere  Felix  Martin,  de  la  memo  CompaRnie  (iioiivelle  Klllioii,  IWT);'' 
Al)be  Ferland.  "(^ours  d'Histoire  du  Canada;"  Paikinan,  "The  Jesuits  in  ■N''nlh  America:" 
rirkinan,  "The  Pioneers  of  Franco  in  the  New  World;"  Parkman,  "The  Old  Ke^lnie  in 
*-'"iiada;"  Kip,  "  Kariy  Jesuit  Missions  in  N.  America:"  Father  Macleod,  "  Ilisiory  of  Devotion  to 
\iui  BluuBcd  Virgiu  iu  NortU  America;"  "  Uislury  of  tliu  C'utliuUc  Ctiurcli  iu  the  United  blutub." 

405 


•ino 


r.i  TUi:i:  ./oitx  n::  ni;i:r, /■::'!',  s.  j. 


P 


^!  ! 


iound  ill  Biill(M-'s  "Lives  of  lUo  Saiiils;"  but,  piMliiips,  \\^ 
mij^lit  scaicli  ill  vain  tlii'dii^li  that  (.'\v«- llaiit  vvuik  foi' any- 
I  liiiii!,' (o  surpass  it  in  siibliiiu' iiiicivst.  In  his  t()W('i'iii,i,Miniii(>, 
intii  iVaaic,  aad  siiiit'inatiin-l  f:,iris,  he  rt'St'inblcd  St.  ( 'oiiiuio. 
killf;  in  his  larc^  iniM'Ivnrss,  kindness,  and  f^n-al  piadical 
sense,  he  was  not.  nnliUo  St.  Kranci.s  de  Sah's;  uiiile  his  lion 
heart  and  niaityr-si)irit  woiihk  in  tniili.iiave  (h»ne  honor  lo 


Sr.  1 


jawrenee 


We  sliall  n'iance  at    tiie  career  of  lliis  ilhi 


trions  priest,  wiio  stands  fortli  in  tlie  religious  annals  of  tlm 
seventeenth  century  as  tlie  prince  of  Indian  inissionai:ies  — 
tlu'  ,ii'reatest  of  tlie  Aniei'ican  Jesuits. 

,b)liii  (h'  BrelxMiC  was  born  on  tlie  i.'.")Mi  of  Marcli,  W,\.\  in 
(^)n(h'1■sur-Vivrt^  Depart  nient.  of  La  Manclie,  France.  iJis 
family  was  ancitMit  and  noliie.'  It  liad  uiven  A'oiinandy 
nianv  a  l)i'ave  soidit>rand  fearless  kinu'hf.     Of  .b>hn"s  vouii;': 


years  we  have  no 


record.     At  theatre  of  twentv  foui'.  i 


lo. 


ovtM',  heeulere  I  the  \\  )vitia.tB  of  tlu  Socioty  of  .bvsns,  lioU"ii; 
and  such  was  his  humility  tlri!  he  re(piesfod  to  be  adnutteil 
tus  a  sim[)le  lay  bro'iier.  "  .\nd  au:ain,"  says  t ho  old  Rela- 
tion of  I(i4.).  '•  l)efv)ro  he  made  his  vows,  lie  ren<'\ved  the 
request,  thiukini:;  himself  unwoi'tliy  (d"  the  priesthood,  aiid 
lit  oidy  lor  ihe  most  menial  odices.  .  .  ,  Yet  he  was  capable 
of  tlu?  great(>st  thin,u;s.'"  TUs  siiptM'ioi's,  at  a  .u'lance,  saw  i'.iH 
U(vdth  of  mental,  moral,  ;inl  jdiysicitd  uifts  embodied  in 
John  de  Ibvljeuf,  and  full  of  submission  t(^  tlieir  jidvice,  he 
]iui'sued  with  marked  zeal  and  success  tlio  nsual  coui'ses  (if 
study  and  te.icliin;^  in  the  colh-res  of  the  Soci(>ty,  and  was 
ordaiii(>d  priest  on  the  2r)th  of  March,  1G23,  tliat  bein.u'  his 
thirtieth  birrh-day. 

Oae  <d'  th:'  pioneer  band  of   ,T(^suits'  to  Canada.  Father 
d  >  i5:v'^>;if  lauded  beneath  the  bohl  clifTs  of  Qu(d  ec  in  the 


'  ;H  f,nni;i!i>  (''?i!t   nohUi   of  .incloiinc.    T,o  proniirr  do  far?"  nnrc'trps  ('ont  1(>  nniri  si' 

Nicolas  (li!  nnM).'nr,  fl,';in>  ;i;ix  rolos  do  \-^ii,  pnnni  lee  iio1)1i>h  do  la  vicomto  rii-  B.'ivo  i 

I-.:,  vicnt  (III  rtof  (li-  I!r''ho'.;r,  Hituu  snr  I:i  pariiWso  do  ron<!(^-«!ir-Vivvo, /"'loclion  (|i>  .   ''i- 

trifois  do  I'ariMMdissoniotit  do  Salnt-I/i.  .  .  Sosnmio^  sniit  ,1'ari;ont  an  l-.n-if  otTaro  -"i^'f, 

acci)r:io  d'or    .  .  I,o  poolo  d"  Co  iinm.  (Jmllaiuiio  do  Hr('l)oaf,  polk  novoii  dii  iiiissioi,  ^iirtit 
dc  ses  rar.S''  ot  riUastra.— /c're  .Uarliii,  S.  .1. 

'  It  coiisistofl  of  six— t'lr.^'  Fith'>rs  ani  Ihr-"!  Cia^jator  Brothers.    Tlio  Fathers  wore  Charles 
L.ileaiont,Jiiaiiii)inl  MaJ-o,  a;Kl  John  de  Brobcilf. 


FATiiKi'  JOHN  DI-:  liitfnir.LF,  s  ,r. 


4(? 


pumuit'!' of  \^-l7\.  Tl)(Mvinlcr  of  tli;it:iiul  lln"  followiri;^  yen/ 
he  spent  as  n  Hoi'tof  apprcditicie.sliip,  Wiinderiii;j;  ni  lir  i:e|M|.. 
(loi'Mi^^  woods  and  nioiitilaia:;  ainon;?  I  lie  savai,^!'^.  lie  Mailed 
liMiil  to  master  the  rinUs  liarsli,  nnuriiten  dialect,  ,'uid  ro 
faniiliai'i/t^  liiinself  wllli  llie  baiharons  lil'r  and  east  )ins  of 
the  red  nian.  'rruly  il  was  up  hill  work.  Fatigue,  insult, 
dis.nnst,  liun^n'i',  thirst,  and  intense  eold,  an*  hut  lame  ex- 
piTssions  when  applied  to  what  the  future  A|>ostle  of  (he 
jlnrons  endni'ed. 

In  the  siinnner  of  I(i2f)  Fatln'r  de  J^ic'Iieid',  accompanied 
hy  l''alli<'r  de  NonT',  S..I.,  and  one  l''i'anciscan  l'\-ithei',  set, 
oat  foi'  the  conntryof  the  lini'ons.  At.  first  the  Indians 
refused  to  receive  l''allier  de  P.r''lienf  into  t  heir  canoes,  i;lv- 
iMi;  as  a  reason  that  his  tall  and  poi'tly  fianie  would  overseT 
any  of  the  frail  vessels,  and  it  was  only  hy  dint-  of  many 
presents  that  their  l)l'eten(le<l  feais  could  I'e  i('mo\-e(l.  II(^ 
embarked  with  his  companions,  and,  after  months  of  toil, 
n'ached  the  wild  scene  of  liis  labors,  his  sidVei'inus,  and  his 
death.  It  wasonthe  e.vtremc;  southern  shoic  cd"  (xeor/^iau 
Hiy.  Here  a  mission  had  been  ben;i!n  about  ten  years  before, 
by  tliH  apostolic  Father  Le  Caron,  a   FrancMscan. 

The  work  of  evan;L!,(d!/,in,i?  lh(3  ])a<.,'an  llurons  pi-o^ncssed 
slowly.     The  first  dilll  Milty'— and  en!);'nr);is  it  was,  certaiidy 

-was  to  master  tli<3  barbarous  lan<,Mia,ue.  h^/r  tliis  labor, 
iu'coi'dinjj:  to  (.^haniplain.  Father  de  Hrebeuf  had  a  wonder- 
fid  aptitude.  In  a  short  time  he  sjjoke  the  Huron  dialect 
with,  fluency;  but  it  Avas  difTei'ent  with  De  N()n("',  who  found 
it  impossible,  on  account  of  his  advanced  a^'e,  and  foi-  other 
reasons,  to  pi(dv  up  the  sava^^o  jai<xon  of  the  A\ilderne^s. 
Findin,!];  that  his  presence  would  be  of  little  use,  Father  de 
Nou('>  soon  departed  for  (Quebec.  The  Fi'anciscans  also  re- 
tired, and  Father  de  Bivbeuf  Avas  left  aloruv 

lie  was  now^  nearly  a  thousand  miles  from  a  fellow  Chris- 
tian, with  no  one  to  confide  his  thou^diis  to,  no  one  to  wit- 
ness his  saciifices,  but  fiod  and  His  Anuels.  'J'he  heroic 
priest,  however,  toiled  on  as  our  pen  cannot  picture.  Ifc 
was  a  r.tony  field.  Ilis  hearers  for  a  tiire  liitened  with  z\\ 
preme  indifTerence.     "Your  customs  arc   not  the  same  as 


I'M 

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r   ,: 


w 


%. 


J  i 


11 


I    ? 


408 


FATHER  JOHN  BE  BEEBEUF,  S.  J. 


ours,"'  tliey  replied  to  the  exhorhitions  of  the  black-gown. 
"Our  country  is  so  different  from  yours  thtit  it  is  not  possi- 
ble the  sauie^trod  created  bothr'  But  the  man  of  God  an- 
swered all  objections.  Living  amongst  the  Indir.ns,  he  be- 
came, as  far  as  his  sacred  duties  and  character  would  per- 
niit,  one  of  them.  They  gave  him  the  name  of  Fjchon. 
He  became  all  to  all,  that  he  might  gain  all  to  Christ.  The 
good  effect  of  his  untiring  labors  and  instructions  began  to 
tell  on  the  multitude  of  wild  men,  when  the  miseries  that 
surrounded  the  unhai)i)y  colony  of  Canada  led  to  his  recall 
to  Quf>l)ec. 

He  obeyed.  What  was  now  to  become  of  his  two  years' 
toil  among  the  Hurons?  When  the  Indians  heard  that  he 
Avas  about  to  depart,  they  crowded  aronnd  their  friend  and 
father.  "O  Echon!"'  they  exclaimed  in  passionate  accents,' 
"is  it  thus  von  abandon  us?  During  two  years  tou  h'lve 
lived  with  us,  and  learned  our  language,  and  we  have  learned 
to  know  soir.ething  of  the  Great  Master  of  life.  Now  you 
know  how  to  speak  like  one  of  as,  but  as  yel:  we  do  not 
know  how  to  pray  to  the  Great  Master  and  to  adore  Him  as 
you  do,  and  you  leave  us  I"  At  this  touching  language  the 
lion-hearted  Jesuit  could  not  restrain  his  tears,  but  he 
waved  an  affectionate  adieu  to  his  dusky  Hock,  and  prom- 
ised one  day  to  return. 

Misfortune  now  frowned  on  the  infant  colony.  Eng- 
land ()))tained  tem])orary  possession  of  Canada.  ^iade 
l)risoners,  Father  de  Brebeuf  anil  his  i-eliglous  colleagues 
who  were  stationed  at  Queliec,  were  sent  to  Great  Br't- 
ain,  whence,  after  some  time,  they  were  allowed  to  pro- 
ceed to  France. 

Here,  we  are  told,  he  lived  among  h's  brethren  with  the 
simplicity  of  a  little  q\\\\C.  The  thorny  way  of  the  Indian 
missions  had  but  advanc  'd  him  on  the  royal  road  of  the 
Cross.  In  Ifl'U  he  wrote:  "I  feel  that  I  have  no  talent  for 
anvthiu'j:.  reco^nizinc^  in  myself  only  an  inclinaticm  to  obey 
others.  T  belicn-e  thar  \  am  only  fit  to  be  a  porter,  to  clean 
out  the  rooms  of  my  brethren,  .  nd  to  serve  in  the  kitchen. 
T  mean  to  conduct  my?elf  in  the  Society  u;-  if  I  were  a  beg- 


FATHER  JOIIX  DE  liUfJBEUF,  S.  J. 


409 


rrar.  admitted  into  it  by  sufferance,  and  I  will  receive  every- 
tliing  that  is  granted  me  as  a  particular  tavcr."  The  person 
who  wrote  tliis  was,  without  any  doubt,  one  of  the  most 
df  ted  men  of  his  age ! 


'1 

'IV 

111 


'  1*1 


•  i;1I.^. 


:M 


n 


f   .t 


'iii 


TM 


■.  :;j 


■y " 


W  I 


CHAPTER  II. 


AMO^c^  '!'in:  nuiioxs. 


A  gh'mpSf  —  A  coiuiril  anC  icJiat  came  of  it— The  enentfiil 
Jnurncij  lo  the  Huron  countnj — liatbui  i/io'Ji'cplii/—' 
The.  house J'or  the  Jesuits,  and  its  wondrous  J'uni it nra 
■ — Aneedotc.s  —  Labors  of  the  missionaries — 7'he  f/oo.i 
seed  J'dtimj  on  rocJiS — The  t/i<)US(ind-aitd-u)ie  tljsta- 
clis — h<'rois))i—De  Bribeuf's  visit  to  the  sacar/es  c/.the 
Neutral  Xotion. 


[\\  ii  few  yenrs  Fi'anro  ivirnined  possessi'Mi  of  Canada,  and 
tlie  cassock  ;)!'  tin'  .Jesuit  nii.^'lit  once  nioro  bo  se<'n  on  tlip 
rndi^  streets  of  Quebec.  Let  u.s  lake  a  .ixlinspse  at  one  of  llh- 
cix  fearless  sons  of  Ignatius,  as  they  sit  in  theii'  ]iuiul)k'  I'csi- 
denee  of  Notre  Dame  ties  Anges,  at  Quebec,  in  Kj;];},  at  fi:<' 
ev"enin,i>:  lueak  One  was  consi)icuoii,s  aiuonu"  the  rest — a  taU, 
pov.'erful  nian.  with  f^'atui'es  that  s(>eTned  carved  l)yna!iiiv 
for  a  sohliei",  l)ut  wiiirli  iln^  jtit'ty  aiid  iiKMital  ha'iit  of  years- 
had  stamped  with  tlie  \:si!)]!>  impress  of  the  priest  JKuxk  Tt] 
was  Jolin  (ki  Iheheuf.  The  A]iostk;  of  the  Ilurons  had  a!j,ain 
bk'ssed  the  soil  of  Canada  with  his  presence. 

In  July,  ]():3;5,  one  hundi-eil  ami  forty  canoes  wei'e  pulli'd 
r.shore  at  tlie  warehouses  of  (^)ueb('c.  Over  six  huiidivd 
Huron  warriors  and  chiefs  had  come  on  Iheir  annual  ti'adiiiLC 
expedition.  Preliminary  arrangements  past,  a  council  was 
held  in  the  lort.  Jesuit  Fath  r.;.  French  oflicers.  and  (bisky 
chiefs  and  v.v.rricr.:  formed  this  sinu'uk.r  :'.3..ombl\-.  Its  ob- 
ject  was  to  com^  to  t.n  nndorstanding  \.itii  the  savisges  iu 
relation  to  ponding  three  mi;■.^;iouaries  r.riiong  them.  To 
Father:;  do  Ihvbeuf,  Daniel,  and  Davor.t  had  fallen  the 
lion(v:.-:,  dr-nf^cir,  r.,:;d  woe-,  of  the  Huron  mission. 

Governor  Caaiuplair.  introduced  tlic  three  priests  to  the 
410 


h  '• 


FATUi-:n  J  any  ju:  jinfjnELF,  s.  J. 


4U 


Indians.  '-These  are  our  Fathers,"  said  the  noble  mul  ven- 
erable Founder  of  Canada.  "We  love  them  more  than  we 
],)\t^  ourselves.  The  whole  French  nation  honors  them.  Tli(\v 
tio  not  go  among  you  for  your  furs.  .They  have  left  their 
f (lends  and  their  country  to  show  you  the  "way  to  lieaven. 
II"  you  love  the  French,  as  you  say  you  love  them,  then  love 
and  honor  these  our  I\ithers." 

On  the  eve  of  de[)artul■(^  liowever,  a  niisunderstan<li]ig 
among  the  Indians  prevented  tiie  missionaries  from  pi'occed- 
ing  on  their  journey,  arid  anotlier  year  passed  away  before 
the  lle(4  of  canoes  came  down  I  lie  lordly  St.  Laurence. 

In  the  summer  of  KilM,  the  dusky  traders  landed  their 
liglit  crafts,  this  time  at  Tliree  Kivers,  and  Father  de 
jhebeuf  and  his  two  comj)anions  sot  out  with  them  on  their 
return  trip. 

They  reckoned  the  distance  at  nine  hundred  miles;  luit 
distance  was  the  least  r<.'pellpnt  feature  cS  this  most  arduon.s 
journey.  Barefooted,  lest  their  shoes  should  injure  tint 
frail  vessel,  each  piiest  crouched  in  his  canoe,  and  toiled 
with  unpractised  hand  to  propel  it,  EelVu-e  him,  v>'eek  aftin- 
wei^k,  he  saw  the  same  laidv,  unkempt  hair,  the  same  tawny- 
shoulders,  and  long,  nake<l  .".nus,  ceaselessly  plying  the 
j^addle.  Tln^  canoes  were  soon  se])arated,  and  for  more 
than  a  month  ihn  j)iiests  rarely  or  nev(n-  met.  De  Biebeui! 
spoke  a  little  Huron,  and  could  con\eise  with  his  escort, 
l)iM  Daniel  and  Davost  weiv  doomed  to  a  silence  unbroken 
save  by  the  occasional  unintelligil'le  complaints  and  men- 
ares  of  the  India.ns,  of  wl.t'Uimany  were  sick  with  theejA- 
de?nic,  and  all  wei'e  terrified,  desponding,  and  sullen. 

Their  only  food  was  a  ])ittance  of  Indian  corn  cfushedbe- 
lv;een  (wo  stones  and  mixed  with  w;iter.  Tlie  toil  was  ex- 
tienie.  De  IJrebeuf  counted  thii'tydive  poi'tages  where 
their  canoes  wei'i;  lift"d  from  thi>  watcn'.and  canied  on  the 
shouhh-rs  of  the  voyager:;  around  the  ra])ids  or  cfitai'acts. 
^lore  ilian  iil'iv  times  besides  thev  were  forced  to  wade  in 
the  raging  current,  pushing  up  their  empty  barks  ordrng- 


^a 


ng  them  with  ropi.v 


The  Apostle  of  the  Murous  tried  to 


do  his  part,  but  the  boulders  and  sharp  rocks  wounded  his 


til 


412 


FATHER  JOliy  1)E  JJUEUEUF,  S.  J. 


I  ;,I 


M 


!;;!i 


linked  feet  and  compelled  liim  to  desist.  lie  find  his  rnm- 
liuiiioas  bore  tlieir  share  oi'  the  biiii.u'iige  across  the  portages, 
Hnnietinies  a  distance  of  several  miles.  Four  trips  at  least 
Avere  reipiired  to  convey  the  whole.  The  way.  was  through 
the  dense  forest,  encumbered  with  rocks  and  logs,  taiigh'd 
with  roots  and  underbrush,  damp  with  jierpetual  shade, 
and  redolent  of  decayed  leaves  anel  ifiouldering  wood.  The 
Indians  themselves  were  often  spent  with  fatigue.  Father 
tli3  Brebeuf,  with  his  iron  frame  and  unconqueral)le  reso- 
lution, doubted  if  his  strength  would  sustain  him  to  his 
journey's  end. 

He  complains  that  he  had  no  moment  to  read  his  brevi- 
ary, except  by  the  moonlight  or  the  lire,  when  sti'etched 
out  to  sleep  on  a  bare  rock  by  some  savage  cataract  of 
the  Ottawa,  or  in  a  damp  nook  of  the  adjacent  forest. 
Descending  French  river,  and  following  the  lonelv  shore 
of  tile  li'reat  Geoigian  Bay,  the  ranoe  which  carried  De 
Brebeuf  nt  length  neared  its  destination,  thirty  days  after 
leaving  Three  Kivers.  Before  him,  stretched  in  wild 
siunioei',  lay  the  forest  shore  of  the  Huron  Nation.  Did 
his  s])irit  sink  as  ho  a])]>roached  his  dreary  home,  op- 
pressed with  a  dark  forel  odlng  of  what  the  future  should 
bjing  forth ^ 

De  Brebeuf  and  his  Ilui'on  companions  having  landed,  the 
Indians,  throwing  the  missionai-y's  baggage  on  the  ground, 
hifthim  to  his  own  resources,  and,  without  heeding  his  re- 
monstrances, set  forth  for  their  I'espective  villages,  some 
twenty  miles  distant.  Thus  al)andoned,  the  priest  knelt, 
not  to  imjilore  succor  in  his  perplexity,  but  to  offer  thanks 
to  the  Providence  which  had  shielded  him  thus  far.  Then 
I'ising,  he  pondered  as  to  Avhat  course  he  should  take.  He 
knew  thf^  s])ot  well.  It  was  on  the  borders  of  the  small 
inl(>t  calhMl  Tiiunder  Bay.  In  the  neighboring  Huron  town 
oT  Toanche  he  had  lived  three  years,  preaching  and  bap- 
tizing. He  hid  his  baggage  in  tlie  woods,  incliuling  the 
vessels  for  the  Holy  ^Nfass.  more  lUNvious  than  all  the  rest, 
and  began  to  search  for  his  new  abode.  Evening  was  near, 
when,  after  following,  bewildered  and   anxious,  a  gloomy 


FATHER  JOIIX  T)E  BllEliEUF,  S.  J. 


413 


forest  path,  lie  issued  upon  a  wild  clearing,  and  saw  befuio 
liiin  ilii"  Imi'k  roofs  of  liu)natiria. 

A  crowd  lan  out  to  UK'et  liiui.  "Eclion  1ms  come  again  ! 
Eclion  lias  coini;  again  1"  they  cried,  recognizing  in  the  dis- 
tance tlio  stately  liguro  robed  in  Mack  that  advanced 
from  the  border  of  the  forest.  They  k^d  him  to  the  town, 
and  tlie  whole  population  swarmed  nbout  him.  After  :i 
short  rest,  lie  set  out  wilh  a  number  (3f  young  Indians  in 
(ri<'-;r  of  his  baggage,  returning  with  it  at  on(^  o'clock  in  the 
morning.  Siudi  is  a  Advid  and  faithful  picture  of  the  illus- 
tiious  Jesuit's  journey  to  the  Huron Xation  from  the  graphic 
pen  of  Piirkman. 

IJefore  proceeding  further,  let  ns  study  a  litrh'  Indian 
"•eoii-ranliv.  The  ancient  counti'v  of  tlu:!  Ilurons  is  now  com- 
])rised  in  the  iu)rtlieastern  and  etistern  ])oi'tion  of  Simcoe 
County,  Canada  \\'i>st'.  and  is  enibi'aced  within  the  peiunsula 
formed  by  the  Xottaw:e^saga  and  Matchedasli  L'ays  of  Iiak« 
Iliu'on,  the  Iliver  Severn,  and  Lake  Simcoe.  'J'his  small 
area  was  quite  thickly  inhabited  by  a  race  of  traders,  who 
had  many  fortilied  towns.  The  Jesuits  estimated  the  num- 
ber of  towns  or  villages  at  thirty-two,  and  the  enliiv  jiopu- 
lation  at  about  L^O.OOi). 

On  the  west  and  southwest  of  the  Ilurons  yiroper  lay  the 
kindred  tribe  of  the  Totiacco  Nation,  so  called  fi'om  their 
luxuriant  liehls  of  tob;i('co.  And  south  of  lioth  of  these, 
fiom  Lake  St.  Clair  lo  Niagara,  was  the  Ntutial  Nation, 
which  obtained  its  name  from  the  neutrality  observed  by  iis 


peo])]e  in  th( 


om 


ind  deadly  struLCirh?  between  the  Ilurons 


and 


fi'i 


(xpiois. 


\Velconied  l>y  one  of  tlie  richest  and  most  hos]»itablo 
Ibii'ons  of  Ihonatiria.  I"'arher  de  I'.ivbeuf  nuide  his  abode 
w  I)  him.  As  days  i)asse!k  he  anxiously  awaited  the  arri\al 
oi'  his  two  fellow-])riests  and  their  I'reiu'h  comiianions.  Oiio 
by   one   they   nuule    their    a))]ieai'ance.      Ibit    they   could 

'  N'liw  lliii  rriiviiiio'or  Oiilurio. 

•  II  N  not  very  well  kiunvn  liow  tl.N  licrrc  fend  first  nriciiiatpil  liptwron  ihrop  kim-Iri"'  ivitinn^J.  it 
W.'i''  '..•iiliiL.'  nil  wlion  llif  Kr'ii''li  i\rri\c(l  in  Ciniiil:!.  nnii  inliiriilly  lln'V  tuoli  iliv  ^ll.l'  (if  Iln'ir  lu'iya- 
bill!-,  Uk'  ll'.iDJii-.    llfiico  tlie  lui.-ulity  of  iIk:  tro'iiiuU  to  tUu  Fieiidi. 


.'    '     /111 

4 


i 


414 


FA  TIIKR  JOIIX  DK  nUEJlEUF,  S.  J. 


\\l 


f-caiccly  Ix'  rccd.u-iiizcd.  llalf-doiid  whli  liuii;L;t'inii(l  fatigue, 
they  resembled  living'  skelet«)ns  more  than  men. 

\  iiousH  I'oi'  tli(^  blaclv-rolx's  aftef  (lie  Huron  model  was 
Foon  erected.  As  hundreds  oi'  Indians  joined  in  the  woil^, 
the  bark  mansion  I'ose  in  a.  few  days — ii  eomi)lere  •■dihce.  It 
was  divid  'd  inlo  three  parts— storediouse,  dwell ingdiouse 
Siud  cliajje!.  This  h()iis(^  and  its  t'lii'nil  iiie  soon  became  (he 
wo!id(M'  of  the  whole  Huron  coimiiy.  \"isilors  were  in 
abundance.  It  was  the'  clock,  above  all,  that  puzzled  ami 
pleased  them. 

The  guests  would  sit  in  expectant  siloMice  by  the  linni-, 
equalled  on  the  gi'ouiid.  wailing  to  Inar  it  strike.  They 
thought  it  was  alive,  ami  asked  A\hat  it  ale.  As  the  last 
stroke  sounded  oru!  of  the  I'^renchmen  would  cry  "Sloj)!"' 
and  to  the  admiration  of  the  company  the  obedient  clock 
was  silent. 

The  mill  was  another  wonder,  and  they  were;  never  tireil 
of  turning  it.  Hesides  these,  there  was  ii  prism  and  a  mag- 
ret  ;  also  a  magnifying  glass,  wherein  a  Ilea  vras  ti'ans- 
I'ormed  into  .i  frightful  monster,  and  a  niulti[)lying  lens, 
which  showed  them  the  same  object  eleven  times  repeated. 

".Ail  this."  A\iites  Father  De  Ihvbeuf,  ".serves  to  gain 
their  affection,  and  make  them  more  docile  i)i  I'espect  to  the 
iulndrable  and  inconipreliensible  mysteries  of  our  Faith; 
for  the  ojuniou  i  hey  have  of  our  geiuus  and  capacity  niidves 
them  l)elieve  wh.itever  wc;  tell  them."' 

'•\\'liat  does  the  Cajjlaiu  sr.y  f  vras  the  rreqiient  qties- 
fiiiii,  for  bv  this  titl(3  of  honoi'  Ihev  designated  the  (lock. 
"  Wdien  he  strikes  twelve'  times,  he  says,  '  Hang  on  the  ket- 
tle," and  when  he  strikes  four  times,  lie  s^nys.  'Get  up  and 
^o  home.'"'  ]>oth  inter])retations  were  ■well  I'eniembej'i  d. 
At  noon  visitors  were  never  waiuing  to  share  the  l""athers' 
Kagamite,  but  at  the  stroke  of  four  all  rose  and  departed, 
leaving  the  missionaries  for  a  timeiii  peace. 

l'\itliei' de  l)!'ebeuf.  as  Superior  of  tlte  Tnission,  and  his 
two  C(i!leagues  now  began  their  labors.  To"  warrioi's  and 
women,  children  ami  chiefs,  the  Gospel  was  nowaiuioiiuced. 
The  work  of  conseisiou  was  long  and  most  diliicul;.     In 


FATHER  JOnx  DE  BUEBECF,  S.  J 


415 


f.ift,  (lui'in.G:  the  fli'sf  few  yenrs  no  adults  -were  l-njiti/ed  save 
/lio.se  at  tlie  ])()inr ol.'  death.  'I'he  (\\pe]ienced  De  Ihebeul', 
knew  Indian  nature  well,  and  he  greatly  I'eared  baekslidini;-. 
llnici'  his  eaution.  lu  his  eyes  oiii'.  .g-ood  Christian  was  bct- 
tci'  than  a  multitude  of  ))ad  ones.  Besides,  all  the  Indian 
vices — and  the  ITurcMi  nation  was  eoi'i'upt  to  the  core  -  Iiad 
to  be  eiadicated  lu'i'oie  Catholicity  could  be  iilant<'d.  The 
liciciilcan  toil  of  battling  against  depravity,  and  of  seeing 
liiiit  neither  young  nor  old  died  without  aiil,  such  was  the 
ti;. ceasing-  task  of  the  .lesuits. 

In  the  suininer  of  IGlCi  there  was  a  sevei'e  dronglit.  which 
delied  Indian  magic,  and  ruined  the  reputation  of  many  a 
niediciiie  man.  One  of  the  most  rc^iowned  of  these  jugglers, 
peeing  his  ici)utation  tottering  nnder  his  repeated  failures, 
bethought  himself  of  accusing  the  Jesuits,  and  gave  ont 
tliat  the  red  color  of  the  c](;^s  which  stot.d  before  their 
house  scared  the  l)ird  of  thundei'.  and  caused  him  to  fly  an- 
oliicr  wa\'.'  On  this  a  clamor  arose.  The  oonidar  ire 
tm'Urd  against  tln'  jiriests,  anil  the  obnoxious  (  I'oss  was  (  on- 
(lenuifd  to  be  hewn  down.  Aghast  at  the  threatened  sac- 
r'lfgi",  iliey  attem])ted  to  reason  away  the  storm,  assuiing 
tlie  crowd  that  the  lightning  was  not  a  biid,  but  cei'taln  liot 
and  iieiy  exhalations,  which  being  imprisoned,  darted 
this  way  and  that,  tiying  to  escajH-.  As  this  jjliilosophy 
failed  to  convince  their  he:;rer,s,  tlie  niissioiuiries  changed 
their  line  of  defence. 

k 

"  Yonsay."  observcnl  the  Fathers,  "tliatthered  colorofthe 
ci'oss  frightens  the  bii'd  of  thuiuler.  Then  ]»aint  tln'  cioss 
Avliite.  and  set;  if  the  thundei'  will  come.''  'J'his  was  thme, 
but  the  clouds  still  ke])t  aloof. 

'"  Your  spirits  cannot  help  you,"  said  Fathei-  de  Ihebenf, 
"and  your  sorcerers  have  deceived  you  with  lies.  Xowask 
the  aid  of  llim  who  made  the  world,  and   jieihaiis   He   will 

'  Till' fDllowiiii.' is  rlicdxplaiiiUionnn  Iiiiliiinsiavc  riilhcr  Do  Uri'lx'iif  of  what  tliMiidcr  was  .•  "it 
Is  II  rum  in  ilic  form  of  a  Mirkcy.iM.ck.  Tlu'  sky  is  Ins  iialacc.  and  li<'  rrnmins  in  il  wlnii  Itui  a.r 
iru,]'-.  WIrmi  llii' clouds  l)('^ir.  to  (.Tumlili- lio  ilrM-i'iids  to  tlic  carlli  to  ^'allicr  up  snakes  ami 
ritlior  objects,  wliicli  the  Indians  rail  miinitntis:  'I'nc  liL'lilniiiL'  ll;i~!ies  wln'iiever  he  opens  or  close* 
1:1s  .vifus.  If  the  stonn  is  more  violent  than  usual,  it  is  btcausc  his  jouiig  arc  with  him,  una 
lulling  in  llie  i;oise  as  well  us  lliey  can." 


''t 


4I(J 


FATHER  JOHN  BE  BREDEUF,  S.  J. 


listen  to  your  prayer'* ,"  And  lie  added  that  if  tlio  Indians 
would  renounce  their  sins,  and  obey  the  true  (.-rod,  they 
would  make  a  procession  daily  to  implore  His  favor  touMids 
them.  Tiiore  was  no  want  of  i)romises.  The  i)rocessi(.>u;i 
were  be^<;'un,  as  were  also  nine  Masses  to  St.  JoMepli,  and  as 
heavy  rains  occurred  soon  after,  the  Indians  conceiv'ed  a  Idgh 
idea  of  the  edicacy  ot  the  French  ''medicine.'" 

If  in  10;)0  more  Jesuits  came  to  the  assistance  of  tlie 
dauntless  De  Brebeuf,  liis  difiiculties  on  tliat  acc(uint  did 
not  diminisli.  For  several  years  tlie  pestilence  liad  scourged 
the  llurons,  but  now  it  arrived  in  its  most  terrible  form — 
♦he  small-pox,  jMouruinu;  overshadowed  tlie  land.  De 
Brebeuf  and  his  brave  band  became,  if  possible,  more  thr.n 
heroes.  Amid  the  wails  of  the  living  and  the  groiins  of  the 
dying,  tliey  passed  arouul,  like  good  angels,  from  cabin  to 
cabin,  aiding  and  comf  irting  as  they  went  along.  Often 
the  only  return  for  their  charily  were  jeers  and  curses. 

"When  we  see  them,"  writes  Parkman,  "'in  the  gloomy 
F(?bruary  of  10:57,  and  the  gloomier  months  that  followed, 
tviiling  on  fool  from  one  infected  town  to  another,  wading 
through  the  sodden  snow,  under  the  bare  and  di'i])i)ing  for- 
est, drenclied  with  incessant  rains,  till  Ihey  descried  at 
length  through  the  storm  the  clustering  dwellings  of  some 
barbarous  hamlet,  when  we  see  tlumi  entering  one  after  an- 
other these  wi'etched  abodes  of  misery  and  darkness,  anti 
all  for  one  sole  end,  the  liaptism  of  the  sick  and  dying.  .  .  . 
v/e  must  needs  admire  the  self-sacrilicing  zeal  witli  which  it 
was  pursued." 

In  those  wild  scenes  of  misery,  no  pen  can  picture  the 
heroic  toils,  the  calmness,  tlu^  grandeur  of  soul  exhibited  by 
Father  de  Brei)euf.  How  tluj  human  frame  could  endui'eit 
is  something  which  iills  the  mind  willi  astonishment.  Xor 
had  he  to  battle  against  disease  and  Indian  wickedness 
oidy.  The  powers  of  dnrkness  assailed  the  great  ])riesr  in 
every  way  possibl(>.  Pimions  in  troops  appeared  lieCorrt 
him,  sometimes   in  the  guise  of  men,  sometimes  as  ])ears. 


r 


'  raiUuiun. 


FATUER  JOHN  DE  DUBBEVF,  S.  J. 


41? 


wnlvps,  or  wild-cats.  He  called  on  God,  and  tlie  appari- 
tiou.s  vanished.  Death,  lilce  a  skeleton,  sometimes  menaced 
him,  and  once,  as  he  faced  it  with  an  nnqailing  eye,  it  fell 
powerless  at  his  feet.  He  saw  the  vision  of  a  vast  and  g-or- 
iivoiis  p^dace,  and  a  miiacnlous  voice  assured  him  thatsnc  U 
was  to  lie  the  reward  of  those  who  dwelt  in  savage  hovels 
lurtiie  cause  of  Uod.  Augels  appeared  to  him,  ami  nioro 
than  once  St.  Joseph  and  the  Most  Blessed  N'ijgin  were  vis- 
ibly present  before  his  sight. 

In  1G;J7  Father  de  Brebeuf  had  the  extreme  consolation  of 
solemnly  baptizing  a  Huron  chief,  the  first  adult  in  health 
yet  admitted  to  the  Christian  fold.  It  was  done  wilh  gi'eat 
ceremony,  and  in  the  jiresenco  of  hundreds  of  wondei'ing 
Indians.  J^ut  the  d(n'il  became  ahirnicd  at  this  trium[)h  of 
the  Faith.  More  than  ever  the  .^^avages  began  to  suspect  the 
Jesuits.  ]'  was  secretly  whispered  aI)road  that  they  had 
bewitched  tlie  nation,  in  short,  were  the  chief  cause  of  the 
pest  which  threatened  to  destroy  it. 

A  dwartishniedicine-nian,  wlio  boasted  that  he  was  a  ver- 
itable fiend  incarnate,  originated  this  rumor.  The  slander, 
says  Parkraan,  si)rerul  fast  and  far.  Their  friends  looked  ac 
them  askance,  their  enemies  clamored  for  their  lives.  Some 
said  that  the  priests  concealed  in  their  houses  a  corpse 
which  infected  rh(>  country — a  prevalent  not*(m,  derivec? 
from  some  half-instructed  neophyte,  concei'uing  the  bodyol 
Christ  in  the  Eucharist.  Otheis  asciibed  the  evils  to  ;i  ser- 
pent, others  to  a  spotted  fi'og,  v.tliers  to  n  (K'nion  which  the 
priests  were  supposed  to  carry  in  th(  banelof  a  gun.  Othei-Ji 
again  gave  cut  that  they  had  iiricked  an  infant  to  deutli 
with  ;iwls  in  the  foi'esf,iu  ordei  to  kill  the  Hiiion  childrei?. 
by  niau-ic  '  Perhaps,'  ob><"rves  Father  Le  Mcr;Mor  "the 
devil  wa?;  enraged  because  W(>  had  placed  a  great  many  ot 
theselitde  innocents  in  Ileav-^n.'' 

The  picture  ol  the  Last  Judgment'  becauie  an  objccj-  of 
li  rror.  It  was  regarded  as  a  ciiarm.  'i'h;^  di'agoiis  ;nul  ser- 
pents were  supposed  to  be  the  demons  oi  the  jiest,  rsid  tha 


^  ■*•'•■ :  \raa  srcc-f  the  few  iiictupcs  that  adorned  the  nido  forest  cliapel. 


41 

r  II 

4i 


f  , 


%      '.m 


I 


;,K 


1    '  i; : 


^ 

!   i." 


I 


i  I 


I 


41 S 


F.i  TJiEJi  joiix  i)E  jii'.rcni'jur,  .?.  j. 


sinui'is  \vii(»ni  (hey  were  so  biiijily  devourin,:]-  to  repi-c.-eiif  its 
victims.  On  the  lop  of  a  spruce  tree  iieiir  their  lioiise  :iD 
Ihonatiria,  th(;  priests  had  fastened  a  siiudi  sti'eainei'  to  isliow 
the  direction  of  tlie  wind.  'J'liis  too  was  lal«.en  for  acliarni, 
tlirowinii,-  oil  disease  and  deatli  to  all  <piarlers.  The  clock, 
once  an  object  of  harndess  wonder,  now  excited  the  svildi  st 
alnrm,  and  the  Jesuits  were  forced  to  stop  it,  as  it  was 
supposed  to  sound  the  signal  of  death.  At  sunset,  one 
■would  have  seen  knots  of  Indians,  their  faces  d:irk  with 
dejection  and  terror,  listening  to  the  measured  sounds 
which  issued  IVoni  within  tlie  neighboring  house  of  the 
mission,  where,  with  bolti^l  doors,  the  priests  were  sin--- 
ing  Litanies,  mistaken  for  incantations  l>y  the  awe-struck 
savages.' 

On  the  evening  of  the  4lli  of  August,  IGI'T,  tlie  chiefs  held 
a  solemn  council  to  discuss  the  whole  question  of  the  pest 
and  the  Jesuits.  Father  de  l^rebeiif  :ind  his  associates  were 
requested  to  bi'  ])resent,  and  gladly  they  accepted  the  invi- 
tation. A  Strang' >r  scml^  it;  wo:dd  b(^  dinicuit  to  inuigine. 
Chiefs  gi'izdy  with  ag  >,  and  ])e:iring  tlai  scurs  oC  many  a 
fierce  contesr,  spent  their  eloijuence,  tlie  whole  gist  of  which 
was — the  Huron  nation  was  dying  away,  and  the  ])riests 
\vere  the  cause.  AVIumi  the  last  of  tla^  dusky  oj'ators  sat 
liown,  the  noble  De  Bieb(Mif  arose  and  thoroughly  exposed 
th(^  utter  absurdity  of  the  <  liarges  against  liiniself  and  his 
fellow-priests.  But  it  was  all  to  no  pnrjjose.  Tliei'e  was  a 
clamor  for  the  '•'■^charmed  clof //.'"'  In  vain  did  the  .T(>suit 
protest  that  th;\\'  liad  nothing  of  the  kind.  Tlie  loud  and 
savage  demands  but  increased. 

"If  you  will  not  l)(>lieve  me,''  said  De  Brebenf,  "go  to 
our  housi>;  search  everywhere;  and  if  yon  nre  n</t  sure 
wliicli  is  the  charm,  take  nil  our  clotliing  and  all  our  cloth, 
and  throw  them  into  the  lake."' 

"Sorcerers  alwnys  tnik  in  tlint  way,"  was  the  reply. 

"Tli'^n  wliat  will  you  have  nn;  snyT'  demanded  De 
Brebenf. 

"Tel!  ns  the  cnuse  of  the  pest,"  was  still  asked, 

'  "  Tho  .Tosuits  in  North  Americli." 


.  De 


;i1 


FATHER  DE  BREBEUF  CONFRONTING  THE  INDIAN  COUNCIL. 


FMiiHu  .loiix  T)K  nnr:ni:uF,  s.  j. 


410 


Tlion'ood  I'^itliiT'scxpliiniilioiis  jind  llicloiid  iiitcrriijttioiiH 
v.  llp'  lii'liiiiis  (It'liiycd  thti  (Ifhatf  until  loiig_  iilttT  iiiid- 
Iiivht.  As  cur  (pf  lilt' old  cliii'ls  |);i^-;cd  out,  lie  stud  (o  tlio 
"  Xavier  of  Noriii  Amci'icir":  "  IT  sonic  you  ii,i;l  nave  sliould 
Kjilii  youi'  head,  wt;  should  have  iiotliiii.u,'  to  say." 

'I'ht-' FatliiTs  wen*  now  in  pci'il  of  ilicir  lives.  Tlu'  icw 
coiivHi'ts  tlicy  liad  lately  made  came  to  I  hem  in  secret,  and 
^\al'Hl'll  theuilhat  tiicir  deal  h  was  deierniined  upon.  'J'lio 
house  was  wet  oii  iii'e,  in  pulilie  e\-eiy  face  Avas  a\ei'ied  I'lom 
lliein,  and  a  new  council  was  called  to  pronounce  the  deci't  e 
vi  death,  'I'hey  appealed  bel'tde  il,  \ve  aie  told,  Avitli  u 
float  (/f  such  nnMinchiny-  assui'aiu-e,  tliat  their  Jiul,ues,  In- 
dian like,  ])ostj)one(l  tin.'  sentence.  Yet  it  seemed  impossi- 
h!;-  that  they  should  much  lon<i:er  escape.  Do  Bivbeuf, 
ill!  i'elV)re,  -wrote  a  lett(M' of  farewell  to  his  siijierior,  Father 
Ijc.jeuiie,  ut  Quebec,  and  coiilided  it  to  some  converts  whom 
lie  coidd  trust,  tobe  cnrried  by  iliem  to  its  destination. 

'•\\'eare,  pt'ihajts,"'  he  writes,  '"about  to!:;iveour  blood 
and  our  lives  in  tlui  cause  of  our  ^faster,  Jesus  Christ,  ii; 
^fcnis  that  His  "goodness  will  accejit  the  sacrilice,  as  re^aid'H 
]iie,  in  expiation  of  my  li'reat  and  numbeiless  sins,  and  that 
III'  will  thus  ci'own  the  past  services  and  ardent  desires  vi 
r.ll  our  Fathers  here.  ,  .  .  liles.sed  be  His  name  forever, 
lliat  He  has  chosen  us  amon.i!:  so  many  better  than  wt^  to  aid 
llim  to  bear  His  cross  in  this  landl  In  all  thinus  His  holy 
v.ill  be  done."  The  spirit  of  the  fearless  Christian  hero 
8]ii:ie-,  out  ill  these  admirable  sentences. 

A  Tier  a  fervent  novi'iia  to  St.  Josepli,  the  clouds  of  death 
tlun  \\mvx  over  their  devoteil  heads  l)ea-an  slowly  to  move 
away,  '"'rruly,"  wi'ote  I'atlKn"  Le  Mercier,  '"it  is  an  uii- 
s]'eakable  haj^pinoss  Hu'  ns  in  the  midst  of  this  barbarism 
tu  hear  th(^  I'oariii'j;  of  the  demons,  and  to  si'c  earth  ai:d 
hell  rau'in.ti;  against  a  handful  (d"  men  who  will  not  even  de- 
fi'iid  themselves." 

Illusti'ious  l)and  of  incomparable  men!     Let  lis  call    the 
iimnortal  roll:     '"The  iron  De  Hrebeut,  i\\e  s<'iitle  Garnier 
the  all-endurinu"  Jaques,  the  enthusiastic  Chaiinionot,  Lalle- 
iiiunr,  Le   Mercier,  Charletain,  Daniel,   Pijart,   l^agueiieau, 


ir  if 


S.U: 


420 


FA  Tj/ER  jo  UN  DE  lUlBBEUF,  s.  J. 


J!    ! 


■■■\\    \ 


;1  i 


;i    ■       I 


11   i 


])ii  PiV.Ton,  Poncet,  Le  Muyne,"  one  and  all  bore  tliem- 
st4vf:s  witii  a  bold  tniuquilJity  eveu  when  tlieir  very  si.-alps 
hung  by  a  hair. 

])nrinL!,-  the  riMiiainder  of  the  narrative  we  ninst  rniifine 
ourselves  to  the  pei'sonal  history  oi'  ])e  Brel)i'ut'  hinisell'. 
(rladly  would  we  fcjllow  all  iu  th'eir  laboi's,  but  space  will 
Ti')t  permit."  Fain  would  we  pause  to  gaze  at  each  iu  his  trials 
and  his  toils;  recouufc  the  daug'^'s  iVoiu  the  heathen  llnnju, 
the  skMlking  Iroquois,  the;  I'rozei..  river,  hunger,  cold,  and 
flccideiit;  to  show  (larnier  Avrest.'ing  with  the  lloating  ice 
through  which  he  sunk  <>n  an  errand  f»f  mercy;  Chabaiiel 
sti'uggliiig  on  Tor  manyyear.s  on  a  niissien  iVoui  which  every 
tiOHi'  of  his  nature  slirunk  with  loathing;  Chaumonot  coni- 
piliug  his  grannuar  on  the  frozen  eai'tli;  or  the  heroic  l)e 
JJrebeuf,  paralyzed  by  a  fall,  with  liis  collar  bone  broken, 
cj'eeping  on  his  hands  and  feet  along  tlui  i'ri)zen  road,  and 
sleeping  uusheir'H'ed  in  tlie  snow,  wdien  the  very  trees  were 
splitting  with  cold.''' 

In  Xov(unl)r'r,  1040,  Father  de  Brelieuf,  accompanied  by 
Father  Chaumonot,  set  out  to  estal)lish  a  mission  among 
the  fei'ocious  savages  of  the  Neutral  Xation.  A  more  ]>er- 
ilous  journe}^  they  could  not  have  nndertaken.  Five  days 
of  toilsome  marching  brought  them  to  the  lirst  Neutral 
town. 

Their  progress  v,'as  a  storm  of  maleilicrions.  The  ci'y  of 
"soi'cerers"  was  immediattdy  raise*!,  and  in  ev(>ry  qnarter 
the  priests  were  denounced  as  the  destroyers  of  the  hnmnn 
race.  They  were  driven  i'rom  door  to  door,  yelled  at,  spat 
on,  jeered,  and  curs(Ml. 

One  day,  as  Father  de  Prebeurs  eyes  were  turned  in  thii 
directi(m  ot  the  land  of  the  Iroquois,  he  beheld  the  ominous 
apparition  of  a  gi'eat  cross  in  the  air  approaching  frojn  that; 
quarter.  Afterwards  he  told  the  vision  to  his  comrades. 
"What  was  it  likeT'  "ITow  lar2:e  was  it^'  tliey  eageily 
(le  u  111  li'  I..  '"Large  enough,"  replied  De  Brebeuf,  "to  cru- 
cify us  all."' 

Ibit  (rod  did  not  abaudon  his  faithful  servant  in  adver- 


»  Shcfi. 


FATHER  JOIIX  DE  liiiEBEUF,  S.  J. 


421 


f^ity.  "One  evening,"'  "wiites  Father  Clianmonot.  "wlicn 
ii'il  the  chief  men  of  the  town  were  deliberalini!,'  in  council 
whether  they  would  jjut  ii.s  to  death,  Fatlier  de  Brebeiif, 
Avhile  malving  his  examination  of  conscience,  as  we  were  to- 
gether at  prayers,  saw  the  vision  of  a  specter,  full  of  fiiiy, 
menacing  us  both  with  tliree  javelins  whicli  lie  liehl  in  his 
IkukI.  Then  he  hurled  one  of  tliern  at  us;  but  a  more  pow- 
erful hand  cauglit  it  as  it  tlew,  and  this  took  place  a  seconJ 
or  a  third  time,  as  he  hurled  ids  two  remaining  javelins. 

"Late  at  niglit  our  host  came  hack  from  the  council,  where 
the  two  Huron  emissaries  had  made  theii'  gift  of  hatchets  to 
jiave  us  killed,  lie  wakened  us  to  say  tliat  three  tiiues  we 
had  been  at  the  point  f)f  d(^ath;  for  tlie  young  men  liad 
olfered  three  times  to  strike  the  blow,  and  tliree  times  the 
old  men  had  dissuiuled  them.  This  exjilained  the  meaning 
of  Father  de  Brebeufs  vision.'"  Still  their  danger  was  not 
past.     It  was  secretly  agreed  tuat  no  one  should  shelter 

tllfUl. 

"Gro  and  leave  our  country,"  exclaimed  an  old  chief,  "or 
we  will  put  you  into  the  kctth^  and  uiake  a  ft^ast  of  }  ou." 

Father  de  Bivbeuf  and  his  companion,  notwiihstanding 
llieir  dangers,  spiMit  n  few  weeks  more  in  the  territory  of  the 
IV'rocious  and  inliospitable  Neutrals,  and  then,  shaking  the 
dust  oi?  their  feet,  they  proceeded  north  to  St.  Marie,  the 
liHiidquartera  of  the  whole  Uuron  mission. 


'  .ml 


V  ft 


'    ''W 


I  i 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE   BLE>;SIXG    OF   SUCCESS    A\D   THE   IIEItOIC   EXD. 

T^"'  (jreat  liarcest  of  soith — Pithj  of  the  Indians  —J'\tlJier 
(Ic  Bii-bcuf" s  appearance  ^omc  lime  Ixfore  liis  IcaUi — 
y//.v  rirhies — The  Iro'iuo'ix  inrasion — As.sai/I^  on  the 
till'(i'/e  if  >^l.  Louis — A  noble  Indian  vJt  i<f~.De  lirehenf 
lalccn.  prisoner — Appidling  (orltircs — Tin:  siddiine  end 
— His  ijreatrLtss. 

Six  years  of  almost  iiicrciriblo  toil  and  sulTcrings  had  iinw 
bwu  spent  in  the  stony  iichl  of  llie  Huron  mission.  'Yo  tlir- 
mere  human  eye  it  was  la))or  thi'own  away.  l>ut  noihiim'  Is 
lost  that  is  (lone  forijiul.  Othei'S  may  sow  and  wi.lcr;  lie 
aiOiie  can  liive  the  increase^  which  He  always  does  in  His 
own  ii'ood  time.  After  all,  motives,  not  success,  are  the  Ii";r 
ol"  real  mo'it.  P>ut  if  the  subliniest  nioti\H>s  and  the  noble- 1 
Ttierit  can  coniniand  success,  did  not  Father  de  Brebcnif  ami 
his  aposiolic  conipanions  deserve  \\i 

The  veaerablc  Ai)ostle  of  the  lIui'OTis  had  the  hayipiness 
to  live  to  bi''iold  his  labors  bh^ssed  by  Ib'aven.  j)ni'inu-  tlie 
I'cniaiinnp:  nine  years  of  his  gloi-ions  career  tlnmsaiKls  came 
into  the  Chur(  h.  Marv(>lons  f-iidit!  0];stinate  and  lierce 
h.iriiariaiis  were  transformed  into  model  Christians.  Tlie 
woir  became  a  hnnb.  Speakini^  of  tlu^  state  of  the  missieas 
ill  1(5-18.  Fatlier  Ivau'ueneau  wrote:  "Evei-y where  th(>  prog- 
ress of  tlie  Faith  has  far  ourjvissed  our  hopes;  tlie  greater 
portion  of  the  savn.ires,  e\-en  those  who  Imd  Ikhmi  b(>rore  the 
'most  ferocious,  havinu;  become  so  (h)cile  mid  so  ]  liaMe  to 
til  >  preachinu:  of  the  (fosptd  as  to  make  it  manifi^st  that  the 
an,ii;els  labonvl  inoi'e  anionir  them  than  onrselves.  Tlienmn- 
bi'r  of  thos(>  who  received  baptisiu  this  year  is  about  eigii- 
teeu  hundred.'' 

422 


'1 1 


FATHER  .70 HX  DE  nnfJHEUF,  S.  J. 


4^^J 


Four  new  nii.ssionarie.s  having  r.rrived  in  September, 
1G4S,  tli(j  total  number  laboring  in  the  Huron  mission 
tlien  atiiounled  to  cUjlttevii.  All  the  chief  villages  liad 
tlicif  nourishing  missions.  In  the  conversion  (d'  tliese 
du..'.ky  souhi  of  the  f(n'est  we  see  the  truth  ui  the  lines — 

"XiithiiiiT  great  is  ligljtly  '.von,  • 

And  iiDlhiiig  won  is  lost." 

How  delighted  must  have  been  Father  de  Erebenf  in  wit- 
nessing the  marvelous  i)rogres.s  of  the  Faith  deseribcd  iu 
tlic  Huron  l\ihi'U>n>i  of  tba.t  time,  '"^^'illlout  doulil,"' 
wi'iti'S  the  Superior,  "rhc  aiig^'ls  of  Heaven  have  been  re- 
jtticfd  at  seeing  that  in  all  the  vill;;ges  of  this  country  tlu^ 
'"  'ih  is  resi)ectt'd,  and  that  Cliris!ians  now  glory  in  that 
ii:iui('  which  was  in  reprnich  ])Ut  a  few  years  ago.  For  my 
p:U't,  I  could  ncvfu-  have  hoped  to  see,  ereii  af/er  JiJ'ly 
ycar.'i  of  labor,  one-tenth  part  of  the  piety,  of  tlie  \iitue 
:ui<l  sanctity,  t.f  which  T  liave  been  an  eye-witness  in  the  visits 
made  to  tliose  chui'chi'S  which  liave  but  lardy  grown  uj)  in 
the  bos jm  of  iniidelity.  T<"  has  given  me  a  sensible  delight 
to  witness  the  diligence  of  the  (Miiistians,  who  anti<i[iated 
the  liuht  of  the  sun  to  come  to  the  public  prayers,  and  who, 
though  harassed  witli  toil,  cam(>  again  in  immense  throngs 
before  night  to  rtmder  nn(nv  their  homages  lo  G'od;  to  see 
the  little  childnMi  eniulating  the  i)iety  of  their  parents,  and 
accustoining  themselves,  froiu  the  most  temh-r  age,  to  oll'er 
np  to  God  their  little  sulferings,  griefs,  and  labors.  Often 
little  girls,  while  engagxvl  ifi  gathering  Mood  for  tlie  lire  iu 
the  a<ijoining  forests,  can  lind  no  employment  more  agree- 
able than  to  I'eeiti^  tlie  rosary,  seeking  to  outstrip  ea.ch  other 
in  tiiis  exercise  c>f  i»i<'!y.  F)Ut  what  lias  cliainied  nie  nio^t  is 
To  see  that  tlit^  sentimmits  of  faith  liave  ])enetraled  so  deeiily 
into  the  hearts  of  those  whom  we  liave  but  lat<'ly  called  bar- 
haiians,  and  1  can  say  ^^■ith  enlire  truth  that  ].)ivine  grace 
has  de.;t;'oyi>il  in  most  of  ihem  the  feats,  th(>  desires,  and  the 
joys  inspireil  In  relofoie  by  the  feelings  of  nature. "  ' 

'  ratliCT  Kaffurncaii,  S.  .J. 

The  fo'.lowiir;  is  from  tlio  same  vt'iicniblc  pen:   "A  Utile  child  e'..c  years  uld  fe';  dunueroiifly 


1    ! 


^1 


•h  (1 


I  1  1 


■•  •  ■  1  ■ 

4  JM 

-  *  f  f  ■ 

!l»" 


ISJRi! 


424 


FATinm  Joiiy  be  hukbeuv.  s  j. 


li 


l;i. 


Such  w,is  the  Imppy  condiM'tn  of  the  Huron  Ui'ssion.  The 
l.'vbors  of  the  illustrious  De  Breb"uf  and  his  fdlow-.Jesui  ^ 
^v(:'re  ciuwued  with  more  than  success.  Ciitliolicity  nour- 
ished in  the  snow-clad  wilderness  of  <ho  North. 

There  ,vere  in  the  Huron  country  in- March,  KUl),  (Aixh- 
teen  Jesuits  and  four  hiy  brothers.  The  headquartei's  of 
the  mission,  where  the  Father  Superior  resided,  was,  as  we 
liave  s:iid.  Sainte  Marie,  on  the  Utile  river  Wye,  just  south 
or'  ,\[atcluMlas  ]-5ay.  Other  mission  villages  had  likewise  the 
names  of  stunts,  St.  Ignatius,  St.  Joseph,'  St.  Louis,  and 
many  more. 

Let  us  imagine  all  the  Fathers  gathered  totrethor  in  tli*^ 
largest  apartment  of  the  house  at  Sainte  M'lrie,  Among 
tht'in  we  can  at  once  single  out  the  tall,  imposing  figure  of 
(he  apostle  and  founder  of  the  Huron  mission,  Father  John 
de  Biel)eur.  His  hair  was  now  somewhat  tinged  with  gray, 
I'or  lie  was  lifry-six  years  of  age.  "H'  he  seemed  Impas- 
sive,"' writes  the  Protestant  Parkman,  "it  was  because  one 
overmastei'ing  principle  had  merged  and  absorl)ed  all  the 
im])ulses  of  his  nature,  and  all  tin*  faculties  of  his  mind. 

Rick  in  lluMiii^slon  of  St.  Micli:u'l.  His  mother,  set'in;^  the  excess  of  his  sufTeriii<^s,  niul  tlin  i;p- 
j):oii<-he- 1)1  death  to  her  dearly  beloved  mid  only  child,  could  not  rcf^trnin  Iicr  tears.  'Mother.'  cn- 
rlailll"  the  lillle  one,  '  why  do  yjii  weep?  your  tears  cannot  ninke  me  well  n<;tain.  Let  IH  pniy  to 
r.'od  loi;ether  Ihiit  He  will  iiialie  me  liiippy  in  Heaven.'  After  some  prayers  the  mother  snid: 
■  My  son,  1  must  carrv  you  to  Sainte  Marie,  tliat  the  Frencli  iathir.s  may  n'slore  yon  to  healtli.' 
'O  mother: '  repliei.  he  lillle  innocent,  '  I  have  ii  tire  which  burns  my  head  -can  they  put  it  out? 
1  di  not  expect  to  live.  ISiit  do  not  be  anxioun  about  me,  for  my  end  is  comini:.  and  T  must  snnu 
ask  you  to  carry  me  to  Sainte  Marie.  I  wish  to  die  there,  and  to  be  buried  among  Ihefiood  Cliris- 
tiar.s.  ... 

••  This  little  nnirel  was  bronsht  to  us,  and  died  in  ni;r  arms,  vrnyinq-  to  the  end.  ard  as'^iiriu'.'  ih 
thM  iie  was  uoini;  slnii^'bt  to  Heaven,  wliere  he  would  jiray  to  Cod  for  us  all;  and  lie  even  ii-k'^d 
his  mothir  to  tell  him  for  which  of  his  relations  he  should  ). ray  most,  when  he  would  be  willifiod, 
and  when  his  juviyers  would  without  doubt  be  heard.  He  irrix  heard:  for  ^horlly  after  his  death, 
one  of  his  uncles,  a  man  who  hail  lieen  amontr  the  mo«t  rebelUous  to  the  Kaith  in  Uiis  conulry, 
lis  well  as  one  ot  his  aunis,  demanded  instruction  at  our  hands,  and  became  f'Mri-lians."- -F.|/A.r 
P'liil  Unyucnidu,  fl.  J..  IMalion  ih  ce  qv\  fft  pnn."!^  in  la  nu/n-inii  'li^n  Phrx  df  hi  Com]ia^nh  lii 
Jrxii.i.  aii.v  /li/imis,  j)nh  (U  la  Xnnvelle  Fmnrc,  aiix  anrjfs  iniSi/  KilO. 

'  Tiie  year  before,  IfltS,  St.  .Tosoph's  was  destroyed  by  ,i  hostile  band  of  Iroquois.  It  was  early 
In  the  morning.  Mass  was  just  finished  by  Father  naniel.  The  warwhoo)i  of  the  Iroi|Uoi«  rant; 
In  tile  ears  of  tlie  panic-stricken  villairers.  Ijallyinu:  the  defenders,  the  heroic  priest  nave  tlieiil 
absolution,  "nrothers,"  he  exclniined.  ''today  we  shall  be  in  Heaven  !"  And  to  his  Hock  he 
cried,'  Fly  I  I  will  stny  here.  We  shall  meet  acain  in  Heaven."  As  the  defenders  wore  f<'W.  the 
caniaiie  soon  betjun.  On  peeini;  Danhd  in  the  briirht  robes  of  his  oHlce,  the  heathen  savauei 
stared  for  a  moment  In  amazement.  Then  came  a.  volley  of  arrows.  A  musket-ball  ))lerced  tin) 
Jesuit's  heart,  and  he  fell  murmurinc  the  holy  name  of  Jcaus.  This  occurred  three  days  after  his 
fetreat.    lie  died  a  saint  and  martyr. 


^^^^ 


FATITKR  JOITX  DE  liRhniEUF, 


J. 


42o 


The  er.llrisiasin,  wl.ich  \\\*h  many  is  lUfiil  and  spasmodic. 
vas  Avirli  lihn  the  (MUTcrit  of  liis  lif?,  soltaini  and  deep  as  the 
tide  of  c'estiny.  'llie  Divine  Trinity,  <"lie  Holy  \'iiL;in,  tlie 
Saints,  Jleuven  and  li?ll,  angels  and  liends,  to  him  these 
alone  -were  real,  and  all   lliings  else  were  naairh :." 

Ue  Brobenf  was,  in  trnili,  a  man  of  the  sid)liniest  virtne. 
L-t  the  pen  oi  one  of  liis  famous  companions  describe  his 
yhrislian  greatness:  ''When  he  was  made  Su])erior  of  the 
Huron  mission,"  writes  Father  IJagneneau,  "and  liad  many 
others  under  liis  charge,  every  one  admired  his  skill  in  the 
nuniagement  of  aO'airs,  his  >\veetness, which  gained  all  liearts, 
his  heroic  courage  in  every  undertaking,  his  long-sufl'ering 
in  awaiting  the  moments  of  (rod's  good  ])leasure.  his  pa- 
tience in  enduring  everything,  and  liis  zeal  in  undertaking 
whatever  might  }»ronioie  (iod's  glory.  His  humility  in- 
clined him  to  embrace  with  love,  with  joy,  and  even  with 
natural  relish,  whatever  was  most  lowly  and  painful. 

'  Tf  on  a  journey  ho  cai'ried  the  he'viest  burdens,  if 
travi'ling  in  cano(>s  he  paddled  from  moining  till  niulit.  i<; 
was  he  who  tluN'W  himself  lirst  into  the  water  luul  was  tiie 
last  to  leave  it,  noi wiihstanding  the  rigor  of  the  cild  :ind 
the  ice.  He  was  the  Ui'st  up  in  the  morning  to  make  a  lii'e 
and  prf^pare  breakfast,  and  he  was  the  last  to  i-etire,  linish- 
ing  his  prayers  and  devotions  after  the  others  had  gone  to 
repose. 

"What  is  most  remarkable  is,  that  in  all  the  labors  he 
thus  took  upon  himself,  he  did  everything  so  i[ui<lly  and 
dextiM-ously  that  one  wouhl  have  believed  that  In-  had  but 
aoted  in  accordance  with  his  natural  inclination.  'Tain 
but  an  ox,'  li.>  was  wont  to  say,  alluding  to  the  meaning  of 
his  name  in  French;  'I  am  lit  for  nothing  but  carrying 
burdfms.' 

"To  the  continual  sulTi'iings  which  were  inseparable  from 
his  em]doyment  in  the  nu>Nions,  he  added  a  nnmlier  of  vol- 
untary mortifications,  of  inilictions  i^f  the  discipline  every 
day.  and  oft(m  twic(>  in  the  day,  of  frequents  fasts,  <if  hair 
shirts,  of  girdles  around  liis  body,  armed  with  iron  points, 
of  v.-atcldngs, which  \>'ere  protracted  far  into  the  night.    And 


hi 


.  V   i,|| 


!f 


I     (. 


.v;     (i 


426 


FATIIEU  JOins^  DE  BRi:UEUF,  S.J. 


i  , 


ri\ 


j    < 


after  all,  his  heart  was  not  iiq\  satiated  with  sufTt-riiigs,  and 
he  believed  that  what  lie  had  hitherto  endured  was  nutliiii,a-. 
''  His  meekness  was  the  virtue  which  SHrMned  to  transcet'd 
all  the  others.  It  was  pi'ouf  against  evei'v  trial.  For 
twelve  years  .that  I  have  kuown  him/'  continues  Fat  Ik  r 
Ragueneau,  "  that  .1  have  seen  him  alternately  superitjr, 
inferior,  and  on  an  equality  with  others,  son)etinies  engaged 
in  temporal  affairs,  sometimes  in  missionary  toils  and  laboi';j, 
dealing  wiih  the  stivages,  whether  Cliristians,  inlidels,  or 
enemies,  iu  the  midst  of  sniferings,  of  persecution,  and  of 
calumny,  I  never  once  saw  him  eiiln'r  iu  anger  or  manifest- 
ing the  slightest  indica,tioa  of  displeasure.  Occasionally, 
even,  some  persons  tried  to  pique  him  on  puijiose,  and  to 
uurprise  him  in  those  things  to  which  tln^y  thought  his  sen- 
sibility would  be  the  most  alive,  but  always  his  eye  would 
})e  benign,  his  words  I'uU  of  sweeincss,  and  his  heart  in  an 
unalterable  calm.'' 

Stationed  at  the  village  of  St.  Louis  vrcrc^  Father  de 
Brebeuf  and  his  .slender  andapparently  youtliful  companion, 
Father  (jral)riel  Lallemant.  We  have  already  referred  to  the 
Iroquois  raid  by  which  Father  Daniel  nn-t  a  gloiions  death. 
Tiiose  hostile  savages,  eacourag-'d  by  th;'  s'.iccess  of  this 
lirst  attenijjt,  determined  to  pay,  at  5^o;t!('  future  time,  an- 
other and  more  dreadful  visit  to  the  Huron  coriniry.  1^.'- 
fore  the  dawn  of  day  on  the  JGlh  of  ]March.  If!  10.  a  foicc  of 
about  one  thousand  Ii'oquois  warriors  siidd(>nly  attacivcd 
th3  village  of  St.  Ignatius.  The  place  was  carried  l\v  assaulr. 
Oil""  of  four  hundred  inhabitants,  but  thive  (\sca])i^d  over  the 
snow  to  carry  the  alarm  to  St.  Louis,  (udy  three  miles  dis- 
tant I  It  was  scarcely  sunrise  when  the  svrift-footed  ^fo- 
hawks  surrounded  the  doomed  village  in  which  dw(>lt  the 
Apostle  of  tin*  llurons. 

The  details  of  (he  fierce  struggle  and  awful  carnag«'  lh:it 
make  that  place  memorable  werelearn-Ml  from  a  fVnv  Indians 
who  esca]-)ed  to  St.  Marie,  and  they  can  be  found  in  the 
old  Rrlafion  of  that  yeai-. 

WIkmi  the  three  fugitives  from  St.  Tgr.r.tius  re;iched  the 
still  slumbering  village  of  St.  Lonis,  they  spread  the  alarm 


FATHER  .TOnN  DE  BR(:BEUF,  8.  J. 


427 


wirli  tolpj^rnphic  rn])i(lity.  The  Cliristinn  Indians  pntreated 
Pe  liivbinif  to  save  his  life — to  fly  with  them.  l>iif,  in  tlio 
words  of  Parlvnian,  "  the  bold  scion  of  a  warlike  stock  had 
no  tliouu^lit  of  Hii^'Jit.  His  post  was  in  the  teeth  of  dan,i;(4', 
to  clieer  on  those  who  fonglit,  and  to  o])en  Heaven  to  liiose 
who  f"Il.  ilis  callea.^ue,  sli.u'hl  of  fnuiK?  and  frail  of  con- 
stitution, tii'iii!)l<'d  despite  himself;  Init  df-ep  enthusiasm 
mastered  the  weakness  of  nature,  and  he,  too,  refused  to 
ily.-' 

Oiit  of  the  seven  hnndiTd  inhabitants  all  availed  tliein- 
pelves  of  the  oi)i)ortnnity  to  escape,  save  abont  eighty  war- 
riois,  who  determined  to  sell  their  lives  dearly.  The  war- 
whoop  of  the  (iei'ce  Iroquois  siiook  the  very  wigwams,  as 
veil  echoed  veil,  and  shot  answered  shot. 

"  Tlic  C()inl);it  deepens  ; 
Ou,  yc  bravu  !" 

The  iron  and  dauntless  De  Bivbeuf  and  his  gentle  compan- 
ion (Muiiloyed,  sa.ys  the  old  neJatio)i.,  every  moment  of  their 
time,  as  the  most  precious  of  their  lives,  and  during  the 
hottest  of  th<'  contest  tlnMr  hearts  W(n'e  all  on  lire  for  the 
salvation  of  souls.  One  of  them  was  at  the  brt>ach  baptizint)- 
the  catechumens;  the  other  was  giving  absolulicm  .to  the 
Cluistian  braves.  Seeing  things  were  desperate,  a  heathen 
llnroa  urged  iligiit. 

His  woi'ds  w(>re  heai'd  by  the  fearl(>ss  Stephen  Annaotaha, 
the  distinguished  Christian  chifd'  of  the  village.  "  What  I'' 
exclaimed  the  brav(^  chief,  "■  shall  we  abandon  these  good 
Fatiiris,  who.  I'oi' our  saKes,  have  exposed  their  own  lives  { 
The  l(iv(>  they  have  for  our  salvation  will  be  the  cause  of 
their  death.  There  is  no  longer  tinu*  for  them  to  Ily  across 
the  snows.  Let  us,  then,  dii!  with  them,  and  in  their  com- 
]iany  we  shall  go  to  Heaven."  This  chief  had  made  a  gen- 
eral confession  but  a  U'w  days  bef()i'(\  having  had  a  pre-^(■n- 
tinient  of  the  thr(>atened  danger,  and  having  said  that  h<^ 
wished  death  to  iind  him  riiie  for  the  land  be^■ond  the 
skies. 

The  tierce  but  uneq'.ial  contest  continued   until  several 


U 


f  %iV3^ 


-^128 


FATHER  JOHN  DE  BRP:BEUF,  8.  J. 


;  i!ii  I 


^    ' 


lircnelies  uei'o  iiiadt'  in  I1k>  ptilisudos.  A  yrll  oC  tiiimi]*]) 
iinnounced  the  victory  ol'  ilu;  Iroquois.  Falliers  de  Bielx-'ii' 
luid  J^allemunt  and  a  iew  Huron  warriors  were  made  pris- 
(♦JiiM's.     The  town  was  liied. 

Immediately  at'L-r  their  capture,  the  Fathers  were  stri})p(>(l 
of  their  olotliiug,  had  their  iinger-nails  torn  out  by  the  roots, 
and  were  borne  in  wild  trium])h  to  tlic  village  of  St.  Igna- 
tius, which  liad  been  tak(Mi  the  same  moi'ning.  Onentei'ing 
its  gates  thev  both  rccpiveda  showcroT  blows  ontheir  shoul- 
dei's.  loins,  and  stomach,  no  part  of  their  exx)os('d  bodies 
(vsca])ing  contumely.  In  the  midst  of  this  cruelty  the  un- 
conquerable De  Brolienf  thouglit  only  of  others.  His  eye 
lundling  with  sacred  fire,  he  addressed  the  Christian  Ifurons 
who  wei'e  his  fellow-captives  : 

"My  children  I  Let  us  lift  up  our  eyes  to  Ileavt'u  in  the 
mulst  of  o!ir  sulTtM'ings  ;  let  us  rememb(H"  tliat  (lod  is  a  wit- 
ness of  our  torments,  and  that  lie  will  soon  be  our  reward 
exceedingly  great.  Let  us  die  in  this  faith,  and  trust  in 
His  goodness  iA)r  the  fullillmi'nt  of  His  ]")romis,)s.  I-  fctl 
more  for  you  than  for  myself;  but  bear  with  courage  the 
fi3w  torments  which  yet  remain.  They  will  terminate  with 
our  lives.  The  glory  which  will  follow  them  will  have  no 
end  1  • 

"  J^c7/o>i,"  they  all  replied,  "our  hopes  shall  bt^  in  Heaven, 
while  our  ])odies  are  sulfering  on  eartli.  Prav  to  (rod  for 
US.  that  He  will  grant  us  mercy.  AVo  will  invoke  him  even 
nnto  death." 

Enraged  at  these  words  of  the  heroic  Jesuit,  the  Iroquois 
led  hini  apart  and  bound  him  to  a  stako.  These  fiendish 
savages  scorched  liim  fi'om  In^ad  to  foot  to  silence  him. 
whereupon^  in  the  tone  of  a  master,  he  threatened  them  with 
everlasting  flames  for  ])ersecuting  the  worshipers  of  (t(v1. 
As  he  continued  to  speak  with  voice  and  countenance  un- 
changed, th(>y  cut  away  his  lower  lip,  and  thrust  a  red  hot 
iron  down  his  throat.  He  still  held  his  lofty  form  erect  and  ■!  >- 
fiant,  with  no  sign  or  sound  of  pain,  and  t1u\v  tv'iod  anolh  m- 
ni'-ans  to  overcome  him.  Tliey  led  out  Lallemant,  that  He 
Brebeuf  might  see  him  tortured.     They  had  tied  strips  of 


FATHER  JOHN  BE  BIlEDEUF,  S.  J. 


4-20 


bark  smenred  willi  pifcli  ..boiif"  his  riiiked  body.  AVJicn 
Ijiillptiiau''  saw  tlic>  (".tiulitioii  of  liis  Siipiu'iur  he  could  rot 
liidt'  his  auitntioii,  and  (.'ali'Hl  our  to  hiui.  with  a  broken 
vuice,  in  the  woi'ds  of  St.  Paul,  "  W'e  are  made  a  speolacle 
to  the  vorld,  to  angels,  and  to  men."  Then  lie  lhi-e\v  hiin- 
self  at  De  Breljeufs  I'eet,  upon  -which  the  Jrofinois  seized 
him,  made  him  fast  to  a  stake,  and  set  lire  to  the  l)ark  that 
enveloi'f'd  him.  As  the  llanies  rose  he  threw  his  arms  up- 
ward with  a  sliriek  of  siijii)iicatiou  to  llrnveu.  Xrxt  vliey 
hung  around  De  Jirebeuf  .s  neclv  a,  collar  niatle  of  hiitciitts 
heated  ret-hot,  but  the  indomitable  i;riest  .s'ood  it  like  a 
rock. 

A  Huron  iii  the  crowd,  who  had  been  a  convert  (>(  the 
mission,  but  was  now  iin  Irocpiois  iiy  a(hi|)iion.  called  out, 
with  the  uialicc  cf  n  ]('!H\L;a(le,  to  pour  hot  water  on  their 
heads,  since  t ]:<'y  i;oui'ed  so  mucli  cold'\\atei'  on  those  of 
otiiers.  The  Iveltle  was  accordingly  slung,  and  the  walei- 
boiled  and  poured  slowly  on  the  heads  of  the  two  mission- 
aries. "We  baptize  you,"  the  wi'ctches  cried,  "that  you 
niav  be  linppy  in  Heaven,  for  nobody  can  be  saved  withoulj 
fi  good  Baptism."  De  Brebeuf  did  not  llinch.  and  in  a  rago 
they  cut  strips  of  ilesh  from  Ids  lind)s,  and  dev  oured  them 
before  his  eyes. 

Otlier  renegade  Tlurons  calhHl  out  to  him.  ''You  told 
us  that  the  more  one  suffers  on  earth  the  hapjiier  iu^  is  in 
Heaven.  We  wish  to  make  you  hapyty.  ^Ve  torment  you 
bectuHcMve  love  you,  and  yon  ouglit  to  thank  us  for  it." 
Aft'n'  a  succession  of  otb.er  re\nltiiig  tortures,  they  scali)ed 
him,  when  seeing  him  n<^ii'ly  dead,  tliey  laid  open  his 
breast,  and  came  in  a  crowd  todi'ink  the  blood  of  soviliaii!, 
an  enemy,  thinking  to  imbibe  with  it  some  portion  of  his 
niarveloas  courage.  A  chief  then  tore  out  his  heart  and  de- 
voured it. 

And  tlius  died  FalluM-  .Tohn  de  Biebivif.  the  founderof  tlie 
Huron  missivin,  its  trm^st  hero  and  its  greatc'-t  niai'tyi".  Tie 
came  of  a  no'  le  race,  the  same,  it  is  said,  fi'om  winch  spiang 
the  EngbMi  Earls  of  Arumlel ;  but  never  liad  the  mailed 
Hii'oas  o!'  his  line  confronted  a  fate  so  appalling  with  so 


ill    'i  ?f,» 


430 


FA  Tin: It  JOHN  Di:  ni:r:iu:uF,  s.  j. 


])i'()'ligioii8  !i  cunstiiucy.  To  llie  last  Ik-  ivfiisod  fo  flinr'h, 
iind  Ills  (lc:itli  was  tiie  ustuuisliineiit  ol.'  liio  iiiliiimaii  iiu;r- 
dercrs.' 

Wt^  ]i(»])o  yet  to  see  tlie  c:uis«}  ol'  flu'  bralijicalion.  of  tliis 
famous  itiai'tyr  iind  missioiiaiy  broiiglit  forward  in  due 
form.  W no  can  doubt  but  ihat  he  now  shines  ;in)oii<4'  the 
Saints?  Ureat,  indeed,  must  liave  been  llie  virtue,  faith, 
and  heroism  which  ena'oled  him  to  triunij)li  over  hunian 
weakness,  and  .so  gi-andly  meet  lii.s  uwful  fat(\  linmoi'tal 
man!  master  of  every  virtue,  ]inin))le  Ix'ycnid  ex])i'e.ssi()n, 
meelc  toadihlrtition,  endurinic  nnlicard  of  t(jils  and  sulferintrs 
with  joy,  ])rave  far  beyond  the  bravest  of  tiiis  \M>ild,  illus- 
trious in  life  and  sul>lime  in  death. 

Such  a  shining  Chiistian  hero  as  Fathe]-  John  do  ])i'ebeuf 
the  Ancient  Faith  alone  can  produce.  Passing  fioni  tlie 
visible  to  rhe  invisible,  what  gloiy  doubtless  illumined  that; 
rare  s(jul  1  For,  "it  should  ever  be  remembered,"'  says  a 
W(^li-known  wi'iter,  "that  the  exterifU' Avork  of  a  saint  is 
but  a  small  ])orti()n  of  his  real  lift^  Men  ai'e  ever  searching 
for  the  beautiful  in  nature  and  art,  bur  1  Ik -y  j'a rely  search 
lV)r  111'  beauty  of  a  human  soul,  y(^t  this  beauty  is  immor- 
tal. Something  of  its  radiance  appears  at  limes  oven  to 
liuman  eves,  and  men  are  overaw(!d  by  the  maiestv  or  won 
by  the  sweetne.ss  of  the  saints  of  Tiod.  But  it  needs  saintli- 
ness  to  discern  sanctity,  evf>n  a?  i,  needs  cultivated  taste  to 
disc(M'n  art.  A  tiling  of  l)eauty  is  a  joy  only  to  those  who 
can  discern  its  beaut  v.*" 


'  Piirkniiin. 

'  Till'  \vm\  i)f  FalluT  do  P.ivbnif  in  .1  pilvcr  Hlirir.n  is  pro.=orvo(l  uilli  frrciit  vonfrntimi  iit  Que- 
bec. Sirvcnil  iiiimcli's  h;ivc  lioen  wroiiirlit  by  Ilic  lidly  iiitfriM'ssioii  of  ilii«  illustrious  miirlyr-iiiis- 
Fioniiry     Sec  "Vie  do  Jwm  dii  Brcheuf,"  ]iiir  le  H.  P.  .Martin,  pp.  SHS— iW. 

Fiillicr  I.jilciiicnt  also  met  liis  oiul  witli  true  ('liri^li:in  lurni>ni.  He  lived  till  iliiMK'>if  dny  ; 
mid  "  wlieii  tile  sun  liad  risen,  on  llie  IVtIi  of  Mareli,  tliey  diced  111.--  long  luartyrJoni  by  tonm- 
bnwlviii^  bin),  and  left  liis  body  a  l)laL'k  and  nianfiled  nia.s^." 


FATHER  AXDRHW  WIIITH,  S.  J. 


THE  APOSTLE  OF  .MAI;V1-ANU,- 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  EAllLY    LIFE   OF   A    Vi)rN'(t    I'lMFST    IN'   TIIF   SFVFN- 
Ti:i;.NilI    CKN'ICItY. 

Date  of  Whllrs  hirUi-TIn'  Kiajhiud  :>/'  ihfvc.  wuhirivs 
cufo—PeiHwidUm  and  rohberif—LilllcInion^ii  of  ]]7ii/c's 
earl,//  years— Ills  Itome  cdneatioii-^' ropcrif'  a  /a/r 
%oord  and  a  nicliriame—l'oiiii;/  Whilv  ai  Ihnuiii— Re- 
turns home  a  priest — Enijldnd  as  a  priest/tiinlcr  -Fa- 
ther While's  /)(inishmt'iil~-J'Jnlers  the  ^ocivli/  uj'  Jesus- 
Labors  as  (I  professor  in  carious  Universities— JJls 
great  learn  in  f/. 


^^\^  must  U'o  ]):ick  lliivi^  cciiturios. 


s; 


diiir 


inio  ill  I  lie  vcnr 


"J!")?!)  tlieiv  was  born  in  London.  Kn.uiaiid.  a  <'liil(i  wiioso 
name  was  dostineil  tolxM'onic  Faniiliar  in  I  lie  a!iii;ils  of  Mary- 
land, and  to  sliino  bi'i.u'lifly  in  llie  iiatics  of  Anifiican  his- 
tory. It-  was  a  sadly  cnricMis  poriod.  Por  a  thousand  years 
England  had  been  Catliolic.  Catholics  had  created  Oxfoid 
and  Cambridge,  and  made  England  a  nal  ion.  ]'.ur  now  all 
'\as  chanu'cd.  A  new  belief  suddc^ily  sprang  into  existence, 
and,  in  the  name  of  tlie  j)il)le  and  the  Ten  Commandments, 
Catliolics  weie  rob1)ed  of  their  rights  and  tlieii'  iH)sses.sion.'^, 


«-'Uh'f  amlioiiticH  used;  Father  WliUo,  ».  J.,  "  Uolatio  Itini  ns  in  Miirylamliiim:"  T/ie  Vnileil 
AAi'.,,  ((ilhor-c  M.Ti(i:hie,\'n\'i.?i  Mu\"\  riie  Mcio/^f/i/dr .  \o].  i:  S,  F.  Siiccicr,  '•  l':i|)crs 
IMalint;  to  tlie  Early  History  of  Maryland:-  .r.  G.  S!;-i.  ■■  li;-:>>n  of  llif  Cnlliolic  Missions  m 
tho  rnik'd  Stall's;""  J.  MiSlicrry,  "  U'smry  of  Maryland;''  'A  ropiilar  Ui.-lory  of  tlif  Catholic 
faiirch  in  tho  United  States,"  and  sjvfral  othur  w  xks. 

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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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432 


FATHER  ANDREW  WHITE,  S.  J. 


and  persecuted  like  wild  beasts  of  the  wildeiness.  We 
glance  at  that  barbarous  age,  and  the  mind  sif  I\ens.  Eli/.a- 
betli,  the  able,  vile,  imperious,  and  illegitimale  .liiiightcr  of 
Henry  VIII.,  reigned.  Modern  .hidases  sohl  the  ivligion  <jI' 
Jesus  Cliiist  for  pieces  of  money  and  ac'es  of  inoiiasiic  soil. 
A  pocket-iilling  zt\d  moved  tlit;  counfry.  S;iciiU'gious 
wrcftclies,  so  to  speak,  bi'ought  bills  of  damages  against 
Almiglity  God;  and  knaves,  scoundrels,  andaposlales  made 
war  on  the  hoiy  Faith  of  their  lathers.  This  nas  I'lnglaml 
in  {]w  vounti-  davs  of  Andrew  White,  tlie  future  'Aijostle 
of  Mt;rylaml." 
Of  his  i)arenr;i  oi  t.irly  years  W(^    know  next  to  nothing 


ime  1 


las 


lestrov. 


th 


e  record,  If  an\-  e\-er  exisled.     J3ut 


w.^  can  easily  imajjne  ]>ow  Andrew  ^Vhile  was  brought  np. 


In 


flio.stMnd!a])p\  tiays,  tlu're  were  no  Calliolic  .'■(.Jiool^,  ft)r 


(-'•itholic  cliildren  to  ;Utt>nd.  Proiestant  Kiigland  informed 
the  Cath(/lic  that  for  him  knowledgt^  was  l"oi'i)idden  IViiit. 
(Jatliolic  ])ari'nls  W('r(^  therefore^  ol)iiged  to  <>du(ale  llieir 
children  in  s"vret.  in  the  bosom  of  their  own  families.  The 
lirm  faith,  the  tender  piety,  ajid  tlu^  untii'ing  /(>al  which 
HO  beautifully  illusirate  the  whole  life  of  leather  White, 
may  well  warrant  us  in  supposing  that  in  his  youth  he  re- 
ceived under  I  lie  ])aternal  roof  and  in  seciccy  and  conceal- 
iiient — whi"h  in  tiio.se  times  were  only  a  pi'ecai-ions  protec- 
tion from  the  keci)  eye  of  tyi'anny — a  thoroughly  Catholic 
'.y.\d  i)rol'oi:iiuly  religious  training  fi'om  his  woitliy  paicnts. 
By  the  laws  of  :;posiate  England,  "Papists"'  forfeived  '^'Ai  a 
moiivh,  if  they  ed.uctited  their  children  ar  home;  if  ihey  seuu 
ll.e)n  sfoioa.d  to  a  (.\itholic  school,  the  forft  itui'e   >vas  SjIM). 


'  Wo  qiioti-  (':iu  tto'd  mi-rdy  to  mark  it,  nnd  plncc  our  lu'cl  upon  It.  I'  l)c'i)nus  (n  the  c nnrso 
voialKiliii'.v  oi"  !-('iiiirinii  lilaiUuicirilism.  "  I'aijist,"  "  1  MpUli,"  "I'lipcrv,""  i<imii~li,  '  •'  liniiiMH- 
ist,"  "  lioiniiii'Mii."  Till-'-''  (itlriisivc  liTiiiH  ".w  ic  fDriurrlv  applied  in  c  iiliolirs  !)>•  i|ici,  ■.iiiilriit 
I'rod'stHiil  pi'iscciitors.  'I'lic  saiiii' linlnily  ii'id  .ii'rul.iiii'd  cpiiit  liii:  p'Oiii-'d  llii'  pi'iial  i:n'  • 
nave  till'  .vi  rid  llii  -  ir.nii'.'icl  IiiodiI  of  rat'LU'd,  Ixxn'.r-h  \vl)^i^^.  •  I'iipl.<L'"  was  first  iiM'd,  i|  is  -aid, 
!>y  Marliii  l.iilhcr  as  a  liiiliiiaiiu'  for  ('alliollcs,  The  oflicrs,  it  iiipi-.n-H,  'lai'.  liicir  ori^'in  ill  laii;- 
laii('..  Hill  llic  writiT  wlio  cliUlu'S  his  idfiis  in  siirli  ti'!l!iinnl(i;.'_v  lo  ,la.v  Niiiiilv  pio;  laiiiis  liis  imn 
liad  ta.-tr.  Iiiu'iilry.  mid  Miljraiity.  Siuli  winds  i.n;  outcasts  liiiriiry  cyi'-Korcs  — iVuliiddi'ii  aliliu 
hy  loiirtrsy,  (;i)nd  pi'iisc,  srliolarsliip,  and,  aliovt'  all,  rU';;aiic.'  o."  hlyli',  'j'liiiii.'s  and  pcisoiiH 
slionid  111' calli'd  liy  ilicir  riu'lil  iiaiiu's.  Kvi'ii"a  spadi'  hh  iiild  '.«'  railed  a  spadr;"  ai,i.  willi 
niinli  u'liairr  riasnM,  a  i'ailMJii'  ^iKiiild  bu  called  u  t'uihulic.  If  wu  du  noui'tk  mure  timn  thii<,  ut 
Irasl  wi'  shall  lu'  sa:i-lK'd  wilh  no  loss,  • 


FATUKli  AM)nt:W  WHITE,  S.  J. 


433 


niul  "Mie  diildion  thomselvon  were  disabled  irom  inlieritin^, 
piiicliiisiiu;-,  or  enjoying  any  hind,  j»io(its,  goods,  dehls, 
duties,  It'gacit's,  orsunisof  money."'  But  tiio  i)ei>e(Miti(ii;s 
of  the  cruel  reign  of  Elizab<ah  did  not  deter  the  nobhi 
young  AVhite  from  aspiring  to  the  sacred  ministry,  and 
seeking  the  fount  of  knowledge  in  u  strange  land. 

l>y  the  zeal  of  tlu^  |.)ious  and  learned  Catholic  professors 
nlio  \v(Me  banished  from  Oxford  —and  especially  the  famous 
Cardinal  Alien — an  English  Colh'ge  was  established  at 
Douay  in  l."iG8.  The  Catholic  students  of  Great  Britain  for 
nearly  tuH>  centuries  and  a  half  directed  their  steps  to  this 
fiiinoiis  institution.  Here  ihe  llanie  of  faitjj  Avas  nourished, 
ai'd  the  light  t)f  kiujwledge  shone,  when  all  wasl)igotry  and 
religious  darkness  in  the  once  Calh(jlic  land  of  England — 
the  liome  of  tlu;  holy  Bede,  the  great  Alfied,  and  flie 
daiiulless  C(v>fr  da  L/'oti.  Here  W(n-e  trained  those  bands  of 
devoted  pri(^sts  who  boldly  laid  down  their  lives  in  laboring 
;i)  restoie  the  true  Faith  among  their  unha])py  counti'y- 
uien.  Here  our  ('arholu^  BibJe  was  translated  into  English, 
llei'e  tile  wise  and  learned  Alban  Butler,  authoj-  of  thn 
"Lives  of  the  Saints,''  received  his  education.  And  liere, 
likewise,  the  future  Apostle  of  ^Maiyland  earnestly  studied, 
and  lal)ored  to  jirepare  himself  for  the  duties  of  liis  high 
and  holy  calling. 

Fatlier  White  was  ordained  about  the  year  lOOn.  As  a 
secular  priest,  he  returned  to  England,  and  began  to  labor 
on  the  London  mission.  But  as  the  penal  laws  werc^  rigidly 
enforced,  it  was  necessary  to  tem])er  zeal  with  the  ulmo.;t 
prudenc(\  Yet,  in  sjute  of  ail  pi'ecautious,  his  saci-ed  char- 
acter was  discovered.  The  fierce  Mohawk,  ranging  the  forests 
of  New  Yorlf,  was  not  more  eager  and  skillful  on  an  ene- 
my's trail,  ihan  the  fanatical  and  barbarous  government  of 
England  in  search  of  a  Catholic  jiriest.     And  in  truth  the 


I  Of  llii'  cxlcnt  of  I'lic  \w:y  niul  <:i|iii(ilv  iif  llii'  nun  who  took  ilir  ('liirci  of  tlip  Ii.inlshod  Cath- 
olic piofi-i-ors,  it  U  only  iitti'FNiry  lo  liiivr  the  Iri^iinionv  of  Anil. on.  Wood.  In  liiR  "  Hlnlory 
inid  A!ilii|iiilli!<  of  till'  rnlvcr-"!  y  of  ftxford."  Wood  mIiUi-x  lli.it  in  I'Ci,'!- tlic  llftli  .i.an.f  ilio 
re  !,'n o|  ElizalHih— llii'iu  nuto  but  t/iiti:  ilit'.>ldj,'iaiia  iii  ().\ford  rii|i;ilili>  i  f  preaching  Ofi'rmot.  In 
pulilit'l 


434 


FATHER  ANDREW  WHITE,  S.  J. 


humanity  of  the  American  Indian  compares  very  favorably 
Willi  lliat  of  the  Protestant  Briton.  Tlie  same  year  that 
Father  WJiite  returned  to  England  irom  Uouay,  the  saintly 
poet  and  Jesuit,  Southwell,'  was  brutally  tortured  on  the 
rack  ti'/i  dijf'ereiit  times,  and  linally  executed  with  tlie  most 
nn-oltiiii^  cruidties.  And  whyi  For  the  unpardonable 
crinii'  ol'  being  a  Catholic  clergyman! 

In  iO;)G,  we  hnd  th(i  name  of  Father  \Vhite  in  a  list  of  forty- 
seven  priests,  who,  fi'om  dlfTercnt  prisons,  were  sent  into 
per)H>tual  banishment.  During  the  lolloping  year  he  ap- 
plied foi' admission  into  the  Society  of  Jesus;  went  through 
liis  novitiate  of  two  years  nt  Louvain;  and  again  I'eturned 
to  England,  wh(M'e  for  somo  time  he  labored  as  a  mission- 
ary. For  the  priest,  ho\v<'ver,  who  returned  to  England 
td't'M'  banishment,  the  i)enalty  was  death.  Father  White 
was  in  t'onstant  peril.  But  he  was  soon  recalleil  to  the  Con- 
tinent, and  sent  to  Spaui  as  a  tutor  to  English  Catholic  stu- 
dents, who  received  in  two  or  three  seminaries  in  that 
country  an  education  to  (jualify  th<;m  for  the  sacred  minis- 
try in  their  native;  land.  AVhile  in  Spain,  he  iilled  the  pro- 
fe.ssorshi[)s  of  Scrijjture,  scholastic  th(M)logy,  and  Tb'brew. 
lie  became  a  professed  Jesuit  in  lOlO.  The  i)ious  and 
accomplished  scholar  afterwards  taught  divinity — iirst  at 
Louvain,  and  then  at  Liege,  in  Belgiuni.  He  is  described 
as  "a  man  of  trans(^endent  talents." 


'  Fiifhor  Snutl'voit,  a.  T.,  has  the  morit  of  boing  fho  fonndrr  of  tlif  mo'lom  rr-liirfons  poetry  of 
Enj.'l;in(l.  He  «,ir(  the  religious  Uolilsmilh  of  tlio  bixtoeuth  century,  iiuil  ouc  of  thu  riiil  rufluursc/ 
the  £uglbli  luiigu:i){u. 


t-,: 


CHAPTER  11. 

THE   VOYAGE   TO    MAUYLAND. 

The XeioCatJioliG Colon !/ -The  ''Ark''  undtWDovf^'  Sail 
from  Ihe  Isle  of  Whjht—The  ''JitJatlo  Jtineris  in 
3[arylaiLdiam^'''  note — "The  .svr/,  ihe  sea,  the  optii 
sea'" —Fear  of  the  Turks— A  violent  storm— The  ''Doct^' 
ihoiir/ht  to  Jtace  perished— A  dreadful  t( mpestand  Fa- 
thir  White  s  praijer — Sunshine  on  the  sea — .1  Provi- 
dential incident— The  Fli/in(j  Fish — The  Isle  oj  Bar- 
hadoes — Delitx  ranee  from  a  new  damjer — (kd)baife  180 
feet  high — TJw,  soap  tree — The  pine-apple — 'Matidina 
and  its  wild  men — TJie  ''  Carljunea'' — Mo/ds(  rrat  einrl 
its  ''F.riles  of  Fri>i"—Courtesj/  at  St.  Christo/d/crs— 
A  sulphurous  mounteiin — The  locust  tree—JWarinr/ 
the  end. 

Father  AVliite  was  not  simi>ly  ii  l(\'iin('(l  nmn  niid  n  pood 
priest.  Ill}  was  luoi'o.  lie  was  nn  niostU'  full  ol'  /.cal  for 
the  glory  of  God  and  the  salvation  of  souls,  and  l)e  was 
soon  to  toil  in  a  new  and  rich  held,  wliere  nf)n('  Iiad  labored 
)-efore  him.  At  this  time,  the  Catholic  Loi'd  BaUiniorewas 
niatniini!;  the  noble  id<'a  of  foundinir  a  colony  in  Anx-ricn 
as  a  refit.i;'(^  foi"  liis  pi>r.-^ecuted  ro-rdiirinnists.  'i'lic  tcrj'itnry 
irranted  ])y  Charles  I.  for  this  pnrposi'  was  named  Maiy- 
land.  Lord  Baltimore  made  ap])lica! ion  tn  tlie  (leneral  of 
the  Society  of  Jcsns  for  some  I'Vilhcrs  to  attend  lo  tlie  sjtir- 
itiial  wants  of  the  Catholic  ])lanters  and  settlois,  and  tf)  labor 
for  the  conversion  of  the  Indians.  For  this  nussion,  Fa- 
th(M'  ^Vhit(^  was  selected  as  Suj^erior.  His  companions  were 
FatluM'  John  Alrham,  and  two  lay  brothers  of  the  Society 
—Thomas  Gervase  and  tlohn  Kuowles. 

436 


if 


I 


i  i 


I  i 


I 


430 


FATHER  ANDREW  WHITE,  S.  J. 


Two  small  vessels  named  the  Ar/c  and  the  Poiw^  wore  fit- 
ted out  for  the  (^xjtedition;  and  about  two  liundicd  rini- 
grants,  nearly  all  of  Avlioni  were  Catholics  and  ^('Utieiiit'i)  . 
fortune  and  respectability,  jn-epared  to  cross  the  Atlantic, 
desirinu,'  to  liy  from  tlie  black  si)irit  of  intolerance  which 
pervaded  l''n,i;land,  and  torearup  their  altais  in  freedom  in 
th»>  wilderness.  Lord  I^altimore  appoinlc<l  his  brother, 
Ijeouiird  Calv<'rt,  (iovern«n'  of  Maryland,  and  to  him  was 
given  command  of  the  expedition.  "It  was  a  niiiihty  uii- 
dertakinji:,''  says  !McSherry,  "standing  out  in  history  as  an 
era  in  the  progress  of  mankind.'' 

Fortunately,  the  interesting  narrative  of  the  voyage  was 
told  by  i-'aliu'r  White  himself;  and  the  gi'apliic  picture  has 
not  been  lost  to  history  and  literature."  "On  the  2'2d  of 
JS^ovember,"  Ikj  writes,  '"  in  the  year  IC;*!),  being  St.  Ce- 
cilia's day,  we  set  sail  from  Ct)\ves,  in  tlu;  Isle  of  Wight, 
with  a  gentle  east  wind  blowing.  After  committing  tlei 
l)rin('ii)al  parts  of  the  ship  to  Ihe  protection  of  (xod  es])ec- 
ially,  and  of  Ilis  Most  Holy  ^Mother,  and  St.  Ignatius,  and 
all  tlii3  guardian  angels  of  ^Maryland,  we  sailed  on  a  lit- 
tle way  betwei^n  tlu^  two  shores,  and  the  wind  failing  us,  we 
sto|)ped  opposite  Yarmouth  Castle.'  Here  we  were  received 
with  a  cheerful  salute  (,)f  artillery.".  .  . 

"On  the  2J5d  of  Xovember,"'  he  continues,   "we  sailed 


' '  It  iiiUHvir"  frDMi  tho  llhtitry  of  Ihe  I'lil/rt/  W/A-.t,  by  IJancroft,  tliaf  tlio  sliip  lipdkon  of  wan 
nami'd  Ihe  .\ik,  linl  timl  llio  KiiiiilUroiiiMvnH  ciiUcil  tlic  Doiv.  it  doi's  nut  wcm  lo  lu'vc  liooii  liy 
liu'ii"  I'liiiiU'o  ill  It  llii' I'ilijr'mH,  wliDiu  liiTiwy  li;ul  fonu'd  tii  i'X|ialriiilo  llirm>clvtB,  fiiili.irkcd  in 
llu-  Aitot  No.iU  and  tliu  J/tix  sent  fortU  by  tlie  i'i\lrhiri:h."-AtlMilalioii<;K  Anlai  In  "Il'ltiiio 
Jliiioh." 

'  'i'Mfii'thi'."  I!f!(iflo  IthitHi  In  ^far;/fan(li<lm.^^  OT  'SnTTi\t\\f  of  ii  Voyaijo  to  Marylnnd.  It 
was  \viilt"ii  by  Tallu  r  Wbili'  about  a  month  nfliT  hi"  arrival  in  Maryland,  and  addressed  to  Ihe 
ticniTal  of  the  Soniety  of  .I.'siis,  to  whom  i'  was  s<'nt  asa  letter.  For  three  juindred  yiars  this 
prieioiis  dueiiment  renxiiiied  unknown  to  the  world.  Hut  "about  the  year  IH.)-,'.  l!ev.  Wi'liam 
MeSleM-ry.S.  .1..  di^eovered  in  the  archives  of  I  lie />'>m'^'(  /'r'lfc.'rt  of  the  Soeiety  in  Itoini'.  the 
oritrinals  ol  the  MSS.  He  carefully  eopied  these  MSS.,  ai\d  placi'd  the  popies  in  Ihe  I.il  niry  ef 
(Ji  iiijielown  »'oll(_'i',  I).  ('.,  of  whi(di  Insliimion  lie  aflerwards  became  the  honoreil  I'resldenl."' 
Tlr.s  .MS.  lias  been  seviTal  limes  printed;  and  as  recntly  as  IHTI  a  line  edilioii,  with  a  lileral 
tie^dMi  translation  was  carefnllr  fdilcd  by  Hev.  Dr.  K.  A  Darlyniple,  and  prinled  by  .lo'.aiMnr- 
jihy,  lialliiiKin'.  Md.  To  Mr.  Murphy's  kind  eourlesy  the  writer  is  indebted  fur  a  copy  of  this 
last  edition  of  Ihe  " /iVA/^in."' 

*  Yarmouth  Castle  was  near  the  southern  end  of  the  Isle  of  Wight. 

*  Tlif  pious  priest  remarks  that  It  was  St.  Clement's  Day. 


FATHER  AMJIIEW  WHITE.  S.  J. 


437 


past  a  Tinmber  of  rocks  near  the  end  of  the  Isle  of  Weiglit, 
uliicli,  from  r!i<Mr  sluipc,  aiv  ca^U'd  the  Needles.  The.se  are 
!i  tcri-or  to  siiilors,  on  aecount  of  tlie  double  tide  of  the  sea, 
wh'u'h  whu-JH  away  the  ships,  dashini^  them  a^^ainst  the 
rocks  on  the  one  side,  or  the  neighboring  shore  o'  the 
other. 

"Early  the  next  day  (Monday),  about  nine  o'clock,  we 
left  behind  us  the  west<Mn  ]>romontory  of  Kii<iland  and  the 
Scilly  Isles,  ;ui(l  sailing  easily  on,  we  directi  d  oui-  course 
more  t  vards  the  west,  jiassiiig  over  tlie  I'ritish  Channel. 
Yi't  we  did  not  hasten  as  much  as  wo  could  have  done,  fcar- 
iiij,'  if  we  left  the  i>inuaci''  too  far  behind  us  that  it  would 
liccome  the  proy  of  the  Turks  and  X'hates  who  generally 
infest  tluit  sea. 

"It  came  to  i)ass,  that  a  fine  merchant  ship  of  six  hun- 
(li'cd  tous,  named  the  !)/•(( f/oit,  while  on  her  way  to  Angola, 
I'lom  Ijondon,  overtook  us  about  three  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon. And  as  we  now  had  time  to  enjoy  a  little  ])leiisure, 
jil'ti'i'  getting  out  of  danger,  '.t  was  deligliti'ul  to  see  these 
two  ships,  with  fair  weather  and  a  favoi'able  wind,  and  a  great) 
iiDis"  of  trumpets,  trying  for  a  whole  hour  to  outstrip  each 
other.  Our  ship  would  havi'  beaten  the  lhaf/o>/,  though 
we  (lid  not  u^;e  our  topsail,  it  we  had  not  been  obliged  to 
stop  on  account  of  the  pinnace,  which  was  slower;  and  so 
we  yielded  the  palm  to  the  merchant  ship,  and  siie  sailed 
by  ns  before  evening,  and  passed  out  of  sight, 

"On  Sunday,  the  24.th,  and  ^fonday,  the  2r)th  of  Xoveni- 
bi^r,  we  had  fair  sailing  all  the  time  until  ev(>ning.  But 
])ri>s(>ntly,  the  wind  getting  round  to  the  north,  such  a  tei-- 
]'il>le  storm  arose,  that  the  merchant  ship  I  sjioke  of,  from 
London,  being  driven  back  on  her  course,  returned  to 
Mnuland.  Those  on  boiu'd  our  pinnace,  since  she  was 
only  a  vivssel  f)f  forty  to)ift,  began  to  lose  confidence 
in  her  stren-irh,  nnd  sniling  near,  tliey  warned  us,  that  if 
they  ajti'rehended  shijjwreck  Ihey  would  notify  us  b)'' 
hanging  out   liuihts  from  the  niastdieiul.     We  meanwhile 


'  Tli-it  i:-,  tlic  Dove. 


I 

I 


4:58 


FATIIim  AyUIlKW  WHITE,  S.  J. 


soiled  on  in  our  stronii;  ship  of  /'ui/r  hundred  tons.  ^ 
bc't,I(M'  could  not  In^  built  of  woud  and  iron. 

"  We  li:ul  a  vci'v  skillful  Mptnin.  and  so  h(^  was  ^iven  liia 
choice,  wlietlier  lie  woula  leiuin  to  Kn<iland,  t)r  keep  on 
sti'iiuuliMii,-  with  the  winds.  If  he  yielded  to  these,  tho 
Irisli  shon^  close  by  awaited  us.  It  is  noted  for  its  hidden 
rocks  and  many  shipw'recks.  But  our  captain's  bold  si)irii, 
and  his  desii'e  to  test  the  strength  of  the  new  .ship,  which  he 
munau;ed  for  the  first  time,  triumphed.  He  resolved  to  ti-y 
the  sea,  tiioii.L'-h  lie  confessed  that  it  was  the  more  danger- 
ous on  account  of  its  being  so  narrow. 

"Tiie  danger  was  near  at  hand.  The  winds  increased,  the 
sea  grew  more  boisterous,  and  we  could  see  the  pinnace  in 
the  distancts  showing  two  liglits  at  her  mastdiead.  Then, 
indeed,  we  thought  it  was  all  over  with  her,  and  that  she 
was  swallowed  up  in  the  deep  whirlpools.  In  a  jnoinent 
she  ])asNed  out  of  sight.  No  news  of  her  I'eaciied  iis  for 
months  afterwaids.  Accordingly,  we  were  all  of  us  cer- 
tain the  pinnace  was  lost;  yet  God  had  better  things  in 
stoi-e  for  us,  for  the  fact  was.  that  finding  herself  no  match 
for  tile  vioienci^  of  the  sea,  she  had  avoided  the  Virginian  ' 
Ocean  -with  which  we  wei'e  aireaily  contending— and  re- 
turned lo  L-]ngland.  Making  a  fresh  start  thence,  she  over- 
took us  at  a  large  harbor  in  the  Antilles.'  And  thus  (Jod, 
who  oversees  the  smallest  things,  guided,  protected,  and 
took  care  of  the  little  vessel! 

"We  biMng  ignorant,  howfn-er.  of  her  safety,  were  dis- 
tressed with  grief  and  .nnxiety,  whir-li  the  gloomy  night, 
tilled  with  manifold  terrors,  increased.  When  day  dawned 
although  the  wind  was  against  us.  being  from  the  south- 
west, yi^t,  as  it  did  not  blow  very  hard,  we  sailed  on  grad- 
ually i-y  making  frequent  tacks;  so  Tuesday,  AV((lnesday, 
and  1'huisdiy  ]iassed  with  variable  winds,  and  we  made 
small  pi'O'vress.  On  Friday  a  southeast  wind  prevailed,  and 
drove  before  it  thick  and  dark  clouds.    Towards  evening  a 


_i_ 


>  The  Allimlic  Ocean. 

»  The  lHn(y  overlook  tho  Ark  at  the  Island  af  Bnrhadsea. 


FATHER  AMJREV:  WIIITK.  s  J. 


4?,9 


dreadful  tompest  broke  forth;  aiul  if  seenuHl  every  minute 
as  if  we  would  be  ,sw;illowed  up  by  tilt'  w;ives. 

''Nurv.tis  tht' wentlic!- moi'e  pidiiiisiiiL:  on  tlie  next  dny, 
wliicli  wii.s  the  FHStiviil  of  St.  Aiidi'ew,  the  Ai»ostle.  Tlie 
clouds,  accnniuliiting  in  a  frightful  niauiier,  were  fearful  to 
behold;  and  excited  the  belief  that  all  the  uialicions  spirits 
of  the  stc^rni  and  all  the  evil  genii  of  Maryland  had  come 
forth  to  battle  against  us.  Towards  evening  the  captain 
saw  a  snntish  swimming,  with  great  efforts,  against  tho 
coarse  of  the  ?un,  which  is  a  very  sure  sign  of  u  terrible 
srortn.     Nor  did  the  otiicn  prove  false. 

"About  ten  o'clock  at  night,  a  dark  cloud  poured  forth 
n  violent  shower.  Such  a  fui'ious  hurricane  followed  close 
upon  it,  that  it  was  necessary  to  run  with  all  speed  to  take 
in  sail;  and  this  could  n-'.  be  done  quiekly  enough  to  pre 
vent  th(;  nuiin  sail— the  only  one  we  were  carrying — from 
being  torn  in  the  middle  from  top  to  bottom.  A  part  of  it 
w.is  blown  over  into  the  sea,  and  was  recovered  with 
diliiculty. 

"At  this  critical  moment,  the  minds  of  the  bravest 
among  us  were  struck  with  terr(»i-.  The  sailors  acknowl- 
edged that  they  had  seen  other  ships  wiecked  in  a  less 
severe  storm;  but  this  hurricane  called  fortli  the  ])rayei's 
and  vows  of  the  Catholics  in  honor  of  the  Blessed  \'iigiu 
Mary,  and  her  Immaculate  Conception;  of  St.  Ignatius,  the 
patron  saint  of  Maryland;  St,  ]\Iichael,  and  all  the  guardian 
angels  of  the  same  country.  Each  one  hastened  to  jiuige 
his  soul  by  the  sacrament  of  Penance.  All  (ontMil  over  the 
rudder  being  lost,  the  ship  now  drifted  about  like  a  lish  in 
tlie  water,  at  the  mercy  of  the  winds  and  waves,  until  ('od 
showed  us  a  way  of  safety. 

"Ar  tirst,  T  confess,  I  had  been  encrro^sed  with  the  ap- 
prehension of  the  sh'p's  being  lost,  and  of  losing  my  own 
lif ^ ;  but  after  I  hid  spent  som »  t'lnx'^  in  praying  more  fer- 
vently than  was  my  usual  custom,  and  had  set  I'oiih  to 
Christ  the  Lord,  to  i^-h  Blessed  Virgin,  St.  Ignatius,  and 
the  Angels  of  Maryland,  that  the  purpose  of  this  Jouiney 
was  to  glorify  the  Blood  of  our  Redeemer  in  the  salvation 


440 


FATHER  ANDREW  WHITE,  S.  J. 


of  l);irb!irians,  ninl  alsoforaisfi  upn  Kini^doni  for  our  Lord— 
if  lie  would  coiKlescentl  to  jn'osppr  our  j)ooi"  ctVorls  to  cori 
secnih?  iiiKJther  i^ift  to  tln'  Imin;uMil!i!(i  \'ii';^iii.  His  Moflicr, 
iinl  uriny  thing's  to  flif  .sumim  <'ir.'ct,  ^i-cat  coii'l'Dit  sliuiio 
ill  iij)!)!!  my  soul,  and  at  the  .stinitj  tiiin!  so  lirui  a  ('(Uivictioii 
that  we  should  Ix;  dclivcn'd,  not  only  from  this  sioim,  hut. 
fi'omt'very  otherdiirini?  tluitvoyai::*',  that  wiih  uic  thiM'.'couhJ 
be  no  room  left  for  doui)t.  I  had  betaken  niyseli  to  ])!'ayer 
when  the  sea  was  ra,t;in,uj  at  its  worst;  and     aiav  this  bi*  to 


the  glory  o 


f   ({o(1     I  had 


scarcely  tinishcd  when   ihcy  ol)- 


served  thai  the  storm  was  abatini;'.  That,  in  truth,  brciiulit 
nie  to  a  new  frame  of  mind,  and  tilled  me,  at  the  sam(!  tinin, 
vitli  great  joy  and  admiration,  sinc(^  I  understood  much 
more  dearly  the  ureatness  of  (lod's  lov(»  towards  the  pcoplti 
of  Marylaml.  Kternal  praise.s  to  the  nio.'it  Mwcet  gracious- 
nes.s  of  the  Redeemer! 

"After  this  sudden  abatement  of  the  storm,  wo  liad  de- 
lightful weather  for  three   months.     The   ca|)lain  and  his 


n 


ii'U  declared  thai  thev  had  never  seen  it  calmer 


oi'  more 


])li'as;int,  for  not  even  for  a  single  hour  did  we  sulb-i-  any 
inci)nv(Miii'Uce.  When  f  speak  of  three  months,  however. 
1. do  not  m  'an  lo  say  that  we  were  that  long  at  sea;  bur  in 
this  [  includH  the  whole  voyage,  and  al-o  the  time  we 
stopped  at  the  Antilles.  The  actual  voyage  occupied  only 
seven  weeks  and  two  days;  and  that  is  considered  a  ([uick 
passage." 

Want  of  space  forbids  ns  to  follow  the  venerable  Avriter 
in  his  minute  and  always  interesting  details  of  the  voy;;u-e. 
We  can  only  quoti!  a  ])ass:ige  here  and  there.  Safe  frou' 
the  wrath  of  the  elements,  the  Catholic  Pilgrim  Fathers  ol 
;>raryland  did  not  feel  enlii'f^ly  out  of  dangei'.  The  Tuck  at 
tluit  time  was  a  bold  fellow,  wlio  did  not  belie\e  in  being 
cooped  up  in  the  .southeast  of  Eui'0])e.  ''We  feared,"' 
writes  Father  White,  "that  we  might  meet  with  theTui'ks, 
yi't  we  fell  in  v.ith  none  of  them.  They  had  gone  home, 
perhaps,  to  celebrate  a  solemn  fast  wliich  took  place  at 
that  season  of  th(^  year." 

Sailing  past  the  Straits  of  Gibraltar  and  the  ^fadeiras,  the 


FATIlKIl   .tXPlii:W  M'lIITK,  S.J. 


4-il 


ArJc  stood  towards  the  west.  TUo  (\\)\)(KU-nnrp  of  tlirc»»siis- 
jiicioiisluukiiiij;  ships,  liowcvcr,  caiisf'd  some  uucasiiit'ss;  ('(ir 
III  iliat  litiiH  tlu!  ocean  was  infested  wltli  pirates  aiul  fice- 
l)i)ote!s.  lint,  adds  the  narrator,  tliey  'Vitlier  could  not 
(ivei'taUe  us,  or  did  not  wisli  to  fj:i\e  diase."  Sucli  inci- 
dents l<ept  the  v()ya<i;e  free  fioiu  niouotouy. 

"And  heie  1  cannot  i)ass  on,"  continues  the  A]iostlo  of 
Maryland.  *' without  ]M'ai.sin<^  the  Divine  ^^oodn(>ss,  wliidi 
hiings  ir  to  pass  that  all  thinjrs  work  to^^ether  for  good  to  them 
that  l(jve  (lod.  For,  if  ineeliuij:  with  no  delay,  we  li'.id  neeii 
iillowed  to  sail  at  the  time  wt^  had  appointed,  namely,  on  the 
^uiliof  August,  the  sun  being  on  this  side  of  thee(piator, 
and  striking  down  vertically,  the  intense  lieat  would  not  only 
liave  ruined  our  ])rovisions,  but  would  liave  brouglit  dis(»ase 
and  death  U[)on  almost  all  of  ns.  We  Mere  saved  by  delay, 
and  esca])ed  misfortune  by  embarking  in  the  winter  time. 
If  you  except  the  nsual  sea-sickness,  no  one  was  attacked 
iiy  any  disease  until  Christmas,  in  order  tliat  tiiat  festival 
miglit  be  better  kept,  wine  was  given  out;  and  those  wlio 
(hank  it  too  freely  were  seized  the  next  day  with  a  fever. 
About  twtOve  died,  anK)ng  whom  w(M'e  two  Catholics." 

I'ather  White  was  a  kin'ii  observer,  and,  it  appears,  noiliing 
escaped  his  trained  f\ve.  "  While  continuing  our  voj'age,"  lie 
wi'ites,  "we  met  with  many  curious  things.  I  may  mention 
Hying  lisli,  wliioh  simetim-'s  swim  in  the  sea,  and  sometimes 
li ,  np  in  the  air.  They  are  about  the  size  of  llounders,  or 
tlie  larger  giltheads,  and  very  much  resemble  these  in  their 
delicious  liavor.  A  hundred  of  them  rise  np  into  the  air  at 
once,  when  Hying  from  the  dolphins  wliicli  juirstie  tliem. 
Sonii'  of  tlnnn  fell  into  our  sliip.  their  wings  failing  them. 
In  one  ilight  chey  do  not  tly  over  a  greater  space  tlian  two 
01'  three  acres;  and  then,  because  their  fins  become  diied  in 
till'  air,  they  plunge  into  the  water  again  and  venture  a 
second  time  into  the  nir." 

The  voyagers  tonched  the  Island  of  Barbadoes,  in  the 
AVest  Indies,  on  the  ;5d  of  Januarv.  1();?4.  Here  thev  met 
with  a  cold  reception.  "WhtMi  we  reached  this  island," 
observes  Father  White,   "we  had  hop-^  of  securing  many 


i 


I 


-n 


iwriiHii  AMtiiKW  ni/rn:.  .'•■.  j. 


jii'licli's  uf  ,r;i(lf  from  llic  l'i!';liN|i  iiili:ihiliiii(v.,  mikI  from  tlin 
(«i)\t'rii(ti\  wlio  \v;i.s  (Mir  f.'ll(»\v-('oimlr\  iiiiiii  :  hut,  foniiiii^'  u 
('o:iil>iii;iii.»ii,  ilicy  (Icicnniiit'd  not  (o  sell  us  niiv  uiicsit  U 
ie.ssih.iii  li\<' tiiiit's  llit>  usual  rates.  'J'licy  liad  iu»  beef 
iiniilou  at  any  iiricc"' 


>r 


or 


'I'lit'  Alini^lirv,  it  st'cins,  (Iclivrred  llinu  I'loiu  aiK'tlicr  ami 


ii  urcatcr  datuici', 


'rin' servants  over  all  the  islan<l,"  cnn- 


finu.s  tlie  nuiiil  .Fesuit,  "liad  consijireij  to  kill  their  nias- 
ti'is.  Oil  naiiiiiiu'  lib  >rty  it- was  tiieir  intention  to  sej/c  |||,, 
liist  slii[)  uliicli  sliouM  loiich  there,  and  venture  to  sea.  A 
coiispiralor,  fii^ihlened  l»y  I  lie  ntKicious  ei  iielly  ol'  the  plot, 
(liselosed  ii  ;  and  th  '  piiiiislimeiit  of  one  of  tiie  h-aders  was 
suflieieii!  For  t  lie  seen  lily  oi"  the  island  -iikI  our  own  saiVty. 
Vi\v  our  ship,  as  beiii':  the  lii'st  to  touch  tli.ere,  had  been 
marked  fm'  ihi'ir  prey  ;  and  on  the  very  day  we  landed  we 
found  eiiiht  hundred  men  in  ai'ms  to  o])pos(.'  this  ^vi<'ked  de- 
si,Hn,  which  had  just  traiisi)ired." 

or  the  ii;hal)itants  ol"  the  Marbado(>s  and  the  natuial  \nn- 
ducts  ol"  the  islands  Fatlier  \Vliile  remarks :  "■In  winter  the 
inhabitants  wear  linei  clothes  and  bathe  frequently.  .  .  . 
The  coai-se  cloth  that  serves  them  foi-  u  bed,  is  skilfully 
wovi'u  eiii  of  coifon.  WIm'U  it  is  be<1tin)e,  they  hang  this 
from  two  posts  one  ;it  each  end  -and  sleep  in  it;  and  in 
the  daytiuni  they  carry  it  a;;ain  wherever  they  choose.  .  .  . 

"'I'heif'is  a  wonderful  I-;ind  of  cabl)at;i\'  which  lias  a  stalk 
Ili.it  urows  one  hutidre(l  and  eii>hty  feet  liiah.  It  is  eah^u 
either  raw  or  boih'd.  The  stalk  itself,  ior  a  cubit's  length 
below  liii'  fruit,  is  considered  a  dcdicacv.  When  eaten  law, 
■wirii  p 'pj» '!•,  it  excels  theS[)inisli  thistle  I'artichoke).  And, 
indeed,  it  is  niiidi  lik(^  a  walnut  tree  that  has  been  stripped 
of  its  bouiiiis.  The  immense  statk' equals  the  size  of  a  very 
laip'  I  lee.     It  bears  only  one  cabbage. 

"Tiu'ie  is  also  to  be  seen  there  a  pretty  tall  tree  which 
they  call  the  soafi-tree.  The  grains  (o.' seeds)  of  soaj'>  aie 
iio  larger  than  hazel  nuts,  and  they  have  a  tliici<  mem- 
brane. 'Hioimli  iniurious  to  tine  linen,  Ihev  are  said  to 
jiuiify  aiid  cleanse  like  soa]).     1  carried  some  of  tliese  seeds 

'  -aj  L,';ibbiit,c'-trt'C,  or  Cabbiiiic'-l'alui. 


IWTIIEn  AXDIIHW  WIllTIC,  S.  J. 


44;] 


wiili  ine  to  Maryland,  and  i)IanftMl  tlirin,  liopin/,'  for  Irccs 
ill  I  In-  riiturc. 

"Tlif  pinn  :iii])lt*  excels  nil  the  oihcr  I'liiils  that  I  liavw 
t:i->hMl  anywlu're  else  in  tiie  woild.  It  Im  of  a  golden  v<>\i<i\ 
js  excellent  wlieti  mixed  with  wine,  and  is  as  laii:(>  as  ilw  * 
oi' foiii' of  llie  i-'iiiopean  nnls  of  the  same  name.  It  may, 
iilid()iil)tedly,  be  called  iheoMienof  fruils.  It  has  a  si)icy 
taste,  wiiich,  as  nearly  as  I  can  gness,  is  like  that  of  sliaw- 
1  til ics  mixed  witii  wine  ami  sugar.  It  is  of  great  service 
ill  luescrving  Innillh,  agreeing  so  nicely  with  tlt:>  hiuiiar 
(•(iiislitution,  that,  altliongh  it  ('(anodes  iron,  it  sireiiglhens 
man  more  pej haps  than  anything  else.  ^Nor  do  yon  lind  ir, 
(■ri  a  high  tree.  It  is  a  single  fruit,  coming  ont  in  each  kki 
like  the  artichoke.  I  wish  I  conld  send  vour  Paternitv'  ii 
spei'iiiien  with  this  letter.  For  nothing  but  itself  c-"  <!e- 
s!'ril)e  it  according  to  its  excellence."' 

The  cloud  of  "jr'viw  which  the  siip[)Osed  loss  of  (he  Dorr 
and  her  crew  liad  cast  over  the  expedition  vanished  at  ?-lar- 
bailoes.  imagine  the  joy  of  those  on  the  Ark,  as  the  little 
\t'ssel  bore  in  sight,  and  joined  company  again,  after  a  sepu- 
ratiui)  of  six  weeks.  {)n  the  night  of  the  teiiilic  slorm 
which  part(Ml  tiiem,  th<'  l>o>'(\  after  having  shown  her  sig- 
nal, no  longer  able  to  breast  the  storm,  liad  changed  her 
coarse,  and  taken  refuge  in  the  Scilly  Islands,  whence,  the 
ship  f>/-f>r/oii,  bearing  her  cctmpaiiy  as  far  as  the  I'ay  of 
iKscay,  she  sailed  in  pursuit  of  the  Ar/i\  and  had  now  over- 
taken her. 

"Oil  the  twenty-fourth  of  January,"  continues  the  lie- 
Inh'o,  "we  weighed  anchor,  and  icachcd  Matalina  towaids 
evening  on  the  following  day.  At  this  place  t\^-o  canoes  full 
ef  naked  men  appeared.  They  kejit  at  a  distance^,  seeming 
to  iVar  our  huge  ship,  held  up  pumi>kins  and  parrots,  and 
oJlV'icd  to  exchange  them.  These  peo])le  wer<;  a  race  (-f 
savages,  fat,  shining  with  led  paint,  who  knew  not  dad, 
and  devoured  human  beings.  Some  time  befote  they  had 
made  away  with  sevei-al  F.nglisli  intiM'jireters.  The  Country 
I  I  III.  ■  ■  I 

'  Till'  r'.'ifliT  All!  rciiiiMiil)(T  tluit  llh-  riarratiVL'  was  a  kUiT  aUcUc-M  iJ  lo  [ho  (ji.'ii'.rai  (il  llio  bo- 
iK'ty  01 ,  'sus,  at  Ki-mc,  liy  I'ulhtr  White. 


444 


VATITER  A.XDNEW  WHITE,  S.  J. 


they  iiili:il)it  is  very  iortile,  but  is  entirely  coverPfT  Avith 
Avoods,  liiiving  no  open  ])l:iiiis.  .  ,  .  Some  one,  I  hoije,  will 
]i:iv(>  (•(»Mii);ission  on  tlii.s  forsaken  people 

'' A  iiimor  spread  among  the  sailois — started  by  co'tain 
sliipwrecktMl  Frenchmen — that  an  animal  is  found  on  (his 
island  iu  rhe  forehead  of  \vhi(3h  is  a  stone  of  exti'aordinary 
/ustr(\  lil^e  ;i  live  coal  or  burning  candlo.  This  animal  iiey 
name  Car/ju/ica.  Let  the  author  of  the  story  answer  for  itd 
truth." 

Of  the  island  of  Montserrat,  Father  White  says:  "The 
inhabitants  are  Irishmen  who  were  banished  by  the  English 
of  A'ii-ivinia,  on  account  of  their  professing  the  Catholic 
Faith/'  ' 

St.  Christopher's  was  the  last  of  the  West  India  islands 
at  which  t\w  Pilgrims  touche;!.  Here  they  retiiained  ten 
days.  "  We  stayed  ten  days,"'  wiites  the  venerable  Jesuit, 
"having  received  a  friendly  invitation  from  the  English 
goveruoi',  and  two  captains  who  were  Catholics.  The  i)resi- 
dt'ut  of  the  French  colony  in  the  same  island  received  me 
witli  marked  courtesy. 

"All  the  rar-'  things  that  are  to  be  seen  at  Barbadoes,  I 
found  iu  this  place  too;  aud,  besides  these,  a  sulphurous 
maunla'nu  not  far  fi'om  the  governor's  residence.  And 
what  you  would  admire  more,  the  virgin  2^J(f^ftti  so  called 
because,  at  the  least  touch  of  the  iinger,  it  immediately 
shrinks  and  falls  in;  though,  if  yon  give  it  time,  it  r(;vi';es, 
inid  rises  up  again.     I  was  (vspecially  pleased  with  the7(^r//.s7 


'  Thus  ill  (lie  Kpvciitoi'ntli  century,  ns  In  tho  ninrfccntti,  tlio  "  Exile  (if  Krin"  «ii.»  iin  stranger 
in  tlw  N'rw  \\'-irl(l,  '•  Tlu'  first  Irish  people  wlio  fiiiinil  permanent  homes  in  Amerioii,"  vvriles 
Tlidinns  D'Aiey  Mc(;e<'. "  were  certain  Catliolie  pnlriols  hani>he(l  liy  Oliver  Cromwell  to  Itarlia- 
c!(ies.  ...  Ill  this  island,  as  in  the  nelfjhlioriii'.;  Montserrat.  the  Ci'llio  langunijo  was  certainly 
cpolceii.  in  the  lasi  century;  nnd.  perhaps,  it  is  partly  allrihiitalile  to  this  early  Irisli  colnnizatinu, 
thill  Itai  hailoes  hecamo  one  of  the  most  populnus  Islands  in  the  world.  At  tin"  ciul  of  the  soveii- 
teeiilli  century,  it  was  reported  to  contain  twenty  thousand  Inhabiiants." — Ilhlory  of  the  Irifh 
tiifflern  in  Aiiuiiea. 

In  reference  to  I'lie  forcL'oiiiL'  )inra!;raph  ahoiit  the  Islund  of  .Montsnrrnt.  the  venerable  I'ath.'r 
Theliaud.  S.  .r..  says,  in  liis  /)■;,«/,  ffmv,-  '■TheCelllc  lantruatre-that  sure  ■^i^'iiof  Catholieily— wa:< 
not  only  spoicen  there  in  the  he^t  century,  liiit  i■\^^^/i//  lo-ilaij.  The  writer  liimself  heard  last  year 
(isril.  from  two  yoiiiiL'  .American  sejinu'ii.  w  ho  hai!  ^ust  returned  from  a  voyaire  to  this  island.  th;\t 
tne  iicL'm  porters  and  white  "loii<rsluireinen  who  load  and  nnload  the  ships  in  the  harhor.  know 
peai'cely  any  other  laiiL'ua.L'e  than  the  Irish,  so  lliat  often  tlic  crows  of  Knglish  vessels  C'\not:» 
coiumunicale  with  tiiem  by  tigiis."— y.  3<)T,  iwtt 


FATUER  Ay  DREW  WHITE,  S.  J. 


44.") 


free,  Avliicli  is  supposed  to  Imve  afforded  susleiiance  to 
St.  Jolin  the  Baptist.  It  equals  the  ehii  in  .size,  and  is  such 
a  favorite  with  the  bees,  tiiut  they  very  gladly  build  their 
ci'lls  iu  it.  The  honey,  if  you  forget  that  it  is  wild,  does 
not  differ  in  color  or  llavor  from  the  purest  honey  1  have 
tasted.  The  fruit — also  known  as  iocust — consists  of  six 
beans  in  a  pretty  hard  siiell,  like  a  pod.  and  contains  a  meat 
Avliich  is  soft  but  glutinous,  tasting  like  Hour  mixt-d  with 
lunie}'.  It  beavj  four  or  live  tolerably  large  seeds  ot  a 
cliestnut  color.  7  carried  some  of  these  with  mo  to  plant." 
The  long  and  adventurous  voyage  was  now  drawing  to  ltd 
close. 


i 


li 

111 


i- 


>i ) 


^'1  i 


CHxVPTER  TTT. 

TIII<^  OllOWNING   LAUGHS   AN'H    ADVEXTURK.S   OF 

OAUi:i;ii. 


A  GLOrjOli: 


iteception  of  the  C'al7i.(}lic  Pilf^rlnis  in.  Virr/inia—O^/csa- 
pealie  Bay — The  Potomac — Armed  Katiren—TaJcuiii 
po.sses.'i/'oii.  of  Jfar/fho/d — A  cro.s-'i  in  tlie  iQilflernr^a— 
First  i liter ciein  inlth  an  Indian  (Jhief-  FatJu'r  AttJia^ii 
preac//es — ^S*^.  Jfar?fs — Apj)earanae,  mannrrs,  Itabit^, 
weaponfi,  and  religion  of  IJie  Maryland  Ind,ians --:Si)il 
and  animals  of  the  couidry  -Mission  latwrs — Dijii:-//'- 
ties — Oonrersions  —/^■'Jif/io/i,  rciy/is  amonij  tin''  i'llo- 
nists— Buying  off  Ca'hofie  Stares— Father  White  at 
Kiltama'piiiidi — Whed  a  red,  ling  was— The  lipostle. 
of  M'frytand  coneerts  Cfiitomai'on —Ceremony  of  iiie 
cliief  s  t)aj)tis)n— Illness  of  Fat/icr  White— A  Famine 
— A  singular  incident—  Punislinient  of  a  ItacJislidtr- 
A  jVeio  Fngtander  and  his  bigotry — Indian  tribes  cuii 
verted  along  the  Poto.-uac—An  Indian  war — IJow  flic 
Jesuits  made  a  missionary  Joi/r/iey — A  miracle — The 
clouds  of  misfortune  gather — fjnd  of  Father  White  s 
labors — Is  sent  to  England — His  last  years — Diaui 
and  character. 

F.itlior  White  and  his  romjvinions  no\v  nppvnnohpd  tin? 
termination  of  thoir  historic  voyatio.  On  tlie  yith  of  i''i'h- 
riiary,  the  Arlc  and  tlie  Dare  ni^arcd  Point  Conitort.  \\v- 
ginia.  Tlie  joyi'id  sicht  of  hind,  liowever,  Avas  soiiicvsiiiit 
clondod  by  the  fear  of  hostility  on  the  part  of  the  \Mr;4iii- 
ians,  -svlio  were  resolutely  opposed  to  Lord  lialtinioiv's  un- 
dertaking; l)Rt  the  royal  letters  borne  by  the  newcomers 
Kocnred  them  a  favorable  j'eeeplion  frcnn  the  Governor.  Yet 
in  this  gentleman's  liospitalily,  it  seems,  there  was  alii  tie 
4-lG 


FATllEll  Ay  DREW  WHITE,  8.  J. 


417 


scin.-hn (>:>.''.  Ho  '"hoped,"  says  the  Rilatio.  -'tliat  by  tliis 
UiudiU'ss  towards  us  he  woukl  the  more  easily  recjovoi'  from 
ihf  r  \al   treasury  a  hirge  sum  oi"  money  whieh  was   due 

l:ii;i."' 

•'A Tier  l)f'in^^  kindly  tr^'ated  for  eJ.L^ht  or  nine  days,"  eon- 
tiiiiit's  the  Rdntlo,  "we  s<:-t  sail  on  the  ud  of  ]\Iarch,  and 
eiiieiing  the  Cliesapeake  Bay,  we  turned  our  eoursc^  to  the 
iiiiiih  lo  reach  the  Potomac  river.  'I'he  Chesapeake  Bay, 
(rn  li';iu;ues  wide,  tlows  gently  between  its  shores.  It  is 
f,!U!'.  live,  and  six  fathoms  deep,  and  aliounds  in  tish  wlien 
the  season  is  favorable.  You  (ould  scarcely  Hnd  a  more 
beautiful  liody  of  water.     Yet    it  yields  the   ]ialm   to  the 

luioniai''  river,  which  we  named  after  St.  (Iregory V 

huijvr  or  more  beautiful  rivei*  I  have  never  beheld.  The 
Thames  seems  a  mere  rivulet  in  (ompari-^on  with  it.  It  is 
(lisliiiiired  by  no  swamps,  but  has  lirm  land  on  each  side. 
Fine  (i;i'()ves  of  trees  apjiear.  not  ciioki^l  with  briers  or 
I -c-'n'-;  and  undergrowth,  but  glowing  at  regular  distanc(>s, 
;is  il  jilanted  by  the  hand  of  man.  You  could  drive  a  four- 
horse  carriage  wlierever  you  juight  choose  through  the 
midst  of  the  tre(>s. 

'Just  at  tlie  mouth  of  the  river,  we  obs(n'ved  the  natives 
711  arms.  During  the  night  lires  blazed  thi'ougli  the  whole 
((iiiiiiiv.  As  they  had  never  seen  such  a  laige  ship,  mes- 
.sHiiUcrs  were  sent  in  all  dir(K'tions  to  report  that  a  vniioc. 
like  an  island  had  come  on,  with  as  many  men  as  there 
Vvi'ii'  tretvs  in  the  wfjodsl 

"We  push.cd  on.  liowever.  to  Herons'  Island,  so  called 
fioai  the  immense  number  of  these  birds.  The  tirst  island 
we  came  to  we  named  St:.  Clement's.'     As  it  has  a  sloping, 

'  I'll  iiRi.i:'  s';;n  lies  "pi. Id'  of  till'  liiiminL;  piiii'." 

2'S>.('Cm.  !it"s."  Tlicimrii('liii-'ilii-.i|iiu':iml;  iind  ulninst  lit.- wbo!.' of  llio  iyliiml.n«  it  >.'(in'', 
hi-  li.oii  w;i»lic(l  iiw.'iv  by  t'.U'  rivrr.  Uuiih  Kitualiil  ;il  llic  moiilh  of  tlic  Iwy.  wliirli  .s  now 
rMl'dl  W  Vhn.cnro  l\a<i.  .Ml  lint  if  left  of  It  is  ft  i«an<ll)aiik  of  at.onl  l.ii  acres,  wliiili  can 
li:i  (ly  he  nill-v.ili'fl.  It  Ims  bpt  itic  iiiuiv  or  /'■  /«/,.•.■'  hlv„l.  II  was  llic  llrst  yr.ii  met  iii^ailiii!; 
hi'tttrnn  thoM'  >laiuN  ul:ic|i  arc  iio.v  .mU-mI  H'.i.'l-loiV'  r~hiuj<:  al  llial  tiiii.'.  Iiowcvcr  Iticv  wcru 
pn.l.aliy  calVd  Herons'  Islaials.  .\  Irailition  pivvailinu'  amom;  llie  peopl.'  of  Hie  neiL'lil.orlinml 
in 'he  yearlH.).-.  ivas,  thai  lliev  liail  s,.,n  the  Wand  more  exKnsjve  in  lenu'lli  and  lireiicllh.  liilt 
UiH.  HUlr.n  llip  memory  of  Hie  ol.ler  inlialMlauts  it  bail  beeu  yriiduuUy  wacUcd  away  by  tlio 
y.:MTii.—Adnotat'ionc!<  Sohn  in  KiUUu  Itiiiois. 


1  tn 


w 

1 

'M 

! 

'4 

i^ 

14 

1 1 


448 


FATHER  ANDREW  WHITE,  S.  J. 


sliore,  there  i.s  no  way  of  getting  to  it  except  by  wndinw. 
ilere  the  women  who  h:id  left  the  shi]),  to  do  the  wa.sliiu,', 
upset  the  boat  and  caino  near  being  drowned.  They  also 
lost  a  hirgo  iwrtioii  of  my  liuen — no  small  loss  in  tiiLs  part 
of  the  W(jrld. 

"On  the'Jolli  of  ]\rarch,  tlie  Day  of  the  Annnncia lion  of 
tlie  ]Most  Holy  Virgin,  in  tlie  year  lOlM,  we  offered  in  tlii.s 
island'  the  .sacrifK-e  of  the  Mass  for  the  first  time;  for  ia 
this  region  of  the  globe  it  had  never  been  celebrated  before.' 

"The  sacrifice  b(riiig  ended,  we  took  ui)on  onr  shoulders 
the  gr-iat  cross  whicli  we  htid  hewn  from  a  tree,  and  goin;; 
to  the  i)]ace  that  had  been  designati^d — the  Governor,  com- 
missioners, and  other  Catholics  i'jarticipating  in  llie  cero- 
ino!!}' — we  erected  it  as  a  trophy  to  Christ  the  Saviour, 
while  the  L'tany  of  tlie  llo'y  Cross  was  clianted  hund>]y,  on 
our  bencled  knees,  with  great  emotion  of  soul." 

Here  v/as  a  real  "cross  in  the  wilderness !"     Indee;!,  there 

'  Si  Ok'nu-nfs. 

'Thin  wii*"  ail  error;  bit  Fatlirr  Wtiiln  wai  not  awaro  tlirit  nliip  Spiu!-;'!  Ji';'rt.i  linl  rotisp. 
rr!"i'J  llr.it  tciril  >iy  willi  tlii;ir  blo.i^l  over  half  aci'uuiry  Iil'Idil'  lil.i  arrival,  ".'t.irc  tliaii  li.iif 
a  conluiy  bi>f,>;v  Ihi'  Eii(.rlVli  Calluilics  l.iiulwl  on  tlu'  .--lioi'sor  the  Clii'.>ia  icaiic,  tlic  soil  of  Miry. 
land  wa*  ii"l'.vi'l  with  the  l):oj  1  of  luarlyr.s.  Soaio  of  the  oariy  S|iaii..-h  iiivijritorn  explorifl 
tliis  p,:rlioii  .)f  o  ir  coantry,  l)riii;;!ii:;  away  with  tliriii  tlii'  yoan^  son  of  t!-.i:  cli.i'flain  of  a  disiri<  t 
known  I)y  thi'  nanii.'  of  Axacan.  f!lii>.-a\'i';>';('  Hay  Ihcy  called  HI.  JIary's.  Fiiidint;  tin.'  yoi'"; 
Indian  i)os«i>ssi'il  of  rare  talents,  tlie  mi.'-sioiiarie.s  ailo|ile<l  him.  In  the  hope  that  he  would  one 
day  V.e  instnini' ntal  in  spreading  theCio^pel  anion}.'  his  kindred.  He  was  sent  to  Spain,  re- 
reived  a  no  >  1  ej  icalion,  and  w.is  tlK)r()ii;^lily  iiHtriuted  In  the  jirinriples  of  tlio  F.iilh.  He  was 
b.iptize  I,  an!  leceived  the  name  of  Luis.  After  a  time  Don  Luis  asked  leave  to  return,  and 
u.'ie  his  in!laenee  in  coiivertai},'  h  s  trih.'.  H'  landed  in  Floridii,  and  Invited  noine  of  the  i:ii:  • 
f  'ciaiies  lo  lecouipiny  liini  to  h  s  hrotlier's  doin'iiions.  They  t;ladly  asseiiteiL  In  the  year  ir.Tf), 
r.iltier  Seyiira,  S.  .L.  lo^ethe  with  ei;:lit  Jesuit  Kalhers  and  Don  Luis,  emljarked  in  a  small  eraft, 
hill  linn  aiieu  lo  llie  shores  of  Flarida.  Laiullntr  in  Chesapeake  liay,  Ihey  heimii  a  loin:  and 
p  unf  il  niarcli  lo.vard-  the  interior.  Months  ii.issed.  Hut  they  liravely  pn'ssed  on.  The  eoiidiirt 
of  Don  I. ill.-',  hnvever,  li"naii  to  arcaiso  sus|)iclon.  .\t  length,  he  stated  that  his  brother's  vill:i,'e 
was  D'.it  Iwehe  miles  iLs'ant  The  yoiiii_'  ehleflain— their  only  guide— now  left  the  Jesiiiis,  tell- 
i.in  Ihem  lo  eneamp  while  he  proecMled  alone,  in  order,  as  he  said,  to  prepare  his  trilie  lo  ;;ivi! 
the  Kalherw  a  welcome  reception.  Hays  passed,  liiim;er  pressed;  but  Don  Luis  i',(i;ie,in'il  nut. 
Left  in  a  trackless  wilderness,  without  aiiv  jirolection  but  He.aven,  the  priests  consoled  Iheni- 
pelves  by  prayer,  and  by  otTi'rInn  np  the  holy  sncrittce  of  the  Mass  on  a  rustic  alta".  Afler  .'in 
urneiit  invit.ilioii  fro  n  rather  (^iiiros  the  faithless  yiaiie;  savage  .■I'lnrne.l— as  a  miirdererl  Itais- 
ini;  a  war-cry.  he  was  arswered  by  the  Irilie,  aud  cli.ef  aril  warrior  ru-hed  on  the  nn>^iis|iertii:'.; 
missionaries,  and  butchered  them  without  iiiercv.  Of  ail  Ibis  brave  band,  one  alime  escaped  lo 
ti-il  their  sad  fall'— an  Indian  boy  edncaii  d  al  llavaniia.  Siu  h  was  the  llrst  allempt  to  |plaiil  tlio 
C'rixs  iu  Maryland.  But  lb"  blood  of  niirtyrs  is  never  shed  iiwam.'^—l'tjpidiir  Uhlnnj  of  the 
.  Catholic  C'l'iivh  III  the  VnlUd  S!iitei>,  p.  M-li. 

The  forenoin;;  orriirred  slxtyfour  years  before  the  venerable  Father  White  celebrated  his  flrrt 
Mass  on  St.  Clements  Isle, 


FATHER  ANDREW  WHITE,  S.J. 


4-10 


issdnietliing  so  toiicliinii:  and  licaiitifiil  in  tin's  siin])lo  nnrra- 
(i\-(\  tliut,  in  onrag-e  of  unbelief  and  niatei'ialisni,  we  \v^\\s^^ 
;iiid  almost  wonder  if  we  are  readinira  dream  or  a  reality. 
]iiit  it  is  no  dream.  It  is  the  true  liist(»iy  of  liow  the  Cath- 
(ilic  Pil.i^nim  Fathers  of  ]\raryland  first  took  possessi(m  of 
our  shoi'es.  They  were  men  ]>i'oud  of  their  uTand  and 
ancient  Faitli,  and  nobly  jirelVMMvd  an  altar  in  the  desert  to 
a  (■  )i'(»net  at  the  court  of  apostate  En.ii-land. 

Tiie  chief  of  the  Pascataway  Indians  was  the  most  power- 
ful rider  in  that  reu-ion,  and  had  many  sachems  and  trilies 
subject  to  him.  Leonard  Calvert,  the  (Governor,  deteruiined 
to  visit  this  lordly  sava.u'e,  and  secure  his  friendshi^i.  Takiiif; 
v.ith  him  the  Dare,  he  set  out  with  a  portion  of  his  men, 
accoin]):uiied  by  Father  Altham,  leaving  the  ship  at  anciior 
at  St.  Clement's.  As  they  advanced  up  the  river  tl;e  dusky 
inh:ib!tants  tied  towards  the  interior.  At  length  the  p''"e.s(  and 
the  Governor  reached  a  village  on  the  Virginia  side,  named 
Potomac-after  the  river— and  governed  by  Archihu,  uncle 
of  the  king,  who  was  yet  a  youth.  Father  Altham  yueaciied 
to  the  people  and  their  diif^fs.  They  listened  with  atten- 
tion, and  replie(l  to  him  through  his  interpreter.  The  good 
Father  told  them  tluit  the  ])ale  faces  had  neither  come  to 
nink<'  war  upon  them  nor  to  do  them  any  wrong;  but  to 
instruct  them  in  Christianity,  to  make  them"  accpiainted 
with  the  arts  of  civilized  life,  and  to  live  with  them  liko 
brothers. 

"You  are  welcome,"  replii^d  the  chief.  Father  Altham 
th(>n  informed  liim,  that,  as  he  had  not  time  to  make  a 
longer  discourse,  he  would  return  to  visit  liim  again.  "Tt  is 
good,"  said  the  dusky  ruler,  "we  will  use  one  table.  My 
people  sliall  hunt  for  my  In-other,  and  all  things  shall  be  in 
common  betw(>en  us."  Such  Avas  the  first  conrrrenc(>  be- 
(v.ccMi  a  Catholic  priest  and  the  gentle  and  peaceful  Indians 
of  M'.iiyland. 

From  this  place,  Fatiier  Altham  and  Oovernor  Calvert; 
went  to  Pascataway,  "where,"  says  the  7?c7r///o,  "all  tb.e 
inhabitants  Jlew  to  arms.  Ab(uit  five  hnndi'eil.  equip])ed 
v.ith  bows,  Ir.vd  stationed  themselves  on  tho;;.liorv'  ^vith  their 


m 


1*1 


i:A) 


FAT II En  ANDREW  WHITE.  S.  J. 


King.'  l>u(  after  siu'iiiils  of  peace  ivereniatle,  tlie  Kinir.  l»ut- 
iiwj;  ii.'^idc  all  i'.]i])r(di('iiiiun,  came  on  buard  tlie  piimacf; 
ami  niii'ii  lie  licaid  uf  oiu'  frieiidiy  dispositiun  towiids  tlie 
Indians,  lie  uiive  us  pernilssiun  to  dwell  wlierev(,'i' we  plea.std 
m  Ills  dominions. 

"In  till!  im'antime.  while  Uovernor  Calvert  was  on  tlii-j 
vovaije  witli  the  Kin,'4\  the  suvaijjt.'S  at  St.  Clem;'nt"s  '.);\n'aii 


to  avow 


bold( 


iiid  miiiLrled  more  freely  wlt'i  our  seiiiiiici'- 


]''or  we  kept  wateli  l)y  day  and  night,  t(j  giiai'd  fioni  siiddcu 
aitai'ks  oar  m*m  wli;)  were  cutting  wood,  as  w.'ll  as  thti 
vessel  wliicli  we  wer(»  building,  liaviug  brougni;  with  us  tlie 
separate  ])lanks  ami  ribs. 

"  It  is  ])]t^•»sant  to  hear  thes(>  natives  admiring  e\i'rylliing, 
especially  wondnring  when^  in  th(3  world  a  ti'i'c  had  grown 
"ni-ge  (^aouu'li  to  be  cirved  into  a  shi[)  of  such  huge  size  ;  fur 
I  hey  sup[)os(Hl  it  had  bi'en  cut  from  a  single  trunk  of  a  tree, 
''ike  an  Indian  canoe.  Our  cannon  tilled  them  all  ^\itil 
(■Miishmcnt.  as,  iiidci'd.  thoy  v.-cre  not  a  little  loudii'  tl 
their  own  twanging  bows,  and  souncbnl  like  thunder." 

Thi3  idea  of  secui'ing  a  litfingspot  to  begin  the  foundation 
of  his  colony  now  occuiiied  the  mind  of  (Jovf-rnor  (.'alvei't, 

J'ound.     It  is,  wi'ol(^  th(3  Apostle  of 


as- 
laii 


«uc 


h  a  pi 


ice  was  :;oon 


Maryland,  *'a  spot  so  charming  in  its  situation  tliat  r.iii'iipe 
itself  can  scarc(dy  show  one  to  surpass  it.  (Joing  al)out 
twiMity-seven  miles  from  St.  Clement's,  we  sailed  into  the 
mouth  of  a  river  on  the  nortii  side  of  the  Potomac,  a\  hich 


we  named   after  St.  Ceorge.     This  river — or  ratiier  arm 


.f 


the  sea — runs  from  Sv>uth  to  north  about  twenty  miles  be- 
fore you  come  to  fresh  water.  At  its  niouuh  are  two  ha r- 
!)ors  capable  of  containing  tl'.ree  hundred  ships  of  the 
largest  size.  (J>:H^  of  these  we  consecrated  to  St.  Croige; 
the  other,  which  is  more  inland,  to  the  Most  Blessed  \'ii'gin 
Mary. 

'  "  Undor  tlio  uniit  of  Hip  Crown  to  liU  hroihcr."  writi"!  MrSliprrv,  "  he  (frDVcrnor  Calvi'in  wm 
v.ititli'd  to  llu'  p(i-""'-^i()ii  of  till'  ><oll.  iici'drdiiiL'  lo  Iho  law  of  nations  ;  bnt  he  dfi'nicil  it  .jifl  an  I 
J.aidi'nt  lo  pnrclia-i'  llic  riL'lit  of  tlic  Indians  lo  llicir  coiintvy,  and  Kav(>  them  ^ninc  Eriirli'^li  rlolli, 
iXfM,  lioi's,  ami  kidvcs.  in  rcrnrn  for  which  they  craiitPil  him  ahoiit  thirty  niilt'S  of  li'rrilorV 
Xliiih  liii  i-allfd  '  t:aiolina  Ai.gu.-la,' aflorwards  the  county  of  St.  Mar/e."— 7/;  <;orj/ f/ J/tiry 
<(./'/, ;).  33. 


■1     i 


^an 


FATHER  AND  HEW  WHITE,  S.  J. 


451 


"Tlie  ](  ft  sidn  of  tliH  rivtn-  was  I  he  nbod.^  of  Chief  Yaoco- 
iiiic<).  A\'(!  laiideii  on  the  li^lirliand  side,  and  uoiii;:  in 
!iii()iir  a  mile  from  tlie  sliore,  \\n  laid  out  the  i*hin  of  a  city, 
iiainin^-  it  Hnint  Marij.  And,  in  order  to  avoid  every  a p- 
^(('aiaiice  of  injustice,  and  atl'ord  noo[iportunily  of  hostility, 
wc  Ijought  fi'oin  the  Kin^'  tliii'iy  niilt>s  of  that  land,  deliver- 
in,n"  in  exchange  axes,  hatcht'ts,  rakes,  and  several  yards  e.f 
cloih. 

'•Thf'  natives,"  continnes  the  keen  and  evpr-ohL^ervant 
Fatiier  ^^'iute,  "are  very  tall  and  well  proportioned.  Their 
si^inisnatui'allynther  dark,  and  they  make  it  n.irlier  by  stain- 
iim- it.  This  tlu^y  generally  do  witli  r'-d  paint  nuxed  wiili 
oil,  to  kee])  crii"  the  mosijiiiloes,  thinkinu"  moie  of  their  own 
coiiirnrt    than    of   ap[)eai'an 


ce 


'J'hey  also  disliguie  tlii'ir 
coinitenances  with  colors,  painting-  them  in  many  and  truly 
hideous  and  frightful  ways;  either  a  ilaik  Mue  above  tlio 
nose,  and  red  below,  or  the  reverse.  Andas  they  live  almost 
to  exireiiie  old  age  williout  having  beards,  they  counter- 
foil th'in  with  p:dnt,  by  drawing  lines  of  vaiious  colors  from 


the  (^xiivniities  of  the  lips  to  the  ears.  They  commoidy 
liav(^  black  hair,  which  they  carry  bound  in  a  knot  1o  the 
L'lt  ear,  and  fasten  with  a  band,  adding  f^ome  oi'nanier:t 
v.iiicli  is  in  estimation  among  tin  in.  On  theii'  foicheads 
Roni'^  of  them  \\^Kn'  tln^  1igurt3  of  a  lish  made  of  copper. 
They  adorn  their  necks  with  glass  beads,  sti'ung  on  thiviid 
lik(>  necklaces;  thouLi'li  these  beads  are  getting  to  be  less 


vaiueil  among  them,  and  l(»ss  useful  for  ti'ade. 

'•i-'or  tlie  most  part,  they  are  clothed  in  deerskins,  or 
some  similar  kind  of  covering,  which  hangs  down  behind 
like  a  cloak.  Tlu>y  wear  aprons  around  the  middle,  and 
li-ave  the  rest  of  the  l)ody  naked.  The  boys  and  girls  go 
about  with  nothing  on  then'.  The  sf)les  of  their  f(  et  are  as 
hard  as  horn,  and  they  tread  on  thorns  and  briars  without 
lieing  hurt. 

"The  weapons  of  the  Indians  are  bt)ws  and  artows  three 
feet  long,  tipped  with  stag's  horn,  or  a  white  hint  sharp  'iied 
at  the  end.  They  shoot  tliese  v.lth  such  slvill  that  they  can 
stand  off  and  hit  a  sparrow  in  the  middle;  and,  in  order  to 


'  St'*^ 

■  xi 

;  't; 

;  '* 

is 


4:j2 


FATIiEIl  AXDltlSW  WIllTi:,  S.J. 


(     ' 


heconio  (^\])ei't  by  prncfict',  tlu'V  throw  a  spear  in  tlw  air, 
and  tlicn  .seiul  an  arrow  from  tlie  l)o\v-.sti'ing  and  ilrive  it 
into  the  spear  before  it  falL>^.  line  since  they  do  not  strin^^ 
£h(?  bow  vci'v  tii^lit,  they  cannot  hit  a  mark  at  agi'eai  dis- 
tance. ]')y  means  of  these  weapons^  tliey  live,  and  t;<t  o;it 
eveiV  day  (liroui^h  the  iields  and  ivoods  (o  bnnt  sipiirrds, 
partriu.u'es,  tnrlieys,  and  wild  anima.ls.  'iliero  is  an  abnn- 
('.;ni(e  of  all  these,  fhon:.',h  we  ourselves  do  not  yet  venture 
to  procure  food  by  huntin,ii',  for  fear  of  ambushes. 

"The  Indians  livtnn  houses  built  in  an  o})long"oval  shape. 
Light  is  admitted  into  these  throug-h  the  roof,  by  a  window 
a  foot  and  a  lialf  loni;;  this  also  serves  to  carry  oif  the 
fmoke,  for  they  kindle  the  fire  in  the  nuddle  of  the  floor 
viu\  sleep  around  it.  Their  kings,  however,  and  chief  men 
have  privat(}  apartm.ents,  as  it  were,  of  their  own,  and 
beds,  made  by  driving  four  posts  into  the  ground,  and  ar- 
ranging poles  al)ove  them  liorizontally. 

"One  of  these  cabins  lias  fallen  to  me  and  my  associates, 
in  wliicli  we  are  accomodated  well  enough  for  tiie  time,  un- 
til larger  dwellings  are  provided.  You  may  call  this  ///e 
first  c//(ip<'l  in  Mnnjldud,  though  it  is  lifted  up  much  more 
decently  tlian  when  the  Indians  lived  in  it. 

"This  people  are  of. a  fraidc  and  cheerful  disposition, 
and  understar.d  any  matter  correctly  when  it  is  stated  to 
them.  They  have  a  keen  s(>nse  of  taste  and  smell,  and  in 
sight,  too,  they  surpass  the  Europeans.  For  the  most  i)art, 
they  live  on  a  kind  of  paste,  which  they  name  Pone,  and 
Omuii,^  both  of  which  are  made  of  Indian  corn.  Some- 
times they  add  fish,  or  what  they  have  jirocured  by  hunting 
and  fowling.  They  are  especiall}^  careful  to  refrain  from 
wine  and  warm  drinks,  and  are  not  easily  persuaded  to 
taste  them,  if  we  except  some  whom  the  English  liave  cor- 
rupted with  their  own  vices. 

"With  respect  to  purity,  I  confess  that  I  have  not  yet 
observed,  in  man  or  woman,  any  act  which  even  savored  of 


1  Tin:  r^'.Klrr  will  likely  rcrall  nnr\viird  honiin)/,  \\\\\<'\\  i<  ricittwr  iiinri'  iinr  Ic^s i!i.'in  a  tiiirrnwcd 
Inill.iii  toriii  (liat  \v!is  c  ivili.;od  and  granted  the  righ'iS  and  privilcgt's  of  a  jilace  iu  WcbUM  • 
"Unabridged  Dictionary." 


FATIIKIl  AyniiEW  ^Y^lTE,  S.  J. 


453 


Ipvity;  yet  tlioynrc  diiily  witli  us  and  pmcnf;  us  and  tiil<<' 
])]fns',iro  in  our  society.  'J'licy  iiin  to  us  of  \lifMr<H\ii  ;h'- 
cold  with  a  checi'rul  cxinTssion  on  tlieir  i'accs  an>l  olVci-  us 
■^^•!l  it;  tliey  have  taken  in  huntin;;  or  iishinj^;.  Sometimes 
tlicy  also  bi'ing  us  food,  and  oysters  Ixdied  and  roasted; 
and  tliis  they  do  when  invited  in  a  few  words  of  tlieir  own 
language,  which  we  have  contrived  to  learn  by  nu  ans  of 
.sinns.  Tliey  marry  several  wives,  yet  tliey  ]\eep  inviolate 
their  conjugal  faith.  Tlio  women  present  a  sober,  niodesc 
a]'])earance. 

'•'Jliese  Indians  cherish  generous  feelings  towards  all; 
and  nutke  a  return  for  wluitever  kindness  you  may  have 
slinv.ii  them.  They  resolve  upon  nothing  raslily,  or  while 
inllueiiced  by  a  sudden  imjjulse  of  the  nund,  but  act  with 
d(^lil)ei'ation.  When,  at  any  time,  anything  of  ini])ortanco 
is  jiroposed,  they  tliink  over  it  a  while  in  silence;  then  they 
sjMnik  brielly  for  or  against  it.  Of  their  purpose  they  are 
very  tenacious.  Surely  these  men,  if  once  ind)ued  with 
Christian  precepts— and  there  seems  to  l)e  nothing  op- 
poses this  exco])t  our  ignorance  of  the  language  s])oken  in 
these  ];arts — will  become  eminent  observers  of  virtue  and 
hutiianity.  They  are  possessed  with  a  wonderful  longing 
for  civilized  intercourse  with  us,  and  for  Euroj)ean  gar- 
ments. And  they  would  long  ago  have  worn  clothing,  if 
they  had  not  been  prevented  b}-  the  avarice  of  the  mer- 
chants, who  do  not  excliansxe  their  cloth  foranvthing  ex- 
cept  beavers.  But  every  one  cannot  get  a  lieaver  by 
hunting,  (.lod  forbid  that  we  should  imitate  the  avarice  of 
these  men! 

"On  account  of  our  ignorance  of  their  language,  it  does 
mt  yet  appear  what  ideas  tlie  Indians  have  about  religion. 
"We  do  not  put  much  conlldence  in  the  Protestant  inter- 
prc^ters;  and  have  rather  hastily  learned  the  following: 

Tliey  acknowledge  one  God  of  Heaven,  yet  they  ]^ay  him 
no  outward  worship.  But  in  every  way  th(>y  strive  to 
ph'ase  a  certain  imaginary  spirit  which  they  call  oclin,  that 
he  iii;;y  not  hurt  tlieiu.  (.'orn  and  fire,  i  learn,  they  wcrship 
f.s  goi'.s  that  are  very  bountiful  to  the  human  race. 


II 


\A  m 


i 


■'I 


if 


HWlll'? 


4^4  FATiiMJi  a.\1)i:l'\v  wiiiTi-:,  s.  j. 

"Somo  f)f  our  \y.\v\y  I'ciiort  tlint  tln>y  v-;i\v  ilc;  foil 
ccrt'iiiouy  ill  the  h'iii[)lH  at  Ihtri-Ini.nin :  On  a  day  ap- 
]i()iiitt'(l,  all  tli»3  nion  and  wonuMi  of  every  a,ue,  frnni  several 
di.stricts,  <^athei'ed  to.u'etber  around  a  lar^e  lire.  'I'lio 
y()un;;>r  ones  stood  neai'est  the  lire;  and  beliind  theui  ston.l 
tliose  who  were  older.  Tiien  they  threw  deer's  i"at  on  I  lie 
lire,  and  lil":iu,L!;  up  tlieir  iiauds  towar<ls  iieaven,  and  raisiu'j 
their  voices,  thev  cried  oiil  : 


Vah. 


Yal 


lo: 


II 


a  lai 


)ui  l)'iuj:  mule,  some  one  llieii  l)rin,ij;s  I'orwai'd  ([uite 
ba,.;".  in  it  are  a  pipe,  and  a,  poW(U'r  called  -jxilx." 
The  pij)ti  is  siu'h  a  one  as  is  used  anu)n,LC  us  for  smoking-  to- 
])acco,  hut  much  larger.  Around  the  lire  lluj  bag  is  canied, 
the  l)oys  and  girls  following  it,  and  singing  alternately,  wiih 
quite  pleasant  voices:  'Yaliol'  'Yahol'  Having  C(,!u- 
pleled  the  circuit,  the  pipe  is  lakeii  out  of  the  l)ag,  and  tlic 
jjowder  called  '  potu"  is  distributed  to  all  as  they  stand  near. 
This  is  then  lighted  in  the  pipi\  and  each  one.  drawing 
smoke,  blows  it  f>ver  the  vaiious  lueiuiiers  of  his  or  her 
body  and  thus  consecrates  tlii'm.  My  iufoi'niants  wei'e  not 
allowed  to  leai'u  anything  inoi'e,  (>xce,)t  tluit  llu^  ludiatis 
seem  to  Ijtive  som;'  knowledgi;  of  I  lit?  deluge  by  Avhich  flui 
world  was  destroyed  on  account  of  the  wickedness  of  man- 
kind. 

••  NVe  liav(?  been  liere  only  one  month,  and  so  the  remain- 
ing ])articuhtrs  must  be  kept  for  the  next  voyage.  V'.nt 
tills  I  may  a<ld:  The  land  seems  to  be  remarkably  fertile. 
in  piissinu.'  through  the  vt.'ry  thick  woods,  we  tread,  at  every 


step.  (>u  slrawi)e 


■ies.  vines,  sassafras,  acorns,  and  waluiU- 


The  soil  is  dark  and  r.ot  hard,  to  tin?  dei)th  of  a  foot,  and 
overlays  a  rich  red  clay,  l-lvery where  there  are  lofty 
trees,  except  wiiei'B  the  land  has  been  cnltivated  by  a  few 
jiersoas. 

•"  Xuiii:M'ous  s])rings  furnish  a  supply  of  water.     Xo  ani- 
'xcept    deei-.  beavers,  and   squirrels.     Tho 


niais  are   scm-u 


S(]uii'rels  are  as  large  as  the  hares  of  Europe.  There  is  an 
inliiiite  uumber  of  birds  of  various  colors,  such  as  eagles, 
cranes,  freese,  ducks,  and  partridges.  From  these  lacts  it; 
is  inferred  that  the  countrj'  is  not  witliont  such  things  as 


FATiirn  ,\yni!i:w  white,  s.  j 


4;;5 


rciiMibiitc  to  the  ]ir(isp(>iity  or  iilcasure  uf  those  ulju  m- 
lial'il  if  " 

W'f  must  now  tiirri  jur  attention  to  the  missions,  and 
phiiKi'  ;:f  till'  holy  ;iii<I  hci'oit;  hll)o|•^;  of  [he  Ai^tsth'  ol  M;ify 
liiiiil  iiiiil  his  coiiipiiiiious.  FiitiuT  White  \v;is  hl'ty  live 
yriiis  ornu'c,  wiion  hr))(."ian  the  ^i^'anlic  task  of  toilin.ic  I'nr 
Ihc  (•(iii\«'i'si(in  of  ilic  ri'(l  iiKin.  iiiii  nothin,:;'  daunted  that 
lii'avt.'  soul.      Willi  all  the  ardoi'MJ'  youth  li'  at  once  applied 


hiiiiselt'  t(»  the  study  ol'  the  Indian  lan;''ua: 


in  which  ho 


i'ound  llie  diliiculiies  much  inei'easeil  by  the  nuniliei-  ol'  dia- 
lects used  raniMUi,'  the  various  trihe.s.  A'eai'Iy  every  villa;.fO 
and  its  surrouudiui;' district  had  a  peculiar  dialect.  Of  the 
tiihes  then  inhahitiai;'  Maryland,  lh(>  most  poweiful  were 
the  Sus([iH'liannas,  who  were  sulxlivided  into  ^e^•eral 
smaller  triljes.  Amonu,'  the  latter  the  most  prominent  wero 
the  I'ascatiiways  and  the  Patuxenty.' 

The  U'entle  dispositions  (jf  the  Indians  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  St.  .\rary's,encoura,u'ed  the  -lesuit  Fathers  to  eii- 
tei'tain  liopes  of  the  conversion  of  juany  of  tlu!  native.s  to 
Cliiisrianity.  Jhit,  in  tlie  s(>cond  year  of  the  colony,  o!)- 
stacles  to  their  pious  (h'si,uii  were  thrown  in  the  way,  which 


])reveli 


led   them   from   extendiiii'-   their  visits    hevond  th 


limits  of  tlie  st^tth'ment.  It  wa.s  in  the  early  ]»art  of  Hie 
year  1  (!•>.■) —scarcidy  twelve  months  after  the  arrival  of  the 
]in'ssi(>naries — tliat  the  infamous  (Captain  (Jlayborne  siic- 
('<>eded  in  excitinf?  the  suspicions  of  the  Indians  against  the 
]^.Iaryland  colonists  generally,  and  ])rejudices  against  their 
religion  in  particuhn'.  Ap])reliensive  of  hostilities  from  the 
nalives,  the  colonists,  lay  and  clerical,  prudently  con  lined 
th.Mnselves  to  St.  Mary's  until  tlio  good-will  of  tln^  lndian;j 
\v;is  restored.  In  Kil?."),  a  third  ]n'ie.-;t  arrived  from  Europe. 
"On  account  (^f  the  very  many  diinculties,"  wrote  one  of 
the  Fathers,  dnri'  "this  year,  ''that  present  themselves  in 
this  Mission,  which  has  been  lately  started,  there  has  been 

'  "Tlio  Mnrylanil  Irihcp,  '  writi's  T)r.  .T.  f!.  SI'.cii,  '  rniisisti'il  of  Hi'vcnl  l)nnclir«  of  llio  trroat 
ITiir()n-Iri)i|iioi«  fiim' y,  iiml,  (Iciiilillcsf!,  nf  cdnK*  AI;.'()n(|iiiti-<,  nltlmuL'h  t  .:*  ivi,  vi\<y  'ii  iiil 
cn-^c?  ti)  (Iccido  to  whirh  oliis?  ii  trilio  is  tn  Dn  rcffrrud."— //it?y/'y  of  the  Calholic  Munons  among 
Oit  Indian  Tribes  of  the  UnitcU  States,  p.  i&i. 


W.tt 


450 


iwTiiFJi  Ayj)ni-:w  wiini:,  s.  j. 


thus  f;ii  liiit  liltic  J'niit;  from  it,  ('.specially  ;lIn()Il^^  \]u\  s;iv- 
n,!i;i's,  wliDsc  I:iii<;Mi:i.iie  is  .slowly  itciiiiircd  by  our  country. 
iMcn,  iui'l  can  liiirdly  Ix?  wrillcu  jit  all.  i'luiploycd  Ih'it  ;\y( 
J/'rt;  a.Hsociafcs,  /./irt.r  i)i'it'st.s,  aiul  /too  assisf.iiits.  who,  in  \u>\h^ 
of  fiitui'c  I'csulls,  endure  their  present  (oils  wiih  j^reat  chei'r- 
I'nlni's^  "" 

In  ](!  !i;,  another  priest  was  added  to  the  .small  hand  of 
fipostolic  laborers. 

AnioMi;  the  acts  of  the  Ciciieral  Assembly  lield  at  St.  ^fary's 
in  .hinuary  l(i.57.  is  the  toli(»win,i;',  which  is  li'iveii  afiera  loni;- 
list  of  names  .  •  Alter,  were  sumnioneil  to  appeare-  l)y  \ert ne 
o!  wriits  to  them  din'cted — Mr.  Thomas  (Copley  Mr.  Aiidivw 
White,  Mr.  John  Altliain  of  St.  ]\lary's  hundivd.  Ifohcit, 
Clarke,  ^'eiit.,  ap[)(>ared  for  them,  and  excusetl  their  aD.sunce 
by  reason  of  sickness."' 

Th(^  reader  will,  doubtless,  be  .snr])rised  to  s(m»  the  A]iostle 
of  Maryland  simply  styled  "Mr.  Andrew  White.'  Ibit  ho 
must  r.Mnember  that  this  is  the  nineteenth  century,  and  I  hat 
I^ln,ii']aiid  no  lon^'er  rules  by  barbaroiis  jienal  laws.  Tiii^ 
foreu-oinu'  was  writtiui  in  the  seveiiteentli  century.  Then,  it 
would  have  been  very  f.ir  from  safe  oiu-nly  to  recou-ni/.e  ;i 
Catholic  ])rie>t  bv  lln.'  title  of  '•  ]vever(>iid  ;"  and  in  the  Marv- 
land  state  records  we  liiid  a  prudent  caution  in  tliis  respect, 
to  avoid  any  public  or  Jipi)arent  disre.u'anl  of  the  vile  codo 
then  in  force  in  the  Mother  ('oiintry  a.uainst  Catholic  priests, 
and  particularly  the  Fathers  of  the  Society  of  Jesus. 

Dividing;  his  time  between  the  settlers  and  the  Indians, 
Father  White  continued  liis  unceasing  toils,  lie  not  only 
mastered  the  Indian  languaire,  but  composed  a  .u'ranimai'. 
dictionary,  and  catechism  in  it.  (rod  blessed  his  Inboi'saiid 
those  of  his  collea'^iu"'s.  Oi"  the  Protestants  in  the  colony, 
we  learn  that  many  returned  to  the  Faith  of  their  fathers. 

"Amon,i;'  the  Protestants,"  write.s  one  of  the  missionaries 
in  a  battel-,  ''nearly  all  who  have  come  from  Enuland,  in 
this  year  1(538.  and  many  others,  have  been  converted  to  the 
F.vith,  to3!;ether  with  four  servants,  whom  we  purchased  in- 
Virginia,  and  five  mechanics  wdiom  we  hired  for  a  month, 
nnd  have  in  the  meantime  won  to  God.     Kot  long  after- 


FATHKn  AXDUFAV  WHiri',  S.  J 


4n7 


wnnls,  on((  of  llit'sc,  jiffi'i-  liciii;;  duly  pi't']):ir(.'(l  fur  diTitli, 
hy  r('CL'iviii<^  the  Macniiiicnt.s,  departed  this  life. 

"A  curtain  iiaii,"  coiifimius  tlio  sam(^  writer,  "cntirciv 
iiiikii'iwn  to  lis,  but  a  /t-aloiis  disciple  of  the  I'rott'stant  )•(•- 
liiiioM,  was  stayii!,:,'  witii  a  fi'it'Tnl  who  wasstill  innfc/cMloiis; 
jiinl  haviim'  been  bitft-n  by  one  of  the  snakes  which  aliound 
ia  tliese  pa^t^,  was  expcctin.u:  inirnediiuc  (lc;ith.  One  of 
(iiir  l-'atiii'i's,  lin<lin!^  tiiis  oat,  toolv  witli  him  a  snri;eon,  and 
liiiii'icd  tollie  sick  man— wlio,  it  was  I'ljiorted,  had  already 
lost  his  senses— with  th(!  intention  of  miidsteiinu'  to  his 
siial  in  any  way  that  he  could.  15ut  the  host  diviniuu;  his 
iiiti'iiiion,  lri:'d  to  thwact  his  jiious  elforts.  The  priest, 
lidwevei'.  as  he  could  liud  no  otlier  opportunity,  deleiiuincd 
t();;tay  all  ni.n-lit  with  the  sick  man.  Piut  this  thelio-t  also 
jn'cveiiti'd;  and  lest  (Ikj  F.itlicr  should  be  admitte(l  ut  ni.u'ht, 
lie  ap]»<iinted  a  uaiard  to  sleep  on  a  IxmI  laid  across  the  tloor 
(if  the  clianibn-  occupicl  by  his  sick  friend.  Neverthe- 
less, the  [)riest  kept  oil  tli<'  watch  for  every  oi)pf)rtnnity  of 
ni^in'oai'h.  (Joinui:  :if  mid ni.ii'ht —when  he  sujiposed  thj 
".iiai'd  would  b(>  especially  overcome  by  slee]) — hec(Uitrived, 
without  disturbiim-  him,  to  ])ass  in  to  the  sick  man;  and  at 
ill!'  desir(^  of  the  latter  he  was  received  into  tin-  Catliolic 
Church.  AIilioui,di,  under  the  circumstances,  it  was  impo.s- 
silile  that  the  sick  man  should  be  tauu'ht  much,  or  be  tirmly 
( siablislieil  in  his  i)elief,  yet,  when— contrary  to  all  expec- 
tation— he  had  be(-n  (Mired  by  our  surircon,  the  g'race  of  <M>d 
prcvailecl  with  him.  lie  chost>  rather  to  be  ]iut  out  of  his 
f'iend's  house  than  to  retract  what  he  had  done;  iialeed, 
lie  even  came  to  us  of  his  own  accord,  and  ha]>pily  coin- 
])leted  the  work  he  had  betrun. 

"Another  man.  who  was  of  noble  birth,  had  been  reduced 
to  such  ]iov(n'ty  by  liis  own  unrestrained  licentiousness,  that 
lie  suld  himsfdf  into  this  colony.  Here,  wIkmi  he  had  been 
ivciiUed  by  on?  of  US  to  the  riudit  Faith  and  the  fiuit,  of 
pied  living',  he  always  anxiously  doubted  whether  he  had 
entered  on  the  safe  road.  On  one  occasion,  when  he  had 
entrusted  himself  to  the  sea,  in  a  small  skilT.  and  a  fright- 
ful storm  arose,  such  as  he  had  never  seen — thouL,h  he  had 


4n8 


FATiiKi:  .\.\i>iu:\v  wmri:.  >.,/. 


offcn  met  witii  storms  at  s<'a — and  corlain  sliipwrcck  stnivl 
him  iti  the  face,  lie  eani<>stly  inayed  toiJod  that  in  cotiiir- 

malioii  (tl'  the  faith  lie  had  lately  i ivcd-  if  it  wciv  ivully 

tint'  lie  wdidd  ward  nlV  the  imix'iidiivi,"  (hmu'er.  The  Ai- 
ini.u-hly  li(>ard  his  prayer.  The  storm  tnrned  in  anotli"i' 
direction;  and  iinshakeu  conviclioii  stilled  his  Avuvei'iii<j,' 
mind. 

"Not  loim-  after\v;!rds  this  man  wa-s  broii^'ld  'o  th(>  last 
extremity  i>y  a  severe  disease,  lie  reeeiNcd  all  tiie  sacra- 
ments abont  an  lionr  bel'on^  his  (l(>atli,  and  asked  his  Catlio- 
lic  atiendant  xo  ])ray  i'or  him.  .  .  ,  Since  ids  oni'ial  a  veiy 
brijxht  li.u'ht  has  often  been  seen  at  ni.L';ht  ai'onnd  his  tonih, 
e\en  by  Protestants." 

Itappears  the  spiritnal  statcjof  the  >raryland  colony  a!  lliis 
period  was  adnnrable.  '"As  b)r  the  Catholics,"  obsei'ves  ilic 
I'oreji'oiiiu,-  wi'iter,  ■'the  attend  nice  on  the  sacraments  heiv  is 
eo  lai'^c,  that  it  is  not  ureater  anion^'  the  Europeans,  in  pro- 
porlion  to  the  nnmber  of  Cat  holies.  The  nioiv  iu-iu^'ant 
have  bt'en  catechisecl,  and  catechetical  lectnre.s  lia\e  been  d;'- 
livtM'ed  for  the  more  advanced  every  Snmlny,  On  feast-days 
sermons  havi>  I'arely  been  neu'lected.  'i'lie  sick  ainl  dyini;', 
AViio  have  been  vei'y  nuinerons  this  year,  and  who  dwell  l';ir 
apart,  we  have  assisted  ir.  every  way,  so  that  noi  even  a 
sinii'Ie  one  has  (lied  without  the  sacraments.  \ Cry  many  we 
liave  bnrieil,  and  we  have  liapli/.ed  vai'ious  persons.  Ami, 
althonu'h  there  are  not  v.:iniinu'  freipient  causes  of  dissen- 
sion, yet  none  of  any  imporlanci'  has  iiriseii  here  in  the  last; 
nine  months  Avhich  we  have  not  immediately  allayetl.  IJy 
tin'  bU'ssinu;  of  (bid  we  have  this  consolation — tliat  no  vices 
spring'  np  aniomj;  the  new  Catholics,  althoiiu'h  settlements  of 
this  kind  are  not  usually  supplied  I'rom  the  best  class  of 
men. 

"In  Viru'inia  we  liou,u;ht  olT  two  Catholics,  wlio  had  sold 
fhemsidves  into  l)ouda,u"e:  nor  was  tln^  money  ill-spent,  for 
both  showed    themsehes   y,0(,»d   Christians.'     One,    indeed, 


•  "Tlii.J  cirriimstiinci',"  writes  Dr.  H.  H.  Cliirkc.  "wmilil  spcni  ("  pnivc  :in  iiniicrliint  r.u't  in  <\\» 
history  oi  ilic  (•(iimtry.  >.  ,.  tlim  slavery  ixii^toj  in  Virginia  buforu  llio  imriHluctii.iii  ul'  llio 
\(nv:\n."—Mtininr of  J-jt/nr  Amircw  WIMt, 


FATiiHii  .wnnr.w  ]viiiTi:.  s.j. 


4:;[> 


«inrr>n=!«!os  tlip  ordin.-ti-y  sfantl.'ii'd.  Some  othcis  1i;i\(>  \)vy- 
liiiiiuil  (lui  sjinie  duty  of  chiii-ity,  biiyiii^^  tliciirf  (';i(h()li(! 
sjWvtintS;  wlio  iwv  very  imiucroiis  in  ihat  coiintrN'.  'I'iicr.' 
prery  yeni,  very  many  sell  (licmsclvcs  into  liondanc:,  and 
liviiiu,'  aiani'.!.:,"  Micii  of  \[n\  woi'sr  cxanii)!*',  juid  licint;'  dcstitufo 
(ifnll  spiritual  aid,  they  coiiiinonly  nuiko  t^liipwrt'i'lv  of  tlieir 

SdUls." 

Ill  llif  y<>ar  VX\.),  we  liiul  Fatlici'  While  cliccrfiilly  tttilin'^- 
;nv:iy  at  Kit taiaatiniiidi,'  an  Indian  tcwn  distant  one  liun- 
drt'd   and     lumty    mile:-;    IVoni   Sr.    Mary's.      "There  are," 

s  ia  [h;i(;  yo\u\   ''in  this  mis- 


\V!'i)|e  oili'  n 


!•    t  I, 


lit 


1'  .1:  MM 


sKui  Unw  j)i';;:.ts  and  oin^  ccadjntor.  All  are  in  ilaces  f; 
distant  thus  donhtless  as  they  ex])ect  to  olitain  an  cailiiM 
!i('(|inuntan('e  with  \\u^  sava,i;-e  lan,ii'ua,;j,-e,  and  prejia.^atc  nioie 
wiilely  th(>  sacred  Fairh  of  flu^  (.'ospel.  Father  .lojm  linx-k, 
the  Snp'M'ior,  wiili  a.  eoadjul^Dr  lirotlaM'  ivmains  on  ;|ie 
lilantatic;.  MetepawifMi— which  was  aixiMi  nsl)\-  .Maijuaco- 
nien.  lln'clHef  of  PariixiMit- —is  a  certain  sroivlnMise  of  this 
niis.'iion.  whence  most  of  our  bodily  sniiplic-s  ai'e  <W;taine(-l. 
Fat^'.er  Phiii])  Fislier  lives  in  the  princij)n]  town  of  the 
cdlMny.  to  which  tiieiianieof  St.  Maiv's  is  idviii.      I'\'ilher 


I II 


III    (t'laveniM'  ii\ 


cs  on 


K(Mlt 


Ishind.  sixi  V  ndlcs  d 


ant. 


Father  Andi'ew  \Vhite  is  still  i'urther  distant — one  Jiundred 
iuid  tW(Mdy  ndles  — at  Kitfania(inindi.  Ihecajiital  of  Pasrat(j- 


wav.     Since  ,Iune,  \(\'.\?i.  he  has  n'sided  in  the  wi' 


;wamof  tlio 


\\\\\'j:  linnsi 


I!e  is  calle 


a  vac 


Why  the  v(Mi(M'al(le  leather  ^Vhite  w  iit  ro  Kittaraaqnindi 
is  tlias  explained,  at  hMiu-th.  in  the  letter  jnst  quoted: 
"lie  had  bestowcvl  laiich  tinu'  and  lal)or  lor  tlie  convei'.sioii 
of  the  kin'j;  of  PatiixiMit.  which,  indeed,  was  expected  by 
iisall.  both  on  accdunt  of  the  n collectio:.  ctf  kindness  re- 
ceived—for, as  wo  have  stated,  lie  i?ave  :i  fun:  to  the  So- 
ciety—nnd  because  he  was  .•■aid  to  be  vtry  powerful  amon!:; 


'  Ki;t;irnMc|iiiiii!i  Wiis  "ifii.itnl.  i(,  PHcni-^,  imi  I'  r  from  tlio  fiH'  of 


iif  llii-  .■uirii'iit  ls.itl,-iiirii|iiiii(li,  J)r.  K.  U.  CI.iiIa'  obsoi'vcs  thai  it 
till'  luv'siiii  vii;.'!;;,^  ol  I'iscafiiway. 


<-il.v  r^f  W:'.-!i!'.:.-<on.  P.  0, 
is<  Ei.|ji]()scd   '  :o  l)L  ail'    \'jz  ft 


T;iyiic',  or  Kill!,',  was  lilu  litl,'  r-llvT  (lien  lii 


OlildlililC 

I'niini  .ShiU'--.  11.  VO, 


li-i  ii:\inn.  wlilr-h  n-ns  rhlloTnirnn.     H(r  fI;r|fliof 


n.  or  eimrlos  thu  Indiuii  Ui  1 ;,  in  tliu  J\,pu:ar  m,^tory  uf  the  fiUholU: 


Vliut  :h  ir.  wV' 


Itpi 


I 


V   "^ 


:.   i 


'  n 


400 


FATHER  AXDRKW  WHITE,  S.  J. 


i 


!  'I 


]  I 


•  ill 


I  ] 


'if  I 


the  l:;irlnirians.  on  account-  of  liis  reputation  for  wisdom  and 
r.illiu.'ucc.  ^^onie  ol  the  people  of  this  Ivin^-  had  connected 
ilit'iTi'^i'lvcs  with  the  fold  of  Christ;  and  lie  himself  ap- 
]ii'ared  al)und:inrly  instructed  in  lli.^  first  princijilcs  of  the 


J-aitl; 


wlie 


n  1: 


uidi  ippy 


ma 


n.  lie 


.u'st  lU'oci'asliiialfs.  f  hni 


li\-  dcuiiM's  beirau  to  :;a'o\v  indiirerent,  and  la; 


in  an  ('[)fu 


laanm 
<'"mm 


«  !far    to 


■I',  to   1»r<'ak   olt'  altogtijther   from   the  di'si,,a  he  had 
eiicf'd.     Nor  Avas  this  a,'.     lie  mive  indications— too 


mi-^nndcrsiood — -that  liis  mind  was  entirely 
alienati'd  from  tlie  ^s•hoIl'  colony.  Tln'ii  (iovei'inn-  Cahfrt, 
after  prudently  soundinu  the  matter,  dcteinnned,  ])y  tin-  ad- 
Aiceof  his  friends  that  the  Father  should  be  recalled  from 
tlie  l)ospit!4lity  of  the  km.u:,  lest  nnexpect(\lly  the  bar1)a- 
rian  su  eiM  «;'lv;^  s  ):u  i  ex  laiple  of  \v  i  [vriidy  and  ciMe'liy 


'.raiust  an  uuioi'.'Ut  u\  \\:  n 


r,  indeed,  lest  this  liosta 


"•e.  as  It 


Avere.  briii'j;  left  witii  the  kint^',   he  himself  miidit  be  hin- 
dered fi'om  being  aide  to  revenge  injui'ie-i,  if  a!  any  time  the 
]\it\ix'.'af  ruler  slu>ul(l  discover  himself  an  enemy. 
''WliiMi  ml  'vs  and  kin;.'"s  aiv^  spoken  of,  h't  no  one  foi 


mu 


in  aui 


<t      l! 


,ea  o 


m  in 
m.'U,  sucii  as  of  the  dill'erent 
jii'inces  in  Europe  These  Indian  kings,  though  they  have 
the  most  absolute  power  of  life  and  death  over  their  i)eo])le. 
rnd  inci'riain  prerogatives  of  honor  and  wcalili  excel  otlu'r-. 
iicverl  hcl-'^s.  in  personal  a])pt'arauces  they  ari'  scarcely  any- 


thim 


lUOV"( 


I  froiu  the  multitude.     The  oidy  peculiari 


tv 


by  w  hich  you  can  distinguish  a  (diief  fiom  the  common  pe( 


lue.  IS 


'on 


le  badge.     Sometimes  it  is  a  collar  made  of  a  rude 


]invel,  o''  a  belt,  or  ofteiier  a  cloak  ornamented  with  shell, 
m  cii'cular  rows.  The  (lomiidi'us  of  ihi'sp  ai'o  commn)ily 
I'lrcum-  ribed  by  the  narrow  confines  of  a  single  village  ami 
the  surrounding  c;)uutry.  Tayac,  howevci'.  rules  ove"  a 
nuicli  moiv  (Extensive  region,  stretchinn- about  one  huudri'l 
and  t!ii 
to  him 


iiiiies.     Other  inferior  chieftains  are  also  snlijei't 


To  Tivac.   Father  White  betf)ok  hiais(df,    and   IxMiig 


treateil 


Vc|'\ 


kin  llv  at  the  lii'st  interview,  so  attached  ths: 


king  to  itini.  that  lie  was  aft"rwar<ls  held  l)y  him  in  the 
greatest  love  and  veneration.     AVith  the  Father  he  shared 


■^ATilKll  AyDul-:',V  WUITE,  ,<.  J. 


4iJL 


the  hn^plfalify  of  Lis  own  iv^'sldcnce.  Xor  was  the  queen 
iiilV'fior  to  lier  liu.'^band  in  beufvolcMice  to  their  guest.  With 
no  less  ctire  tliau  labor,  she  prepared  tlie  meuls  with  her 
own  liands. 

'•The  cause  of  thi-;  r:':u  irkib]'.;  afTjction  for  ;lie  Falher,  is 
to  be  referred  to  two  d;'.'a:u.s — unh\ss  you  dcciu  it  jiiii[iir 
ro  iiuuor  them  wirli  another  name— wliich  Ik'  liad  soiiu'  tiii'i^ 
previously.  One  of  liie.  dreams  appeared  to  the  mind  of 
I  waiuio,  Tayae's  Iji'otlii'r,  wiio  rci.iiiud  before  him.  and 
whnm  he  slew.  lu  liissh'ep  he  seemed  to  see  Fatlier  Wliitn 
an  I  Fatluu-  (irivi'ii'-r  before  him,  and  moreover  to  \w\x  a 
voice  saviuLi,":  'Thrsc  nrv  the  ni'ii  I'^Iio  J'i'hiii  IJh  Ir  soul.'i 
lore  thee  (nul  aJI  (li>/  tr'ihe.  M^i///  ///'///  //n//  hri>![i  tfiox:'. 
I)!i.is//r/s    A//    tcZ/irk,    If    Lluni    (li-sinxf,    tJimi    '-"//.sf   b-'. 

"iletiee  so  lively  an  impression  of  these  nukuown  men 
remained  in  Ids  uund  that  even  at  tlie  lirst  siu'lit  lie  vi'Col;'- 
ni/.ed  t'hem  when  eomin;^'  to  him,  and  afterwards  embiiu'cd 
ihem  with  remai'kabje  allVelion.  lie  was  also  aeen->t')mrd 
to  call  l'\ii!i''r  White  his  parent;  and  was  very  desirous  to 
ceniaM  the  care  and  in.'^lruetion  of  his  so!is  to  him  foi-  m-m^w 
years.  The  Iiulians  are  exceedinuly  fond  of  their  children, 
and  si'ldom  let  them  u'o  from  iheii'  embraces. 

'•The  other  dream,  which  he  is  often  aeenstonn'd  to  relate, 
(urnrred  to  Tayac  in  hir;  sleep.  He  <lieamed  that  his  de- 
ceased father  ap])eared  before  him,  :ceomi>auied  by  a  uod 
of  a  black  color,  whom  he  worshijH'd.  This  uod  besoimhr 
Tr.yac  noC  to  desert  him.  At  a  short  distance  there  also 
apiii'ared  a  vei'y  hideous  demon,  with  a  cei'tain  Jiian  mimed 
Tnow.  a  most  obstinate  heretic  from  Kii,ulainl— ami,  at 
lenu'tli,  in  another  direeiion  a[)peared  (b)vernor  Calvert  and 
l'atht>r  White,  the  latter  acconipani(nl  bv  a  u'nd  nf  in- 
(h's.Tihable  beauty,  waoexc.-lh'd  the  nnstain  '1  sii^w  iinvhite- 
ih-.s.  and  seenn'd"  p'ntlv  fob,'el<<.>i  to  the  hire."  loajtoroach 
hint.  From  that  time  Tayae  treated  both  the  Governor  and 
Fmher  White  with  the  .u-reatest  alTection." 

Stinn  alt(>r  another  event  liappened  which  hastened    th  > 
conversion  of  the  chief.     He  was  seized  with  a  danvi'MU! 


; 


I     i 


I  !; 


4:52 


FATIIEIl  AMJliJJW  WHITE.  S.J. 


illness  In  vain  did  forty  medicine  men  oxlinust  their  in- 
g  'iiuity,  their  charms,  and  their  incantations  iii)()n  the  i)ro.s- 
1  rated  Tayac  Ordering  tliem  from  Ids  presence,  he  im- 
plored Father  White  to  aid  him.  The. venerable  Jesnifs 
knowledge  of  medicine  served  him  well.  He  bled  the  dusky 
chieftain,  administered  what  he  considered  proper,'  and 
soon  tin;  jiatUMit  arose  from  his  sick  hammock,  lie  .'isked 
to  be  baptized.  The  missionary  kindly  told  him  that  it 
v,-as  necessary  to  be  well  instrncted  iirst.  The  c^agerness  of 
this  lordly  son  of  the  forest  to  master  the  truths  of  Chiis- 
tianity  was  indeed  truly  admiralde.  Himself,  his  wife,  and 
his  family  daily  listened  to  the  instructions  ol  the  aged  mis- 
sionary. ]i>esides,  ho  no  longer  clothed  himself  in  s^ins,  but 
assumed  the  dress  of  the  whites. 

"The  king,''  ol)serves  the  letter  of  lO:);),  "has  exchanged 
the  skins  with  which  he  was  heretofore  clothed  for  gar- 
ments made  111  our  fashion.  lie  also  iii;ikes  a  little  endeavor 
to  leai'U  our  language.  .  .  .  He  abstains  from  meat  011  the 
ilays  oil  wliich  it  is  forbidden  by  the  Christian  laws;  and 
men  thnr  art?  heretics  and  do  otherwise,  he  thinks  ought  to 
b  '  callcil  bad  Christians.  He  is  greatly  delighted  with  s])ir- 
irual  conversation,  and,  indeed,  seems  to  esteem  earthly 
v>ealth  as  nothing  in  comparison  with  the  treasures  of 
Heaven,  as  he  told  (rovernor  Calvert.  The  latter  was  ex- 
l)lainiiig  to  him  wii'.it  givvit  advantages  could  be  (Mi'oycd 
from  the  English  by  a  mutual  exchange  of  wares,  when  the 
chief  remarked — 'In  truth,  I  consider  these  trilling,  when 
coini)ared  witii  this  one  advantage,  that  through  these  niis- 
tsionaries  I  have  arrived  at  the  knowledg<^  of  the  (tne  true 
(fod.  To  lue  there  is  nothing  among  yon  greater  than  this; 
nor  ou;;'ht  th(>r<!  to  be  anything  greater.'  " 

Tayac's  anxiety  for  the  conversion  of  his  whole  tribe 
Avas  only  e;pialed  by  his  desire  to  be  r(^cei\ed  into  the 
(!iuii'ch.  Convinced  himsidf,  lie  wished  to  make  the  truth 
known  to  others.     The  red  ruler  assembled  his  chid's  and 

•  Til!'.  nu!iii;ii  letter  of  KViO  snyx  Father  White  nilmlnintcred  "a  certniu  powder  of  known  oH- 
cney  jiiiX'mI  with  holy  w:iter.  mid  tonl<  cure  ilie  ihiv  iifl  'r,  with  tlie  nuuiJlniice  of  tli','  Imv  wlioin 
liu  had  with  him,  lo  open  onu  of  his  (Tayac's)  veiiis  for  blood-lcUlna;," — l{uallc,p.  Ufi-V. 


FATHER  ASDREW  WHITE,  S.J. 


4G3 


p.'op](^,  ami  in  an  eloquent  appeal  told  llieni  that  cliiklLs^i 
sui)i'rstitlon  had  reigned  too  long  in  the  wigwains  t)i'  the 
Pasraloways.  There  was  but  one  (fod,  and  lie  alone  was 
Wditliy  of  the  luMuage  of  bnive  men.  lie  was  the  Creator 
ol  all  things,  lie  ^vas  the  Great  t<pirit  w<)i>ihii)ed  by  the 
lihu'lv  gowns.  The  stones  and  the  objects  addivd  by  the  In- 
dians were  but  the  huinl>le  w(»rks  of  His  liands.  And  to 
jrhnw  his  (.'ontempt  for  their  former  idols,  Tayac  took  one 
and  tossetl  it  with  his  font.  The  warriors  api)lauded  the 
language  and  bohl  acilou  of  their  chief,  and  henceforth 
Clii'isrianity  made  a  rapid  <'(»n(|nest  of  this  ti'ibc.  Thus  did 
tliH  holy  woi'ds  of  Father  White  fall  upon  goud  gioiind,  and 
l)]iiig  i'ortli  a  liundred-f(dd. 

About  this  time,  Tayac  accejjted  Fathei'  "While's  invila- 
tion  to  visit  the  town  of  8t.  Mary's,  and  was  delighted  Avitli 
t!i(^  scenes  of  peace,  ijrospcjitv.  !'nd  hajjpiness  which  there 
nict  his  eyes."  Tl'.is  knxl  of  the  forest  now  eagerly  begged 
to  be  bai>rized,  and  at  length  a  day  was  lixcd. 

TJie  ceremony  took  ]>lace  on  the  ilth  of  .hily,  KiO-l,  at  his 
I'lide  capital,  Kitrama({nin(li.  in  a  chapel  built  of  b-ark  for 


'  Olil  St.  Miiry'M  and  its  fci'iu's  of  llnp|)il;'•^s  liiivc  lonu'  i-'..'n  dopnitcd.  "  Tho  visitor  to  tlic  cite 
of  tills  old  city."  says  a  lati' wiitL'i'.  "  ii*  smpri.-cd- palmil  in  rind  tuit  one  ytonc  li'ft  npon  an- 
other of  that  c'jirly  ^^^'ttl^'nl^•ilt.  Till'  only  honx'-^  now  !<tiiiidinj.'  on  IIk'  liiLrli  plain,  win  re  oncf  stood 
that  cily,  arc  a  ffw  ilwclliii^H  lioloiiuiir,'  to  tin'  fanner  wlio  owiw  most  of  tl.e  liistorie  site,  abnrii- 
like  cliiircli  lieloiiL'Inu  to  the  Kpiseopaliaiis,  said  to  have  lieeii  liiiiit  of  ihe  ruins  of  llie  old  sljite- 
liniiM',  and  a  iarje  hriek  building  tliat  stands  dreary  and  irt'eless.  The  latter  is  a  seminary  for 
>n!in'_'  ladies  (not  a  Cathoiic  o:ie)— tlie  nionnn-.ent  ereel.d  liy  the  Marylar.d  I.ei'i-l.-.tnre  to  eoin- 
niriiKirale  the  landinu  of  the  llrst  rolonists. 

"  The  niiiin  .linjichiircli  is  In  a  yard  fiiil  i>f  oM  }."  >es.  shaded  by  elimipf  ofdioUli'saiid  gloomy 
ceihir-.  .\  few  years  :;t:o  tlie  venerable  (dd  mulberry  tree  said  to  have  been  jdanted  by  Leonard 
(alven's  own  bands,  and  |iopnlarly  known  as  Lord  r.Mllin'ore's  In  i',  still  |.iit  forih  a  few  braii'li.s, 
bat  perhaps  it  is  no  lniii,-i  r  sianilint:.  There  is  a  Inidllion  that  Leonard  (.'alvcrt  was  buried  there, 
b'll  the  prreisc  s|;et  is  iinkiiowii. 

■•  Passing;  tlu'oiif,di  the  trrassy  f^r.ivevard.  and  deseendin^'  a  sieip  b::i,k.  the  vi-ilor  eonies  to  a 
r.nrrow  line  of  sand— a  miniatnre  beaeb— o-.i  tlie  ■^hore  of  Sr.  Alarv's  rivei-.  the  piaee  win  re  tlio 
eohaiy  linded.  A  (pnirter  of  n  tnile  soiilb  of  tlie  seininary  is  Ibe  rield  v.  Iii're  stood  the  rlinreli  the 
eoloahls  lia-ie'.ii'd  to  build.  It  is  hard  lo  Ihiiik  It  einisi'crate:!  ;,'iound,  where  b.dy  riles  wire  <nite 
lierfonileil. 

"  Tliere  are  some  traces  of  Ibe  Lord,  Proprietary's  residence.  The  old  eidl;ir  is  nearly  llUed 
Willi  rubbish.  Close  by  is  a  stream  of  delii  icais  water,  bubblini,'  np  from  ibe  rocks  and  rnnning 
o;T  ill  a  slivamlet  over  tnfts  of  llie  Ihickesl  and  greenest  ni.iss. 

•  Willi  ;ill  its  bi'aiuy,  the  plain  of  St.  Mary's  is  fall  of  me) melioly.     One  seems  to  hear  Iho 
wail  of  llie  fors.iUen  lares  whose  aliar-'  have  so  lonir  been  leveU'd: 
"  •  In  eonserr.aled   F'jirlh, 
An  I  oil  Ihe  hcdy  InvirMi, 
Tbe  lilies  and  lemiires  moan  with  midnight  phint."  " 
—  Good  Things:  fur  Cailwlk  J!(udtr-,  ji.  xlTO. 


It 


h 


404 


FATUER  ANDREW  WUITE,  S.  J. 


1  '  • 


tlu;  occasion.  "The  Governor,"  says  tli(^  Icflcn'  of  1010, 
" was  present  at  the  ceremony,  together  wiih  liis  Secretary 
and  niatiy  otliers;  nor  was  anytliin.L;'  wanlint,^  in  display 
wliich  our  means  could  supply." 

The  venerable  White,  tlie  friend  and  instructor  of  the 
red  kin<i:,  officiated.  'JiO''*'?  his  queen,  theii-  little  son,  and 
several  of  the  cliief  men  of  the  liile.  weie  ^(i](  UiUl}-  admit- 
ted into  the  (vatholic  (_.'hui-ch  by  tlie  leiicneiatin;.':  wiiteis  of 
Baptism,  'i'he  convei'ted  chief  assumed  the  name  of  Charles, 
in  hon  u'  of  the  Kn^'lish  sovereign.  His  wife  took  the  name 
of  Ma:y.  'idle  other  converts  also  iiceived  Christian 
names. 

"In  tile  aft(M'noon,"  says  the  letter  just  (juoted,  "the 
king  and  queen  were  unitetl  in  Matrimony  in  the  Christian 
manner;  then  the  great  holy  cross  was  eicctfd.  in  ( ariyiiig 
which  to  its  (h'stiiuMl  place,  the  king,  go\enior.  secretary, 
and  others,  lent  their  hands  and  shoulders.  Two  of  us, 
walking  before  tfiem,  at  the  same  time  chanted  the  Litany 
of  the  Hh'ssed  A'irgin."' 

AVliat  beauty  and  virtue  and  icligicn  n,ii\i.;!e  in  this 
happy  scene,  described  by  a  venerable  hand  o\t  r  two  hun- 
dred years  ago!  In  which  of  the  other  English  coi(jnies  of 
America  can  we  Had  anything  similar?  Among  tln'm  all, 
Catholic  .Maryland  alone  can  piesent  such  a  sliining  sjhc- 
tacle,  smh  an  historical  thing  of  beauty  lighting  up  the 
gloom  of  the  p;;st! 

Sliortly  after  the  foregoing  event,  Father  White  was 
prostrated  by  a  severe  illness.  The  great  old  laiest  in  jier- 
fcjrniing  the  ciM'emonies  of  the  saci'ed  rit(^  of  P>ai)tism  — 
which  wen^  soni'^liat  long— contracted  a  fevei\  and  again 
suffered  a  r(da])se.  Many  months  i)assed  a\\ay  befoi-e  he 
was  restored  to  good  health.  lie  was  not  idh',  however, 
but  revised  ami  compiled  the  grammar,  dictionary,  and  cate- 
chism in  the  language  of  his  dusky  Hock,  in  order  to  aid  his 
successor  in  the  mission. 

In  the  winter  of  1040-41,  the  charity  of  the  Jesuit  Fatliers 
acfl  tlie  Catholic  colonists  was  doubly  taxed,  ({aunt 
1.'.  .nine  stalked  the  forests  of  Maryland,  iov  a  great  dnnight 


FATHER  Ay  DREW  WHITE,  S.  J. 


4G5 


h;nl  niiiikt'tl  tlio  past  summer.  The  body  of  the  poor  In- 
dian was  now  a.s  sadly  in  need  oj"  noiu'iishment  as  liis  soul. 
A\'ail.s  eame  I'rom  the  wiL^wams,  where  I'onnerl /  echoed 
nnii.^lit  save  the  sounds  oi"  joy  and  lauirhter.  -'That  we 
miulit  not  appear  to  neglect  tlieir  (the  Indians" ;  bodj.es, ' 


writes  () 


ne  ()['  the  missionaries,  "for  the  cai'c  of  whose  soals 


we  had  made  so  great  a  voyage,  though  coin  was' sold  at  a 
vt'iy  high  price,  neveilheless,  we  coiisidi'red  it  necessary  to 
relieve  their  want  of  bread  by  assisting  them.   Annd  these 


cares. 


we  pass( 


(\  tlie 


greater  part  of  llie  winter. 


••The  Catholics  who  live  in  the  colony,  coniinues  the 
same  wriier,  "are  not  inferior  in  piety  to  tlio^^e  who  live  in 
other  countries;  hut  in  urbanity  of  mannei's. according  to  the 
judgment  of  tlnxse  who  have  visited  the  oilier  colonies,  are 
considered  far  su})erior  to  them.  Everywhere  the  hope  of 
harvest  has  dawned;  and  while  each  one  of  us  is  anxious 
even  unto  death  to  help  in  the  good  work,  various  things 
happen  worthy  of  recital.  Two  of  the  most  prominent  shall 
be  stated  here,  in  one  of  Avhich  the  Divine  mercy  was  mani- 
I'est,  in  the  other  the  Divine  justice. 

'•Ow  the  ilay  upon  which  a  certain  man  was  about   to  ab- 
jure heresy,  and  to  expiate  the  sins  of  his  jiast  life  l)y  con- 
fession, a  lire  arose  in  the  interior  of  his  house,  and  the 
llame,    running  u)-)   the   d(K)]'-post,.  burst   out   at    the   t(>p. 
^V!le!l  he  ])erceived  the  danger — for  he  was  not  far  distant — 
he  suddenly  called  to  a  neighbor,  but  could  get  no  ass^st- 
anci-  v,hatev(U'.     lie  then  ran  to  another,  but  could  iiiid  only 
two  who  wiuild  go  with  him.     And  all  this  time  the  hre  was 
burning  a   house  of   dry  logs.     It  was   juit  out,  however, 
bel'nre  :iny  serious  injury  had  happened      Some  feared  lest, 
by  this  uuex[)eci:ed  occurrence,  the  man  might  be  deterred 
I'lom  conversion.     I>ut   it    hai!i)ened   far  otherwise.     Fi'om 
tlu'  slight  driuTage  done  to  his  house  he  dr<nv  the  conclusion 
that  (Jod  was  kind  to  hin,  and  a])proved  his  design  by  a 
manih^st  toki-n.     ^Vhel■e^o;e,  uniting  a  great  reformation  in 
luoials  with  the  faith  he  pirofessed,  he  now  sheds  abroad  the 
s'Aeet  odor  of  a  good  example  upon  all  who  aie  actjuainted 
with  him. 


Vk 


u 


''A 


I 


\l\ 


4(;0  FATUER  ANDREW  WHITE,  S.  J. 


A  coi'faiii  onp,  wTumi  he  hnd  IcU  soinc  intfriiiil  drnv. 


iiisre 


of  (hefiiitli  <jf  iUn\,  li.-id  (k'.sircd  pi'iiycr-lx-acls  I'oi  liims.ll. 
hut  altcruavds,  iiaviii^-  chauy'cd  liis  mind,  hewas  accustnnu'd 
to  siuolvc  lliciii  in  liij-i  i>i])<M\'il]i  tobacco,  after  they  had  beer. 
ii'roiind  to  {)(;\vd(U'.  often  boasting-  tliat  Jh;  liad  eatc^n  np  Ins 
Arc  J/i/ /■/('■■<:  for  so  he  calli'd  the  beads  l)y  the  tcdliii^-  of 
whicli  (lie  anii'eliral  salutation  is  recited.  ].?ut  the  Divinr- 
venerea  nee  did  not  let  the  wicked  crime  <i;o  nnpunislied;  for 
scarcely  a  year  havinu'  ])assed,  on  tlie  returning  e\-e  of  the 
day  on  wliicli  lie  liad  aban<h)neil  iiis  2)iiriiose  of  embi'acirii^ 
till'  Catholic  Faith,  a  more  saci'ile.uions  ])layfiilness  jiossessed 
him.  This  was  even  noticed  ])y  his  companions.  In  the 
ai'ieinoon.  when  he  had  betid'Cen  himself  (o  the  river  for  tin:- 


])iir|iose  of  swimnun 


scarcelv  had  lie  tonclied  the  wal 


ei'. 


when  a 


hi 


lU'c 


iisli  having  seized  the  wick<'d  man,  Ix'fore  ho 


coiikl  j-etreat  to  the  bank,  tore  away,  at  a  bite,  a  lai'ge  por- 
tion of  his  thigh,  by  the  ])ain  of  which  most  merited  lacera- 
tion the  iiiiliai)i»y  wretch  ^vas  hiu'riinl  away  IVoui  the  living — 
the  Divine  justice  liringing  it  about  that  he,  who  a  little 
Vijiile  Ix'fore  boasted  that  he  had  eaten  up  hia  Arc  ^/an'ri 
heads,  should  see  his  own  liesh  devoured,- even  while  he 
was  yet  living."' 

In  Kil:?,  we  liad  Fafhei' WhitiMigain  laboring  among  the 
Pascatoway  Indians.  Like  Closes  of  old,  it  ap]M>;jrs.  age 
had  neither  dimaied  his  sight  nor  diminished  his  vigor. 
Bur  he  was  not  wilhout;  his  troubles;  and,  of  coui'se,  we 
must  be  pardoned  if  we  introduce  a  rntlier  (]uaint  and  curi- 
ous ([notation  from  the  annual  letter  of  10-12.  ''Father 
"White,''  says  the  write  i',  "  suffered  no  little  inconvenience 
from  a  hard  hearted  and  troid>lesome  <'ai)tain  of  New  Eng- 
land, whom  he  had  engaged  for  the  i)Ui'i)ose  of  taking  hini 
and  his  effects,  and  from  whom  he  was  in  fear  a  little  while 
after,  not  without  cause,  that  he  would  be  cast  either  into 
the  sea,  or  l)e  carried  with  his  ]ii'opertyto  JS'ew  I-.iigland, 
which  is  full  of  Puritan  Calvinists — that  is,  of  all  Calvin- 
ist  h(M-(>sy.  Pu;  rilentlv  committing  the  thing  to  (fod.  at 
length  in  safety  he  reached  Potomac,  in  which  harbor, 
when  they  had  cast  anchor,  the  ship  stuck  so  fast,  bound 


FATHER  AXDUEW  M'UITE,  H.  J. 


4G7 


hv  n  irront  qnanfity  of  ire,  that  foi-  the  spnro  of  sevoiiteen 
(lavs  it  could  not  be  moved.  AValkiiii^  on  the  ice,  as  ii  on 
^Ik  land,  the  Fatlier  departed  for  the  town.'  AVlien  the  ice 
^v:ls  l)rokenup,  the  ship,  driven  and  jannned  by  the  force 
niul  violence  of  the  ice,  sunk,  tlie  cargo  being  in  u  great 
iiiciisure  rornvered. 

'•  i'y  this  inisf(M'tune  Fatlier  AVhite  Mas  detained  longer 
on  his  visit,  namely,  seven  weeks;  for  he  found  it  necesstiry 
In  bring  another  ship  from  St.  Maiy's.  ]?ut  the  sjuritual 
;i(lvantag(>  of  souls  readily  compensated  for  tlmt  delay;  for 
(luring  tlint  time  was  added  to  the  (Miurch  the  ruler  of  thai 
little  vilhigv,  witli  tlie  other  ju'lncipal  men  of  its  iidiabitants, 
who  rec(>ived  the  Faith  of  Christ  and  Baptism.  Besides 
tlii>se,  :ilso  another,  together  with  many  ol'  his  friends;  a 
third  likewise,  with  his  wife,  his  son,  and  a  fiiend;  a  fourth, 
ill  like  manner,  with  another  of  no  ignoble  standing  among 
his  tribe.  P.y  their  exami)le,  the  people  are  prepared  to  re- 
ceive the  Fidth,  Avhenever  we  will  have  leisnie  to  instruct 
t'iicm  ])y  catechism." 

":No"t  long  after,"  continues  the  snme  letter,  "the  young 
■j„.iji(.,>,ss— as  they  call  her  at  Pascatowiiy— was  baptized  in 
Ihc  town  of  St.  Mary's,  and  is  being  educated  there.  She 
is  ]iow  a  proficient  in  the  English  langiusge." 

At  tliis  time  :in  Indian  war  broke  out.  r.nd  the  Susque- 
liannns  and  other  tribes  poured  down  on  ]Maiyland  and  its 
allies.  The  hostile  savnges  attacked  a  settlement,  mas- 
sacred the  people,  and  carried  oif  the  spoil,  l^iscatoway 
was  :dso  in  peril,  as  it  was  constantly  exposed  to  attacks 
from  the  enemy.  Tlie  missicm  was  removed  to  Potojiaco, 
wlier<^  nearly  the  whole  tribe  embraced  tlie  Faith.  At  this 
time  FatluV White  and  the  other  nnssionaries  made  several 
excursions  up  the  Fatiixent  river,  and  in  vai'ious  p:irts,  this 
beinix  the  safent  and  bcs,  means,  on  account  of  the  war. 
Vliosre  missionary  journeys  are  thus  described  by  one  of 
themselves: 

"We  sail  in  an  open  boat— the  Father,  an  interpreter,  and 


1^ 


. 


i! 


I  I 


4G8 


FATHER  ANDREW  WHITE,  S.  J. 


sei'vanf.  Tn  n,  calm  or  adverse  wind,  two  row  and  the  tliird 
stet'i's  the  boat.  We  carry  a  basket  of  bread,  cliccse,  but 
ter,  dri<^il  roasted  ears  of  corn,  beans  and  some  ni''al,  and  a 
chest  coutaiiiing  the  sacerdotal  vestments,  tlie  slab  or  allar 
for  Mass,  the  viine  used  in  the  holy  sacrilice,  and  blessed 
bai)!isinal  water.  In  anotlier  chest  we  carrv  I\ni\cs.  hoes, 
liltli?  bt'Us,  lishin'^'dioolvs.  n'edle.^,  thread,  and  oihei  irillcs, 
for  presents  to  tlie  Indians.  AVe  take  two  niaLs — a  small 
one  t(^  shelter  us  fconi  the  snn,  and  a  ]ari.;-;'r  one  to  jirotect 
us  from  the  rain.  The  servant  carries  implements  for  hunt- 
in,u\  and  cookiiiii'  ntensils.  AVe  end(^avor  to  I'each  some  In- 
dian villap'  or  Hnulish  plantation  at  night-fall.  If  we  do 
not  sncce(  (1.  lh(-n  tlie  Father  secnres  onr  l.oat  to  the  bank, 
collects  wood  and  makes  a  lire,  while  the  other  two  <^{)  out 
to  hunt;  and  after  cooking  our  game,  we  take  some  refresh- 
ments, ami  then  lie  down  to  sleep  around  the  im\  When 
threatened  with  rain,  Ave  erect  a  tent,  covering  it  with  onr 
large  mat.  And  thanks  be  to  God,  we  enjoy  our  scanty  fare 
ami  hard  l)eds,  as  much  as  if  wo  were  accommodated  v>i;h 
the  luxuiies  of  Kurojje.  The  consolation  we  lind  in  the 
promis(>s  of  tlie  Almighty  to  those  who  labor  faitlifully  in 
His  servii'e.  and  the  v>-atchful  care  lie  seems  to  have  of  ns, 
gives  us  strength  to  bear  np  against  diflicnlties,  so  much  so, 
that  it  is  suj'piising  that  we  are  able  to  accomplish  what 
we  do." 

This  kind  of  lif(3  was  not  by  any  means  f'ee  from  dangiM', 
but  to  Father  White  and  his  colleagues  life  was  less  dear 
than  diu'y.  Several  thrilling  adventures  and  miraculous  cures 
also  marked  this  period.  On  one  occasion,  an  Anacostan  In- 
dian, a  Christian,  in  makinghis  way  tlu'ougha  wood,  dro])i)ed 
a  little  beliind  his  companioir-!,  when  some  hostile  Susque- 
hannas  smhleidy  fell  upon  him.  In  their  fury,  the  savagcD 
pierced  him  v.ith  a  light,  strong  spear  of  locust-wood— from 
which  they  made  their  arrows— tipped  with  a  sharp  ii'oa 
point.  The  deadly  weajjon  passed  through  the  unhapiiy 
man  from  side  to  side,  about  the  width  of  a  hand  below  tli;i 
arm[)it,  and  quite  near  the  heart.  The  wound  was  descril)ed 
as  "two  lingers  bi'oad  at  each  side.'-     Thinking  thev  had 


FATHER  AX  DREW  WHITE,  S.  J. 


4(19 


kill«Hl  the  Anarostan,  tho  Snsqnelinnnas  fled.     His  coinpan 
ions,  lunvever,  ^vll(>  l):i(l  ^^one  on  before,  were  recalled  bv 
the  sudden  noise  of  tlie  bilef  strnjigle.     They  cai'ried  tlie 
wdimded  man  IVdMi  the  land  to  tlie  boat— which  was  near— 
and  thence  to  his  home  at  Pascatoway.     Here  they  left  Inm 
sju'ccliless  and  out  of  his  senses.     Tlie  accich'nt  was  reported 
1((  the  venerable  White,  Avho  was  always  at  hand,  ov  going 
abent  doing  good.     He  liastened  to  tlie  wigwam  the  follow 
inu'  morning,  and  found  the  unha]ip}'  Indian  l)efore  tin^  door, 
1\  ing  on  a  mat  near  tlie  lire,  and  enck)sed  by  a  circle  of  his 
trilip.     He  was   not,  as  the  day  previously    sjiccchless   or 
(lUt  of  ills  senses;  but  he  expected  death  every  moment. 
The  pof)rAnarostan  joined  his  mournful  voice  with  the  song 
(if  his  friends,  who  stood  around,  as  was  the  cu.sioni  when 
the  more  distinguished  men  of  tlie  tribe  weri^  about  to  die. 
But  some  of  his  irii'uds  were  Christians,  and  they  sang  wiili 
ninsic;;!  sweetness:     "May  he  live,  OCiod!  if  it  st)  jjlease 
Thee."     Again   and   again,    tliey  repeated   tlu^   sweet   and 
]ilainti\'e  nil',  until  Father  White  beg:in   to   rqieak   to  the 
dying  man,  who  l^new  the  aged  Jesuit,' and  showed  him  his 
v.-onnds.     The  man  of  God  saw  the  danger  at  a  glance,  and 
l)ri"iiv  running  over  tin?  cliief  articles  of  faith,  heard  the 
Indian's  confession,  and  gave  him  absolution.     Then  elevat- 
ing his  soul  with  hope  and  confidence  in  God,  he  ivciied  the 
Gospel  which  is  to  ])e  read  for  the  sick,  and  the  Jjitain' of 
llie  ]Mosr  I>lessed  Virgin,  and  told  the  dying  warrior  to 
conimend  himself  to  her  most  holy  intercession,  and  to  call 
unceasingly  on  the  blessed  name  of  Jesus.     I'^ither  ^Vhite 
t!ien  applied  the  sacred  relic  of  the  Most  Holy  ('ro^;s— \.hlcli 
\vd  carried  in  a  casket  hung  about  his  neck — to  the  wound 
on  each  side.     The  missionary  was  now  obliged  to  leave. 
At  some  distance  awaj-,  an  aged  Indian  was  lu  ar  death,  and 
he  wished  to  be  baptized.     As  Father  White  dr|  arted  from 
the  wigwam,  lie  directed  the  bystanders  to  cany  the  Ana- 
costan,  when  he  breatlied  his  last,  to  the  chaiiel   1(  i'  the  pur- 
pose of  burial. 

It  was  noon  when  the  Apostle  of  Maryland  finally  directed 
his  steps  towards  the  point  where  the  aged  Indian  expected 


470 


FArmru  .WDnr.w  wiiiri:.  >'. ./. 


S   .K 


liis  iiiiiiisfnitions.  'I'lic  followini:  day,  at  the  same  hour,  as  lir, 
sailnl  all  ii.l;  in  liis  boat,  lir  saw  two  hidiaiis  ])a<lilliii,u'  to- 
^val(ls  hiai  When  tlu'\'  cann'  aloiinsidf  tiuf  of  tluMii  \\\\\  liis 
I'oof  hi  till'  l'\itlii'r'H  boat.  Wliilf  tlic  priest,  says  llic  aiiinial 
Ictt'T  of  hjl-i,  -'^a/cd  on  tlu'  man  with  lix('<l  i-ys.  bfinv;  in 
(Imlit.  I'o,-  in  a  nicasni't'  be  •■t'co^nizcd  bini  Ity  ids  rcMimi's, 
who  h"  was.  but  in  part  I't'colh-ctin,!;'  in  what  stale  he  had 
li'Ir.  idtn  ihiwbiy  tii'l'oi't',  wIkmi  tiic  Indian  on  a  sinhh'n  threw 
open  Ids  cbialv  and  disch)scd  the  eicat rices  of  tiie  wonnd-^, 
or  rathei'  a  red  spot  on  each  siib^,  as  a  trace  of  tiie  woiiikI, 
at  once  remo\e(l  all  donbt  lioni  him.  Moreovei',  in  \\\\\. 
^na.lie  lull  of  joy.  he  exclaimed  that  he  was  etitirejy  well, 
nor  iroin  the  hour  at  which  the  Father  liad  h-ft  yester- 
day had  he  <'(';ised  to  invoke  the  most  lioly  name  of  Jesus, 
to  whom  he  nttribnled  his  r'>covered  liealthi  Allwhowerti 
111  ihe  lio.il  with  Father  White,  after  th<'y  inve.stigated  the 
thin.ii'.  both  by  the  senses  of  seeini,^  and  Jiearing",  breaking' 
forth  into  praise  of  (iod  and  thaidvsn'ivin^".  were  greatly 
rejoiced  ;ind  conlirmed  in  the  i-'aith  at  this  ndracle." 

The^iuanlie  lal)ors  of  Fatlier  AVlute  in  r^faryland  were 
now  niiliapplly  aj»pr()a<'liin,u'  theii'  teindnalion.  I'y  liini- 
self  and  his  compaidons  in  ten  yeai's  tln^.  (Jospel  liad  been 
prcvu'Ii'MJ  with  sncicess  to  the  Indians  at  St.  Mary's:  at 
Kent  Island,  in  the  Chesapeake  Bay;  at  Pascatoway  and 
port  Tobacco,  on  the  Maryland  side  of  tiie  Potomac;  at 
Patowmeelc  town,  on  the  Viru:iiua  side  of  the  same  river; 
at  ^Fattapaiiy  and  PawtuxiMit  town,  on  the  Patnxent  river; 
and  at  many  other  ])iaces  wincdi  were  visited  by  the  ndssion- 
ariesin  their  aqnatic  expeditions. 

]3nt  nus!'ortnne  now  frowned  on  ^faryland,  its  people,  and 
its  beantiful  scenes  of  nnssionary  toil.  A  party  of  Puri- 
tans w^>re  expelled  from  VIr<i'iina  m  10-12,  and  seekin.i;'  refngo 


Tl 


le  new. 


in  Maryland,  were  received  with  t;;)en  arms, 
comers,  however,  sooii  began  to  manifest  a  spirit  of  insur- 
rection. In  Clayborne,  a  bold  and  lawless  man  who  Avas 
plotting  to  overthrow-  the  government  of  Lord  Baltimore, 
they  found  a  worthy  leader,  and,  with  the  basest  ingrati- 
tude, those  vile  niLMi  raised  thoir  hands  au-ainst  the  kind 


FATiir.n  A.\nn/:\\  wirrn-:,  s.  j. 


471 


frinnds  who  had  .succoi-cd  thnin  in  fh  »  lion.-  of  ntcd.  'Pinii- 
iiiLi' iilioui  liUt'  viiH'is,  ilicy  l)ii  iIk'  very  ln'rit-fMciors  who  had 
\v:irini'd  thfin  iiilo  life.  ( Jhtyliorin' and  liis  Protcstnnt  imil> 
iiiiiiiiphcd  in  Hil  I.  (rovci'iuir  ("alvcit  was  oljlincd  tolly,  and 
wiili  him  (h'partt'd  jd'acc,  jiisric*',  and  it'li<;ion.  Many  ol" 
till'  Maryhiiiil  Cathali<'s  wt-rc  liiMlslicd,  and  lohlx'd  of  ihcir 
jKisst'ssioiis.  Lawlessnt'ss  and  intolerance  ravaged  the  coiin- 
tiy.  Tlie  altars  ol'  rcliirion  were  ovn'rhrown,  and  even  llic 
vi'MHral)lt'  .Vliostlc  ul'  Maryland  and  the  other  .lesnit  Vi\- 
tilers  were  seized,  pnr  in  irons,  and  like  eriniinais.slii]iped  to 
Kii.'j,hiiid  and.<"is»;  into  loatlisoine  diin^'eons. 

At  leiiiiih,  I'^ather  Wliitt;  was  sentenced  to  p.'rjietiial  han- 
islinieiit.  Tor  tlu^  awl'iil  crime  of  liein.u;  a  Jesuit  Isalher  and  ;i, 
]>riesi  of  spotless  life!  *' 'riiirstin^u  for  tlie  sahation  of  hi  i 
dear  Marylamlers,"  writes  Oliver,  ••  he  soiitrht  every  oppoK- 
tiinity  of  relurnin^o;  secretly  to  that  mission;  but  every  at- 
tempt provinu,'  ineiVectinil,  he  was  content  to  devote  hi.s 
reiiiainiii.ii'  energies  to  Ihe  advanta.u^e  of  liis  nali\(>  country. 
In  his  old  aii'e,  even  to  t'le  end,  he  conliniied  his  custom  of 
fastintj  on  bread  and  wuIit  twice  u  week.  Whilst  a  ?iris- 
oiier  he  was  reminded  by  his  keeper  to  moderate  his  austeri- 
ties, aiid  to  reserve  his  strenu'th  for  his  a])pearance  at  Ty- 
Imrn.  'You  must  know,"  replied  Father  White,  'Oiatniy 
faslinii' u'ives  me  streniilh  to  bear  any  Ivind  of  sulVeriui;'  i'or 
the  lov(>  of  Jesus  Christl'  This  truly  great  and  good  man 
died  peaceably  in  London,  on  tiie  (ith  of  .hinuary,  IG."}?.' 
From  the' comparison  of  various  documents,  T  l)elif-ve  he 
was  in  Ids  seventy-eiglith  year  at  the  time  of  his  death."'  ' 

Through  the  whole  life  of  this  illustrious  Jesuit,  we  see 
shining  forth  a  character  of  crystal  purity,  manly,  fear 
less,  and  lofty.  It  is  a  union  of  the  saint  and  hero.  As  a 
boy  he  defied  the  malice  of  persecution,  and  wi^it  to  Doiiay; 
as  a  priest  he  returned  home  with  the  whole  tenable  ])li;ilanx 
of  the  penal  laws  scowling  at  him,  and  threatening  him 
witli  tlie  terrors  of  the  rack  and  the  barbarities  of  Tyburn. 
IL3  W!is  an  apostle,  and  feared  God,  but  not  the  whole 
power  of  apostate  England.     When  iifty-five  winters  had 


'  OrUucoiubur^'Ttli,  O.  S. 


"  Colluclioii,  &i:.,  Vol.  ni. 


I 


f 


|- 


i 
4.1  ftif  I 

'""II 


47 


TO 


FATHER  AyLREW  WHITE,  3.  J. 


\ 


frosted  his  venerable  head,  he  sought  the  wilderness  of 
iNliuyland  aii'l  with  all  tlie  ardor  of  youth  and  tlie  ki^enness 
of  a  sciiolni',  he  mastered  the  rude  dialects  of  tlie  forest, 
and  toiled  with  the  zeal  of  a  Xavier,  and  the  sti'ength  of  a 
moral  Hercules,  laboring  late  and  earh',  his  linger  ever 
I^ointed  aloft,  diiecting  the  gaze  of  the  red  i.inn  to  tlmt 
jiapi)y  Heaven  beyond  the  chjiids — the  home  of  the  Grent 
rpirit,  where  tear.s,  and  sori'ow,  and  snfl'ei'ing  are  unknown. 
'\^'hen  misfortune  frowned  on  himself  and  his  flock,  he  was 
great  in  misfortune.  He  trend^led  not  when  tln^  clanking  of 
chains,  and  the  jarring  sound  of  the  dungeon  gates  mourn- 
fully greeted  his  old  age.  Smiling  at  the  tyranny  and  fe- 
rocity of  men,  he  welcomed  lU-ath,  which  to  him  was 
neither  a  stranger  nor  an  enemy.  It  is  related  'Isat  the  holy 
and  hei'oic  man  foresaw  and  named  the  veiy  diy  and  Ikmit 
of  his  depirture,  which  was  to  fall,  lie  said,  on  the  Feast  oi 
St.  John  tlie  Evangelist.  On  that  day,  though  not  moit-  ill 
than  usual,  he  insi.sted  ui)on  receiving  the  last  Sacraments  ; 
and,  as  tht:*  last  litigering  rays  of  the  evenirfg  snn  streamed 
into  Ids  apartment,  the  jmre  and  lofty  soul  of  Fathei  An- 
drew White  bade  adieu  to  the  scenes  of  this  woi'Id.  'io  him 
is  due  the  foundation  of  that  Maryland  Chuich  whieli  has 
continued  to  shetl  the  light  of  faith  on  our  counli'y  lor 
ii(\'irly  two  ciMituries  and  a  half;  and,  in  tru.th.  he  de- 
.•^erves  to  be  cailed  the  Ajiostle  of  the  Uinted  States. 


1  T!"  M"!  ri'il'  '.',:!tii'i'  Wiiil  :"s  worlcH  u\'iv,  at  ••oriiini;  to  DnihVs  Fiiyfl-^h-  C-'i'nvli  /fi-torij, 
Vol.  III.,  p  .'jI;;.  "ill  .\  Onimmarof  the  Inrtiun  T,iiiv_'iiMu'L' ;  (-'i  .\  llii  tiiiiiiiry  «f  tln'  s.iinr  l:;;i;:ii;i:;«; 
(.31  A  Catcclii^m  :n  ihr  -•.unr  iMi'.rjKif,"' :  1 1)  A  Hi-l'My  of  Miiryiaad.  '    To  iUl=i.'  may  bu  udJuJ  lUi 


>■<:,• 


'         M((t" 


..i: 


^^ 


H 


i.  I 
If 


! 


i      :'■  i< 


•t  '■ 


'  \}l- 


!l    !     -' 


1 1 1  i  iHii 


MOTHER  MARY  OF  THt  INCARNATION, 

FIRST   SUPERIORESS   OF  THE   UR8ULINES,   QUEBEC. 


MOTHER  MARY  OF  THE  INCARNATION, 

FIRST  SUPEUIOIIESS  OF  TUE  UKSULIXE  CONVENT  OF  QUEBEC. 


CHAPTER  I, 


A  TE AR- Ay D- SMILE  CHArTER  OF  LIFE. 

liar]/' s  parenffi  and  cduention—Jrurriacfe — IRr  married 
life  not  liappij — PeatJi  of  her  Jiiisband — Proplictic 
vords — Jh<-nmi's  an  ITrs'vIi'.ie  ntni — Her  Jtusiness  tal- 
e/ds — A  mi/sterioKS  dream — Jfadame  de  la  PeUrie — The 
siugylar  refognilion  —  E/nbarkliir/  for  Canada — Oiithe 
ocean — Up  the  St.  Lawrence — lieceptioti  at  (Quebec. 

^[:irv  (luv^vd,  Icnown  in  liistorv  nnd  relieion  as  ]\lotlier 

.Mai'v  of  tlu'  Inraniation,  stands  first  on  the  long  roll  oi" 

great  and  Faintly  women  who  have  shed  a  Inster  on  the 

annals  ol"  ('anada.     She  was   ))()rn   m   the   city  of  Tonrs, 

Fran:"^,  'Z\  the  :28th  of  October,  W.Y,).     Her  parents,  FlorenI 

Gnyard   and  Jane  Midielet,    w(>re  in  very  modest  cii'cuni- 

stanes.  bnt  were  persons  of  eminent  i)iety  and  spotless  lives. 

To  their  little  danghter  they  gave  the  name  of  Mary,  and 

in  the  gift  of  that  beatitifnl  name  was  shadowed  forth  the 

'^I'aiideur  of  a  noble  life — the  life  of  a  Christian  heroine. 
* 

'']\Iiirv!  s-n-pct  riuiip  rpvrr('(l  jil)ove, 
Ami  ()  luiw  dear  licldw  1 
In  it  arc  Imnc  ii'.ld  lioly  lovo, 
And  hlessiiiii-i  ti'oiii  it  How." 

'  Cliicf  i\mli(irl!ic)<  ti-cil:    Aliln'  lijcliaiiili'mi.  •  Vie  dc  l:i  H.'vrrciiilo  Mi'w  Miiric  dc  I'liicartia- 
tinir."  Alilu'    -'ii^LTMlii.  "  Vio  dc  In  Men   Miiric  dc  I'lncarnatioii;"     The  Crsiilinc^  of  (^iicliot , 
"(Jlitnp"!  .i  of  the  M()nn<(cry:'    Aliicl.t'od,  •■  History  of  DcvolioTi  to  'lie  Ilk-scd  XMririii  ill  North 
Ani'rii'ii;"  r:iiliin:iii,  "Tlic  ,Ic!>Mit!<  ii.  Nor'h  Aimi-ica:"  Abh«  Fcrldud,  "  (.'oiiri*  d'Histoirc;  da 
C-4iiaiJa'"  C'liarlcvoix.  "  Ui>tory  of  New  Traiico.'' 

473 


1      J 

t  Iff  11 

'H-  If 

' '  1 1 

ii  If 

111  Sill 

if 

■i 

'  ji 

1 

i 

I' 

I: 


r 


If  4 


474 


MOTiUlll  ^rAUY  OF  THE  INCARNATIOX 


Placed  in  such  a,  school  of  life,  and  endowed  with  rnra 
dispositions,  we  are  not  snrjn'ised  to  learn  tiuit  iliegirl  grew 
in  wisdom,  age,  and  grace.  In  one  of  her  letters,  wiittcn 
years  afterwards,  she  says:  ''The  good  education  which 
I  liad  received  from  my  parents,  who  were  most  pious 
Cliristians,  laid  an  excellent  foundation  in  my  soul;  and  I 
cannot  but  bless  the  God  of  goodness  for  His  gracious  kind- 
ness to  me  in  this  connection.  It  is  a  great  step  in  the  way 
of  virtue  and  :i  precions  prejiai'ation  for  a  high  degr':'e  o!' 
piety,  to  fall  into  hands  which  carefully  mould  the  liir.t 
years  of  onr  existence." 

There  are  many  mansions  in  Heaven,  and  it  seems  that 
all  who  reach  them  do  not  travel  the  same  road  of  lil'c. 
Though  manifesting  some  desire  lor  the  religi(jus  stare, 
Mary  (.Tuyard,  in  her  eighteenth  year,  and  in  obedience  to  the 
wishes  ot  her  parents,  gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to  Claudius 
Joseph  Martin.  He  was  a  silk  manufacturer,  nv.C.  a  young 
man  of  most  estimable  character. 

The  first  care  of  Madame  Martin  in  her  new  state  was  to 
midve  the  fear  of  God  reign  in  her  house.  She  was  a  niddrl 
of  order  and  industry,  and  such  was  her  life  of  faith  that 
we  are  assured  by  her  biographers  that  her  most  common  ac- 
tions were  transformed  into  ]n'actices  of  piety.  For  Ikh-  hus- 
band who  was,  to  use  her  own  words,  "a  good,  God-feariiig 
man,"  she  always  entertained  the  most  airectioiiaie  respect; 
and  yet  their  married  life  was  far  from  being  happy.  j'>ut  1  ho 
cause  of  this  we  know  not.  Two  years  after  his  mai'riage, 
Jiowever,  Mr.  Martin  died,  leaving  his  young  wife,  scarcely 
twenty  years  of  agt%  with  an  infant  some  six  months  old, 
without  fortune,  and  even  with  very  scanty  means  of  sup- 
port. 

When  Mary  Guyard  was  about  to  become  a  bride,  more 
through  obedience  than  love  or  inclination,  she  said  to  her 
mother:  "  Morher,  since  the  resolution  is  taken,  and  tiiat 
my  father  absolutely  wills  it,  I  believe  that  I  am  ol)liged  to 
bow  to  his  decision  and  to  yours,  l)ut  if  (.iod  will  grant  nie 
the  grace  of  giving  me  a  son,  I  now  promise  to  ciuisecrate 
him  to  the  Divine  service  ;  and  if,  afterwards,  He  should 


l\  \ 


MOTHER  MAUr  OF  THE  IXCAliXATlON 


475 


rpstoro  to  me  the  liberty  uliicli  I  am  now  losing.  1  also 
promise  to  consecrate  myself  to  ITitn.''  Tiiere  is  sumetliing 
sini,nilariy  prophetic  in  these  words. 

Jiiit  a  long  road  of  sorrow  and  siiiTering  was  to  be  traveled 
l)el'ore  either  of  tliese  sublime  objects  was  accomplislied, 
f^olitude,  meditation,  fasting,  prayer,  continual  attention  to 
the  holy  presence  of  God,  the  use  of  the  hair-shirt  and  aJl 
liinds  of  mortiJication,  and  wonderful  favoi's  from  Heaven 
—these  might  form  the  headings  ot  so  many  chapters  in  rela- 
tion to  this  period  in  the  life  of  this  heroic  woman.  "1 
siiould  regard  as  lost,"  she  writes,  '"a  day  x>^ssed  without 
sufl'ering." 

At  length,  after  twelve  years  had  brought  her  son  beyond 
tlie  helplessness  o±  iniaiicy,  Madame  Martin  conhded  him  to 
her  sister's  care,  tore  herseJf  from  iiis  presence,  and  entered 
the  cloister.  Truly,  these  years  of  probation  Had  been  to 
her  the  narrow,  thorny  path  leading  to  the  mountain  heights 
(if  sanctity.  Long  before  pronouncing  her  vows  as  a  re- 
ligious, she  had  i)ractised  tlio  counsels  of  evangelical  per- 
fection. 

On  the  5.")th  of  January,  1G31,  Madame  iMartin  entered  the 
cniivcht  of  the  Ursulines,  in  the  <'ity  of  Tours.  T\\()  years 
after  she  made  her  religious  profession,  and  henceforth  she 
will  be  know  as  ^Nfother  r\Iary  of  the  Incarnation. 

It  may,  perhaps,  seem  strange  that  this  lady,  capable  of 
such  exalted  spirituality,  was  also  gifted  to  a  rare  degree 
r.  irh  the  faculties  most  useful  in  the  i)ractical  affairs  of  life. 
Diii'ing  the  several  years  she  spent  in  tite  house  of  her 
brother-in-law,  she  ])roved  how  abl(>  and  ellicient  she  was  to 
nil]  him  in  the  conduct  of  his  biisiness.  Her  heart  was  far 
away  from  these  mundane  interests,  l)ut  her  talent  for  busi- 
n(V';s  was  not  the  less  display(>d.  Of  this  her  s])iritual  guides 
W'Te  aware,  and  saw  clearly  that  gifts  so  us(^rul  to  the  Avorld 
liiiglit  bo  made  (xpially  useful  to  the  (Jhurcii.  Hence  it 
was  that  she  was  made  Su])eriores8  of  the  convent  which 
Madame  de  la  Peltrio  was  about  to  endow  at  Quebec. 

''1  now  see,"  wrote  Mother  ]Mary  of  the  Incarnation  to- 
wards the  end  of  her  days,  "that  all  the  states  of  life,  trials 


;'if 


t 


,    ^1 


I  M 


470 


HOTIIEU  MARY  OF  THE  IXCAIlXATJOy. 


and  labors  tlirough  which  I  have  passfMJl,  have  liad  bnt  one 
object — to  form  me  for  the  work  to  be  done  in  Canada." 

isot  k)ng  after  lier  admittance  into  the  I'rsuline  convent, 
fi  mysterious  dream  or  vision  sliadowed  forth  her  futuro 
career.  Over  a  dark  and  perilons  \vt\y  the  holy  novice 
seemed  to  grope  hand  in  lumd  with  an  unlaiown  hidy.  A  ven- 
erable personage  directed  the  travelers  by  a  motion  of  his 
hand,  and  they  entered  a  spacious  court,  formed  by  the 
buildings  of  a  religious  institution.  The  pavement  was  of 
wliite  marble,  intersected  by  lines  of  vermilion.  Over  all 
seemed  to  breathe  the  spirit  of  peace  On  one  side  arose  a 
chapel  of  the  purest  alabaster,  upon  the  summit  of  which, 
as  upon  a  +1  .^o,  were  seated  the  Holy  Virgin  and  tho 
Divine  Chi- 

Thie  Qnoen  of  Heaven  seemed  to  be  gazing  upon  a  deso- 
late count'-r,  covered  with  fogs,  and  traversed  by  mountains, 
valleys,  au'i  v.  prt  ,^,.jes.  Tn  the  midst  of  these  gloomy 
wastes,  the  spires  and  gable-ends  of  a  little  church  could  bo 
discerned,  just  visible  above  the  misty  atmosphere.  She 
looked  with  sadness  oh  the  dismal  scene  before  her:  and  as 
Mary  of  the  Incarnation  pressed  forward,  close  to  her  seat, 
the  dear  Mother  of  Mercy  turned  towards  her  with  a  sweet 
smile  of  welcome,  and,  gently  bending  down,  she  kissed  the 
fair  travelers  forehead.  Then  she  seemed  to  whisper  some 
message  to  the  Divine  Child.  It  concerned  the  salvation  ol; 
souls.  Oar  heroine  heard  not  the  words,  but  she  caught 
their  purjiort;  and,  on  awaking,  her  glowing  heart  burned 
more  than  ever  for  the  conversion  of  pagan  nations.' 

A  year  later  the  mystery  was  removed.     A  voice  within 

'  The  non-Catholic  Parkman  doscrihcs  the  vUion  thnsi:  "  In  a  dream  elio  (Mary  of  the  Incnrna- 
tioii)  belu'lda  lady  imUnown  to  hor.  Slie  took  her  h.ind;  and  I  he  two  joiivneyed  tn^ellu'rwestwMnl, 
toward:*  tlie  sen.  They  hooii  met  one  of  tlie  Ap»stles,  clothed  all  in  white,  who,  with  a  wave  of 
his  liaiid,  directed  them  on  their  way.  They  now  entered  on  a  .scene  of  snrpassin;;  masiiilieence. 
Beneath  their  feet  was  a  pavement  of  nqnares  of  wliite  marble,  spotted  with  vermilion,  and  iiiter- 
Kcnted  with  lines  of  vivid  scarlet;  and  all  aronnd  stooil  monasteries  of  mateldess  architecture. 
]!nt  llie  two  travelers,  without  stoppinj  to  admire,  moved  swiftly  on  till  they  l)cheld  the  Virniii 
seated  with  her  Infant  Son  on  a  i-mall  temijle  of  wliite  marlile,  which  served  her.'is  a  throne.  Sho 
pecinod  ahont  fifteen  years  of  a<;e,  and  was  of  a  'ravishini;  heanty.'  Her  head  was  turned  asidi': 
Flie  was  fra.-.ins;  lixedly  on  a  wild  wa.^te  of  nioiintain-i  and  valleys,  half  coiieealed  in  mist.  Jlurie 
(le  ITiiearnation  approaclied  with  ontsfretched  nrnis,  ndorin?.  The  vision  bent  towards  her,  and, 
cmilln;:,  ki'-si'd  her  three  times,  whereupon,  in  a  rapture,  tlie  dreamer  awoke,"— 37ic  Jestilli  m 
Xorih  Amtiica. 


^t^^.^^i^^mn 


MOTHER  MAliV  OF  TJJE  IXCAIiXATlON. 


All 


the  soul  oX  Mary  of  the  Tiicarnation  called  upon  her  to 
fouiul  a  convent  of  her  Order  in  Canada.  She  a})peared  to 
lienr  the  Master  ol"  Lil'e  nrgiuii,-  Iier  to  go  to  that  new  land, 
;iii(l  ■huild  a  house  lo  Jesus  and  Mary."  'J'he  Chni'cli  of 
CaiKula  was  tlien  in  its  infancy  Its  l"(nindation  stone  had 
K'ceiirly  been  laid,  tliroii.uh  the  lofty  zeal  of  Chanii)lain. 
The  illustrious  Father  John  de  ];re!)enl,  S.  J.,  and  a  band  of 
Je-iuits  were  toiling  among  the  Ilnrons  of  Upper  Canada;  and 
othi-r  apostolic  priests  of  the  same  Society  were  laboring  at 
Quebec,  or  scattered  at  vaiious  points  along  the  St. 
Lawrence. 

The  "Jesuit  Eelations,"  Avhich  the  Canadian  mission- 
aries began  to  publish  in  1G32,  found  their  way  to  the  Ursu- 
liiie  Convent  at  Tours,  and  helped  to  fan  the  llame.  It;  is 
for  tile  Almighty  to  provide  the  way  for  the  accom})lish. 
inent  of  his  own  designs.  In  what  manner  this  was  brough?' 
about,  we  shall  nov/  urieliy  relate. 

Near  the  little  town  of  Alen(,on,  in  Xormandy,  stood  the 
castle  of  the  Lord  of  A'aubongon,  the  anc^estral  home  of 
Mary  Mig  lalene  do  Chauvigiiy,  b;'tt(M'  known  by  the  name  of 
]\Iadame  de  la  Peltrie.  Like  Mary  of  the  Incai'iiation,  she 
had  entered  the  married  state  through  pure  compliance  to 
the  will  cf  liei-  parentrj. 

Mile.  (L(  Oaiuvigny  wished  to  be  a  religious.  Her  father, 
however,  passionately  fond  of  his  beautiful  daughter,  re- 
sisted her  inclination  for  the  cloister,  and  sought  to  wean 
her  bade  to  the  world;  but  she  escaped  from  the  chateau  to 
a  neighboring  convent,  whure  she  resolved  to  remain.  Her 
father  followed,  carried  her  home,  and  engaged  her  in  a 
round  of  /'eye',?  and  hunting  parties,  in  the  midst  of  which 
she  found  herself  surpristMl  into  a  betrothal  to  M.  de  la 
Peltrie,  a  young  gentleman  of  rank  and  character. 

Tlie  marriage  proved  a  happy  one,  and  Madame  de  la 
Peltrie,  with  an  excellant  grace,  bore  her  part  in  the  world 
siie  had  v.ished  to  renounce.  After  a  nnion  of  iive  y(>ars, 
her  husband  died,  and  she  was  left  a  widow  and  childless 
at  the  age  of  twenty-two.  She  now  gav(!  hm'  lil'e  mid  free- 
dom to  charity  and  devotion.     The  good  lady  ha  1  heard  of 


478 


MOTUER  MART  OF  THE  INCARNATIOX. 


.■    I' 


If 


Cimada;  and  when  Father  Le  Jeiine's  first  'Rehitions"  ap- 
peared, she  read  tliem  with  deli<:,lit.  "  Ahis!  "  wrote  the 
Fatlier,  "is  there  no  charitable  and  virtuous  lady  who  will 
come  to  this  country  to  gatlier  np  the  blood  of  Christ,  ijy 
teaching  His  word  to  the  little  Indian  girls," 

This  warm  appeal  found  a  prompt  and  vehement  answer 
from  the  thrilling  breast  of  ^Madame  de  la  Feltrio.  Hence- 
forth she  thought  of  nothing  but  Canada.  A  high  and  noble 
purpose  filled  her  soul.  She  resolved  to  go  to  that  heathen 
land,  and  ''•ather  np  the  ijrecious  blood  of  Christ.  ]3ut  l)e- 
fore  she  had  actually  taken  any  step  towards  the  fidfiUnient 
of  lier  pious  project,  she  fell  dangerousl}'"  ill.  Her  life  was 
despaired  of.  In  this  extremity,  she  made  a  solemn  vow  to 
go  to  Canada,  and  to  found,  in  honor  of  iSt.  Joseph,  an  Ursu- 
line  convent  for  the  instruction  of  the  little  Indian  and 

* 

French  girls. 

Suddenly,  as  from  the  brink  of  the  grave,  she  arose  to 
perfect  health.  But  many  dilhculties  yet  remained  to  be 
overcome.  Family  intei-ests  changed  them  to  persecution. 
She  was  harassed  by  legal  proceedings.  Tliose  who  cov- 
eted the  wealth  she  was  giViUg  to  good  works  were  even 
determined  to  deprive  her  of  her  liberty  in  order  to  obtain 
it.  I'y  the  advice  of  wise  and  learned  priests,  however,  she 
adopted  measures  which  thwarted  all  opposition,  and  be- 
gan to  carry  out  her  design  of  proceeding  to  the  Avilderness 
of  the  New  World  in  order  to  found  an  Ursuline  convent  on 
the  banks  of  the  St.  Lawrence. 

It  n^mained  to  obtain  nuns  for  the  proposed  foundation. 
Madame  de  la  Peltrio  sought  t!ie  advice  of  Father  Poncet, 
S.  J.,  who  Avas  charged  with  the  Canadian  missions;  and  to 
her  groat  joy  learned  from  iiim  the  particulars  of  the  life 
and  vo(^ation  of  Mary  of  the  Incarnation.  Not  many  weeks 
latei",  the  pious  widow  vras  at  Tours,  negotiating  the  affair 
with  the  Archbishop. 

Madame  de  la  Peltrie  was  no  sooner  admitted  into  the 
convent,  than  ]\Iotlier  Mary  of  the  Incarnation  recognized 
in  her  the  unknown  companion  with  whom,  in  that  myste- 
rious dream,  eight  years  before,  she  had  toiled  along  a  per- 


MOTHEH  MARl  OF  THE  IXCARNATIOX 


479 


ilous  pathway  tliroiigh  the  Avilderness  of  a  strange  Jand.  It 
was  necessary  to  clioose  a  companion  for  Mother  Mary: 
and  this  was  equally  overruled  by  Providence  All  Avere 
iiuxious  to  obtain  the  nomination. 

One  aione,  In  her  humility,  judged  herself  unworthy  of 
such  a  distinction:  but  she  was  the  chosen  one.  Of  noble 
birth,  gentle  mien,  and  delicate  health,  the  youthful  and 
;i(C()inplished  ]\[ary  de  hi  Troche,  known  in  religion  as 
Mother  St.  Joseph,  was  too  timid  and  too  modest  to  think  of 
herself  as  a  candidate  for  the  wild  Canadian  mission.  Yet 
this  sweet,  delicate  girl  Avas  chosen,  and  wisely  chosen. 

It  now  remained  to  regulate  the  temporal  affairs  of  the 
projected  foundation,  and  to  receive  the  benediction  of  the 
Archbishop  of  Tours.  The  assembly  was  held  in  the  archi- 
episcopal  residence.  The  venerable  prelate,  who  was  in 
his  eightieth  year,  Avas  deeply  moved.  And  Avhen  the  mo- 
nicut  for  parting  came,  he  arose,  presented  the  tAvo  nuns  to 
Madame  de  la  Peltrie,  a.ud  addressed  her  in  these  remark- 
able words: 

"These  are  the  two  foundation  stones  of  the  temple 
Avhich  you  are  about  to  erect  in  the  Kew  World  for  the 
glory  of  God.  For  this  end,  and  according  to  your  request, 
I  entrust  them  to  you.  On  the  model  of  the  Jerusalem 
above,  may  th<>y  be  two  precious  stones  in  the  foundation. 
]\Iay  this  edifice  be  a  mansion  of  i)eace  and  grace  and  celes- 
tial blessings,  more  abundant  than  those  of  the  ancient  Tem- 
ple of  Solomon.  May  the  efforts  of  hell  never  prevail 
against  it,  any  more  than  against  the  Holy  Church.  And 
since  this  house  is  to  be  built  for  the  Almighty,  may  Helix 
His  dwelling  there,  as  the  Father  and  as  the  Spouse,  not 
only  of  the  nuns  Avhom  I  confide  to  you,  but  of  all  Avho 
may  accompany  them,  or  aa'Iio  Avill  liA-e  there  after  them,  to 
the  end  of  time.'' 

Oil  the  4th  of  May.  1030,  Madame  de  la  Peltrio,  ]\[otlier 
Mary  of  the  Incarnation,  Mother  Mary  of  St.  Joseph,  and 
another  Ursuline'  embarked  at  Dieppe  for  Canada.     In  the 

'  This  third  conipnnion  was  Mother  Cecilia  Richer  of  the  Croas;  she  had  beeu  a  member  of  the 
t'ri-iillue  convent  at  Dieppe. 


480 


MOTIlini  MARY  OF  THE  IXCAILXATIOX 


(ship  were  also  three  young  Hospital  nuns,  sent  out  to  fnmul 
at  Quebec  a  H6t(!l  Dit'U,  endowed  by  th<*  Ducliess  of  Aiguil- 
lou,  till'  f;inntus  nice*'  of  (,';irdinal  IJiclirlicu.  Here,  loo, 
were  Futher  Poncet,  S.J.,  and  Fatlier  Chaunionot,  S.,I.,  on 
the  way  to  their  mission,  to,!j,'ether  with  Fatlier  A'iitioiu, 
S.  .1.,  who  was  to  succeed  Father  Ld  Jeune,  S.  J.,  in  his  post 
of  Superior. 

To  tile  nuns,  pale  from  the  cloistei'ed  seclusion,  tliei'e 
must  have  been  a  strange  and  startling  novelty  in  this  new 
world  of  life  and  action— the  ship,  the  sailors,  the  shouts  of 
command,  the  Happing  of  sails,  the  salt  wind,  and  the  toss- 
ing, boisterous  sea.  Tlu;  voyage  was  long  and  tedious. 
Sonu'times  th<>y  lay  in  their  bei-ths,  sea-sick  and  woe  be- 
gtjjuj,  soinetinu.'s  they  sang  in  choir  on  deck,  or  heard  Mass 
in  the  cabin. 

OiU'e,  on  a  mi>,ty  morning,  a  wild  cry  of  alarm  startled 
crew  and  passengers  alike.  A  huge  iceberg  was  .Irifting 
close  upon  them.  The  ])eril  was  extrenu\  Madame  de  la 
Peltrii*  clung  to  ^[oilier  Mary  (jf  the  Incarnation,  who  stood 
perfectly  calm,  andgithered  her  g>)\vn  about  her  feet,  that 
she  miglit  drown  with  dec'iicy.  In  this  moment  of  peril 
they  made  a  vow  to  the  Jilessed  Virgin  and  St.  Josei)li; 
Father  Vimont  offered  it  in  behalf  of  all  the  conii)any,  and 
the  ship  glided  into  the  open  sea  unharnu^d.' 

It  was  midsummer  when  they  arrived  in  the  haibor  of 
Tadoussac,  at  the  contlueiu'e  of  the  Saguenay  with  the  St. 
Lawrence.  Our  travelers,  no  doubt,  were  im])r(^ssed  wiih 
the  stern,  savage  grandeur  of  (1u^  scenery.  Thei'e  stood 
frowning  the  bleak,  impi-nding  cHlfs,  rising  jierpendicularly, 
ami  foi-ming  a  gigantic  gateway,  through  which  the  dark 
waters  of  the  somber  Saguenay  issue — a  fathomless  flood— 
remindim^'  the  spectator  of  long  ages  past,  and  the  terrible 
convulsions  of  natui'e  since  her  birth. 

The  dense,  lonely  foiN^sts  were  unbroken,  save  by  the 
curling  smoke  of  the  wigwam  tire,  or  the  rude  sheds  of  the 
trading  station.     Strange  and  wild  were  these  swarthy  hunt- 


'  ParUiuau. 


MOTIlKll  MARY  OF  Tin-:  JXCA/LXAT/OX 


481 


PI'S,  tlio  roviiit^  Al,!i-(>n(iiiiiis,  -wlm  bad  ronio  to  tlii.s  jioinr, 
ll^i^,^•ing  their  I'lirs— tlu'  sldii  of  tlie  boavor,  tlin  soul,  luul  tlin 
iiiarlt'U,  to  ('x<'lian!4c  for  Iviiivcs,  kcttlfs,  Idanlicts.  and  other 
Kiiroi)ean  commoclilies.  The  i)uor  liulians  ;i,-a/.e(l  with  uma7,e- 
jrieut  on  the.^e  fair  "daiighrcf.s  of  saclietns,"  wiio.  tliey  were 
tdld,  liad  left  their  hai)[)y  1  ^nes  beyond  the  "(heat  Sea"' 
to  teach  the  wives  and  daugi iters  of  tlie  red  man  liow  to  live 
ill  this  worhl,  and  pi'epare  tiieniselve.s  for  tlie  next. 

Tliu  apo.-itoli(!  passengers  were  imi)at'ent  to  ivaeh  tlieir 
(lestination.  Leaving  the  slii[)  in  wliieli  tliey  had  traversed 
tiie  Atlantic  to  its  traflic,  tliey  jjiislied  n[)  (he  river  in  a 
smaller  vessel.  It  was  tlie  1st  of  August,  1<5;5S),  as  they 
neared  the  still  rude  fortress  of  Quebec.  All  lalu«r  ceased, 
and  the  cannon  boomed  welcome  from  th(^  Insights  of  Cape 
Diamond.  'I'lu;  wooden  tenements  and  the  iiitlian  camp- 
loilges  alike  sent  forth  their  inhabitants  tr)  view  the  religious 
strangers.  The  gallant  ((overnor  Montmagny,  in  brilliant 
uniform,  surrounded  by  his  stair,  some  Jesuit  Fathers,  and 
a  lile  of  soldiers,  were  all  ranged  on  the  shore. 

On  janding,  the  nuns  fell  prostrate,  and  kissed  the  soil  of 
Canada.  The  pious  cortege  moved  on.  climbing  the  zig-zag 
jiathway  up  the  steep  no\^  known  as  Mountain  street.  At 
the  top  of  the  hill,  to  the  left,  was  the  little  chapel  of  oiir 
Lad}^  of  llecovery,  which  liad  been  built  by  Chanijuain  in 
1G33.  Mass  was  off(n'ed  np  by  tlie  Father  Superior  of  the 
missionn.  The  7'- />^v^/;i  was  chanted.  Then  they  (Ii!U"'i  at 
the  fort,  and  presently  set  iorth  to  visit  the  new  sel;tlement 
of  Sillery,  four  niil(>s  above  QiiebiM!. 

NoeJ  Brulart  de  Sillery,  a  Knight  of  ]\Ialta,  wh.o  had  once 
tilled  the  higliest  offices  under  tlie  Queen  Marie  de  Medicis, 
had  now  severed  his  connection  with  his  Order,  renounced  the 
uoild,  and  become  a  ]iriest.  IT(Mlevot(-d  his  vast  reveniu^s 
to  t!ie  founding  of  ndigious  establishments.  Among  otlier 
endowments,  he  had  ])laced  ample  funds  in  the  hands  of  the 
Jesuit  Fathers  for  the  formation  of  a  settlement  of  Chris- 
tian Indians  at  the  spot  which  still  bears  Ins  name.  On  the 
str;ind  of  Sillery  between  the  river  and  the  woody  heights 
behind,  were  clustered  the  small  log-cabins  of  a  number  vf 


482 


■JQ 


MOTII/iP  MAliV  Of  lllK  INCARXATIOX. 


:i  1 


Alsonciiiins,  roiivcrts,  toiijf^ther  wlrli  a  cliurdi,  n  mission 
liuus(!,  and  iui  iuliniiai-y— tliH  whole  surroiiiulcd  hy  ii  imii- 
sade.'  It  was  to  this  phire  tluit  jMadiinie  de  hi  Pel  trie,  ]\hiiy 
of  tlio  Incai'iuition,  and  thfir  companions  -wore  now  con- 
dnctt'd  by  tlie  Jesuits.  The  Hcene  dt'lighted  and  odilied 
thoMi;  and  in  tlie  tiiinsports  ol'  tlicir  zeal,  they  sei/od  and 
l^issed  evciy  female  Jndian  cliild  on  whom  they  could  lay 
hands,  "  without  minding,"  says  Father  LeJoune,  "whether 
they  were  dirty  or  not/'  "Love  and  cliarity,'  he  adds, 
'•ri'iuint)hed  over  every  liuman  consi(h>ralion."" 

^VlllMl  the  nuns  visited  the  chapel  they  heard  for  the  tirst 
time  the  voices  of  the  Indians  singing  hymns — hymns,  too, 
in  a  language  that  seemed  like  the  chattering  and  t\»'ittering 
of  birds.  Father  L  i  Jenne  announced  that  a  neophyte  was 
to  1)0  baptized,  and  Madania  de  la  Peitrie  stootl  as  god- 
mother. 

Tih(  Ursnlines  retired  to  their  humble  abode.  It  was  a 
smdl  building  on  tli  $  wharf,  and  they  had  mt^rely  the  loan 
of  it.  It  was,  pr'rhaps,  preferable  to  an  Indian  wigwam; 
in  which,  liow'jter,  tlui  heroic  Mofhei  Mary  of  the  Incarna.- 
tiou  declareu  .hat  sIim  was  prepared  to  lodge» 

Till' Hi'iliictinn  cnn-i -ti'il  fiT  sij'.no  (Iftoi'ii  fMniilip.s  tlirir  liiiliiliitiocr.  rnryinj  from  tlio  priml 


the  rull(■n■'^^^*  of  tlie  Al'.'oiinmii  u Ilcwmui  Io  llic  siihi-laiitlMl  sloiu 


i\t  (iifi.mht  of  tlic  limn, 


cind  in  llu'ir  |H'i\iliiir  costumi'.  tlie  imur  si|im\vs  L';itlier  '.'.(i  tluir  litlie  papnoses,  and  Hoeiii  iviidy 
to  (lee  tn  iluMvoods  v.illitliein     Tlio  older  red-si-.'.iiiied  nrcluii^  sto])  their  play  ntid  Imildie  to 
geth'T;  hill  lu  a  minor,  from  the  good  prie=r  vvhora  they  kuow,  all  gather  round,  and  boou  fontel 
iheir  frijiht.—  Otbiqtseg  oj  the  Mi^.tuicry,  Vol.  1. 
» Pirkiuun. 


CHAPTER  II. 

MOTIIKU  M\RY  OF  Tllfe  INCAKXATIOX  AXD  TIER  PUPILS. 

hear ui nil  the  fiulian  languages— The.  hide  convent  and 
ac(uh'niy—Sniall-pox—Coni)e)it  life  —  Dilfleiilties  —  The 
Indian  girl  as  a  coniwiU  pupil — Some  examples— 
T'eresa,  the  Ilarori  girl — Her  letter  to  Mothrr  Muni  on 
parlina  J roiii  her  conoent  home. — »b'c//i(;  short  and  .sha'p 
re/l  eel  ions. 

?i[otlier  Mary  of  the  Incarnation  and  lier  Ursulines  bp<?an 
laborin'j;,  "according  to  tlieir  Institnto/'  for  the  French 
].upi]s  at  the  same  time  that  they  were  tasking  their  ener- 
>^\e<,  to  acquire  the  Indian  languagps.  In  Fatlier  i^e  Jenne, 
S.  J.,  they  had  an  able  and  willing  teacher,  who  had  become 
L-arned  in  the  barbarous  dialects  of  America  only  at  tin;  ex- 
])onse  of  hard  toil,  and  many  months  of  forest  life  with  the 
roving  savages.' 

^Ve  must,  however,  have  a  peep  at  the  inferior  of  the  lit- 
tli^  cojivent  and  academy.  Tliis  stately  residence  consisted 
ol"  two  rooms,  the  larger  being  sixteen  feet  square.  The 
other  Avas  saialler,  and  was  enriched  with  a  cellar  and  gar- 
]ct.  Tlie  larger  apartment  served  as  a  dormitory,  the  beds 
being  an'anged  in  tiers  along  the  wall;  but  it  was  also  a 
parlor,  choir,  kitchen,  refei.'tory,  and  r.^u'eation  room.     The 


'  Fulhcr  P.iul  I,"  .Tonne  was  one  of  Cn'  first  J  suits  thnt  cnme  to  Ciiniirta.  At  Urst  his  diitios  n» 
Siip'.'i'iur  prcveiilod  liis  (!;oin:;  on  tlie  mission  lunoiii;  tlie  Indians,  unil  lie  \v,is  oliliijoil  to  lourn  tiu'ir 
l:Mij',i:i;;c,  i<s  .)cst  111-  lonlil,  in  his  room.  To  assist  liini  in  his  daily  lossons,  he  (';iL,'a;,'('d  tlie  sor- 
vii'os  of  an  AlKominin  nanii'd  Pierre.  Seated  on  wooden  stool  t  liv  tlie  roiisrh  table  in  the  refe> 
t  iry,  the  priest  and  the  Indian  pursned  their  ctndics.  '' Hcnv  thankful  I  am,"  wroie  l-'ather  La 
fi  'ir.e,  "  to  those  who  !,'avi.'  ni(^  tohaco  last  year.  At  every  dillleiiity  I  u'ive  my  ni  ii^ter  a  pi^'ce  of 
it.  to  make  him  more  attentive'."'  The  w(M'lhy  .lesiiit.  desirous  of  still  more  familiaiiziii:;  himself 
KWh  Indian  enstoms,  lanf;na;te  and  mode  of  life,  determined,  after  some  tira  ■,  to  spend  a  portion 
if  the  winter  anion?  the  sava'^ies  near  Quebec.  He  roamed  with  them  for  s<.veral  months,  being 
oadly  tn'ateil.  half-starved,  almost  frozen,  and  fortunate  in  t-'ettini;  baelc  with  his  head  safely 
eeated  on  his  i\wa\dcra.—I\)pularilietor!/uj'  t/u:  Cal/iolic  Church  in  (lit  VmteU  Stiitct. 

483 


ti^l 


:l 


484 


MuTUER  MARY  OF  THE  INCARXATLOX. 


II 


snialliT  n]inrlinr'nt  was  tlie  class-room.  An  additional  wini^ 
— a  .soi'l  of  .sht'd— st'i'ved  a.s  a  kind  ot  extcrioi-  parloi'.  v.liciv, 
throuu'li  (iio  usual  grating,  the  nnns  conld  .speak  oi  (.fuj 
and  .R<'ligion  to  IVathorod  chiefs  an  L  du^ivy  v/an-iors. 

Happily,  the  Canadian  colonists  had  invented  an  o!il:'r 
of  architecture  which  Avas  not  very  expensive.  A  Jevv 
strong  posts  of  oalc,  iuii)le,  or  some  otlier  hard  wood,  wero 
di'iven  inl:o  the  ground;  som.'i  bars  bound  th(Mu  together; 
tlie  whole  was  then  covered  witii  plank;;,  and  hnished  o!E 
with  rough  i)lastering.  The  editice  was  thus  cosnplijti'd  A 
cliaptd  in  this  style,  before  the  Udnter  closed  in,  wa.s  I'aised, 
and  received  \]v~)  ''gihled  tabei-nacle,"  tiie  parting  gift  of  a 
frieiid.  It  is  a  deliglitfully  'devout  chapel" — so  one  wlio 
saw  it  aiTirins — •'•r.grec.'sble  for  its  poverty;''  and.  abo\c  nil, 
precious  to  Mot!i"i'  \[ii'y  an  I  \h'v  ('oni[)anions,  for  it  was 
the  residence  of  tiic  iiitldi'U  Ut:deenier. 

The  Ursulines  had  scarcely  tiase  to  put  their  huniMo 
abode  in  ordei',  when  that  terrible  scourge,  thesniall-])o.\', 
suddenly  transforni;'d  it  info  a  ho-epital.  The  Tiidjiin  chil- 
dren especially  were  attacked  wilh  virulence,  and  the  nuns 
Inid  abundant  occasion  for  the  exercise  of  kindp.'ss,  pa- 
tience, and  charily.  Niglit  and  day  tlu^liilh^  tawny  .s'ili'i'r- 
ers  wer((  tended  by  their  indefatig'abl(>  nnr-^cs.  l'\)i!r  chil- 
dren di(.>d  of  tli'^  fri'difl'ul  malady,  and  then  it  entirely  dis- 
appeariMl;  Imt  iio;  until  th-'  whole  slock  of  linen  for  the 
useof  the  Indian  children  and  tlie  'onvfMit  v.as  exhausted. 
This  was  a  s;'rio!is  los;:,.  There  was  no  supply  to  be  got 
nearer  than  I'rance. 

Winter  passed,  away,  and  the  annual  ijec^t  from  the 
]\rother  Coun'.ry  broiiglit  two  more  I'l'sulines  to  tlie  lillle 
convent  at  <>uebec,  v/liere  they  "live  in  admirable  peace 
aiid  nnion."  Mother  ^fary  of  the  Incarnation,  wroie  one 
of  the  religious  newcomeis,  "trt'ats  me  with  loo  much 
honor.  The  swecM  odor.  u[  sanctity  seems  to  sunonnd 
her,  and  lo  (aid)alin  all  who  approach  Iku*.  ^fother  St. 
Joseph'  is  a  charming  person,  most  accomplished  in  every 


'  Th','  1,'iiiai.'  iiiid  ikliciUi'  Mary  ilc  l.i  'i'l'oclic. 


lit  II I 


MOTHER  MARY  0?  TllK  lyCARXATlOX. 


485 


way.  Durini^  reorofition  slie  often  makes  lis  l:uii2:Ii  till  wo 
fairly  cry  It  is  iin[)os.sil)lo  to  ho  Tiielaiichojy  in  hci-  com- 
pany She  loves  the  little  Indian  fi'irls  likt^  a  n;ntliei. 
Al'ter  cathechisni,  she  toadies  them  to  sing  liynins  and  to 
touch  tlieviol.  Sometimes  she  leaves  them  toperfoj'm  oneof 
tiica-  o\\\\  [)aal<)iniiiitMhin('t's,  and  the  litth^scliolars make  no 
ceivniony  of  inviting-  Madrame  de  la  Peltrio  to  dance  with 
them,  winch  sIk-  do.^s  with  tin;  bosi;  gmc.3  in  thi>  woi'ld," 

Such  incidents  in  the  past  Ix-long  to  tlie  Leant ies  of 
American  Catholic  history  The  Ursulines  had,  indeed, 
(•(lUii-  ti)  Canada  at  tlie  opportnne  moment.  The  held  in 
which  apostolic  missionaries  labored  iom;  with  but  little 
sn''cess  had,  at  last,  heann  to  yidd  fiaiit,  ]\[other  ]\lary 
of  t!ie  Incarnation  and  lun-  rrsulines  consi(h'red  thems(dves 
supii'iudy  ha]<py  in  being  called  to  aid  in  gathering  in  the 
])i'('ci()us  hai'vcst. 

Tlie  dilliculties  of  th'>  sitnation,  liowever,  were  enormons. 
Tl:e  expenses  were  hirge.  It  mnst  be  borne  in  mind  that  the 
Indian  pupils— nnd  sornetimes  even  their  familii^s — had  to 
1)(^  fed  anil'  clothed  gratis.  At  tlie  p/ar1ni',  where  (he  nuns 
exei'cised  (heir  /.enl  in  behalf  of  the  wai'rioi's,  it  was  not 
nit  rely  the  bread  of  instruction  that  was  to  be  broken;  but, 
according  to  the  Indian  laws  of  hospitality,  the  focjd  of  the 
body  was  indispcMisable. 

AiiKtng  those  hardy  rovers  of  the  wilderness  in  Canada, 
it  was  coiisid'n'cMl  an  alTront  to  send  away  a  guest  witliont 
invitiiig  him  to  eat.  The  "pot  of  FMi<iain'de''''  had  to  be 
ciinshintly  on  the  lire.  From  time  to  tim(>,  a  more  ''splen- 
did bamiuet"  was  prepared  for  sixty  or  eighty  dusky  vis- 
iters. On  such  occasions  it  required  "a  bushel  of  black 
])luiii-!,  twenty-four  pounds  of  bread,  a  due  (pmntity  of  In- 
di;m  meal  or  ground  peas,  a  dozen  f)f  tallow  candles 
nielied,  and  two  or  three  ])onnds  of  fat  poi'k"" — all  well 
boiled  together.  "It  would  be  a  pity,"  writes  >.Iother 
^laiy  of  the  Incarnation,  "  to  dei)i'ive  these  pool"  ])eoi)le  of 
such  a  feast,  since  it  requires  no  more  to  content  even  their 
sachems  and  war-chi<d's.'" 

it  auisi  be  cor.fessed  that  this  was  remarkable  v.'ork  for 


f  \ 


h 


480 


MOTHER  MARY  OF  THE  INCARXATIOX. 


five  Ui'sulines  to  accomplisli.  Tlio  toil  was  lieyoiul  tlif'ir 
strength.  Tlie  visits  to  tli(;  woiideifiil  piirlor  were  iinccns- 
ing.  "But,'-  says  tlio  great  Mother  Mary,  "the  provitlence 
of  our  Heavenly  Fatlier  supjilies  all  things.  The  pot  of 
sagamite  was  never  enijity." 

Let  lis  glance  at  another  side  of  the  picture  in  Avhich  the 
heroic  Mother  Mary  of  the  Incarnation  was  the  chief  lignre. 
In  a  moral  sense,  the  distance  was  infinite  I'nnu  the  forest- 
home  of  the  Indian  girl  to  the  convent.  She  was  as  frolic- 
some and  wild  as  tlie  little  aniniiils  which  roamed  ihe  woods, 
and  she  kntnv  as  little  as  they  of  obedience  and  wholesome 
restraint,  The  onl\'  authority  she  was  invited  to  resjiect 
was  that  of  her  mother,  or,  perhaps,  of  her  aged  grand- 
parents. I3iit  if  she  chose  to  bo  willful,  on  no  account  was 
she  punished  or  compelled  to  obey. 

The  young  Indian  beauty's  clothing  wa?!  scanty,  and  of 
the  rouglujst  material.  In  winter  only  were  her  feet  covered 
with  c(xn's(3  moccasins.  She  knew  of  no  cosmetics  save  suet 
and  1)eai*s  grease;  and  her  matted  hai""  ha(t  never  been  vis- 
ited by  eiflier  ct)nib  or  scissors.  Her  bed  had  a1\v;iys  Ikm-u 
the  ground,  ne;ir  the  wigwjim  lire;  and  this  Avas  stiaivd 
■_"|u:illy  by  dogs,  liens,  papooses,  warricn-s,  and,  in  sliort,  by 
v>hole  families.  It  is  not  very  surprising  to  learn  that  some 
of  these  '•  wild  birds,''  caged  f(U-  the  first  time,  occa><;;)iially 
llev,-  oil  to  the  forest;  but  when  the  affection  and  grent  ^la- 
tience  of  Mother  },Iary  ot  the  Incarnation  had  tamed  them, 
they  ju'oved  most  open  to  instruction,  and  quite  exemi^lary 
in  piety. 

The  little  Algonquins  of  Sillery  were  the  hist  ])n]ii1s  the 
Ursulines  undertook  to  form;  and  as  neitlnM' understood  llie 
language  of  the  otlier.  the  difficulty  must  have  been  extreme. 
But  "a  great  desire  to  s])eak,"  wrot<^  ^Mother  Mai'y,  '"is  a 
great  help  to.vards  doing  so."  We  may  ivadily  believe  it, 
when  we  ar(^  told  that  the  nunr,  were  nbh^  to  begin  to  in- 
stru<;t  in  Algonquin  liefore  tlie  end  of  two  months. 

Their  holy  |(ul  was  blessed  with  remarkable  success. 
Mother  ]\Iary  of  the  Incarnation  declnn^s  that  these  new 
Christians  were  as  meek  as  little  lambs,  and  that  after  their 


MOTHER  MAUT  OF  ruE  lycAiiSAnoy. 


487 


baptism  they  preserved  an  adijnirable  purity  of  conscience, 
Anion.i!;  her  iirst  Indian  pupils,  tlio  venerabJe  hidv  mentions 
3!ary  Gamitiens,  -who  Avas  but  six  years  of  ai^e,  and  was 
no  sooner  awake  in  the  morning  than  her  Jitlle  lips  began 
to  sjx'ak  in  the  language  of  prayer.  Slie  said  her  beads 
(liiiiug  Mass,  and  sang  liynins  h]  her  own  language. 

3hiry  Xegalaniat  was  a  wild  child  of  the  woods,  and  at 
iiist  did  not  relish  scliool-life  at  tlu?  convent.  Once  she  ran 
oil'  to  the  forest,  tearing  her  red  tunic  to  shreds.  But  she 
was  l)rought  back,  and  became  a  good  girl.  She  was  one  of 
a  '^luall  band  prepai'ing  for  first  Communion.  'J'he  instnut- 
ti!s  were  Father  Pigart,  S.  J.,  and  Mother  ]\fary  of  the 
liK  iU'iuiticm.     ]\rary,  especially,  was  in  great  jubilation, 

"  Why  are  you  so  joyful?"  inquired  somel)ody. 

"Oh!"  cried  this  dear  little  dusky  daughter  of  the  wil- 
dcriti^ss,  "I  shall  soon  receive  Jesns  into  my  heart." 

^fotlier  Mary's  Iirst  Huron  puj-il  was  a  niece  of  the  fa- 
mous war-chief  Chihateuhwa.  On  a  visit  to  Quebec  lie  had 
seen  th<^  "holy  virgins,''  robed  in  black,  who  had  come  to 
fcacli  the  little  Indian  gii'ls  the  way  to  Heaven,  ITe  was 
delighted,  and  great  was  {lie  admiration  of  his  tribe,  when 
he  n^counted  what  Avonders  lie  liad  seen. 

(^hihatenhwa  brought  his  litth^  Teresa  to  the  convent, 
where  we  are  told  that  she  became  a  prodigy  of  i)iety  and 
knowledge.  AVlien  next  the  Huron  flotilla  covered  the 
river,  the  fond  tincl(%  from  al'ar,  pointed  out  to  the  chief 
and  wari'ioi's,  who  accompanied  him  the  "House  ol'  Jesus," 
as  tJu>  Indians  termed  the  convent.  He  hastened  to  meet 
his  niece.  Teresa  was  only  thirteen,  but  we  are  assured  she 
iind  the  zeal  of  an  apostle. 

IJattle-scarred  wai'riors  gave  willing  ear  to  lier  girlish  ex- 
lioitations;  and,  on  returning  to  the  Huron  country,  they 
published  h(M' fame  to  the  whole  trilje.  "  TiMvsa  has  mora 
sense,"  th(>v  exclaimed,  "than  anv  one  ^^ll()  has  ever  ai)- 
peared  in  our  country.  Doubtless,  the  one  who  has  taught 
her  is  also  the  greatest  genius  among  (h(^  French." 

She  was  (U'eply  attach«'d  to  her  convent  home,  whe^-e  she 
remained  fur  over  two  years.     When  the  day  of  separation 


\ 


'H. 


"   I  4 


n-. 


1,1    ;<  ) 


1,1- 


^  1 


1;  ft 


4S8 


MOTHER  MARY  OF  THE  INCARXATIOX. 


!■     I    V 


ciuiip,  it  was  most  iininful.  The  Jesuit  Fatliers  of  the  Huron 
countrj^  -were  anxious  to  liave  the  intiuence  oi"  the  pious 
young  seminarist  among  her  tribe;'  iind  lu^r  parents  eouht 
no  longer  endure  her  absence.  Teresa,  like  a  br^ive  girl, 
made  tlie  saciilice,  and  bade  adieu  to  her  dear  teachers. 
From  Three  llivers,  she  Avrote  to  Mother  Mary  oi  the  In 
carnation: 

'  •  ]\[ V  D I : A n  Mot  f i  i: ii : 

' '  I  am  aoinu'  to  my  distant  home.  We  are  ready  to 
Btart.  I  thank  you  for  all  the  care  you  have  bestowed  upon 
me.  I  thank  you  for  having  taught  me  to  serve  God.  Is 
it  for  a  thing  of  small  value  that  I  offer  you  my  thanks^ 
Never  shall  I  forget  you.  Teuesa.'" 

There  is,  Ave  fear,  many  a  "young  lady"  of  this  "en- 
liglitencd  age"  whose  numberless  "accomplishments"' 
would  scarcely  enable  her  to  write  with  the  good  sense  and 
])()inted  brevity  of  this  Indian  girl  of  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tui'v;  and  who  could  not  truthfully  say  to  her  t(>achers,  "I 
thank  you  for  having  taught  me  to  serve  God."  Iniunny 
iustitutions  of  to-day  sucli  a  study  is  not  even  elective.  God 
is  absolutely  dismissed  from  the  curriculum,  and  Eeligion 
is  politely  told  to  "get  out,"  or  to  "stand  at  the  door." 
And  wlin'  is  more  amazing  is,  that  this  is  considered  "fash- 
ionable," and  many  persons  who  have  never  been  confined 
ia  a  lunatic  asylum  are  impressed  with  its  "respectability." 


'  Omp  of  tlio  Fiillior'J  xvmtii:      'Tlio  Tndinn  \v1io  Is  n  prnod  Cliristlnn,  nml  rcnlly  zenlous,  doPi 
more  l;ooi1  nmoni:  his  coniitrymcn  ihnn  M'.rpo  Jesuit  mis'-ioiiiirics." 

•  TiTi's.i  spciia-  two  langungus  with  facility,  and  g»ng  In  Iliiron,  French  andLntin.—  Glimpnt 
«f  the  ilonastery. 


ITiiron 
pious 
could 

ft''-') 
cbei's. 
lie  lu 


itly  to 

111)011 

'  Is 
laiiks^ 


CHAPTER  III. 

A   HOLY   TIEKOIXE   TO   Til  10   LAST  GASP. 

A  new  convent  erected— -Fvpils— Letters  of  Mother  Mary 
—  What  a  -pan  of  .coats  (t id— The  fire  /lend— Mother 
Mar  If  siirround.edbi/  fames  -Ihr  escape— Another  con- 
vent raised  vp—The  educcdioned.  inoQra'nime  of  the 
time— Mother  Mary  and  Iter  novices- -The  illustrious 
woman's  accomplisliments — Her  death. 

The  conversion  of  the  Canadian  Indians,  Avliicli  Motlier 
ViWvx  of  the  Incarnation  had  seen  prclignred  as  a  Church 
justenierginu'  from  clouds  and  darkness,  was  now  rapidly  pro- 
liTcssins:.  AVhoh^  tribes  enil)raced  the  Faith,  and  the  fer- 
vor of  the  primitive  ages  was  revived. 

In  order  to  meet  the  growing  wants  of  the  eolony.  a  new 
convent  was  erected.  In  1042  it  was  completed,  anil  Mother 
Mary  and  her  dangliters  bade  adieu  to  Mie  little  tenement 
on  the  wharf,  aiid  took  up  their  quarters  in  a  more  suitable 
edilice.  It  was  stately  for  the  times — built  of  dark-colored, 
ronghly-shap(>d  blocks  of  stone.  It  was  three  stories  in 
height,  twenty-eight  feet  wide,  and  ninety-two  feet  long, 
To  the  Indians,  this  new  "House  of  Jesus"'  was  aAVonder, 
and  many  a  long  journey  was  made  to  see  it. 

Th(^  regular  Indian  pupils,  boarders,  who  were  fed  and 
cloIhfMl  at  the  expense  of  the  convent,  soon  amounted  lo 
eighty.  ]]nt  besides  these,  the  nuns  wei'c  daily  called  upon 
to  give  instruction  to  squaws  in  their  class-rooms,  and  to 
warrior,^  in  their  parlor.  This  was  a  lai'ge  family  to 
attend  to,  but  (he  skill,  piety,  genius,  and  wondcM'ful  busi- 
n(\ss  capacity  of  iVrother  j\Iary  of  the  Incarnation  mada 
her  eqmd  to  every  demand. 

The  k^tters  of  the  illustrious  woman  during  this  period 

489 


i  I.: 


;  t 


i  ■'!;:> 


i^f 


.1 


400 


MOTHER  MARY  OF  THE  INCARXATIOy. 


arc  most  cliaracterisdr.  It  is  not  coiicci'iiin.!:;-  licr  pupils, 
her  labors,  :nid  \\o.v  wants  tliat  slus  cliieliy  entertains  her 
Iriends.  In  lier  bonndless  charity,  slio  idontiiies  lierself 
Avitli  \\\\  wlto  labor  for  the  conversion  of  tlie  Indians.  Iler 
oa,u;le  glance  sweeps  over  tlie  vast  iields  oE  ndssiunary  /e;d 
from  the  Gidf  of  St.  Lawn.-nce  to  the  (Ireat  Lakes,  Slie 
nuMibei's  tlie  chapels  that  are  built,  the  Iniptisnis,  the  holy 
deaths.  AN'cll  slie  kniAvs  all  the  roving  clans  that  come  to 
be  insrnict(  (1.  And,  after  tilling-  ten  or  more  pages  with 
such  topics,  she  adds:  "A  word  now  of  our  seminarists." 
They  give  us  every  possible  satisfaction.  Their  piety, 
their  devotion  to  the  Blessed  Sacranujnt,  theli"  docility,  their 
generosity  in  overcoming  their  defects — all  this  is  ravishing. 
]]ur  it  strikes  us  less,  now  that  we  are  accustomed  to  it." 

At  other  times  she  merely  says:  "God  has  blessed  our 
labors  this  year,  as  in  preciMling  ones.  We  have  as  much 
as  we  can  do.  especially  during  the  winter  months,  when  the 
braves  li'nve  us  their  chihlren  while  they  go  to  hunt." 

iVdversity,  however,  was  about  to  frown  on  this  fair  scene. 
The  year  IG.jO.  so  fertil  in  trials  and  disasfers.  was  drawing 
tc  a  close  The  dim  shadows  of  a  clear,  cold  December 
evening  cast  themselves  over  the  snow-white  landscape; 
and  the  lieauliful  constellations  which  light(  d  the  wintry 
liruiament  with  si)lendor  were  marking  the  progress  of  the 
night  The  happy  inmates  of  the  convent  had  gone  to 
rest;  but  there  was  soinvtliinf/  that  did  not  sl(v>2). 

It  was  a  i)an  of  coals,  which  <jne  of  the  sisters,  charged 
with  baking,  had  placed  beneath  lier  bi'ead- trough,  well 
closed  aiouud  with  the  napkin  that  covertMl  the  dough.  It 
was  not  her  custom  to  take  this  precaution  to  hasten  the 
action  of  the  yeast;  but  this  was  bread  for  New  Yeai''s  Day. 
It  was  lu'r  wish  to  have  it  light.  The  coals  thus  placed  on 
i  aity  were  unperceived,  and,  alas  !  forgotten. 

The  lire  was  making  sad  havoc,  when  one  of  the  nuns  sud- 
denly leaped  fi'om  her  humble  conch.  All  were  asleep. 
The  llames  were  just  bursting  through  the  door  of  the  sleep- 
iiig-i'ooiu,  as  she  ci'iedout :   '"Cp  for  your  lives,  childi'cn,  and 

•  Ucr  pupils. 


MOT  HER  MART  OF  THE  INCARXATIOX. 


40J 


llyl"  i^li'^  rnsli'cd  to  the  nuns'  dormitory,  and  giive  tint 
ahirsn:  ''Wake!  Wake!  tlie  house  is  on  lire.  Quick,  and 
f;;ive  tlie  cliildreii!  " 

111  a  moment,  one  and  ;dl  wen;  aware  of  tlie  peril.  'I'Ik; 
fiiv  \v;is  upon  tliem  on  every  side.  A  nun  rushed  to  Ilie 
)),'!I,  to  yive  warning  of  their  dani;-er.  'l'!i(!  clooi'  \v;iy 
opened,  and  the  starlied  inmates  of  tlie  doomed  convent  bt- 
<i;iu  to  pass  out.  But  the  smok(j  Idinded,  and  [\w  iinmes 
ll'W  like  Ii;j,'!ilning.  E.u'h  sisrcr  became  a  heroine,  and  seiz- 
in ;•  th(^  little  inno(;ents  in  their  arms,  they  hui'ried  them 
(),!t.  Suddenly  the  door  pne  way  but  those  brave  ladies, 
jvLiardU'ss  of  the  danu'er  of  sun'ocation,  daslied  throui;h 
p:issnae-ways,  antl  hastened  with  their  jjrecious  charges  to 
;i  jilacf!  of  safe'ty. 

Mother  Mary  of  the  Incarnation,  chief  of  those  lieroincs, 
ever  <'alm  and  self-possessed,  did  what  she  could  to  save 
(he  lives  f)f  ii(>r  dear  iiiipils  and  compiinions;  and  tiien,  with 
thiinghtful  care,  she  grasped  the  ])ai)ei's  of  the  Community, 
;iiid  !ittempt(Hl  to  carry  away  some  clothing  for  the  nuns, 
ulio  h:id  al),  in  their  night-dresses,  rushed  from  tlu;  house 
\s\\\\  I  he  cliildren.  She,  was  ah)ne  in  the  midst  of  the  bui'n- 
ing  mass.  The  llames  wert^  consundng  the  rooms  beneath; 
llie  crackle  of  tiie  victorious  lire  coidd  be  heard  overhead, 
;i!id  was  rapidly  approa,ching  her  person,  when,  after  bow- 
ing to  her  crucilix,  to  signify  her  perfect  submission  to  the 
v.ill  of  (rod,  she  Hew  along  the  passage  of  the  dormitory 
to  a  staircase— now  the  only  exit  possible.  IIa])iiily,  it  was 
frei\  and  in  a  moment  she  was  at  the  dooi-,  where  she  met, 
liie  I'^ither  Superior  of  the  Jesuits  and  all  his  household, 
who  had  hurried  to  the  rescue. 

Xot  one  perished  on  that  eventful  night;  some,  it  is  true, 
we;' >  nearly  naked,  but  all  were  saved  from  tlie  savage 
•lames.  As  they  gazed  at  their  late  home,  tln-y  saw  the 
iianu's  rising  higher  and  higher,  wreathing  their  way 
through  the  wooden  roof.  At  length,  the  heavy  timbers 
bent,  and  fell  with  a  crash.  It  was  the  bi'ightness  of  day 
at  this  sad  midnight  scene:  and  the  cold,  silent  stars 
looked  down  unmoved. 


*{r 


'imi 


\\ 


I  If 


r 
t; 


4'.)2 


MOT!!/:/,'  MAllY  OF  TIIIC  I  .\<  A  UXATIOV. 


i;  ! 


I  [     ,1' 


W 


"My    licnil,"    wioh^   ixiotlitir   M'iuy  <>!'   Ilit>    Iii'Minjition, 
'' Y>'<'^''|''*"!   ""!  iisii:il   ix'iicc.     1   I'cU  iicillicr  L^rii-I'  iior  :iiix 
iet3%   buf    united    my  A\ill    (•>   His  whose  liiiiid    li;is    jimssciI 
over  us,  l(>:i,\  iiii^'  us  iu  Ihe  st:i(i!  iu  wiiicli  lie  lliuiseil"  \v;is  uL 
this  se.'isoii.  iu  liu' c-nc  of  nethieheiu." 

The  I  isuliiies  :iu(l  iheir  ])iii)ils  were  lit  sultjects  for  Xcw 
Year's  hospitMJily.  'I'lie  Hospital  Sisters  did  evcryl  hiufj,- to 
alleviate  t  he  disli-ess  of  tlu^  sullei'ers.  Duriiii;'  three  weeks, 
with  iiidelati,i;al)le  /eal,  these  *' IViruds  in  need"  fui'uislicd 
materials  and  aided  in  ])ultiu,i.;'  to^'ether  complete  suits  of 
apparel  I'o"  (\aeh  ol'  the  I'rsulines.  'i'he  two  ( '(HMuiuuitics 
niadi'  lull  one;  they  sal  at  the  same  table,  aud  slept  under 
llie  same  roof  Mother  Mary  aud  her  i'elii;ious  couipauioiis 
next  moved  to  the  house  of  Madame  de  la  I'eltrie,  and  there 
feuiained  dui'iuij;  the  liuildiuii,'  ol'  auolher  new  eou\('nl. 

Fil'leen  months  ])assed  awa}',  and  by  t  he  blessing;' of  I'l'ovi- 
dt-nce,  and  the  euer,nv!ie  uund  ol  .Mother  Mary  of  the  ln- 
(■arnation,  the  Irsuliues  aud  their  ])ui)ils  liiid  oiu'e  more  a 
nuiiab|(>  and  substantial  resi(l(Miee.  It  is  the  central  buildiiii;' 
ol  ihat  pile  which  to  day  conslilutes  the  I'rsuliue  (!oii\-('iil, 
at  (.J'.iebee.  'Tlu' nuns  ellecled.  I  heir  remo\-al  on  flle\•i^•il()[ 
i\'iiiecost,  H'i')2\  and  we  are  assured  that  U'W  bag!j,-a^i;'i'- 
waiions  wtM'e  rei]uii'ed  on  the  occasion. 

'rinjeducatu)aal  pi'on'ramine  ol' this  piou(>er  female  academy 
of  Canada  was  mo~;r,  sensible,  ]. radical,  aud  ('hristian.  \l 
was  lit  the  soventoontli  century,  we  must  remember,  and 
there  \vere  ftnviM"  subjcvts  tau,u'ht  than  nt  pi'eseiit.  I'uit 
what  v.'as  done,  was  done  thoron,!;lily.  The  puj)i!s  weiv 
t:iu,u'ht  iWidiii'J,",  jxrammar,  tho  ('hristian  Iveliuiou,  Sacred 
History,  ])raciical  arithmetic,  ]>onmansliip,  and  needlework. 
\V(>  hear  no  mention  of  a  piano,  and  the  forinidabh^'o/'^y/^s^ 
were  onoited;  but  it  remained  for  our  day  to  ti'v  the  ridicii- 
Ions  expiMimeiU  of  studying  I'vorything — a  sure  road  to  the 
mastery  of  notliiui};. 

Dnrinii;  tli(>  wiutei-  of  1005,  ^fotlior  ^fnry  of  tlie  Tiicania- 
tion  was  surrounded  b}^  a  class  of  novices.  These  youni>; 
religious  were  eager  tn  render  themselves  useful,  and  to 
avail  themselves  of  her  knowledge  of  the  Indian  languaties. 


MOTIIHU    l/.i/,  ,    Oh'  'II II-:  ISCMIXATIOM. 


403 


■n.-ifion, 

was  a  I, 
I  in-  (() 

weeks, 

IlisillMl 

nils  of 

IlllilicS 
IIIkIcj' 

|»;iiii(iiis 

(I    thcli; 


IIIV 


]mi1'    tlieil     helielil,   ;iii(|     for    (lie    use    of    the     ol  lief    IIIUIS,     t  ll(! 

x('iii'r:il)le  l;i»ly  jtivpireil  ;i I  Miis  tiiiii' :i  ciilorliisiii  in  lliiioii, 
lliice  (Miecliisiiis  in  A !,;:i)M()ii ill,  and  ti  lai',L,n)  (lictiidiary  ia 
IVciM'li  and  .\I,l;(')II(1ii!!i.  After  compleliii.L!;  this  literary  labor 
(il  love  for  11  le  India  11  rare,  she  w  lote  in  K'.i;  h  "  \\'e are  still 
iiioiv  (M'ciii)Ieil  ill  the  classes  for  I  Iks  I'^reiirli  ( hihlreii;  and 
il  is  certain  that;  il  («i);l  had  ikiI,  sent  the  I'rsiiliiics  to 
{ '.iiiada,  t  hey  would  \m  left  lot  he  most,  deploi'ahle  i^-n()ianc(\ 
AM  I  lie  yoiiiiu;  ^irls  in  rlie  coiintry  pass  thi'oimli  onr  hands; 
iiud  I  his  causes  piety  and  religion  to  lioiirish  everywhere. 
The  I'^reiicli  population  hein;.';  rapidly  on  the  iiHU'easo,  onr 
cinployineiits  ninst:  keep  pici^  with  that,  inci'case." 

To  the  last,  day  of  her  heaiitifnl  life,  this  heroit;  woiiain 
w as  t  he  i;'i'eaf,  teacher,  model,  and  motJie.rof  her  (Jommiiniiy. 

S!ie  \vlole  several  text   l)ooks  ill   l''re!ieli,  lllll'oli,  ail  I  Al.i;on 
(|llin.       She    excelled     ill    all  kinds  of   liecedleucik    and    eill- 

licoidei'y.  as  well  as  in  paint  inn' and  ,i;-ildin,L;'.  She  sancfilied 
these  aecomplislimeiits  by  cont rilmtiii,!,^  the  fniit  of  lierou  ri 
liaiids  to  the  dc'coralioii  of  (diapels,  (dinrcdies  and  altars  al] 
evi'i' t  he  colony.  She  even  possessed  if'markable  skill  in 
sciilplni'e  aiul  arcliileci  lire,  and  patiently  instriicte(l  tlm 
worl-iiiii'ii  who  wer(!  employed  in  deeoialiim'  thff  interior  of 
the  chiirch,  ,ii;uidim!:  them  in  I'ekition  to  the  proportions  of 
the  colnmns  and  entaJdaliire.  Not  the  niiniiti^st  detail  of 
I  lie  art  escaped  her  eye,  so  I  rained  and  artist  ic. 

Karly  in  .lanwary,  Pw?.  a,  s"rions  illness  threatened  tliM 
precious  life  of  MmiIi'T  ^^ary  of  the  Incariiai  ion.  iler 
pupils  and  liei' spiritual  ('aiiiihters  were  o\-eiu  helmed  with 
;:riel',  andl)e.son,u;ht  IFeavea  lospare  their  beloved  fri'iid  and 
liiotlier.  Kveii  the  venerable  ]iatieiit  herself  was  niiabl<.  to 
tefase  them  the  ('(msolatioii  of  joinin.i,^  in  tlieir  petitions  so 
i'lir  as  to  say:  "  Aty  (<o(k  if  I  niay  yet  bu  of  servic*;  to  tliis 
liitle  community,  I  ri'fnscj  neither  hdjor  nor  fatigue.  Thy 
will  bo  done." 

''^Jo.  my  u'ood  ^rofliei-,"  urLred  the  ]-;ind  Fatlier  Lalle- 
Tiieat.  S.  ,!.,  "yon  must  join  our  i)etitions,  and  ask  to  re- 
TIh^   verv   soul    of    obe'diiuice.  she   did    as  com- 


rov'M'. 


nianded,  and  a  few  weeks  more  were  obtained. 


i:*^! 


4'.n 


MOTHER  MARY  OF  THE  lyCAEXATION. 


:^'!' 


i  hi  I 


1     \ 


At  Irn^irtli,  on  llie  SOtli  of  April,  il  Ix'cnirie  necessary  lo 
udniiuistcr  the  last  Sacraments  ;  and  fioin  that  iiionieiit 
there  wns  sontetliin.ii-  so  divine  al)<)ut  Mollier  Mary  of  tlm 
Incarnation  tliat  she  seemed  no  h,Mif;('r  of  this  eartli.  Fu\u\ 
licarrs  suri'ounihv'd  the  dyin.u'  saint,  whose  humble  pilluw 
iseenied  to  be  the  very  porch  of  Pjiradise. 

One  of  her  old  companions  reminded  her  of  her  gifted 
Hon',  and  asked  a  message  for  him.  Maternal  love  ser'nicd, 
for  an  instant,  to  recall  the  venerable  lady  to  this  -world, 
and  she  answered  with  emotion,  "Tell  him  that  I  ))ear  liim 
away  with  me  in  my  heart.  In  Heaven  I  will  ask  for  his 
perfect  sanctiiication." 

Iler  Fren(di  and  Indian  pnpils  knelt  aronnd  her  to  receive 
lier  last  blessing,  and  to  look  on  that  holy  and  majestic 
countenance,  which  seemed  to  be  illumined  by  a  ray  of  im- 
mortality. She  di(Kl  on  the  30tli  of  April,  lOiy,  aged 
f!(^venty-t\vo  years,  tliirty-three  of  which  she  had  sjient  in 
(.^anada." 

'  Pom  Cliuidc  Martin,  wlioliad  become  a  learned  UuucJictiuofutUcr.  He  wrote  a  life  of  higllliis- 
triniis  motlior. 

'  Tin:  cause  of  the  beatit:?ation  of  Mother  Mary  of  the  Incarnation  is  now  in  active  progress 
at  Rome. 


ir^ 


fl<»niciil; 
of  (!,„ 


MISS   JANE   MANCE, 


FOUNDREf^S  OF  THE  HOSPITAL  NUNS  OF  ST.  JOSEPH  IN  CANADA.' 


CHAPTER  I. 

EARLY  YEARS  OF  OUlt  IIEKOINE. 

BhiJt  and f am II) I— Iter  sinr/ular  vli'ihlhood—Ihr  clLarm- 
■iiuj  p'ldy — A  n'inarl'ahh'.  tocalUni — lit/  confcsHof  s  <yp- 
'jHjsitioii — The  Jhulicss  dc  BnlVtoii — De  la  Daurcrsure 
— Finally/  ddcriiiitics  to  go  to  Montreal. 

]\riss  Jane  ^Tanco,  wlioso  uaino  is  jnsfly  famous  in  the 
eai'ly  liistory  of  t.'anacTti,  was  boin  in  1006  at  N(\<ieut-]e-Ii()i, 
wliicli  is  soiiKi  distance  from  Langres,  in  France.  She  be- 
longiMl  to  a  most  honorable  family. 

In  more  than  one  place  the  lives  of  the  Saints  display  the 
fact  that  tliere  ai'(;  certain  children  on  whom  God  has  i>artic- 
iilar  designs,  and  \yhose  spiritual  nature  becomes  singularly 
developed  even  in  their  most  tender  years.  Such  a  child 
was  Jane  Mance.  At  six  or  seven  years  of  age  she  formed, 
tlie  astonisliing  resolution  of  consecrating  lierself  to  tfod  by 
a  vow  of  joerjietual  chastity.  "Often,"  Avrites  one  of  her 
religious  companions,  "she  herself  related  to  nie  this 
incident  of  lun-  childhood." 

But  thi>  bc'iutiful  piety  Avhich  she  professed  was  entirely 
free  fioiu  iliosH  faults  but  too  common  to  devout  iiersons.  It 

'  Cliief  aiuliori(ii>«  ii«i>(l:  Alilii'  Fiiillnii.  ''Vie  do  Mile.  Mnnoc  et  nistoire  di^  I'lIotclDleii  de 
Vilic  Marie  c1:iiih  I'ile  ili"  >riititn'.'il.  en  Ciinnda;"  Anon..  '•Anniilcs  on  Histolro  iK^  '  Institiinon 
dis  licliu'U'iHrs  Ilo^pit.-ilicrcs  dc  S.'iiiit  .iDsciih  pons  la  Ki".;!!'  do  Saint  Aiiiiusluii';'  Alil'i'  Krr.and 
"Coiiri  dlllsdilro  dn  r.niada:"  I'.arknian,  "  Tlio  .Icsr.its  in  Xnrtli  .Vmcrica:'  MaoLooil.  "  Ml^torv 
of  Divotion  to  the  Blossod  Viririn  in  North  America;"  Cliarlcvoix,  "History  and  GonorUi 
Descriiition  of  Ncv  Franco;'  Larochc-Hcron,  "  Lc^  Scrvanlo.'<  <lo  Dion  on  Canadii." 

495 


a 


% 


40'* 


MISS  JANE  MAXCE. 


i 


\     :  I 


5      i 


!  :i 


■was  clotlit'd  in  no  stiff  in;innfMisin.  Tt  nevor  stood  in  tlu^ 
way  of  other  duties.  It  was  never  disai;Teoa))le.  The  "i'l-eut 
I'ectitnde  of  the  3'onnuf  girl's  soul,  the  eluvation  and  no 
l)ility  ol' her  sentiments,  and,  ab.)vo  all,  tlu^  Divine  wisdmn 
by  which  she  was  <i,iiided,  made  her  leaiii  to  do  all  ior  God 
without  in  nny  way  oU'etidino-  the  claims  and  courtesies  of 
the  world.  'J'lius  sla^  grew  uj),  and  in  time  became  an 
acconi]^lished  woman,  ol'  delicate  constitution  and  dignilied, 
graceful  bearing. 

Tiiough  leading  the  life  of  a  religious  in  tlie  world.  Miss 
Mance  felt  no  vocation  for  the  chaster.  On  the  death  of 
Ian- ]iarents,  thin'efor(\  she  found  herself  eutirt;  mistress  of 
her  aclions.  She  placeil  no  bounds  to  her  fervor  She  felt 
gradually  taking  i)ossession  cf  her  soul  a  gicat  desii-e  to 
serve  Christ  and  His  Holy  Mother  in  some  barbaioiis 
country.  The  piM'u^al  of  the  Jesuit  lii'hdioiix  and  the  re- 
jjort  of  Madame  de  la  Peltric^s  lal)ors  in  Canada  fanned  the 
flame  in  her  breast,  and  she  felt  that  she  had  now  found 
her  ti'ue  vocation.  It  was  to  go  to  the  wild  l)anks  of  the 
historic  St.  Lawrence. 

\Vhat  Canada  is  slie  has  no  idea,  or,  at  li^ast,  a  very  con- 
fused and  indistinct  one.  IJei-  fi'iends  think  it  is  a  notion 
caught  from  the  perusal  of  sonu;  traveler's  story.  Her  con- 
fessor is  ccnisulted.  lie  lias  never  heard  of  Montical.  and 
he  treats  his  penitent  as  a  visionary:  but,  as  she  persists  in 
hei-  m)tions,  h(?  wj'ites  to  Paris  for  information. 

Tlu^  answers  confirm  the  ])ur])ose  of  Miss  !Mance.  She 
goes  to  Pai'is,  is  introduced  to  tlu^  Duchess  de  I'lillion.  a 
great  friend  of  the  Monti'eal  Scheme.  The  vocation  is  ti'ied, 
ascertained  and  followinl.  '*Iwill  go,"  s]i(>  said;  "give 
nie,  Madam:\  a  letter  to  the  Directors  of  the  Company." 
Th(»  ]»ious  Du(diess  gave  her  a  note  to  Mr.  de  la  Dauver- 
siere,  and  a  ])ui'se  of  i?0,00()  livres  for  expenses. 

She   i)Ui'sued  her  way  to   New   Rocludle,  wlauice   !-' 
were  to  sail  for  Canada.     On   the  day  aftei-  he]'   arriv, 
that  city,  as  she  entered  the  church  of  the  Jesuit  Fatlu  .  , 
she  met  a  gentleman  coming  out.     It  was  Dauversiei'e. 

"Then,"  says   the   Abbe   I'aillon,  "these   two   i)ersons, 


.^aaMijMB. 


Mii^s  jam:  .uaxck 


407 


wlio  li:i<l  never  seen  nor  lieai'd  of  earh  other,  were  eiili;i,lit- 
eiied  superiiiitiii'ally,  \vlieivl)y  tliVir  most  liiddeii  thoii.ulits 
\v"r(! nmliiiilly  made  known/'  A  lon^  conversaiinn  ])assed 
lietween  tlieiii;  and  the  deliij,lits  of  tliis  interview  weie 
never  elfaeed  IVom  tlie  mind  (if  Miss  Manee.  "She  used  to 
speak  of  it  llkt;  a  serajiii,"  writes  Sister  'Miwy  M<»rin, 
"iind  far  better  than  many  a  learned  Doctor  conhl  ]iavo 
done." 

In  all  probability,  she;  was  warned  that  the  rude  walls  of 
^Montreal  must  bo  cemented  in  blood;  that  there  v.cre  tribes 
of  hostile  sava^^es  who  wonhl  oppose,  perhai^s  de.-lioy,  Iho 
striiii'glin,^' colony;  and,  tinally,  that  she  would  be  all  alono 
to  care  lor  the  sick  and  wounded.  But  when  these  repio- 
seiitations  only  increased  tlui  licKa'c  lady's  zeal,  the  j^ood 
old  man  blessed  (u)d  and  bad<'  her  ^o  in  His  holy  name.'' 
i\nd  when  he  did  that,  he  laid  \]h)  fouiulalion  of  the  famous 
llutel-Dien  in  Montr(>al,  wlicr(>  now  do/.ens  of  (hooted  nuns 
are  consecrated  to  the  service  of  Christ  in  his  poor! 

1  Si-Irr  Mdiiii  was  Ilir  lir-t  I'liiiailiiiii  mm  lli.il  jdiiicil  tliu  Uiis]>itil  Si.-^ri'i-s  of  St,  Josc'iili.  Ulia 
mlmil  ihc  J/n/cl  /lien  at  MmUrrul,  in  Il'.m.  iil  llii'  under  n^v  of  tliirtci'ii  ycavei  mid  ii  liiilf.  'I'liig 
tidiilly  lady  was  Ilir  aullior  of  the  .liiml.<  di'l  lliitd  /AC'i,  and  lived  to  seu  iiiori!  tlian  foiii-  si  (Jio 
years. 

•  slio  had  fdiiiid  lierclttliiij-.  Tho  ottiui,  Uc  wilderiiteB,  tlie  solituiio,  the  iroii'.iois— uolLuiif 
•kiuiled  her.— i'U/"..v«»- 


!         J 


'I     ' 


CHAPTER  11. 

THE  TOWN   OF  MARY. 

Montreal— Bautersierc— The  Ahbe  Oiler— A  vision— The 
sirtf/'thir  i/iferciew  between  Oiler  and  Dauccrslere— 
A  (jient  deaiiin  assumes  shape— The  mevtorable  eers- 
man//  at  JVotre  Dame  Cathedral— Glance  at  the  'plau  — 
]\I(i isoii neufe—2[iss  Mance  sails  In  the  expedition  for 
Canada— At  Quebec— Up  the  St.  Lawrenee—Arrlral  at 
the  site  of  Montreal— The  landing—The  first  allnr— 
2Iass— Father  Vlnionfs  address— The  blrth-nlght  of 
Ilontreal. 

The  ]:ii,2:'st  oify  on  the  St.  Lava-ence  had  r^  remarlxnble 
origin.  Tlio  stoiy  of  its  early  clays  has  become  a  part  of 
American  liistoi-y.     AVe  inust  glance  at  it  iicre. 

While  Canada  was  yet  nearly  all  a  wilderness,  God  in- 
spired a  pious  layman  to  establish  a  colony  in  honoi'  ol"  the 
Most  Blessed  Virgin  on  the  Island  of  Montrenl.  This  was 
Jerome  le  lloyer  de  la  Dauversiere,  a  gentleman  of  Anjoa, 
in  I'^rance. 

'there  lived  at  Paris,  at  this  time,  i  yonng  priest,  the 
Abbo  -Tohn  James  Olier,  afterwards  known  as  the  illnstrio.is 
fomuh-r  of  the  Seminary  of  St.  Sulr^icc  The  AlnJghty,  it 
seems,  inspired  him  with  a  similar  design. 

Dnuversirre  pondcrtMl  the  revelatioii  which  he  had  re- 
ceived, became  crmvinced  :hat  it  was  from  (Jod.  and  set  out 
for  Paris  to  lind  some  means  of  accomplishing  the  assigned 
task.  As  he  prnyed  fo.-  new  light  in  the  famous  Church  of 
Kotre  Dame,  he  was  f;i''-ored  with  a  vision  in  which  Christ 
assured  him  I  hat  1u>  would  not  want  for  wisdom  and  strength 
to  do  his  vv'oik.     lie  was  comforted. 

From  Paris  this  gocd  gentlenuin  wer  t  to  the  neighboring 

498 


I   ' 


•l 
i 


-The 


MISS  J.L\E  jIAyCR. 


499 


clutteau  of  Meiulon,  Avliioli  overlooks  the  valley  of  the 
Seine,  not  far  iroiu  8t.  (.'loud.  lie  entered  the  gallery  of 
t!i  >  old  castle,  and  saw  a  i)rie,st  aii^jroaehing  him.  It  was 
the  A'.tlie  Olier.  Tiiey  had  never  seen,  or  even  heard  of 
eaeii  (tlliei';  yet,  Impelled  by  u  kind  of  inspiratii>n,  they  rec- 
ognized one  aiiotlier  at  once,  even  to  the  depths  of  their  hearts; 
aii'l  -.iluting  each  other  by  name,  as  avc  read  of  St.  Anthony 
and  Si.  Paul  the  Ilermil,  they  end^raced  like  two  friends 
^\■\\■)  had  met  after  a  long,  long  separation. 

'•Sii'."'  exclaimed  tlie  Abbe  Olier.  "I  know  ronr  design, 
and  I  go  to  coaunend  it  to  God  at  tlu?  holy  altar." 

And  he  wont  at  once  to  say  ]S]ass  in  the  chapel.  Danver- 
siei'e  received  the  Holy  Commnnion  at  his  hands;  and  then, 
afrer  thanksgiving,  tliey  Avalked  for  three  hours  in  the 
park,  discussing  their  pdans.  They  were  of  one  nnnd  in 
]('.[iect  both  to  objects  a!ul  means;  and  A\hen  lliey  parted 
the  Abbo  Olier  gave  Dau\ersiere  a  hundred  louis,  saying: 
'•Tills  is  to  begin  the  work  of  God."  ' 

The  pious  undertaking  at  once  began  to  shajie  itself.  A 
Society  was  fornnxl.  It  was  in  1030  that  the  Company  of 
jMontival  was  founded  ••for  the  conversion  of  the  savages 
and  the  maintenance  of  the  Catholic  religion  in  Canada." 
Five  jiriests,'  a  Cardinal,"  a  Duchess,  two  Dukes,  twelve 
olher  nol)ies,'  and  a  simple  Sister  of  Charity,  formed  the 
as^iieiatiou;  and,  for  four  years,  they  labored  faithfully 
te  biin  ■■  liieir  scheme  into  successful  operation.  Their  plan 
wiis  this-  lo  bu.ild  u])on  the  Island  of  Montreal  a  town 
which  siiDuld  be  at  once  a  home  for  the  missions,  a  defense 
against  tiie  Indians,  a  center  of  commerce  for  the  neighbor- 
ing jteople,  whicli  should  b(>  consecrated  to  the  Most  Holy 
\ii_in,  and  be  called  IV/Zc-J///;-/?.' 


'  riukniiui.        '•'  Tliu  Al)l)i!  Oliur  xvas^  oml-.        '  nkhulicii.        ■•  Oiu'  of  whom  wiik  DiiuvtTnii'ro. 

'  T;i''  liiwii  iif  Mary. 

Or  In  (|iii>ti'  iliu  words  of  Pfiikmnu:  "  Tliry  iiroposod  to  foiiml  at  ^roiitronl  llircc  rclitrio'is  rom- 
ii'Muiiii'S— //(;v(i  hi'iiiii  (lu!  mystic  iiniiilu'r— oin'  of  secular  priests  to  direct  the  colonials  and  con- 
\!'.l  (lie  IiiiliMiis,  one  of  lions  to  niir -e  llie  sick,  and  one  of  inins  lo  Icaeli  tlie  Kaltli  to  tlic  chil- 
dren, white  and  red.  To  liornnv  their  own  iilM'ases— they  wonld  plant  the  haniier  of  Christ  in  an 
nlioile  of  dcolaliou  and  a  liatiiU  'jf  demons;  and  to  this  end  a  hand  of  Jiriests  and  women  were 
to  invade  the  wilderness,  and  take  pusl  butwceu  the  fani,'»  of  the  IronnoU."— y/i*  Jesuits  in 


la 


I  hi 


1! 

IT 


*H 


l"l 


>.l 


[■^'\ 


j  I 


1 
■ 

J 
1    : 

.   i 

i      : 

r 


m-i 


600 


3fISS  JANE  MANCE. 


"  So,  when  nil  was  ready,  on  the  morrow  of  the  Feast  of 
our  Lady's  riii'iticatioii,  rlu'  .\ssociates  assembled  m  the 
Catliedi'al  Cliundi  of  2s'otre  Daiiu-.  'Plie  Alibe  Olier  oilVj'ed  up 
the  Holy  Sac;''iee  at  thealtarol'  the  Blessed  Virgin,  whereat 
all  tlie  laieseonimunicatcd,  while  those  of  the  Company  who 
were  i)riests  said  l\hiss  at  otliwi'  altars  witli  llie  same  in- 
tenti(m,  fen'venlly  imphjiing  the  Qiuen  of  Angels  to  Mess 
their  enterprise,  and  to  take  the  Island  of  Montreal  under 
her  holy  a.nd  most  especial  ])r()te(iion/' 

The  collection,  after  this  ceremony,  was  200.000  fi'ancs. 

"  Now,"  A^;rites  the  non-Catliolic  I'arknian,  "  to  look  for 
a  niomeut  at  their  plan.  Their  e»ilogists  say,  and  with  ])er- 
fect  truth,  that,  from  a  worldly  point  of  view,  it  was  mere 
folly.  The  partners  mutually  bound  themselv(\s  to  seek  no 
return  for  the  money  expend»Kl.  Their  juolit  A\as  to  be 
reaped  in  the  skies;  and,  indeed,  thei'e  was  none  to  be  reaped 
on  eai'th.  The  feeble  s(>ttlement  at  Quebec  was  at  this  time 
in  danger  of  utter  ruin,  for  the  Jroipiois,  eiu'aged  at  the 
attacks  made  on  them  by  Champlain.  had  begun  a  fearful 
course  of  retaliation,  and  the  very  existence  of  the  eoleriy 
trend)led  in  the  balance, 

"But  if  Quebec  was  exposed  to  their  feroeious  inroads 
Montreal  was  incomparalily  -mort;  so.  A  seitlement  hero 
would  be  a  perilous  outpost— a  hand  thrust  iub)  [\w  jaws 
of  the  tiger.  It  would  i>rovoke  attack,  and  lie  almost  in 
the  path  of  the  war-paities.  The  Associates  could  gain 
nothing  by  tlie  fur-trade;  for  they  were  not  allowed  to  share 
in  it. 

"On  the  other  hand,  danger  apart,  the  place  Avas  an  ex- 
cell(>nt  one  for  a  mission;  fur  here  met  two  great  rivers -I  he 
St.  Lawrence,  with  its  couutK>ss  ti'il)utaries,  llowed  in  freai 
the  Avest,  Avhile  the  Ottawa  descended  from  the  north,  and 
Montreal,  endtraced  by  their  uuiling  waters.  Avas  the  key  in 
avastirdaudnavigation.  Thither  the  Indians  Avould  naturally 
resort;  and  thence  the  missionaries  could  make  their  way 
into  the  heart  of  a  boundless  healhend(Hn,  Xone  of  the  Or- 
dinary motives  of  colonization  had  part  in  this  design.  It 
owed  its  coucMption  audits  birth  to  religious  zeal  alone."' 


.IJ.  -i 


MISS  J.  1 XE  ^r.  1  xcE. 


noi 


Danversiere  and  his  roniiiiiirioii.s'  purdiMscd  tli(>  Island  of 
Montiva],  and  matured  tlieii-  ^iloiions  undt^i'takiii,:;.  First, 
they  would  send  out  foity  lucii  to  take  jxisscssion  oi'  llie 
island,  intrench  tlieniselvi^s,  uiid  I'aise  crops,  'i'hen  tliey 
would  build  a  liouse  for  the  missionaries,  and  two  convents 
for  the  nuns.  Tu  the  nu'antiinc  the  Al-be  ()li(4'  was  toi!- 
iiiir  near  Talis  to  found  the  seminary  of  i)i!csts,  and  Dau- 
vcrsieie.  at  La  Fleclie,  limt  himself  to  the  work  of  forni- 
iiig  a  conimunity  of  hospittd  nuns.  liow  tiu:>  school  ni;ns 
\v(M'e  provided,  we  sludl  learn  in  the  life  of  ?.Iother  Mar- 
garet liourii'eois.'' 

The  Associates  needed  a  soldicr-Jioveriior  to  talu'  charge 
of  their  forty  men ;  and,  no  donbr  directed  by  I'rovitlcnce, 
tlipy  soon  found  a  rare  man.  This  was  Paul  de  Choinedpy, 
Siciir  de  ]\raisonneuv(\  a  devout  and  valiant  gentleman, 
whost^briii'lit  sword  had  flashed  on  many  a  liard contested 
tjeld.  Avho,  in  an  a.u'e  of  heresy,  had  ke|!t  the  l-'aith  inia<'t, 
and  whose  life  shone  like  a  star  in  tlie  midst  of  I  he  iin- 
l)iid]ed  licens{>  by  ■which  lie  was  surrounded,  lleliad  made  a 
vow  of  chastity.  He  loved  his  jtrofession  of  arms,  and 
wishiMJ  to  consecrate  his  swoid  to  the  (Jhurcii.' 

One  of  the  vessels  that  borf>  this  <:allant  soldiei'  and  his 
forty  men  had  the  honor  of  carrying  Miss  ?ilance  across 
the  sioniiy  Atlantic,  on  her  heroic  mission  of  charily.  The 
expinlirion  landed  al  Quebec  too  late  in  th«'  season  of  Kill 
to  ascend  to  Montreal.  The  long  and  dicary  winter  Iiad  to 
])!•  passeil  at  (Quebec. 

Jvirly  in  May  ]\raisonneuve  and  his  followers,  accom- 
p.inied  by  ]\riss  ^NfaiU'e.  began  <•  push  their  w.ay  uj)  the  St. 
Lawrence,  'i'hey  had  gained  an  uiu^xpected  I'ecruit  during 
the  V  inter  in  tlie  ])erson  of  Madtime  de  la  l^eltrie,  the  jiioiis 
foundress  of  the  Crsidine  Convent  at  (Quebec.  This  little 
band  of  chosen  Catholics  was  to  found  the  greatest  city  in 
Canada.' 

'*()n    th(>  JTth   of   :\Iay,    10!:?,    ]\Iais(mnenve's   little   llo- 

'  'ri;;U  i«.  the  Coinp.iny  i)f  Moiitival.        '•'  Soi"  p.  "  r;iikiimii. 

*  l!!  iiKiiiy  of  Us  n^|lu^■ls  llii»  (•iili  rjiri-o  of  Moiitrcnl  bplon2;t'<l  'o  \\v  ;iiiH'  of  iIk'  ll!'«t  Cnisiiilc*. 
Til'   ^\..\\\  of  l-yillrc.v  ilt'  lloi:illuii  U\!.ll  ii^^alli  in  Clioun-iUj  ilc  .M;i.m  v.v.\:\\\v.—1\u  kiiutii. 


re. 


fi ; 


!i 


t-"  ■;• 


r'  t 


;  (I 


603 


Mrss  JA^E  MA. van. 


tilla— a  pinnace,  a  flat-bottomed  craft  moved  by  sails,  and 
two  row-boats— approaclied  .Montreal;  and  all  on  board 
raised  in  unison  a  hymn  of  praise.  Montinagny'  was  with 
them,  to  deliver  the  Island,  in  belialf  of  the  Company  of  the 
Hundred  Associates,  to  ]\faisonneuve,  representative  of  tlie 
Associates  of  Montreal.'  And  here,  too,  was  Father 
Vimont,  Superioi-  of  tlie  missions,  for  the  Jesuits  had  been 
prudently  invited  to  accept  the  spiritrml  charge  oi  the 
young  colony 

"On  the  following  day,  they  glided  along  the  green  and 
solitary  shores,  now  thronged  with  the  life  of  a  busy  city,  and 
landed  on  the  spot  which  Champlain,  thirty-one  years  1)e- 
foi-e,  had  chosen  as  the  lit  site  of  a  settlement  It  was  a 
tongue  or  triangle  of  land,  formed  by  the  jiinction  of  a 
rivulet  wirh  the  St.  LawrcMice,  ;ind  known  afterwards  as 
Point  Calliere.  The  rivulet  Avas  bordered  by  a  meadow, 
and  beyond  rose  the  forest  with  its  vanguard  of  scattered 
trees.  Early  spring  llowers  were  blooming  in  the  young 
grass,  and  birds  of  varied  plumage  llitted  among  the 
boughs. 

Maisonnenve  sprang  ashore,  and  fell  on  his  knees.  His 
followers  imitatf^d  his  example-,  and  all  joined  tlxMr  voices 
in  enthusiastic  songs  of  thanksgiving  Tents,  baggage, 
arms,  and  stores  were  landed.  An  altar  was  raised  on  a 
pleasant  sjiot  near  at  hand;  and  ^[ad('moiselle  ^fance.  with 
adadame  de  la  Peltrie.  a'di'd  by  the  servant,  Charlotte  Bane, 
decoi'ated  it  with  a  taste  which  was  the  admiration  of  the 
beholders. 

"Now  all  the  company  gathered  before  the  shrine.  IT(M'.> 
stood  Yimont,  in  the  rich  vestments  of  Ids  ofUce.  Uim'o 
v.-ei'fi  the  two  ladi(\s,  with  their  servant;  ]\fontm;;gny,  no  very 
willing  s])(H'tator;  JNfaisonneuve,  a  warlike  figure,  erect  and 
tall,  his  men  tdustcring  ai'onnd  1dm — soldiers,  sailoi's,  arti- 
sans, and  laborers — all  alike  soldiers  at  need.     They  kneeled 


'  Till"  (invcrnor  of  CJiicboc. 

'  In  I'Jfl'l.  till'  Coniiiauy  of  >roiitrnil.  wliopo  only  nltjccl  was  the  convrrxion  of  'ho  pavn;;r!»  re- 
gl^MK'il  into  tlic  liaiidK  .-if  .lie  rric'^l"  of  St.  SiMpioc  nil  sci'jui'nniil  rii'litM  over  (lie  Vlan'I,  litlci* 
conllnniil  a  ciitiiry  later  by  ilic  l!rili"li  (iovcninviit  nfliT  the  conqiKwt  of  raiiada.  And  lliiu 
itu  that  the  Ulosscd  Virgin  Mary  it<  etill  tlie  sovurcigti  udy  of  ^ilontrfu].— Mac Ucil. 


JinSS  JANE  MAXCR. 


COS 


in  reverent  silence  as  tbe  Tlosf  was  raised  alofl,  and  when 
tlie  rite  was  over,  the  priest  turned  and  addressed  them: 

"'Yovi  are  a  grain  of  mustard-seed,  tliat  shall  rise  and 
o-iow  till  its  branches  overshadow  the  earth.  You  are  lew, 
\\{\t.  your  \vorl\  is  tlie  work  ot  God.  Ills  snule  is  on  you, 
and  your  children  shall  till  (he  land.' 

"The  afternoon  waned,  the  sun  sank  behind  the  western 
forest,  and  twilight  came  on.  Fire-tlies  were tAvinkling over 
the  darkened  mtalow.  'riiey  caught  them,  tied  them  with 
threads  into  shining  festoons,  and  hung  thetn  before  the 
altar, where  the  Host  remained  exposed.  Then  they  pitched 
tl'eir  tents,  lighted  their  bivonac  tires,  stationed  their 
guards,  and  lay  down  to  rest.  Such  was  the  birth  night  of 
Montreal." 


ijH 


■llf 


^  n 


f 


li 


t  i 


I  i 


■Mi 


CHAPTER  ITT. 

Tire  noxKKu  iiKijoixi:  of  moxtkeal. 

T7ie  first  Jiofsplial  at  Montredl—YlUc-Maric' s  Guard— 
j\[iss  Mailed  s  seDentccu.  i/rars  'icork — Olicfs  rentarJc-^ 
Ploity  of  Jiof^pital  icor/i — The  fall  on  (he  ice — /.o.v.v  o/ 
her  arm — Voi/afje  to  F ranee  in  eovipann  icilh  Afar- 
gai'et  liour(/i()is — Hie  Diiracnloihs  cure — Madame  de 
Bullion  — Departure  (f  three  Hospital Nuitx  fia-Vanada 
—The  serere  royaije—At  Jfonlreal — i^uffcrini/s  o/'  the 
iiims — TJie  Iroquois — x\  Feu  picture — ^-1  heauiiful 
deatli. 

The  intrepid  Miss  ]\rr.iu'e.  the  ijionecr  licioine  of  ]\rf)nt- 
rea!,  now  lieuaii  lii-r  avoi]\  — a  Avorlv  ■which  is  continued  to 
this  (hiy.  A  house  and  chapel  rose  up  swii'tly.  and  on  tli(? 
loth  of  Alienist,  1(^2,  it  was  op.ened  to  celebrate  the  Feast: 
of  the  Assuiii})tion  of  the  ^Most  Holy  A'ij.uin.  As  the  col- 
ony gi'ew,  the  nund)er  of  its  sick  au^'uiented.  Miss  ]\lance 
was  alone.  Tlie  liouse  was  soon  found  too  small,  and  the 
labor  too  p,-reat  for  any  one  icison.  howe\-er  zealous. 

Ijut  jet  us  lilance  asid(^  for  a  nu)nient  at  the  brave  ju'otect- 
oi's  of  A'illeAlai'ie.  AVhile  all  others  thei(>  were  contiil'- 
litin^  to  the  lionor  of  theii-  heavenly  Patjoness.  their  safety 
was  watcluMl  ovei-  by  the  veteran  guard  of  De  Maison- 
iieuv(>.  Tins  good  commander  liad  enrolled  from  among 
lii.s  soldiei's  sixty  tliree  volunteers,  all  sp.ecially  vuwed  to 
defend  tlie  town  of  Our  Lady.  This  nund)er  was  suggested 
bv  tlu'  years  of  her  blessed  life  on  earth;  and  these  hardy 
sons  of  Old  Fiaiu'e  f(n'med  thus,  in  the  forests  of  America, 
a  soi't  of  nnlifnry  coid'ratei'uity. 

They  met  daily  for  the  recital  of  the  Rosary.  Tliey  woro 
tlie  medal  of  their  order  as  a  military  decoration;  and.  they 

504 


i^^SUfa 


MISS  JANE  MAXCE. 


505 


approjiched  the  holy  snrmTnents  on  all  the  fensts  of  the 
(^iipi^ti  of  Heaven.  J:>iit  it  was  just  on  tin's  account  that 
tliey  were  tlie  tirst  to  confront  the  cannon  of  the  Enii,'li.sli, 
or  to  answer  with  their  battle-cry  of  Aec  Purlssinta!  the 
Wii-w  hoop  of  thelierce  Iroquois. 

Mi.-s  Man('(!  shared  with  joy  the  hai'dships.  danu:ers,  and 
uiitohl  ])i'ivations  whicli  marked  tlie  beg'inning  of  the  new 
town  of  VilleMarie.  During-  seventeen  years  she  had  no 
Oil'!  Id  aid  her,  except  four  or  live  charitable  women,  whom 
slie  lia  Inoug-lit  from  France,  and  avIio  shared  with  her  the 
ceaseless  but  holy  duties  of  attending  to  the  sick  and  the 
wounded  in  tlio  little  hospital. 

There  wa-  something  about  tliis  admirable  lady  Avhich 
impressed  all  with,  whom  she  conversed.  Once  she  visited 
the  venerable  Olier  in  Fiance,  and  he  is  said  to  have  re- 
mm-ked,  tliat  she  was  "full  of  the  light  of  (Jod,  by  which 
Dlie  was  surrounded  as  by  a  sun." 

"]\[ademoiselle  Mance,"  writes Parkman,  "found  no  lack 
of  hospital  work,  for  blood  and  blows  were?  rife  at  Montreal, 
wliere  the  woods  were  full  of  Iroquois,  and  not  a  moment 
was  without  its  peril,  'riioiigh  years  began  to  tell  upon 
her,  she  toiled  patiently  at  her  dreary  task,  till,  in  the  win- 
ter of  10.o7,  she  fell  on  the  ic(!  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  broke 
her  right  arm,  and  dislocated  the  wrist.  Bouchard,  the 
sm'g<'ouof  Montreal,  set  tl;e  biokcn  l,on(  s,  but  did  not  dis- 
cover the  dislocation.  The  ;iim  in  consequence  became 
totally  useless,  and  her  health  v.asted  away  under  incessant 
and  violent  pain. 

"Maisonneuve,  the  civil  and  military  chief  of  the  settle- 
ment, advised  her  to  go  to  France  for  assistance  in  the  work 
to  which  she  was  no  longer  equal:  and  Marguerite  Bourgeois 
whose  impils,  white  nnd  red.  bad  greatly  multiplied,  re- 
solved to  go  with  her  for  a  similar  object.'  They  set  out  in 
September,  1G58,  landed  at  Boch.'lle.  and  w.'ut  thence  to 
Paris.  Here  they  repaired  to  the  Seminary  of  St.  Sulpice; 
for  the  priests  of  this  community  were  joined  with  them  in 


;;t 


'  It  may  here  be  observed  that  a  warm  iiivl  la^tiii,'  frieiulihip  nnitcil  iliese  two  holy  bero.BM, 


.     I 


BOO 


3nSS  JANE  MA^iTE. 


I   I 


!  '    ! 


■   ! 


!  i' 


I  f  i. 


tlieworlc  nt  Montreal,  of  which  they  were  afterwai'ds  to  be. 
come  tlie  feudal  proprietoi-vS,  .  . 

"Oli'ji',  the  i()uii(l-er  of  St.  Sulpice,  had  lately  died,  and 
the  tw'>  pilg-i'inis  would  fain  pay  their  homage  fo  his  he  nt, 
wliifli  the  i)i'iests  of  his  eoinniunity  kept  as  u  precious  ivlit 
euclos(>il  in  a  leaden  l)()x.  The  l)ox  was  brouglit,  wjien  the 
thought  inspired  Mademoiselle  Mancc;  to  try  its  niiiacii 
Ions  efiicacy  and  invoke  the  intercession  of  the  departed 
founder.  She  did  so,  touciiing  lier  disabled  arm  .g'Uily 
with  the  U^aden  casket.  Instantly  a  grateful  warmth  per- 
vaded tlie  sliriveled  limb,  and  from  that  hour  its  use  was 
restored."  ' 

Her  next  care  was  to  visit  Madame  de  Bullion,  a  devont 
lady  of  great  wealth,  who  was  usually  designatiul  at  Moat- 
real  as  ''the  unknown  benefactress,"  because  she  did  not 
trumpet  her  good  acts,  and  her  charities  were  the  main  stay 
of  the  feeble  colony.  This  lady  received  Miss  Manct^  v.irli 
enthusiasm,  and  gave  her  the  munificent  sum  of  1:^2, (;(K) 
francs. 

Our  h(3roine  next  repaired  to  th(»  town  of  Lu  Fluclie,  to 
visit  her  friend,  Dauversiere.  j\Ii:33  Mance,  as  we  havi>  al- 
ready learned,  was  the  pioneer  V\"ho  went  to  Montr(Ml  to 
prepare  the  way  for  the  Hospital  Nuns,  that  for  tla^  hist 
eighteen  yeai-s  Dauversiere  had  labored  to  form  at  La 
FJeche.     The  time  at  liMigtli  was  come.' 

Three  of  the  Hospital  Nuns  of  St.  Joseph,  Sistei's  Judith 
Moreau  de  Bresoles,  Catherine  Mace,  and  ^Mary  Mail  let.  wrw- 
chosen,  and  after  encountering  many  difficulties,  (Mab,\rked 
witli  Miss  Mance  at  Rochelle,  ^largaret  Bourgeois  was  also 
on  board. 

During  the  long  and  stormy  voyage,  these  heroines  of  char- 

'  A  fac-similc  of  the  atfostation  of  Miss  Mance,  written  "  witli  thu  flnyors  once  paralyzcil  anil 
powerless.  '  in  rel:ition  to  this  miracle  can  be  seen  in  .Vlibe  Faillon's,  "  Vie  de  Mile.  Mance,"  p. 
116,  Vol.  I.    For  particulars,  proofs,  etc.,  connnlt  the  whole  chapter. 

•  The  Hospilal  Xiir.i^  of  Rt  Joseph  lieiran  at  Li  Flecho  in  Ifi.lfi.  In  1043  tliey  were  approved 
by  the  liiMiop  of  Atiu;er.«.  Mother  de  la  l-'erre,  meniher  of  n  (li.-liiifiiiif^hed  family  of  .\iijoii,  may 
be  called  the  foiinilreix.  Thi-;  pious  and  most  iisi'fiil  iiislitiife  was  approved  hy  Pope  .Mexaniier 
Vn..  in  liiOiS.  The  memhirs  luaku  the  three  tolemu  vows  of  religion,  uiul  live  in  cloister,  uudef 
the  Utile  of  St.  Angustine. 


MISS  JANE  MANOR. 


507 


Ity  had  abundant  opport  unity  to  exercise  their  zeal  in  the  ser- 
vice of  the  wick.  Tlie  iiltliy  and  infected  sliip  was  bulfeted  by 
storms  for  two  months,  and  the  woebegone  passengers  were 
wasted  by  a  contagious  fevei*.  N(\irly  all  were  attacked. 
Miss  trance  was  reduced  to  oxtI■eInlt\^  Eight  or  ten  died 
iuid  were  dropped  overboard,  aftcM'  u  i)rayer  from  th(!  two 
l)riests.  At  length  land  hove  in  sight;  the  piny  odors  of 
the  forest  regaled  their  languid  senses  as  they  sailed  up  the 
broad  estuary  of  the  St,  Liiwrence,  and  anchored  under  tho 
j'ock  of  (Quebec 

Miss  ]\lance  and  her  religious  companions  soon  set  out, 
for  Montreal."  The  journey  cost  them  iifteen  days  more  of 
danger  and  hardship.  But  they  were  warndy  received;  and 
at  once  bent  themselves  to  the  grand  work  of  their  lives, 

Th(>  poverty  of  the  nuns,  at  lirst,  wa;3  almost  incredible.' 
""NVlien  their  clothes  were  worn  out,"  says  I'arkman, 
"they  w(n'e  unable  to  replac(i  them,  and  v.\ro  forced  to 
patch  them  with  such  material  as  came  to  hand.  Maison- 
nenve,  the  Governor,  and  the  pious  Madame  d'Allebout, 
being  once  on  a  visit  to  the  hospital,  amused  themselves 
witli  tiying  to  guess  of  what  stuu  the  habits  of  the  nuns 
liad  originally  boen  made,  and  wero  unable  to  agree  on  tho 
point  in  question. 

"■Tlieir  chamber,  Avhicli  they  occupied  for  many  years, 
l)eing  Imstily  built  of  ill-seasoned  phinks,  let  in  the  jnercing 
cold  of  the  Canadian  winter  through  countless  cracks  and 

'  I';ukiii:in. 

-  Moiilrcal  at  lluit  tilii'.?  (llirfl)  is  IliiisdoKcnhcd  hy  P;iil<iiiiiii:  "  Tlic  lillic  Mtllciii'  ill  lay  Ijcfore 
ttirin,  i-lill  ;;a-iiiii^  Iji'luixi  lilV  and  dcaili,  in  ii  imiiy,  |<ri'i'ai-liiii<iiifanry.  Sdiiicfurly  Mimll,  coni- 
liac' llOll^^l's  wen:  raniri'd  paralli'l  lo  tlic  rivor,  cliic  tly  iiloiiK  llu'  lii-.f  of  wlint  is  now  St.  I'aiil's 
fliei't.  (Jii  tlic  U'l't  Urto  was  a  lort,  and  on  a  rising' (iioinid  at  Die  rlf^lit  ii  iniissive  wliidmill  of 
hloiioi'ia'loM'd  witli  a  wall  or  palisade  piciccd  for  mu^Iii'try,  and  ansuiTiiij,'  lli'.'  piiipnsc  of  a  ro- 
(loiilitor  lilorU-lionsc.  Field-' stiiddid  with  rliarrcd  and  hhn  koncd  stamps.  iHtwccn  wh  eli  crops 
were  growinj,',  strclclii'd  away  to  llu'  I'ducs  of  the  iMirdfrlii^  lore  ,-t.  and  ilir  irrwii.  sliasrt'y  peak 
cf  the  mountain  ton crcd  over  all.  Tlicre  were  at  tliis  time  a  Iriinlrcd  and  sixty  men  at  Jfontreal, 
•bout  lirty  of  whom  had  familii's,  or  lU  h'asl  wives."— '/'/m  O'.ii  /U(/im<  In  Cdiiiii/a.  /).  10 

'It  may  he  asla'd"What  had  hoconie  of  the  donation   made  hy  llie  tharitahie  Madamo 

liuiuou  -r 

"Of  thos.'2,000  francs  wliicli  slie  liail  received,  Mademoiselle  Mance  kept  'i.liOi)  for  immediate 
needs,  mid  conddedtlie  rcftto  the  hands  of  Daiivcrsiere.  who,  liard  jiressed  hy  liis  creditors,  used 
It  to  p,c.,  uiic  of  his  UebU,  and  tUeii,  to  his  horror,  found  himself  uuahlc  to  replace  ik.'—/'u/-*- 
fitin. 


'I 


l^ 


008 


MISS  JAXEMAyCE. 


iiii" 


chinks;  and  the  driving  snow  sifted  through  in  such  quan- 
tities thiit  tliey  were  sometimes  obliged,  flie  morning  .iftt'r  a 
storm,  to  remove  it  witli  sliovcls.  Tlieir  food  would  frcf/o 
on  the  table  befori>  them,  and  their  coaivse  brown  bread  liad 
to  be  thawed  on  the  hearth  before  they  could  cut  it.  These 
women  had  been  nurtured  in  ease,  if  not  in  luxury."  This 
picture  is  drawn  by  a  non-Catholic  i)en. 

Nor  were  ])overty,  cold,  and  hardshiji,  the  only  enenii(^s 
with  whi(di  Miss  Mance  and  her  i)ioneer  nuns  had  to  battle. 
There  were  other  perils.  The  tei'rible  Iro(piois  wei(^  always 
prowling  near;  and  even  those  gentle  ladies  were  not 
beyond  tln^  reach  of  the  tomahawk. 

Duiing  summer,  a  month  I'arely  passed  Avitliout  a  tight, 
sonK^imes  within  sight  of  their  windows.  A  burst  of  yells 
from  the  ambushed  marksmen,  followed  by  a  clatter  of  mus- 
ketry, Avould  announce  the  opening  of  the  fray,  andpi-omisd 
the  nuns  addition  to  their  list  of  patients.  On  these  oc- 
casions they  bore  themselves  according  to  their  scvei'al 
natures.  Sister  jNJorin,  who  had  joined  their  lunnber  three 
years  after  their  arrival,  relates  that  Sister  Bresoles  and  she 
use  I  to  run  to  the  belfrv  and  ring  the  tocsin  to  call  the  in- 
habitants  together.' 

"From  our  high  station,"  writes  Sister  Morin,  "we  could 
sometimes  see  the  combat,  which  terrilied  us  extremely,  so 
that  wo  came  down  again  as  soon  as  v>o  could,  trend)]ing 
with  fright,  and  thinking  that  our  last  hour  was  come. 
When  the  tocsin  sounih.'d,  my  Sister  ^^faillet  would  become 
faint  with  excess  of  fear;  and  my  Sistt-r  Mace,  as  long  as 
the  alarm  continued,  would  remain  speechh^ss,  in  a  state 
pitiable  to  see.  They  woidd  both  get  into  a  coriu^f  of  the 
rood-loft  before  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  so  as  to  be  prei)ared 
for  d(\'ith;  (U^  else  go  into  their  cells. 

"As  soon  as  T  heard  that  the  Iroquois  were  gone,  I  went 
to  tell  them,  Avhich  comforted  them,  and  seemed  to  restoie 
them  to  life.  My  Sister  Bresoles  was  stronger  and  moic 
courageous;  her  terror,  which  she  could  not  help,  did  not 


» Farkmau. 


mss  JANE  MAXCE. 


509 


provont  her  from  attoiiding  tfi-i  sick  and  receiving  the  dead 
jiiid  wounded  wlio  were  brouglit  in." 

\\\A  now,  what  more  liave  wi?  to  say  of  our  heroine,  Miss 
,Mancei  She  labored  to  the  end  at  tlie  worlc  so  dear  to  lier 
heart.  Sho  established  the  Hotel -Dicu  of  Montreal  on  a 
firm  basis.  Each  year  added  ntnv  1  ister  to  her  bri<;ht  and 
beautiful  life;  and,  iinallj',  tlie  Ani^el  of  ])eath  called  her 
nuT.y  in  Jutie,  1G73.  She  died  in  tlie  odor  of  sanctity. 
There  is  no  more  to  tell.  ILjspital  Sisters  have  no  stories. 
Their  whole  lives  are  ex(iuisito  praises  to  tlie  gi'acious  God, 
and  are  written  only  in  His  Book  of  Life  on  liigh.' 


'  S|)i  akin;;  of  iti«  'iist  years  of  Miss  Maiicc,  i\w  truly  lonriiod  Aliho  Falllon  wrilpu:  "  11  est  A 
tcCT''""'''  nil  on  no  noun  iiit  coiisiMv(i  niiciin  fU'lail  fiir  kh  diriiii'rH  iiiint'i"',  iii  fiir  Ir.-cindnslutici'U 
lie  fii  siiiiito  mort.  Tout  ou  que  nous  iiii  saviiiis,  c'"('.-t  (iiie  Dicu  luhevii  de  la  saiuiillcr  par  dd 
louru-'  "I  contiii'.U'lleM  maladies;  que  colte  llUu  ndmirilMe  edifla  toule  la  colonio  pnr  scs  ;,'rniidci 
Vertus,  et  qu'tiiflii  ellu  viourut  en  oUeur  ile  laliui'l!.'"'—  IVc  ttc  MaiJi.'iniH-<(lli:  Ma/iiv,  />.  I'-i,  Vol.  IL 

Ttie  llostiiUil  Nuud  of  St.  Jcwcpli  Uave  ■.•stubUsliDitnts  iii  lae  cUice  of  ^ouln'Jil  ttiiU  K'w^nim, 


m 


!t(?C 


FATHER   JAMES   iMARQUETTE,  S.  J., 


THE 


ILLUHTRIOUS  DISCOVEIIKU  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI.' 


CIIAPTEK  I. 

A  mother's  TKACHIXG,    AXD  its  UESrLTS. 

Birlh'--Parents— Family —  Early  iduccdlon— Enters  the 
^>oi-h'iy  of  Jesus  -Lands  in.  Canada— Tlic  royafic  (o 
LakOinperior—TJic  Fird  t'hurch  at  ^'aidt  Sle.  Marie 
— Hears  of  the  dlississippi  for  the  first  lime —  Various 
ei'cnts — The  arrival  of  J  oil  let. 

.Tarrif'S  ^rait[nette  was  born  at  tlie  ancestral  sent  of  his 
family,  in  the  city  of  Laon,  France,  in  the  year  l\')'M.  The 
]\larquettes  were  a  noble  stock  of  high  antiquity  and  mar- 
tial sjjirit,  whose  nieiri})crs  have  constantly  li<itiie(l  in  the 
da/,zliii<;'  wars  of  France.  Nor  is  onr  own  KeimbJic  with- 
out its  o])li;i;ations  to  the  valor  of  this  family.  Ttiiee  of  the 
Maifitiertes  died  hert'  in  the  French  aimy,  dniiiig- the  war 
of  the  Revolution.  The  Father  of  James  was  a  worthy  rep- 
rosentaiiv(!  of  his  ancient  house  ;  and  his  nK>ther,  Kose  de 
la  Salle,  was  a  lady  of  distinp;nish('d  piety  and  menial  cul- 
ture, and  a  near  relative?  of  the  Veneral)le  John  Uaptist  de 
la  Salle,  the  world-famons  founder  of  the  Brothers  of  the 
Christian  Schools.     Ihit  the  one  who  cast  an  nndying  lustre 


'  ('hii;f  a'.ithorl,ics  iisod:  lirmcnifl,  lliioiy  of  tlic  I'liitoil  St:iU'.«:"  Hart,  "liisuiry  nf  tliu 
DiscDVLTy  of  the  Valley  of  lliu  MUsissijipi;''  I'arUinan, '•  The  Ui-covery  of  tl-.e  (ircat  Wc.^l;" 
Sparks.  "  Life  of  Maninotfi^;"  C'narlcvDi!;.'-  ^i^tory  nnd  Gi'iicnil  Di'scriptidii  of  New  France;" 
Shea,  "  Tlie  DiBCOVcry  and  Exulorutiou  ol'  the  ilicbifibiiiuii"  The  CalUulic  WuriU,  for  Noycmber, 
1877. 

fill 


nil 


m2 


FATlIKIt  JA.Uh.i  MAnqi'l-yi'Tl^.  S.  J. 


!   I  ! 


^1   . 


nvM 


on  lil'^'  1'nniily,  unci  who  shines  in  liisfory  as  tlie  greatest  of 
iiis  nunc,  is  fiie  snbject  ol"  this  sketcii, 

James  received  an  excellent  ednoation,  his  nf)l)l<^  and  ac 
coniplished  mother  develoj)ing  in  nis  cjiir/iictcu'  one  of  it;-) 
most  benntii'nl  traits — childlike  nndsn))]ime  devotion  to  tlie 
Iianineulate  \'irgin.  In  his  seventeenth  year  lie  entered  the 
Society  of  Jc.'sus.  Fourteen  rears  of  cbaracter-bnildini)- — 
of  retre.'it,  sliuly,  and  teaching — pissed  a\v;iy,  and  lie  v/as 
invested  v.irh  the  sacred  diunitv  (»i  the  rtriesthood.  Takiiux 
8t.  Francis  Xavier  as  his  patron  and  ni.odel.  he  ardently 
sought  a  foreign  mission  to  oiiie  pagan  land.  Soon  his 
•wish  was  gratitied.  Canada  and  its  dii.sky  tribes  were  then 
attracting  much  attention  in  Fi-ance?  WoiuhMfid  ,vei(^  the 
stories  told  of  tlie  Oliver  St.  Lawrence,  and  the  chain  (,f 
majestic  lakes,  stretching  far  away  into  the  nnknown  inte- 
rior, and  whose  shores  were  crowded  witli  Indian  wai'rioi's 
of  sa\  age  aspect,  harsh  languages,  and  lnnI):irons  cn.stonjs. 

Father  Marquette  landed  at  Quebec  in  Septend)er,  lo(J(i, 
buoyaiit  with  life  and  health.  At  Three  llivers  and  vicin- 
ity, he  passiMl  eighteen  irionths  in  the  study  of  the  Huron 
and  Algonquin  languagK's;  and  as  he  had  a  I'emarkable  fa- 
cility in  the  accpusition  of  languages,  ho  syon  mastered 
many  a  forest  dialect.  There  was  some  general  lesemblance 
in  the  speech  of  al!.  the  tribes  bordering  on  the  St.  Law- 
rence. 

In  1008  the  fuinre  Discoverer  of  the  Mississippi  was  aj)- 
pointiMl  to  the  Lake  Su]ierior  missions,  nearly  two  iJiou- 
sand  miles  av,ay,  and  on  the  21st  of  Ajti^il  he  bade  adieu  to 
Quebec.  The  first  stopping-itlace  on  the  vast  journey  vas 
^[ontreal,  one  hundred  and  eighty  niih's  np  tlie  river.  Tlii;', 
pai't  of  th(^  voyage  was  made  in  a  birch-baik  canoe,  with 
three  l>i)ainitMi  to  aid  tlio  priest  in  ]>ad(lliiig  it  igiinsl  the 
eti'ean..  The  frail  craft  proceeded  at  tin-  I'aN'  of  about  lliirty 
niile^s  a  day:  and  when  night  came  on  Father  .Marquette 
and  his  (Hiniiianions  stretched  tlnMr  weary  limbs  on  the 
banks  of  the  lordly  river  Sometimes  they  habcd  at  an  In- 
dian village;  at  other  times  they  er.canq)ed  in  the  forest, 
with  naught  save  the  blue  sky  to  sliield  them,  the  night 


I  s  i  ' 


FATlIEn  JAMES  MARqUiyiTE,  S  J. 


013 


wind  lullin-J,-  tlu^  lone  tiinelcis  lo  sleep,  ns  i!'  siiilu  d 
t!ir;)u;j;h  the  leafless  bran 'lies,  which  tii(;  slo\vly-r'.;tur:iin;^ 
sun  of  sprinuc  had  iscarcely  yet  caused  to  ))iul. 

The  Monlreal  of  that  day  was  very  diil'erent  f'oin  \\v'. 
heaiititul  and  stately  city  which  now  stands  at  the  ii'-.id  of 
r^Ui])  nnvipition  on  the  St.  Lawiviice.  It  was  merely  a  lit- 
tle I'oit,  with  a  few  cabins  and  wigwams.  Aftei'  a  short 
stay  at  this  point,  waiting  foi'  a  suitable  guide  to  traverse 
the  lumdreds  of  niiles  of  pathless  wilderness  yet  to  come,  a 
]-.arty  of  Indians  from  Lnke  Sni)erior  came  down  the  river  in 
ri'eir  canoes.  Father  Marquette  eudjarked  with  tliem  on 
their  return  trip. 

The  red  navigators  and  their  Jipostolic  companion  pad- 
died  up  the  turbid  Ottawa,  a  distance'  of  nearly  four  bun- 
dled miles.'  Thence,  by  a  cliain  of  narrow  streams  and  small 
lakes,  (hey  entered  Lake  Nipissing.  Then,  paddling  down 
the  rapid  course  of  the  French  river,  through  (dieerless  soli- 
tudes eighty  nnles  in  extent,  the  little  fleet  linally  entered 
the  welbknown  Georgian  IJay.  Nor  was  this  the  end.  Cross- 
ing this  vast  sheet  of  water,  they  belield,  opening  before 
them,  the  seemingly  boundless  expanse  of  Lai'ie  Huron.  They 
skilled  along  the  wild  northern  shores  of  this  inland  sea 
until  tiiey  reached  Sault  Ste.  .Nhirie.  ^\hiL'h  marks  tlui  out- 
let of  Lake  Sup(nior  into  L'ake  Huron. 

Here  Father  Marquette  ft)un(h'd  tlie  famous  mission  ot 
Sault  Sainte  Marie;  and.  planting  his  I'abin  at  the  foot  of 
tlie  Kapids,  on  the  Anui-ricau  side,  he  began  his  heroic  and 
apostolic  career  in  tlie  greai  Wi^st.  Wo  toiled,  instructed, 
and  built  a  church;  but  a  nnssionary  was  urgiMitly  needed 
for  Lapointe,  and  to  "tliat  ungrateful  iield,"  Marquette  with 
joy  bent  his  steps.  Here,  truly,  it  was  up  hill  woric.  The 
Ortawasand  Tlurons,  among  whom  he  was  now  stationed,  wero> 
fearfully  corrui)t.     As  he  lumself  testiti(^s,  in  a  letter  to  his 

'  TU''  Utiawii  r>M'^  oiii'  hiunlri'il  iiiilrs  iiliovo  I.uki^  Tl'l.li^^c  .•i.iiiii^'uc,  and  lUnvs  to  \\\v  font  of  llio 
I-l.iml  (if  Jloiiti'oal,  II  I'.istaiico  of  four  iLiiiidrcd  mid  lifly  miles.  Then'  iirc  luimiTCJU!'  nipidi'  ami 
lalls  in  iho  river,  ai;d  llii' Kccntry  i.^  sli-iUii  f;ai.d  beaiilir,;!.  The  Ottawa  fall.*  iiilii  tlie  SI.  Ijiw- 
rciieeliya  tlii\'e-fuld  lirai:(li.  'I'lie  main  >li'eam,  tollie  lir.rtli,  i-  di\iiled  liy  Isle  .lesiis  ;  i|s  south' 
trn  braiieli  by  Ish'  IVrrt  t.  Eet\v(  eii  tlie  Isles  I'errot  and  Monlreal  orrur  tlu^  rapids  of  bto.  AuD« 
(•  wUcn  Mocre  iifcrs  lu  Uis  '•  CauiiJiuu  Utiui-coni;.  ''—LovtU'n  Oeiurul  UnoyyuiiUy. 


>"'^r 


M, 


i, 

I 


5      t       !1 


5         f 


i        I 


•t| 


r 


>(    f 


m 


514 


FATlISIl  J.\}[i:s  ]rARQUETTE.  S  J. 


\     :  ff 


Superior,  dated  1009,  tlioy  wrre  'far  Iroin  tl:e  kiiift'dom  of 
(jod,  I'.eiiiu'  above  all  oiher  nations  addicted  to  lewdness, 
sacrilice-!,  and  jiigi^dsnes." 

In  the  letter  just  quoted,  Farlier  ]\rarquette  for  the  fur-t 
time  mentions  the  ]\lississippi.  Ilcsays-  "\Vli"'j.  the  Illinois;' 
come  to  Lapointe  tliey  pass  a  lai'p-  rivei-,  almost  ii  l(\i,uue 
^vich^  It  runs  north  and  south,  and  so  !';!]•  that  the  Illinois, 
Avho  do  not  know  what  canoes  are,  ]ia\;'  never  yet  he  ird  of 
its  mouth.  .  .  This  great  I'ivr  can  liardly  emjtty  in  \'ir- 
ginia,  and  we  lUther  l)(>lJe\-e  that  its  mouth  is  in  California. 
If  the  Indians  who  promi-c  to  make  me  a  canoe  do  not  tail 
to  kee])  ;!ieir  wcird,  we  .siiall  g.)  into  this  rivei-  as  soon  as  wo 
can  with  a  I'^reiiciiman  r.nd  this  young  maji.' giveii  nie.  a\Iio 
knows  s()uu>  of  the  languages;  we  shall  visit  the  nations 
whicli  iid!al)it  it,  in  oider  to  open  the'  way  to  S(;  many  of 
our  Fathers  who  have  long  awaited  this  hr.ppiness.  'Jiiis 
discovery  will  also  give  ns  a  ccnii'kMe  knowledge  of  tlia 
southern  and  western  sea."' 

The  clouds  of  war,  however,  were  gloomily  overall;'. dew- 
ing La])oinle.  Provoked  by  the  ih.idiis  and  Ottawas,  the 
lierce  Sioux  favoop.ed  down  on  liieir  villages  juid  olliged 
them  to  ily.  Father  ]\lai(]uette  fo!l)wed  his  tleeing  llini  ns 
to  i.Iackinaw,  CoumhMl  llie  mi<^-i  lU  of  St.  Ignatius  there, 
and  built  achapel  in  Kwl.  'i'his  r)i<i(^  log  church  was  the 
iirst  sylvan  shrine  laised  by  Caiholieily  at  Maclxinaw. 

The  star  of  hope  which  lit  up  his  fancied  pathway  to  Ih.e 
■'Fatlier  of  Waters."  now  grew  dim.  and  at  last  faded  al 
most  out  of  v.ev.  Still  he  ho]  I  d  a;;ainst  It:  j  ;  .  lal  ored 
among  his  Indians,  and  rei\<iitly  ;  taxed  lo  the  Mo;.t: 
Blessed  A'irgia  *o  obtain  for  hitn  tiie  privilege  of  discover- 
ing \\)o  great  river,  and  of  s])i'eading  the  light  of  tlm  (iospel 
among  the  dusky  inhabitants  o(  its  baiiks. 

Two  years  passed  away:  and  one  day.  late  in  the  fall  of 
iriTI),  a  canoe  ajipi'oached  "Mackina\\-.  and  laiidtd.  It  coir 
tained  !Mr.  Jollief.  a  l-'reneli  Canadian  gentleman  of  learn- 


'  An  Indian  tribe  from  whom  tUe  Statu  of  Illinois  dorivcs  Its  uamc, 
'  A  yoiiDf,'  Ot:a«u  Imliun, 


fctaftJ 


FATHER  JAMES  MAIIQUETTE,  S.  J. 


515 


•  '  firyfc 
noiy' 

)(l  of 
1  \'!r- 


ho 


ing  and  experumce,  avIio  Imd  orders  from  tlio  Count  de 
Frontcnac,  Govei-nor  of  (^inada.  to  g'o  on  tlic  discovery  of 
tlie  Mississi])!)!,  taking  Father  Marquette  as  liis  companion 
and  <:iiide. 

.lolliet  was  admirably  qualified  for  such  a-  responsible  en- 
terprise. He  was  ;in  earnest  Catliolic,  a  man  ol'  deep  lelig- 
ions  convictions,  had  s[)ent  seveial  years  among  the  Indians, 
was  vei'v  courteous  in  all  his  intercoursi;  with  tliem,  was 
tliorouglily  acquainted  with  their  customs,  and  spohe  several 
Imlian  languages.  Besides,  he  was  a  jxison  of  nndaunttd 
coui'age. 

I";  'iier  ^Marquette  was  more  than  delighted.  '"The  Day 
oi  the  rnuTiaculatt^  Concei)tion  of  the  IJlesscd  \'iigin, "  lu^ 
writes,  *"whom  1  had  alv/ays  ''nvoked  since  I  have  Ixhmi  in 
the  Ottawa  country,  to  obtain  of  (lod  the  gi'aces  to  b(!  able 
Lt>  visit  tlie  nations  f)n  th<^  Mississippi,  was  idenrically  that 
uv.  which  ^ir.  Jolliet  arrivi'd. 

"Iwasth'^  more  enraptured  at  this  good  news  as  T  saw 
my  di'signs  on  the  \)(AvA,  of  being  accomi)lishe(h  and  myself 
ill  the  happy  necessity  of  exposing  my  lite  for  the  salva- 
tion of  all  these  nations.  Our  joy  at  being  chosen  for  this 
enterpi'ise  sweetened  the  labor  of  pnddh'ng  from  morning 
till  night.  As  we  were  going  to  seek  nidcnown  countries 
we  took  all  possible  precautions,  that  if  our  interprise  was 
hazardous  it  should  not  be  foolhardy.  For  this  reason  we 
izatheivd  all  ])ossible  infoi-matif)n  irom  the  Indians  who 
had  frequented  those  parts.  We  even  ti'ac<-d  a  map  of  all 
the  new  country,  marking  down  (h<^  rivers  on  which  w(^ 
were  to  sail,  the  names  of  the  nations  through  which  we 
were  to  i)ass,  and  the  course  of  the  great  river," 


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CHAPTER  n. 

now   THE  MLSSrs.Sri'PI   was    OISCOVT^IiSD. 

Thejinal  prvpararnnis—Firsl  jxnt  of  tin- pathway —Joy 
at  videring  the  2lt,s.'iissippi~TJie  crenlfnl  toijagc  down 
the  iiiUjhtp  drmiu—IIaltuKj  at  the  Ajiicinsas—Tiiti 
Titurit. 

^  0\\  rhe  17t;li  of  ^\\\y,  Fatlipr  ]\r:n-qn(^tt.',  'Mv.  Jolliet,  and 
live  mt'ii  set  lorrh  in  two  biirli-bark  canoes  in  .seairii  of  (he 
great  .Mississi})!)!.  Tliey  took  wiili  tliem  some  Indian  corn 
and  jerked  meat;  but  they  were  to  iive  mainly  upon  sncli 
food  as  could  be  ol)tained  by  the  way.  'nieir"niml)le  i);id- 
dies  cut  the  ))right  sui'face  of  Lake  Micliioan,  and  soon 
Gj'een  J^ay  was  it-ached.  Here,  Avrites  l-^itlier  ]\[a](niette, 
"I  put  our  voyage  tinder  the  protection  of  tlie  Blessed 
A'ir.uin.  Immaculate,  promising  lier  that  if  she  did  r.s  the 
grace  to  discover  the  great  river,  I  woidd  gi\e  it  the  namtof 
Concc^ption." 

The  little  band  of  haidy  explorers  now  ])roceeded  irp  the 
Fox  river,  a  shallow  stream  which  Hows  into  (ii'een  J'ay. 
They  made  about  thirty  miles  a  day.  Each  night  they 
selected  some  suitable  s])ot  for  encam])ment.  l'])on  a  dry 
and  grassy  moum!  thty  conld  s]:ccdily,  with  their  sliai'p 
axes,  construct  a  hut  which  would  ])rotect  them  fi'om  the 
weiitl)er.  Carefully  smoothing  down  the  tloor,  tliey  spread 
over  it  thpiram])le  couch  of  furs.  Fisli  c(tuld  bo  tnken  in 
abundance.  The  forest  was  filled  with  gan"ie.  An  immense 
hre,  bla/ing  before  the  open  side  of  the  hut.  gave  warmth, 
and  illumim^d  rhe  wild  scene  with  almost  the  l)ri]liancy  of 
Jioondaj^  Thei-e  the  travelers  joyously  cooked  their  sup- 
pers, and  ato  the  well-earned  meal  with  api)etites  which 
rendered    the    feast    more    luxurious  to  them   tlian    any 


!  ii 


FA  TITER  J.  1 MES  -¥A  IIQ  UETTE,  S.J. 


51-/ 


gonrmand  at  Delmoiiico's  probal)ly  ever  enjoyed.  Xidit 
imiyiTS  closed  the  day  of  toil,  and  after  a  blessing  called 
dov'ii  from  Heaven  by  Father  Mawinette,  all  sanK  to  repose. 

After  following  the  Fox  River  for  many  a  leagu(;,  it  brought 
tlKMii  at  last  ti>  tho  portage;  wherp,  affer  carrying  llnnr 
canoes  a  mih^  and  a  half  over  the  prairie  and  through  the 
inarsh,  they  launched  them  on  the  Wisconsin,  bade  fare- 
well to  tlu!  waters  that  ilowed  t(*  ihe  St.  Lawrence,  and 
coniniitfed  themselves  to  the  current  that  was  to  bear  thcni 
they  knew  not  whithm-— perhaps  to  the  Gulf  of  M<'xic.:. 
periiaps  to  the  Pacific  Ocean.  After  sailing  down  the  ^Vis- 
cniisin,  they  glided  into  the  long-desired  Mississippi,  wluch, 
says  Father  Marquette,  "we  safely  enteicd  on  the  1'.  ih  of 
.liiiie.  wiili  a  joy  that  T  cannot  express."' 

Tiui  following  descri])tiou  of  this  first  and  most  famous 
voyau-e  down  the  ]\[ississij»i)i  is  taken  chiefly  from  i'ark- 
mau's  ••  Di-^covry  of  the  (ireat  AVest,"  and  Marquette's 
own  '•  Narrative.'"  Turning  southward,  ihey  began  pad- 
dling <li>wn  \\w  mighty  stream,  through  a  stditude  unre- 
li^'ved  i)y  the  faintest  ti'ace  of  man.  A  large  lish.  seem- 
ingly one  of  the  hirge  cat-lish  of  the  Mississii)pi,  i)limdered 
against  t\w  pi'iest's  canoe  with  a  force  which  seems  to  have 
startled  him;  and  once,  as  they  (bew  in  their  net.  they 
caught  a,  "  spade- 'ish,"  whose  eccentric  appearance  greatly 
astonished  thetn 

At  length  the  bulTalo  beg;!U  to  appear,  grazing  in  herds 
on  the  gi-eat  prairies  which  then  bordei-ed  the  river,  and 
Father  Mai'quette  decribes  tlu;  iierc(!  anil  stujiid  look  of 
the  (»Id  bulls,  as  they  stared  at  the  intruders  through  tlie 
tangled  mane  which  nearly  blinded  them. 

Tliey  advanced  with  extreme  caution,  landed  at  night 
and  made  a  lire  to  cook  their  evening  meal;  then  extin- 
guisheil  it,  end)arked  again,  paddled  some  way  fai'ther. 
and  anchored  in  the  stream,  keeping  a  man  on  watch  till 
moruiim-.  Thev  liad  iourneved  more  tliaii  ti  fortnight  with- 
out  mef'tinijf  a  hunum  beinu',  when,  on  the  Sj'itlu  thev  dis- 

N-  '  - ■    '  ■  '  — ■  -■■"  i —■  i.i...      ■   I..  . m 

*  To  bu  found  In  SUeu'a  "  Discovery  untl  Exi'lorutiou  of  the  MUsIs-iiipi. 


h; 


Ll4 


t;  t.  !S 


;vf 


ns 


FATIIEP.  JAMES  MAHQUETTE,  S.  J. 


' 


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f'  > 


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covered  foot-priiitr;  of  men  in  the  mud  of  tlie  western  l)ank, 
and  ;i  well  trodden  path  that  led  to  the  adjacent  lu'airie. 

Father  ^^Farquette.  and  Mr.  Jolliet  resolved  to  follow  this 
path,  and  ler.ving  tlie  canoes  in  ('hai'.ize  of  tlicir  men,  the 
two  set  out  nn  their  hazardous  adventure.  Tlic  day  wag 
fair,  and  they  walked  two  leagues  in  silence,  following  the 
path  through  the  forest  and  aer(.)ss  the  sunny  jiraiiie,  till 
ihe'y  discovered  an  Indian  village  on  the  banks  of  a  river, 
and  two  otherrj  on  a  hill  half  a  league  distant,  .Now,  with 
beating  hearts,  !hcy  involied  the  aid  of  Heaven,  and  again 
advancing,  came  so  near  without  being  seen  that  they  could 
bear  the  voices  of  the  savages  among  I  ho  wigwams. 

Then  the  Jesuit  and  Ids  c(  nipanion  stood  I'ojth  in  full 
viev.-,  and  shouted,  to  attract  attention.  Theie  Avas  a  gicat 
commotion  in  the  village.  The  inmate.'  swainied  out  of 
their  lints,  and  four  of  th;ir  chief  men  pref;ently  etune  for- 
ward to  meet  the  strangers,  advancing  very  deliberately, 
and  holding  uj)  towards  the  sun  two  calumets,  or  iieace- 
pipes,  decorated  with  feathers.  Tli<\v  stojipf^l  abi'ujilly  lie- 
fore  the  two  Freiu-hraen,  and  sto(xl  gazing  at  them  A\itli  at- 
tention, l)ut\\ithout  f-peakir!g  a  word. 

Fath  'r  Tvlarquette  was  much  r(^lieved  on  seeing  that  tlir-y 
woi'e  French  cloth,  whence  he  judged  that  they  nuist  be 
friends  and  allic's.  He  broke  the  silence,  awd  iiski^o  ilieni 
Avho  they  were,  whereupon  they  answeied  that  llK^yveie 
Illinois,  and  olTei-ed  the  pipe,  which  Inivirg  been  dulv 
smoked,  (hey  all  went  together  to  the  \iiiag!'. 

Here  the  chief  received  the  travelhMs  after  a  singular 
fashion,  meant  to  dt)  ther..  great  iiont»r.  He  stood  staik 
naked  at  the  ('oor  oL'  a  huge  wigwam,  holding  u])  b>th 
hands,  as  if  to  shield  his  eyes.  ''Fren<]!nirn,""  lie  ex- 
claimed, "how  bright  the  ^un  siiines  when  you  come  to 
visit  \is  !  All  our  villagi;  awaits  you;  and  you  shall  enter 
our  wigwams  in  ijeace."'  He  then  led  them  into  his  own, 
widcli  was  crowded  to  suffocation  with  savages,  staling  at 
their  guests  in  sihiKc 

Having  smoked  with  the  chiefs  and  old  men,  tli(>  two 
ftrangers  were  invited  to  visit  the  great  chief  of  all  the   11- 


FATlIKll  JA.UES  MAUQUKTTK.  S.  J. 


510 


I'll  bank. 


linois,  at  one  of  the  villages  they  had  seen  in  the  distance; 
and  thither  they  proeeedc^d,  followed  by  a  throri;;-  of  war- 
jior.«,  squaws,  and  children.  On  arriving,  they  were  foi'ced 
to  smoke  again,  and  listen  to  a  s-pi'eeh  of  welcome  I'lotn  the 
j^'i'cat  chief,  who  deliv(>red  it  standing  Ijetween  two  old  men, 
linked  like  himself. 

His  lodge  was  crowded  with  the  dignitarif^s  of  t}^,e  tribe, 
whom  Father  Marquette  addressed  in  Algonquin,  announc- 
ing himself  as  a.  messengiT  sent  by  the  God  wiio  litid  made 
them;  and  whom  it  Ixdiooved  them  to  recognize  and  obey, 
lie  added  a  few  words  touching  the  power  and  glory  of 
the  Count  de  Frontenac,  anrl  concluded  by  asking  iid'oi'uia- 
tion  concerning  the  Mississippi  and  the  tribes  along  its 
IxinlvS,  whom  he  was  on  his  way  to  visit. 

Tlie  chief  replied  with  a  sp:'e('li  of  compliment-  assur- 
ing his  guests  that  their  presence  added  flavor  to  his  to- 
bacco, made  the  river  more  culm,  the  sky  more  sei'cne,  and 
the  earth  more  beanriful.  In  conclusion  he  gavt;  them  au 
all-mystei'ious  <'alumet,  begging  them  v.t  the  same  time  to 
abandon  their  p:irp>se  of  desc(Mvling  (he  Mississippi. 

Father  Marquette  describes  tins  calumet  as  ''made  of 
polish(>d  red-stone,  like  marble,  so  ])ierced  that  on^  ond 
serves  to  hold  the  tobacco,  while  the  other  is  fastened  (»n  the 
stem,  which  is  a  stick  two  fm-t  long,  as  thick  as  a  comnion 
cane,  and  pierced  in  the  middle.  It  is  ornamented  with 
the  head  and  neck  of  diil'ei'ent  birds  of  beautiful  plumage; 
they  also  add  large  feathers  of  green,  red,  and  other  colors, 
with  which  it  is  all  covered."' 

The  harangue  and  presentation  of  the  calumet  was  fol- 
lowed ])y  a  great  feast  of  four  courses.  Father  Marquette, 
as  one  of  the  guests,  has  left  a  niost  graphic  description  of 
the  ceriMnony.  "Tins  council. "  he  says,  '-was  followed 
by  a  great  feast  that  consisted  of  four  courses,  which  w(^  liad 
to  take  with  all  their  ways.  The  first  course  was  a  great 
wooden  dish  of  saganimity — Indian  mcnl  boiled  in  watei\ 
and  seasoned  with  grease.  Tlic  master  of  ceicmotiiivs,  with 
a  spoonful  of  saganimity,  presented  it  three  or  four  times  to 
my  mouth,  as  we  would  do  with  a  little  child.     He  did  the 


I'!, 


•f.l 


ii;i 


m 


520 


FATHER  JAMES  MMIQ.UETTE,  S.  J. 


!•     '    I 


''.'■.A'. 


:\\k 


^'i;!'TlM! 


i  iih 


Biuno  to  ^fr.  Jollict  l-^or  a  soooncl  oonrsB  he  broii^^lit  in  f. 
tjfcdiiil  dish  coiifuininii;  three  lish;  lie  took  .some  iKiiu.s  to  iv- 
inove  tlie  hones,  and  li;iviii'i'  blown  upon  it  to  cool  it,  put  il; 
in  my  nio'ith,  as  we  would  food  to  a  bii'd.  l'\)r  the  third 
couise,  they  ix'oduced  a  Liru''  doir  whicli  tliey  had  \\\-,t. 
]s.illed,  hut  leiii'niii,u-  tliat  ^\('  did  not  eat  it,  it  was  with- 
drawn. J'iiinlly,  the  fourth  course  was  a  ])iece  of  wild  ox, 
the  hittest  portions  ot" which  were  put  into  oui'  moullis." 

'I'liis  concluded  the  ciilerfainriieut,  Tliecroi.vd  haviiii;'  dis- 
persed, bulhilo-i-ohcs  were  Hj)r(';id  on  !h(>  a'i'ouiid,  and  I-'iii  hci' 
]>r;ir(pietle  and  Mr.  Jollict  spent  the  ni^lit  on  flic  scene  of 
tin?  lab!  festivity.  In  the  nu)i'nin,<^  the  chic^f,  v>ith  some  six 
liumhed  of  his  wurriors,  escoi'tcd  them  b.)  their  cinocs.  niul 
bade  them,  after  their  stolid  fashion,  a  friendly  f.irewell. 

Again  the  rravelei's  W(M'o  c>n  their  way.  .slowly  diifiin.n' 
down  the  great  river.  .They  iiassrd  the  motitliof  t!;('  Illi- 
nois, and  glided  benealh  that  line  of  rocks  on  the  easiciii 
side,  cut  into  fantastic  fornis,  and  nuii'ked  as  '*'J'h(i  liuincd 
Castles''  on  soma  of  the  eai'ly  French  maps,  rrescntly 
they  l)ehcld  a  sight  which  rennnded  them  that  the  tlc\il 
was  stili  lord  paramount  of  this  \>.ildi'i-ne.ss. 

On  the?  flat  face  of  a  high  rock  v.ere  jiainted  in  red.  l)lack 
and  green  a  pair  of  monstei's— each,  says  Fatlier  Alarquerte, 
"as  largo  as  a  calf,  witli  horns  lii\ea  ch'er,  red  eyes,  a  beaid 
lik'e  a  tiger,  and  a  friu-htl'ul  expression  of  Vountenance.  The 
face  is  sonu'thijig  liK'e  that  of  a  man.  the  body  covci'c  il  with 
scales;  and  the  tail  so  Ioult  that  it:  ])asses  entirely  around 
the  body,  over  the  Jiead  and  between  the  legs,  ending  like 
tiiat  of  a  lish."  Such  were  tht^  indian  gods,  adored  two 
centuries  a.go  on  the  banks  of  the  Mis.sissi[)[)i. ' 

As  they  ]ilied  their  paddles,  talking  of  the  fi'ightfiiMook- 
ing  figures  on  the   I'ock,  thev\vere   s;uldenlv  ariuii^ed  )'v  a 


3 


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'  Tlio  rock  wlitTi'  tli(  >!■  llu'iivrs  were  i):iiiifi'il  is  iinmcdialoly  alxivo  llie  city  of  Allnu.  The  ini- 
ditidii  of  llu'ii'  cxisti'iuo  ruiKuii!',  llioii;_'li  tlicy  lire  entirely  (■lT:iccil  'iv  Uiiic.  In  ISiT,  wlicii  1 
)i;i>^sim1  tlit^  place,  a  part  ofllienick  h;iil  licon  carrii'(l  away,  ami  instead  of  Muniiielto's  moii- 
fU-r:'.  It  l)ore  a  liiiire  ailverliscnicnt  of  "  I'lantation  I'.ilters,"  Some  . v oars  a.ijo,  certain  per.-oii!*, 
with  more  zeal  than  knoVvli-il'^e,  propo-^oil  to  re:<toro  tlie  lli,'iires,  nftcr  conceptions  of  tluir  own; 
hut  tlie  idea  ^^■as  atiau.loned.  Maninelte  made  a  Urawiiiji  of  the  two  monatera,  hulit  ib  lunL— 
i'wkman,  "  'I'lm  J)ucovi:ry  i^tlm  (jtauC  W*((." 


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FATiii:n  jA.uh's  MAnqcirrn:,  s.  j. 


621 


r"'il  <liin,!Xor.  A  torrent  of  mud  iiislu'd  furiously  nornss  ir,oi 
calm  bluu  current  oi"  the  Mis.sissip|)i;  boiling- and  ,sur,u;u,ir 
and  «\veHpiu,<?  in  its  course  logs,  branclie.s,  uiid  uprooicil 
lives.  Tiiey  had  reiu^lied  the  mouth  of  tlie  Missouri,  wlu  lo 
that  savage  J'iver,  descendiug  rr(jm  its  mad  career,  through 
a  vasr  unknown  of  bai'barism,  poured  its  turbid  Hoods  into 
tile  bosom  of  its  gentle   sistel'. 

Their  light  canoes  whirled  on  flie  miry  vortcvr,  like  dry 
]('a\es  (;n  an  angry  brook.  '•  L  ne\ei'."'  -.vrites  Father  Mar- 
quette, "saw  anything  more  teiritic;''  Imt  the  harny 
voyagers  (>scaped  -with  their  fright,  and  held  their  way 
down  the  turbulent  and  swollen  current  of  tho  now  united 
rivers. 

They  [la^s  1  the  loni'ly  forest  that  covered  the  site  of  tho 
de^^tined  city  of  St.  Louis,  and  a  f 'W  daya  later  saw  on  their 
left  the  mouth  of  the  sti'eam  to  wliieh  tlie  lro(|Uois  had 
given  the  Avell-nieriteil  name  of  Ohio,  or  the  "lioautiful 
iiiver." 

Soon  they  beiran  to  see  the  marshy  .shores  buried  in  a  dt>nso 
growth  of  the  cane,  ■with  its  tall,  sti'aight  steins  and  feath- 
ei'y  light-green  foliago.  The  .';un  glowed  thrt)Ugh  the  hazy 
air  with  a  languid,  stilling  heat,  and  by  day  and  night, 
mosquitoes  in  myriads  left  them  no  ])(^ac«\  They  lloated 
down  the  current,  crouched  in  the  shadtf  of  the  sails  which 
tliey  had  spread  as  awnings,  when  suddenly  they  saw  In- 
dians on  the  east  bank. 

The  surprise  was  mnfnal.  and  oneh  party,  it  recms,  Avas 
about  as  much  frightened  as  'Av\  other.  Father  MarqU'Mte, 
however,  hastened  to  display  the  calumet  which  the  Illi- 
nois had  given  him  by  way  of  ]iass])oi't:  and  the  savages, 
recognizing  the  i)acilic  symbol,  replied  with  au  invitation  to  / 
land. 

''Aien,'"  says  Fatiier  ^farqnette,  "do  not  pay  to  tho 
crowns  and  scepters  of  kings  the  honor  they  (the  Indians) 
pay  to  the  calumet:  it  seems  to  be  the  god  of  peace  and 
war,  Ihearbitcn-  of  life  and  death.  Garry  it  about  you  ana 
show  ir,  and  you  can  march  fearlessly  amid  enemies,  avIio 
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73  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  .i.Y.  MS80 

(716)  872-4503 


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522 


FATHER  JAMES  MARQUETTE.  S.  J. 


shown.     They  use  it  for  settling  disputes,  strengthening  al 
liances,  and  spealving  to  strangers." 

Evidently  those  Indians  were  in  communication  with  Euro, 
peans,  for  they  were  armed  with  guns,  knives  and  hat(  Ik^.s, 
wore  garments  of  cloth,  and  carried  their  guni>owder  in 
small  bottles  of  thick  glass.  Tliey  feasted  the  priest  and 
his  companions  with  bulfalo-meat,  bear's  oil,  and  wliit« 
plums;  and  gave  tiiem  a  variety  of  d(Mibtful  infornuition. 
including  the  agreeable  but  delusive  assurance  that  ihey 
would  reach  tlie  mouth  of  the  river  in  ten  days.  It  was 
still,  in  fact,  moro  than  a  thousand  miles  distant. 

The  voyagcrah.^'iv!  on  their  course,  and  jignin  floated  down 
the  endless  nii;iiotony  of  river,  niarsli,  and  forest.  Day 
after  day  passcJ  on  in  its  solitude,  and  they  had  paddlrd 
some  three  hukdred  miles  since  their  last  meeting  with  the 
Indians,  when,  as  they  neared  the  mouth  of  the  Arkan^<as, 
they  saw  a  cluster  of  wigwams  on  the  west  bank.  Their 
dusky  inmates  were  all  astir,  yelling  the  war-whoop, 
snatching  their  weapons,  and  running  to  the  shore  to  nie«'t 
the  strangers,  who  on  their  part  did  not  fail  to  ask  Heaven 
for  assistance.' 

It  was,  in  truth,  a  moment  of  ])Hril.  Sev(>ral  h.rge  wooden 
canoes,  lilled  with  savages,  MH-re  putting  out  from  the  shore 
nbovenTid  bidow  them,  to  cut  olT  theirretreat,  v.hile  a  swarm 
of  headlong  young  warriors  waded  into  the  water  to  attack 
them.  The  current  proved  too  strong;  and,  failing  to  reach 
the  canoes  of  tlio  Frenchmen,  onc^  of  them  thicw  hii  war^ 
club,  wliich  flew  over  the  heads  of  the  startled  tiavelers, 

Meanwhile  Father  ]\,iarquelte  had  n  )t  ceased  to  hold  up 
his  calumet,  to  which  the  excited  crowd  gave  no  land,  but 
strung  their  bows  and  notched  their  arrows  for  immediate 
action;  but  when  at  length  the  (^Iders  ot  the  village  arrived, 
they  saw  the  pea(^t>-iiiT><^.  and  I'cstraining  the  ardor  ot  the 
youth,  tlu^v  invitf'd  the  stran«r(^rs  to  come  ashore.  Tlie 
priest  and  his  companions,  with  somo  fear,  complied,  and 

1  Fntticr  Mnrrini'tte  unvs  thnt  he  Implori'd  thn  nirt  of  "our  Pafronwa  and  crulilo.  Iho.  ninscoj 
Vlrf.'in  Itimiiiriiliil(.'.  Ami  iiulriMl."  Iii' ii(l(N,  "  «c  iiiMdi-d  licr  aul.  lor  wi;  heard  from  uhc  '.a* 
Uidiaub  uxcitlnH;  too  anutlior  to  the  combat  by  coutiuiiul  ycllii." 


FATHER  JAMES  MAIiQUETTE,  S.  J. 


623 


found  a  better  recei)ti()n  than  they  had  reason  to  expect. 
One  of  tlie  Indians  s[H)ke  a  little  Illinois,  and  served  as  iu- 
terpreier.'  A  friendly  conference"  was  followed  by  a  feast 
of  sii^aniite  and  lish  ;  and  the  travellers,  not,  however,  with- 
out sore  misgivings,  spent  the  night  in  the  lodges  of  their 
dusky  entertainers. 

Early  in  the  morning  they  enibarked  again,  and  proceeded 
to  !i  village  of  the  Arkansas  tribe,  aI>out  eight  leagues  below. 
Notice  of  their  coining  was  sent  before  them  by  their  late 
hosts  ;  and.  as  they  drew  near,  they  were  met  by  a  canoe, 
in  the  prow  of  which  stood  a  naked  personage,  holding  a 
caiiunet,  singing,  and  nniking  gestures  of  friendship. 

Un  reaching  tlie  villagi',  wliieli  was  on  the  east  side,  oppo 
site  the  mouth  of  the  River  Arkansas,  they  were  conducted  to 
a  sort  of  scaffold  before  the  lodge  of  the  war-chief.  Tlie  space 
l)eneath  had  been  prepared  for  their  reception,  the  ground 
i)eing  neatly  covered  \»'itli  rush  mats.  On  these  th(\v  were 
seated  ;  the  warriors  sat  around  them  in  a  semicircle  ;  then 
the  elders  of  the  tribe,  then  the  lU'omiscuous  crowd  of  vil- 
lagers, standing  and  staring  over  the  heads  of  the  more  dig- 
iiilied  members  of  the  assembly. 

All  the  men  AV(^re  naknd  ;  but,  no  doubt  to  compensate 
for  the  lack  of  clothing,  tln'v  wt)re  sti'ings  of  beads  in  their 
noses  and  ears.  Tlie  woniMi  were  clothed  in  shabby  skins, 
and  wore  their  hair  ciumpr'd  in  a  ui  iss  bdiind  each  ear.  By 
good  luck,  there  was  a  young  Indian  in  the  village  who 
liad  an  excellent  knowh'dge  of  Illinois  ;  and  through  him 
Father  Marqiu4te  endeavored  to  explain  the  mysteries  of 
Christianity,  and  to  gain  information  concerning  the  river 


oelow. 


)  this  end  tho  illustrious  missionary  gave  liis  rnde  andi- 


'  l':itli<r  Miiniiu'tte  had  inUlrosHcd  them  in  i-ix  Indian  lau^nagi'i',  iiniic  of  wliicli  tlicy  iindiT- 

Ktliod. 

'•'  "Thiy  perfectly  iinderstdoil  our  nieaiiiiii:."  writes  Father  Jlannictte,  "  hut  I  l;ninv  nfit 
"liellin  ihey  understood  what  1  tuKl  tlieni  of  (i,id.  luid  llie  tiling,"*  whieli  eoneeriied  their  ^alva- 
li'in,     !!  isii  ^eed  oast  inthe  earth,  wliieh  will  luar  Its  fruit  in  Kea^on."    Trnly  prephetic  wnnls  ! 

" "  Tlnon;;h  him,"  writes  Fattier  Mari|iielte.  "I  llr-t  spoke  to  tlie  as-enihly  hv  the  ordinary  pre«- 
t'ntn.  'I'hey  admired  what  I  told  them  of  (iod  ai:il  theiayeUTiuu  ul'  Our  Holy  i'ailh.und  i-howud 
a  ^-reut  de.siri.'  to  keep  nio  with  them  tlJin^^lrucL  tluui." 


C24 


FATHER  JAMES  MAliQUETTE,  S.  J. 


tors  the  presents  indispensable  on  snoh  orensione,  bnt  re- 
ceived very  little  in  return.  They  told  him  tliat  the  Missis- 
sippi was  infested  by  hostile  Indians,  armed  with  gnns  i)ro- 
cured  from  white  men;  and  that  they — the  Arkansas — stood 
in  such  fear  of  them  that  they  dared  not  hunt  the  bufl'ald, 
but  were  forced  to  live  on  Indian  corn,  of  which  they  raised 
three  crops  a  year. 

During  the  speeches  on  each  side,  food  was  brought  in 
without  ceasing.  Sometimes  it  was  a  j)latter  of  sagamite  or 
mush;  sometimes  it  was  corn  boiled  whole;  and  sometimes 
it  was  their  choicest  disli — a  roasted  dog.  The  viDagers 
had  large  earthen  pots  and  platters,  made  by  themselves  vvitli 
tolerable  skill:  they  had  also  hatchets,  knives,  and  beads, 
gained  by  trafflc  with  tlio  Illi'iois  auu  otlicr  tribes  in  con- 
tact witL  the  French  and  Spaniards. 

All  day  there  was  feasting  without  respite,  after  the  mer- 
ciless practice  of  Indian  hospitality;  but  at  night  some  of 
their  dusky  entertainers  proposed  to  kill  and  plunder  them 
— a  base  scheme,  which  was  defeated  by  the  vigilance  of  the 
chief,  who  visited  their  quarters,  and  danced  the  calumet 
dance  to  reassure  his  guests. 

Father  Marquette  and  his  companions  now  held  counsel 
ac  to  what  course  they  should  take.  They  had  gone  far 
enough,  as  they  thought,  to  establish  one  important  jjoint— 
that  the  Mississippi  discharged  its  waters,  not  into  the  At- 
lantic, nor  into  the  Gulf  of  California,  but  into  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico.  They  thought  themselves  nearer  to  its  mouth  than 
ihey  actually  were — the  distance  being  still  about  seven 
liundred  miles;  and  they  feared  tliat  if  they  went  farther, 
they  might  be  killed  by  Indians  or  captured  by  Spaniards, 
whereby  the  results  of  their  discovery  would  le  lost, 
Therefore  they  resolved  to  return  to  Canada,  and  report 
what  they  had  seen. 

Tiiey  left  tho  Arkansas  village,  and  began  their  home- 
ward vovage  on  tho  ITtli  of  Jul^^  It  was  no  easy  task  to 
urge  their  way  upward,  in  tho  hesit  of  nudsummer,  agamst 
the  current  of  the  dark  and  gloomy  stream,  toiling  all  day 
under  the  parching  sun,  and  sleeping  at  night  in  the  exliaiu 


FATHER  JAMES  MAIiQUETTE,  S.  J. 


525 


tions  of  the  unwholesome  shore,  or  in  tho  narrow  confin«»s  ot 
their  birchen  vessels,  anchored  on  the  river.  Father  Mar- 
quf'tte  was  attacked  with  dysenterj'.  Lan<iuid  and  well -nigh 
fr))ent,  the  great  missionary  invoked  his  Heavenly  I'ati-on- 
ess,  as  day  after  day,  and  week  after  week,  tliey  won  their 
weary  way  northward.  At  length,  they  reached  tho 
Illinois,  and  entering  its  mouth,  followed  its  course, 
charmed,  as  they  went,  with  its  placid  waters,  its  shady 
forests,  and  its  rich  plains,  grazed  by  the  bison  and  tho 
deer.  Green  Bay  was  reached  at  the  end  t>f  September, 
after  an  absence  of  about  four  months,  during  which  tira* 
they  had  paddled  their  canoes  somewhat  more  than  two 
thousand  live  hundred  miles.' 


'  Piirkman. 

AiciirUins  to  Dr.  Spark's  "  I.ife of  Marquette,"  the  dii-tiinct  tvavcr^rud  liy  the saiutly  missionary 
•lul  his  oonipaiiion  .lolliot  «•;!•<  y.tOT  miles. 

(uii(i;U  Wurid.  Iii-pc(ti)r-r;i.'m'ral  of  tlie  Vnited  St^tps  Army,  has  made  tlic  following  carcfn 
eftiniiKs  of  this  historic  voyni;e.  from  personal  ol)sorvatloii8  : 

From  Cirein  Bay  up  Tox  Hiver  to  the  I'orliiL-e ITnmiles. 

I'rom  the  Portaije  do'.vn  tlic  Wisconsin  to  the  Mis^'^^ippi IT")     " 

From  the  m^tiith  of  the  Wise  Hisin  to  the  mouth  of  tho  Arkansas..  W-ff    " 

From  the  Arkansas  to  the  Illinois  Hiver .M~     " 

From  the  mouth  of  the  Arkansas  to  CliioiL'o ato     "  ; 

From  Chicago  to  Green  buy,  by  the  lal;o  shore  200    " 

Tmai. > iJiMii  iuil«k    , 


I 


CHAPTEL,  m/ 

-       TnE  SUBLIME  lOXD   OF   A   UEAUTIFUL  LIFE. 

Fatlicr  Marquette  hattlinrj  with  disenne — A  new  mission — 
The  journey  along  Lake  Michigan — At  the  site  of 
Chicago — Among  the  Kasimsklas — Return  of  the  dis- 
ease— U/i  the  wag  to  Macklua/r — The  last  dags  of  the 
great  missionary — IVte  htautlful  end — Ills  fame  and 
character. 

Wliilo  IMi'.  Jolliet  proceeded  to  Canada  to  pultlish  tlie 
news  of  tlie  g'lt'iit  discoveiy  to  tlie  world,  the  pious  and 
luinible  Marquette  remained  at  Green  Bay  to  recruit  liis  ex- 
hausted strenii'th  before  renewinij  liis  zealous  labors  anion^ 
the  Indians,  lie  sought  no  laurels,  lie  asi^irecl  to  no  tin- 
sel praise. 

The  remaining  part  of  the  story  of  the  illustrious  niis- 
fiionary's  heroic  life  is  short  but  sublime.  During  the  win- 
ter and  spring  of  1G74,  he  laj'  on  his  sick  couch,  the  victim 
of  a  complication  of  diseases.  In  the  autumn,  however,  he 
regaiuf^d  his  health  somewhat,  and  was  permitted  bj^  his  supe- 
rior to  attempt  the  execution  of  a  plan  to  which  he  was  de- 
votedly attached — the  founding  at  the  principal  town  of  the 
Illinois  of  a  mission  to  be  called  the  Immaculate  Concep- 
tion, a  name  which  he  had  already  given  to  the  Mississippi. 
He  set  out  on  this  errand  on  the  2.')th  of  October,  acconii)a- 
nied  by  two  men  named  Peter  and  James,  one  of  Avhom  had 
been  with  him  on  his  great  journey  of  discovery.  A  band 
of  Pottawattamies  and  another  band  of  Illinois  also  joined 
him.  The  united  jiarties — ten  canoes  in  all^followed  the 
east  shore  of  Green  Pay,  as  far  as  the  inlet  then  called  Stur- 
geon Cove,   from  the  head  of  which  they  crossed  by  a 


FATHER  JAiraiS  MAItqUETTIC,  S.  J. 


627 


difficult   portage  nuougli  the   forest  to  the  sliore  of  Lake 
Michigan. 

^'oveInI)er  liad  come.  The  bright  hues  of  the  autumn 
foliage  were  changed  to  rusty  brown.  Tiie  shore  was  deso- 
late, and  the  lake  was  stormy.  They  were  nior  than  a 
month  in  coasting  its  western  bolder,  when  at  length 
they  reached  the  River  Chicago,  entered  it,  and  descended 
it  about  two  leagues.  Father  Marquette's  disease  had 
lately  returned,  and  hemorrhage  now  ensued.  lie  told 
his  two  companions  that  this  journey  would  be  his  last. 
In  the  condition  in  which  he  was,  it  was  impossible  to  go 
farther. 

It  was  the  4th  of  December  when  Fathor  ^Marquette  reached 
the  site  of  the  since  great  city  of  the  West.  The  ice  had 
partially  closed  the  stream.  His  men,  simple,  faithful 
companions,  erected  a  log-hut,  home  and  cliapel,  the  first 
(i celling  and  first  church  of  Chicago.  Praying  to  Our 
Lady  to  enable  him  to  reach  his  destination,  offering  the 
Holy  Sacrifice  Avhenever  liis  illness  permitted,  receiving  dele- 
gations from  his  flock,  the  Kaskaskias,  tlie  winter  waned 
away  in  pious  foundation  of  the  white  settlement  at 
Chicago. 

With  the  opening  of  spring  the  apostolic  man  set  out, 
and  liis  last  letter  notes  his  progress  till  the  Cth  of  April, 
167.5.  Two  days  after  he  was  among  the  Kaskaskias.  and, 
rearing  his  altar  on  the  prairie  whicli  lies  betwe.Mi  the 
present  town  of  U tica  and  the  Illinois  river,  he  offered  up 
the  Mass  on  Maundy  Thursday,  and  began  the  instruction 
of  the  willing  Indians  who  gathered  around  him. 

A  few  days  only  were  allotted  to  him,  when,  after  Easter, 
he  was  again  stricken  down.  If  he  would  die  in  the  arms 
of  his  brethren  at  Mackinaw,  he  saw  that  he  must  depart  at 
once;  for  he  felt  that  the  days  of  his  sojourning  were 
ra[)idly  closing.  Escorted  by  the  Kaskaskias,  wlio  were 
deeply  impressed  by  the  zeal  that  could  so  battle  with 
death,  the  missionary  reached  Lake  ^Michigan,  on  the  east- 


'Parkniau. 


•  Ibid. 


r)28 


FATHER  JAMES  MAL'Ql'El TE,  S.  J. 


ern  side.  Alfliou^h  that  sliore  was  as  yet  unknown,  his 
faitlifiil  men  laiinclied  liis  can()«>.' 

"His  slicn^lli,  liowcvci',  failt»(l  so  nincli,"  says  Father 
Dablun,  wlioiu  we  shall  now  follow;  "  that  liis  nieil  (Icspiiiivd 
of  being'  able  to  convey  hin»  alive  to  their  journey's  end  ; 
for  in  fact,  he  became  so  weak  and  so  exhausted  that  lie 
could  no  longer  liclp  himself,  nor  even  stli',  and  ha<l  to  be 
liandled  and  carried  lik*^  a  child.  He  nevertheless  niain- 
taini'd  in  this  state  an  admirable  resij>nation,  joy,  and  <icn- 
tleness,  consoling  his  beloved  comjjanions,  and  encouraging 
them  to  suil'er  courtigeously  all  tiie  hardshii)s  of  this  voy- 
age, assuring  tlicm  tliat  Our  Lord  would  not  forsake  them 
when  he  was  gone. 

"It  was  duiing  this  navigation  that  he  began  to  prei)are 
more  particulary  for  death,  passing  his  time  in  colloquies 
with  our  Lord,  with  His  holj'  Alothei-,  with  his  angel  guar- 
dian, (•!•  with  all  Heaven.  HtMvas  often  heard  pronouncing 
these  woi'ds:  'I  Ixdieve  that  my  lledeemer  liveth, '  or 
'Marj%  Mother  of  gra<'e,  ^[other  of  fiod,  remendwr  me. ' 

"  Besides  a  spiritual  reading  made  for  him  every  day,  he 
toward  the  close  asked  them  to  read  him  his  meditation  on 
the  preparation  for  death,  which  he  carried  about  him;  he 
recited  liis  breviary  every  dav  :  r.nd  altlujuyh  he  was  so 
low  tliai  both  sight  and  strength  had  gi'eatly  failed,  he  did 
not  omit  it  till  the  last  day  of  his  life,  wlien  his  companions 
excited  his  sci'uples.  A  weak  before  his  death  he  had  the 
precaution  to  bless  some  holy  water  to  serve  him  duiing 
the  rest  of  his  illness,  in  his  agony,  and  at  his  burial,  antl 
he  instructed  his  compunjons  how  to  use  it. 

"On  the  eve  of  his  death,  which  was  a  Friday,  he  told 
them,  all  radiant  with  joy,  that  it  would  take  place  on  the 
moriow.  During  the  whole  day  he  conversi-d  with  them 
about  the  manner  of  his  burial,  the  way  in  which  he  should 
be  laid  out,  the  jilace  to  be  selected  for  his  interment;  how 
they  should  arrange  his  hands,  and  face,  and  how  .they 
should  raise  a  cross  over  his  grave. 


>  Shea. 


FATHER  JAMEF  i^AKQUi:TTK,  S.  J. 


C29 


"He  even  went  so  far  as  to  enjoin  tlicm,  only  lliree  hours 
iifl'ore  \w  exjiired,  to  take  liis  chapfl-bell,  as  soon  as  ho 
\\:is  (U-ad,  and  rin;^  it  whih?  they  oanied  liim  to  the  grave. 
Of  all  this  he  spcjke  so  calndy  and  collectedly  that  you 
would  have  thought  he  spoke  of  the  death  and  burial  of  an- 
otliiT,  and  not  of  his^  own. 

'Thus  did  he  speak  to  them  as  he  sailed  along  the  lake, 
till  ])('r('eiving  the  mouth  of  a  river,  with  an  eminence  on 
tilt'  hank  which  he  thought  suited  for  his  burial,  he  told 
thiMu  tliat  it  was  the  place  of  his  last  repose.  Tliey  wished, 
however,  to  pass  on,  as  the  weather  permitted  it  and  the 
(lay  was  not  far  advanced;  but  God  raised  a  contrary  wind, 
whii'li  ol)liged  them  to  return  and  enter  the  river  which  the 
father  had  designated. 

"They  then  carried  him  ashore,  kindled  a  little  fire,  and 
raise-d  a  wrntclnMl  bark  cabin  for  his  use,  laying  liim  in  it 
wltli  as  little  discomfort  as  they  could;  but  tlu-y  were  so 
(jenicssed  by  sadness  that,  as  they  afterwards  said,  they 
did  not  know  what  they  were  doing. 

''The  Father  being  thus  stretched  on  the  shore  liko 
St.  Francis  Xavier,  as  he  had  always  so  ardently  desired, 
and  left  alone  amid  those  forests  —  for  his  companions 
wei'e  engaged  in  unloading — ho  liad  leisure  to  repeat  all 
the  acts  in  which  he  had  employed  himself  during  the  pre- 
ceding days. 

'•When  his  dear  companions  afterwards  came  up,  all 
dejtH'ted,  he  consoled  them,  and  gave  them  ho])es  that 
God  would  take  care  of  them  after  his  death  in  those 
new  and  unknown  cotmtries;  he  gave  them  his  last  in- 
structions, thanked  them  for  all  the  charity  .they  had 
sliown  him  during  the  voyage,  begged  their  ]iardon  for 
the  trouble  he  had  given  them,  directed  them  also  to  ask 
pardon  in  hia  name  of  all  onr  Fathers  and  Brothers  in 
the  Ottawa  country,  and  then  disposed  them  to  receive 
the  sacrament  of  penance,  which  he  administered  to  them 
for  the  last  time. 

"lie  also  gave  them  a  paper  on  which  he  had  written  all 
his  faults  since  his  last  confession,  to  be  given  to  his  Supe- 


630 


FATHER  JAMES  MARQUETTE,  S.  J. 


rior,  to  oblige  him  to  pr.iy  to  God  more  earnestly  for  him. 
Inline,  he  promised  not  to  forget  them  in  Heaven,  and  as 
he  was  very  kind-liearted,  and  knew  them  to  be  woi-n  out 
witli  the  toil  of  the  jireceding  days,  lie  bade  tliem  go  and 
take  a  little  rest,  assnring  them  that  his  hour  was  not  yet 
Bo  near  but  tiiat  he  would  wake  them  when  it  was  titne— 
as,  in  fact,  he  did  two  or  three  hours  after,  calling  them 
when  about  to  enter  into  his  agony. 

"  When  they  came  near,  he  embraced  them  again  for  tlie 
last  time,  while  they  melted  in  tears  at  his  feet.  He  thm 
asked  for  the  holy  water  and  his  leliqiiaiy,  and,  taking  (^If 
liis  crucitix,  which  he  always  wore  hanging  from  his  neck, 
he  placed  it  in  the  hands  of  one  of  his  companions,  asking 
him  to  hold  it  constantly  oi)posite  him,  raised  before  his 
eyes, 

''Feeling  that  he  had  but  a  little  while  to  live,  he  made 
a  last  ell'ort,  clasped  his  hands,  and,  with  his  eyes  lixtd 
sweetly  on  his  crucitix,  lie  pi'onounced aloud  his  piofession 
of  faith,  and  thanked  the  Divine  ^fajesty  for  the  inmiense 
favor  he  bestowed  upon  him  in  allowing  him  to  die  in  the 
&'ociety  of  Jesus,  to  die  in  it  as  a  nnssionary  of  Jesus 
Christ,  and  above  all  to  die  in  it,  as  he  had  always  asked, 
in  a  wretched  cabin,  amid  the  forests,  destitute  of  all  hu- 
man aid. 

"On   this  he  became   silent,  conversing  inwardly  with 
God;  yet   from  time   to  time    woids  ef-(ap»d  him:     '■  t<iis 
tlnuit  anima  mca  in   verho  t'Jus,^  or  '■Jlatcr  Ihi,  memento 
onel,^  which  were  the  last  words  he.  uttered  before,  entering 
into  his  agony,  which  was  very  calm  and  gentle. 

"He  had  i)rayed  his  companicms  to  remind  him.  when 
they  saw  him  about  to  expire,  to  pronounce  frequentl}^  the 
names  of  Jesus  and  Mary,  if  he  did  not  do  so  hiuiself;  they 
did  not  neglect  this;  and  Avhen  they  thought  hini  about  to 
pass  away  one  cried  aloud,  '  Jesus  !  Alary  I  which  lie  sev- 
eral times  repeated  distinctly,  and  tlien,  as  if  at  those  sa- 
cred names  something  had  appeared  to  him,  he  suddenly 
raised  his  ej'^es  above  his  crucifix,  lixing  them  ap])ai'ently 
ttpon  some  object,  which  he  seemed  to  regard  with  pleas- 


« 

1 

1 

1 IIH 

HI 

I 


FATHEll  JA.VK8  MARQl'MTrE.  S.  J. 


rm 


nre;  and  thus,  witli  a  ronnfnnanr*'!  nil  ifidinnt  willi  sniiU'.s, • 
he  expired  without  a  stnigf^le,  and  so  geiilly  that  it  might 
berallod  a  quiet  Hleej). 

"Hi*  two  poor  coiiipaiiioiiH,  after  shedding  many  leara 
over  his  body,  and  having  hiid  it  out  !»s  he  had  din  , -ted, 
carried  it  out  devoutly  to  the  grave,  ringing  theliell  aec')i-(l. 
ini;  to  his  injunction,  and  j-ai.-cd  a  largo  eross  near  it  to 
serve  as  a  niai'k  for  all  who  passed.  .  .  . 

♦'God  did  not  pornilt  so  precioiis  a  deposit  to  remain 
nnhi)ii(»r<'d  and  forg<»tten  amid  the  forests.  The  Indian.s 
calleil  Iviskakons,  wiio  hav(5  foi-  nearly  ten  yesirs  publicly 
prd'cssed  Christianity,  in  wliich  tliey  weio  first  itisL  .  <ed 
hy  Father  ^larquette  when  stationed  at  La  Pointe  du 
8t.  Esprit,  at  the  extremity  of  T/ihe  Snperior,  were  liunt- 
ing  last  winter  not  far  from  Lake  Illinois  D  Lhigan), 
and,  as  they  w<  '-e  returning  early  in  t'le  spring,  they  re- 
solved to  i^ass  by  the  tond)  of  their  good  Father,  wi'^n 
they  litiderly  loved;  "ud  God  even  gavo  .them  the  thought 
(if  taking  his  biUK'S  and  conveying  them  to  our  chu'-eh 
at  the  nnssion  of  St.  Ignatius,  at  Missilimakinac,  where 
tlii'v  reside. 

"They  accordingly  repaired  to  fhe  spot  and  deliberated 
tog''ther,  resolving  to  act  with  their  FatluM-  as  they  usually 
do  with  those  whom  they  respect.  They  accordingly 
oiieiied  the  grave,  unrolled  the  l>ody,  and,  though  the  liesh 
and  intestines  were  all  dried  up,  they  found  it  entire,  with- 
out th(iskin  being  in  any  way  injured.  This  did  not  pre- 
vent their  dissecting  it  according  to  custom.  They  washed 
tlie  bones  and  dried  them  in  the  sun;  then,  putting  them 
neatly  in  a  box  of  bircdi  bark,  they  set  out  to  bear  them  to 
our  house  of  St.  Ignatius. 

"The  convoy  consisted  of  nearly  thirty  canoes  in  excel- 
lent order,  including  even  a  good  number  of  Iroquois,  who 
had  joined  our  Algonquins  to  honor  the  ceremony.  As 
they  approached  our  house,  Father  Xouvel,  who  is  Supe- 
rior, went  to  meet  them  with  Father  Pierson,  accompanied 
b"  all  the  French  and  Indians  of  the  place,  and  having 
ra  :sed  the  convoy  to  stop,  he  made  the  ordinary  interroga- 


;i!j 


if™'- 


«32 


FATHER  JAMES  MARQUETTE,  S.  J. 


tions  to  verifj'  the  fiu't  that  the  body  which  they  bore  wis 
really  Father  ^Nfarquette's. 

"Then,  before  they  hinded,  he  inroned  the  De  Prc>/'}f/i(?is 
in  siglit  of  the  thirty  canoes  still  on  the  water,  aad  of  all 
ihe  people  on  the  shore.  After  this  the  body  was  ;:uTifd 
to  the  church,  observing  all  that  the  ritual  prescribes  for 
such  ceremonies.  It  remained  exjiosed  under  his  catafalque 
all  that  day,  which  was  Whitsun  Monday,  the  8th  of  June; 
and  tlie  next  day,  when  all  the  funei-al  honors  iiad  bi-fn 
paid  it,  it  was  deposited  in  a  little  vault  in  the  middle  of 
the  chtircli,  where  he  reposes  as  the  Guardian  Angel  of  dur 
Ottawa  Mission.  The  Indians  often  come  to  pray  on  liis 
tomb." 

Father  ^Marquette  died  in  his  thirty-eighth  year,  on  f^atnr- 
day,  the  18th  of  May,  107."). 

The  venerable  historian,  Charlevoix,  who  traveled  through 
the  West  in  1721,  states  that  tlie  French  mariners  never  l;;il 
to  invoke  Father  i\Iarquette  ""when  they  are  in  any  peril  on 
Lake  Michigan.  ^Many  have  declared  that  they  believtd 
themselves  indebted  to  his  intercession  for  having  escaped 
very  great  dangers." 

"Father  Marquette,"  writes  Shea,  "was  not  a  nit'if 
scholar  or  man  of  science.  If  he  sought  new  avenues  for 
civilized  man  to  thread  the  very  heart  of  the  continent,  it 
was  with  him  a  work  of  Christian  love.  It  was  to  o]it'U  the 
way  for  the  Gospel,  that  the  Cross  might  enlighten  new  and 
remote  nations. 

"No  missionary  of  that  glorious  band  of  .T(>suits.wlio,  in  tlie 
seventeenth  centtuy^  announced  the  Faith  from  Iludson  I'ny 
to  the  Lower  ]\rississippi,  who  hallowed  by  their  labors  ;iiid 
life-blood  so  many  a  wild  spot  now  occupied  by  the  busy  hives 
of  men — none  of  them  impresses  us  more,  in  his  whole  life 
and  career,  with  Ills  ])iety,  sanctity,  and  absolute  devoti(,n 
to  God,  tlian  Father  T^larquetle.  In  life  he  seems  to  have 
been  looked  up  to  with  reverence  by  the  wildest  savage,  by 
the  rude  frontiersman,  and  I/y  the  polished  officers  of  gov- 
ernment. When  he  had  passed  away,  his  name  and  his  faiiia 


FATHER  JAMES  MARQUETTE,   S.J. 


038 


remained  in  the  Great  AVest,  treasured  above  that  of  his  fel- 

low-laliorors.'" 

"  Thus  he  died,  the  arcat  Apostle,  far  away  in  regions  West, 
•  By  tlic  Ldke  of  the  Ali,'()n(iiiins'  jxacelnUy  liis  asiics  rest, 

But  liis  spirit  still  n  yards  us  from  his  home  among  the  Blest." 

1  In  relation  to  the  recent  flndiiig  of  the  prrcioiis  rcmiiiiis  of  Fiither  Marqiu-tte,  wo  an  exi^ 
leiii  pui>ir  liy  Dr.  J.  G.  Slieii,  in  Th«  Vatliullc  Wmid  fm  November,  ItCT,  ciiutli.'d  "  Honuuic* 
»<i  Ui i.l.ty  of  th<>  (Iiatli  of  Fnihur  Jum<;ti  Marquettu,  iiuil  ±a  receut  diiicoTeiy  of  Itia  remuBOt" 

'  T^«  aorljr  mbm  of  i^  %e  lliciiiKaa. 


ROBERT  CAVELIER  DE  LA  SALLE, 

THE  ILLUSTRIOUS  EXPLORER  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI  VALLEY,* 


CHAPTER  I. 

YOUTHFUL   GEMUS   AXD   VAST  DESIGX3. 

Birth.,  family,  ami  education  of  La  Salle— ■Goes  to  Canada 
— Settles  near  Montreal — How  little  was  kimicn  <f  JS'urth 
America  then~V((st  Schemes  of  La  Salle — Discovers 
tltc  Ohio — At  Fort  Frontenac — Dereloping  thoiitflits — 
rrir/l<'f/es  (/ranted  hy  the  King  cf  France — ^1  (Jtinipse 
at  Fort  Frontenac. 

Scarcely  had  tlie  last  words  of  the  gloiions  ^farqiiette — 
Mder  D(  i,  memento  mci' — died  away  on  the  winds  of  Michi- 
gan, when  a  bold  and  devoted  spirit,  lired  by  the  lanie  of 
previous  explorations,  was  nieditatirig  on  the  shores  of  Lake 
Ontario  the  pi'oseciition  of  the  ,i>i'and  work  be.u'un  by  the 
.lliistrions  missionary.  A  Jesuit  I'^ither  had  led  the  way. 
A  Catholic  nobh^man  now  advanced  to  complete  the  work. 

Kobcrt  Cavelier  dela  Salle'  was  born  in  the  city  of  IJonen, 
I'lnnce.  in    the   vear   1(!43.     lit*  belon"'<'d    to  an  old  and 


'  Chief  niithnriHos  nspd:  Slu'a.  "Tho  Discovi-ry  mid  Ixploratinn  of  the  Ml^'siKcippI;"  I'nrk- 
man.  "Tlic  DUcovitv  nf  Ihi'  (ircnt  Wot;"  Ahliolt,  "The  Ailvcmiircs  of  the  Clu'valtcr  i\v  la 
Salle;"  !)<■  F()iit|KTliiis.  ••  l.v>  Fmiivain  ill  Aiii('ti(|m';"  Haiicrnfl.  ■' lli'^tiiry  of  ;  .t-  t'nitid 
Slates;"  77/-  entlmlh-  W'urlil.  Vol.  XX.;  Mctiee.  •■c.iiliolie  Hlstor.v  of  Novth  Aiiiericii;"  Th» 
.\irlh  .\7iuncaH  IleiUw  for  Dreenilier,  IsrV;  llarl.  •■  lli-lor.v  oi  the  Di-iovery  of  the  Valley  of 
tlie  Mi-^~issiiipl;"  Charlevoix,  •'  History  ami  (ienerai  I)e.-eiiptii)U  of  New  Fraiice;"  Sparkf,  ''Lifa 
of  I,a  Salle." 

"  "  Mother  of  f!o<l.  reiiieiiilifr  me." 

Mlis  full  i.ame  was  Heiie-IiotuTt  Cavelier,  Sieur  do  la  Sillo.  I,.i  Saile  was 'lie  name  of  an 
ei-tate  near  Hoiieii.  beloie.'iiii;  to  the  Cavelier".  The  wealthy  Fn'iieh  ImrL'hi'rs  often  dl-liiHriiished 
tlM  vwioils  nieiiihers  of  their  families  hy  ilesijjnatioii^  horrowed  froiii  luuded  estates.— /'lO'/lv/iaj*. 

53J 


530 


nOLETil  CAVKLIEn  T)E  LA  SALLE. 


1  t 


wealthy  family.  li  is  snit]  that  in  early  youth  lie  ent(n'0(l 
the  Society  of  Jesus,  in  which  he  reniained  for  several  veins 
studying  and  teachiiii:;.  Providt'iice,  howev(,>r,  destined  lain 
for  a  soinmvhat  diirercnt  siihcreof  lahorand  usefulness,  l)ui; 
one  having"  a  close  relationship  with  the  vast  work  of  the 
Church  among  mankind. 

La  Salle  had  a  great  fondness  for  the  exact  sciences,  « s- 
pecially  mathematics,  in  which  lie  was  remarkably  pio- 
iicient;  and  In^  left  tlu^  Seminary  of  the  Jesuit  Fatliers 
carrying  with  him  the  highest  testimonials  of  his  superioi's, 
for  purity  of  character,  excellent  acquirements,  and  an 
energy  seldom  matched.  On  account,  however,  of  iiaving 
been  connected  with  the  religious  state,  he  was,  by  a  new 
and  unjust  iirovision  of  the  French  law,  deprived  of 
nearly  all  his  fortun(\ 

He  had  an  elder  brother  in  Canada,  the  Abbe  Jolm 
Cavelier,  a  priest  of  St.  Sulpice.  Apparently  it  was  this 
that  shapsMl  his  destinii^s.  His  family  made  him  an  allow- 
ance of  four  hundred  livres  a  year,  the  capital  of  which  was 
paiil  over  to  him;  and  with  this  pittance  in  his  pcjcket,  he 
sailed  for  Canada,  lo  seek  his  fortune,  in  the  spring  of 
1(500.' 

L.i  S.ille  obtained  fi'firn  the  Sulpitians  the  grant  of  a  large 
tract  of  land,  about  niiu!  miles  above  ]\lontreal.  lleie  lie 
began  a  village  which  he  called  Li  Chine,  and  which  to 
this  day  retains  the  suggestive  name.  He  also  exploit',!  a 
little,  and  began  the  study  of  the  Indian  languages.  It  is 
said  that  in  two  or  three  years  h,>  biH'ame  quite  familiar 
with  the  Huron,  Algonquin,  and  live  or  six  other  native 
dialects. 

At  that  time  the  whole  of  the  great  Northwest  of  the 
I^'nited  States  was  an  entirely  unknown  land.  No  one  had 
the  slightest  i<lea  as  to  whether  the  continent  of  North 
America  was  2,(KH)  or  10,000  miles  in  breadth.  It  was  the 
general  impression,  however,  that  the  waves  of  the  Pacific 
wero  dashing  against   the  rocks  a  few  miles  west  of  the 


1  Park  man. 


EOLEUT  CAVELIEIl  I)E  LA  SAirE. 


nn? 


cliaiu  of  great  lakes  which  waslied  tlie  soiitliern  shr)iTs  of 
Canada.  La  l^alhi  was  iiiedi fating  an  expcnlilion  up  jh(^  b^t. 
L;i\vrence,  tlirough  those  spailJiiig  seas  of  fivsii  wnler  to 
L:ilvO  SiipiM'ior,  from  th(!  western  end  of  whieli  he  eonji- 
(U'Utly  (^rcpeeted  to  lind  easy  communication  with  tlu^  Pa- 
cilic  Ocean.  There  he  would  ai^ain  spread  his  adventurou-s 
sail,  liaving  diacovered  a  new  route  to  China  and  the  East 
Indies. 

Tiiere  was  grandeur  in  this  conception.  It  would  entirely 
cliaiige  th(!  route  of  the  world* s  commerce.  Tt  would  make 
tiie  French  possessions  iu  the  New  AVorld  valuable  be- 
yond ooncei)tion.  This  all-important  thoroughfare  between 
i;ui()i)e  and  A^ia,  across  America,  Avoidd  be  under  the  con- 
trol of  the  French  Crown,  and  Fi'ance  would  be  the  leader 
of  commerce.  So  thought  tlie  i)alriotio  and  enterprising 
genius  of  La  ^'alle. 

In  the  winter  of  1070,  La  Salle  organized  an  expedition 
which  inclu(h'(l  some  Sulpitian  priests,  and  ])roceeded  to- 
wards the  soutlr.V(!st.  La  Chine  was  the  starting-point. 
The  accounts  of  this  voyage  are  ratlnn'  vague.  ]t  i  •  certain, 
however,  that  he  discovered  \]\('  Ohio,  down  whicli  he  sailed 
as  fai  as  the  present  site  of  Louisville.  Here  his  men 
icfiised  to  go  furtlu']',  left;  him,  and  tlie  youthful  exjdorer 
returned  alone  to  Canada.. 

AVe  lu'xt  llnd  La  Salle  commander  of  the  newly  estab- 
li.-^iied  Fort  Frontenac — -now  Kingston.  He  held  this  posi- 
tion when  the  tidings  of  Marcpudte's  discovery  of  the 
^[ississippi  first  reached  his  ears.'  It  was  a  welcome  idea, 
h  suggested  new  trains  of  thought.  The  quick,  penetrat- 
ing intellect  of  La  Salle  at  (mce  identilied  "  the  great  river 
of  >far(iuette  with  the  great  river  of  ])e  Soto."  It  was.  in 
truth,  a  fresh  impulse  to  his  vast  schemes  of  exploration. 

Three  thoughts,  rapidly  developing  in  his  mind,  were 
mastering  La  Salle,  and  engendering  an  invincible  i)urpose: 


I  .Inllii't  in  pns-iinir  ilowii  from  (lie  iippiT  lakes  \  Uitcd  Fort  Fniiifcniir:  iitid.  iiprlmps,  ho .  'lowcil 
LsRiilli!  tlip  miips  luul  joiiniiil  ssliicli,  ;iiifo!-t'.iii:i!eiy,  lu'  afU'r-.vard.i  ll)^t  In  i,-l.j<)liiii,'  the  rapidi 
juKt.-.bovp  Moiitiva!. 


is 


i 


538 


iiodkut  cave  I.I  er  dk  la  falt.k. 


(1.)  lie  would  acliiovo  tliat  Avliich  Chuniplaiii  liad  vainly  nt- 
tc!iii>(ed,  and  of  which  our  own  generation  has  lait  seen 
the  acr'jniplishnient — the  op-ning  ol'  a  passnge  to  India,  and 
China  aciuss  the  American  Coiilinent.  {2.)  He  wonkl  w. 
cupy  llh!  Great  West,  develop  its  commercial  resources, 
and  anticiiiate  the  Si)ani;irds  and  En,^•lish  in  tlie  possession 
oMf.  (;>.)  He  AvouUl  establish  a  Jorfilled  ['ost  at  the  moiuh 
of  tlj(^  ^Mississippi,  thus  securing  an  outlet  for  the  trade  of 
the  Interior,  checking  the  progress  of  the  h"i)aiiia]ds,  and 
forming  a  l^ase  v.lienc(!  in  time  of  wartheii'  noril'eru  prov- 
inces coidd  he  invaded  and  coijquei<;d.  Such  v/iii?  the 
great  juojects  concci\('d  and  nnised  in  the  fertile  biain  of 
this  liei'olc  but  penniless  young  French ni:in  I ' 

In  the  autumn  of  KJ74,  La  Salh^  went  to  France  with 
strong  letters  of  recommendation  fiom  the  ( V,>unt  de  l-'ion- 
tenac,  (lovernor  of  CauiKlii.  AVriting  to  the  minister  Col- 
bert, Frontenac  says:  "I  cannot  help,  Monseigneur,  cc- 
onuiKMiding  to  you  the;  Sieui-  de  la  Halle,  \\l;o  is  aboui  to 
go  to  Fiance,  and  who  is  a  man  of  intclligoice  and  ability 
—more  ca]);il)l(^  than  any  one  else  I  luuiw  \\v\v  to  acconi- 
])lish  every  kind  of  enterprise  and  discover}'  wliicli  may  be 
intrusted  to  him.  TTe  has  the  niost  iieri'ect  knowledge  of 
the  state  of  the  country,  as  you  will  see,  if  yon  are  disposed 
to  give  him  a  fev/  moments  of  an  audience.  "' 

He  was  well  received  at  Court,  and  made  tv/o  petitions  to 
the  King— one  for  a  pat(Mit  of  nobility,  in  consideration  of 
his  services  as  an  ex])loivr,  the  other  for  a  grant  in 
seigniory  of  Fort  Frontenac."  On  his  jiart.  La  Salle  of- 
fered to  ]i:iy  back  the  ] 0,000  francs  which  the  fort  liiid 
cost  tli(>  <{overnment ;  to  nuuntain  it  at  his  own  ciiaigv, 
with  a  garrison  equal  to  that  of  Montreal,  besides  lifteen  or 
twenty  laboriM's ;  to  form  a  French  colony  aix)und  it,  to 
build  a  Catholic  church  whenever  the  nund)er  of  inhabit- 
ants should  reach  one  hundred;  and,  meanwhile,  to  suj)- 
jKU't  ont^  Ol-  more  I'^ranciscan  fathers  ;  and  iiiially,  lo  foi in  a 


>  Parkm:in. 

•  It  was  La  s-;ill^'  wlio  Rave  llic  new  pott  tliis  name,  in  lienor  uf  \\U  \,i\'a-o\\.— lash  man. 


llOIiEItT  CAVFJJEi:  BE  LA  SMLE. 


CI39 


pofdompjit  of  donu'sHoatcd  Tndinns  'in  flio  ncigliborliood. 
His  ()(Teraw(>r{'  arcepted.  Hi-  was  laiscd  lo  tlio  7aiik  of  nn 
iintitk'd  noblo;'  ivceivt'tl  a  grant  of  rlie  fort,  and  lands  ad- 
jacent lo  the  extont  of  four  leagues  in  fiont  and  a  half  a 
league  in  depth,  besides  tli(!  neighboring  islands;  and  lie  was 
invested  witli  the  government  of  the  fort  jind  settlement, 
subject,  however,  to  the  orders  of  tiie  Governor-Genei'al.'' 

AVhen  La  Balle  gained  possession  of  Fort  Fronte'nao, 
writes  Parknian,  lie  secured  a  l)ase  for  all  his  future  enter- 
prises. That  he  meant  to  make  it  a  permanent  one,  is  clear 
from  the  pains  he  took  to  strengthen  its  defenses.  AVilhin 
two  years  from  tlie  date  of  liis  grant  he  luid  rejylaced  the 
hasty  palisade  fort  of  Count  Fiontenac  by  a  i-egular  woilc 
of  hewn  stone,  of  which,  howcn'or,  oidy  two  bastions,  with 
tlieir  connecting  curtains,  wei'e  com)>let(^d,  the  inclosuro  on 
the  water-side  being  foi'uu'd  of  pickets. 

Within  there  was  a  barrack,  a  W(>11,  a  mill,  and  a  bakery, 
v.hiie  a  wooden  block-house  guarded  the  gateway.  Near 
the  shore,  south  of  the  fort,  was  a  cluster  of  small  honyes 
of  l"'rencli  lidhitdus;  and  fai'ther,  in  the  same  diivction, 
was  the  Indian  village.  Two  oflicers  and  a  surgeon,  with  a 
half  a  score  or  more  of  soldiei's,  made  up  the  garrison;  and 
three  or  four  times  that  mnuber  of  masons,  laborers,  and 
canoemen,,  w^ere  at  one  tiim^  maintained  at  the  f(tit.  ]?e- 
sides  these,  tliere  were  two  Fj-anciscan  fathers,  Luke 
Buisset  and  Louis  Ifennejiin.  La  Salle  built  a  house  for 
them  near  the  fort;  and  they  turned  a  part  of  it  into  a 
chapel. " 

}'art]y  for  trading  on  the  lake,  partly  with  a  view  to  ul- 
terior designs,  he  caused  foui'  small-decked  vessels  to  be 
built,  but,  for  ordinary  uses,  canoes  })est  served  his  pui- 
\w^>\  and  his  followers  })orame  so  skilful  in  managing 
iheni,  that  tliey  wei'e  rr2)Uted  the  best  canoemen  in  Ameiica. 
Feudal  lord  of  the  i'(?rest  around  him,  commaiuler  of  a  gar- 

»  The  title  of  C/ievalier.  '  rarkmau. 

s  This  was  the  first  plaro  of  won-Uip  la  the  present  city  of  Kingston,  now,  and  for  many  yoitta, 
the  sec  of  a  Ctitholic  Ui^hop. 


If 

( 


<  f 

I  I' 


A 


k 


h 


C40 


ItOBERT  CAVEUKU  DE  LA  SALLE. 


risnn  raised  and  paid  l)y  liimsclf,  founder  of  the  missioi^ 
patron  of  the  Churcli,  La  Sallo  rtdgned  tlic;  autocrat  of  his 
lonely  litlU)  empire. 

But  he  liad  no  thought  of  resting  here.  He  had  gained 
wliat  he  sought,  a  fulcrum  for  bokhu*  and  l)r()a(hn'  action. 
His  ]ihins  were  rijiened,  and  Ills  time  was  come.  lie  was 
no  h)nger  a  needy  adventurer,  disinlieiited  of  all  but.  liis 
fertile  brain  and  his  intrepid  heart,  lie  liad  won  place,  in- 
fluence, ci'edit,  and  potent  fri(>nds.  Now,  at  length,  he 
might  hope  to  iind  the  long-sought  path_  to  China  au-l 
Japan,  and  secure  for  France  those  boundless  regions  ot 
the  West,  in  whose  watery  highways  he  saw  his  road  to 
wealth,  lenown,  and  power.' 


I  •  DiBCOvery  of  the  Great  West." 


CIIAPTEH  II. 

TRAVELIXG   Till:  TIIOUNY   I'.OAI)   OF  DISCOVEUY,    PERIL,    AND 

ADVKNTIKIO. 

(fi-cdt  pr<j)(irafion.s — PaddUnrj  up  the  F^t  Lairrrnce — The 
Jirsf  icrillcii  d('Hfrij)ti(>n.  of  Kicu/ara — i^Jiip-buiUliiiff — 
Lannrh  of  ilte'''(irij!lii''' — The  first  toynffe  vp  ihcLdkcs 
~FortCrei)cc(fur — Ad  rcadfuljonrney  of  ovcr'[,2Wmll€ii 
— JSothing  but  disasfcr — ReturnliKj  to  JUhiois — A 
(ihafilli/  .srenv — ]\f ore  forest  rovinr/,  and  pushing  through 
the  snoios  of  Indiana— At  Fort  ]\I!ai)n—A  eoii/tcil — 
Final  2)reparatioriS  for  the  discovery  of  the  mouth  of 
the  Jlississippi. 

Towards  llio  ('los(>  of  the  year  1G77,  La  Salle  I'efiirnpd  to 
Francci  to  I't'port  tlio  ])i()gross  of  his  iindertakiiiiis  and  to 
laisH  fresh  siii)])lif's.  At  tiie  Court  his  reception  Avas  most; 
cordial.  Tli(>  King  gave  him  now  honors  and  more  extended 
Tirivileii'es.  J  lis  wealthy  I'elatives  advanced  ]aru'(?  sums  of 
money.  Ih;  bought  supplies  and  engaged  men.  Among 
these  was  one  worth  all  the  rest— Henry  de  Tonti  an  Italian 
ofricer  who  was  strongly  recomniended  to  La  Salle  by  the 
Prince  de  Condo.'  lie  was  a  man  whoso  energy  and  address 
made  him  equal  to  anything. 

La  Salle  saih'd  from  La  I\och(>lle,  and  in  the  fall  of  1GT3 
landed  at  Quebec.  Ilei'e  a  nund)er  of  Canadian  boatmen 
j(>in(Hl  his  party.  lie  sent  them  foi'ward  to  Fort  Froutenao, 
which  was  now  reallv  his  castle,  with  the  surroundini''  wil- 
dei'ness  as  his  estate.  The  boats  were  heavily  laden  with 
all  articles  necessary  for  trading  with  the  Indians,  and  with 
everything  essential  to  the  building  and  rigging  of  vessels. 

The  commander  himself  soon  followed.     He  jirocreded  in 


•  Tciiti  liiul  but  OIK'  :iniK  he  hiul  lo^t  llic  oUicr  in  lliu  ware  of  lliity. 


041 


:\ 


), 


M 


542 


liODE.lT  CA  VI:I.II:r  IK  LA  SAIJj:. 


ill 


u  bii'('li-l);ii'k  c'liioc,  with  only  one  or  two  roinpnnion.s.  It 
was  a  loii.i;'  and  p 'riloti.s  vt)ya<i*>.  'J'Ih;  liaidy  ijionocrs  jxi- 
tiently  stcnuiicd  tlio  swift  ciiircjits  of  I  lie  St.  LawiciKv, 
Htni,u'<j,'l('(l  a,t;'aiiist  its  rapids,  nliil,.,l  silently  alon^'  its  lonely 
forest-fringeil  shores,  and  several  times  came  very  iiearheiii"- 
wrecked. 

At  the  close  of  each  day,  it  was  always  n«H'essary  to  ran 
the  canoes  ashore  and  encniMi).  ]5iitwiih  men  fond  of  !ui- 
veiitiire  these  Avere'  i)leasiir(;s  ratliei-  than  pains.  In  laill' 
an  h(jiir  their  ke(Mi  axes  construct(>d  a  sln^Iteriniij  cainji. 
The  brilliant  lire  disiH'lled  all  gloom.  Tlie  fragrant  twigs 
of  the  pine  oi-  hendock  furnished  a  soft  conrh.  Here  tliey 
cooked  sapper,  siing  songs,  told  stoiies;  jnid,  ]ieih;i])s,  en- 
joyed as  much  pleasure  as  is  usually  found  in  the  parl(;is  of 
the  great  and  the  wealthy. 

Indian  villages,  in  those  days,  were  quite  profusely  scat- 
tered along  the  l)anks  of  this  niiijestic  liver.  TIk*  ^^n^w^i 
was  oftini  (pute  exciting  as  the  cnnoeof  the  voyngei's  ;ip- 
jM'oaclied  one  of  these  clusltn's  of  pi(!tures(pie  wigwiinis  in 
the  evening  twilight.  Tlu^  Tndinns  wer(^  fond  of  songs  and 
dances,  and  the  blaz<»  of  the  crackling  boidire.  Tlu^  whole 
expanse  of  riv(M',  clilf,  and  foi'est,  would  be  lighted  u]).  The 
gay  shouts  of  the  barbaric  revelry  ecluted  thi'ough  the  grand 
s()]itud(\s;  and  tlie  dusky  warrior,  squaw,  and  i)appoo>e 
ilitted  al)out  in  all  the  varied  enjoyments  of  savage  life  and 
leisure.' 

Fort  Frontenac  was  readied  in  safety.  On  the  181  h  of 
November,  La  Salle  S(mt  a  small  vessel  of  ten  tons,  with  a 
deck,  to  go  to  the  farther  extrenuty  of  Lake  Ontario,  a  dis- 
tance of  about  two  hundred  miles,  and  to  ascend  the  Niag- 
ara river  until  the  famous  Falls  were  reached.  This  little 
craft  contained  abf)Ut  thirty  workmen,  with  provisions  and 
implements  for  erecting  a  fort,  and  building  a  vessel  beyond 
the  Falls,  at  the  eastern  end  of  Lakc^Erie. 

About  ten  years  previously—in  ]<J(S9 — La  Salle,  while  on 
an  exploring  tour  with  a  party  of  missionaries,  luui  discov- 

•  Abbott. 


In 


ItOBETlT  CAVELTEll  DE  LA  SALLE. 


fi4: 


er('(l  Xinfjava'  I'alls.  Cialinri",  in  liis  joiiinal  of  this  cxiiodi- 
tioii  writes:  "  Wc  found  a  river  oiie-riLilitli  of  a  lc;:mii' 
lnoail  and  oxlrcnicly  rai)i(l,  foi'niiii,!:'  Ilic  oiiliri  I'li-iii  Lnic 
Ki'ic  to  Lakt!  Oiiiai'io.  TIk;  d('[)tli  is  cxiraordiiKiry.  Wo. 
found  close  to  tin-  slioi't>  lil'leeii  or  .sixteen  fallioins  of  water. 
Tiiis  ontlet"  is  forty  miles  lonij.  It  lias,  fi-oni  ten  lo  twelve 
miles  aliiive  ils  ('ntrance  into  Lake  (.)i:tjirio,  one  of  ilie  jinest 
cataiacts  in  theworld.  All  llie  Indian:  say  thai  llie  livei- 
fulls  from  a  I'oek  hi,^■ller  than  the  tal'es!  jiines.  ^^'e  henrd 
the  roar  at  tlu^  distanc(M)f  ten  or  twelve  nnles.  The  fall 
pves  such  a  momeiitnni  to  the  water,  that  il>  eiiricnt  pi'«.'- 
vented  onr  ascendin*;,  except  with  izreat  dil'icnlty.  Tho 
<'nnent  above  tin;  falls  is  so  ra]iid  that  it  often  sucks  in 
(leer  and  sfa.u's,  eliv  and  ro(>bnck,  in  tlieir  effoits  lo  cross  tho 
river,  and  overwhelms  them  in  ils  fri,!.',h(  ful  abyss.'' 

This  is  the  earliest  ];nown  desci'ipiion  ()f  Xia,uara  l-'alls, 
and  it  is  but  right  to  add  that  it  is  from  the  pen  of  a  Cath- 
olic missionaiT. 

La  Salle  joined  his  compariieiis  at  the  hond  of  I  he  "Niagara, 
river  on  the  ))orders  of  J.ake  Krie.  It  was  then  the  :'!ith  of 
Jann;ii'y,  KJTO.  'J'he  rivcM' abo\o  the  falls  was  one  slieet  of 
ic(\  and  resembled  a  plain  paved  witli  linely-pollshed  marble. 
The  Indians  received  the  I'^renchnien  with  mnch  frieiul- 
liness. 

All  the  goods  wero  to  be  transported  throngh  a  trail  of  tho 
forest,  covered  •with  deep  snow,  ai'onnd  the  I'alls— a  dis- 
tance of  abont  twenty  udles.  It  was  to  be  done  on  IIk; 
shoulders  of  men.  The  savages  kindly  aided  in  lle'se  her- 
culean labors,  and  were  amply  repaid  for  day>  of  toil  by 
the  iires(^nt  of  a  knife,  a  hatchet,  or  a  few  triid\ets,  as  denr 
and  vabia1>le  to  them  as  ai'o  jjearls  and  diamonds  lo  a  vain 
duchess.  La  Salle  constructed  a  fortiiied  depot  at  this 
place  to  servc  as  a  base  for  future  o])ei'ations.  llei'e  he 
could  store  such  additional  supplies  as  he  nnght  ojder  from 
Fort  Frontenac. 

'  Kingara  moans  "  neck  of  water." 
•  The  Niagara  river. 


Mm 


I 


li 


C4t 


nonERT  cAvi:.i::ii  ui:  i.\  <M.i.h:. 


On  the  QOtli  ol'  .T;mii:iry,  l.'TD,  L:i  SiiDc  iicnimpnnicfl  Ijt 
liis  Ioii.l;  train  ()[  licavily  lidcn  incii,  in  sinulf  lili',  icaclit'd 
lii.s  lai;^*'  l(),'4-('al»in  ami  sliip-yaid,  in  tiio  nii(Ut  ol'  a  (Icn.sn 
forost  on  tlio  shores  ol"  Lakf  \\\'v\  'I'lify  canii'il  \\\\n\\  ilidf 
ba(dvs  ])i'()vi.sions,  incrcliandisr,  aninniniiion.  ami  nialfi-jala 
for  riu'iiiin;  tlu'VMsst'l.  'J'lic  dock-yard -il  coidd  liardly  Ijh 
callt'd  a  t'ni'f  — was  about  six;  niili-s  alinvc  Ni;ii^:ira  Fa  IN,  on 
tlio  wt'stiMii  sido  of  till'  rivri,  at  tin.' oiiilt-t  ol'  a  little  stii'aiu, 
now  called  Cayiin'a  Civrls,.' 

Kvei'y tiling  was  soon  prepari'd  fortlK*  iMiildinir  of  tlieve.s- 
fiel.  La  Salle  laid  the  keel  wiili  his  own  haiuis.  and  iliovy 
tho  lirst-  1)()U.  lie  had  no  lluin,i;ht,  however,  ol'  encioach- 
\\\%  np  >n  the  lands  of  the  Indians,  liis  was  to  hi-  no  wai- 
liki^  conquest.  'JMie  ol)ject  of  his  expedilicni  was  sohly  t( 
7iiak(!  discoveries  in  the  name  of  Fiance 


II 


IS  ni;iji(i  a 


iiihi- 


tion  was  to  se(»  thi>  banner  of  l'''ranc(>  ])roiidly  lloat  o\cr  tlio 
great  lakes  ami  the  riidi  and  boundless  \\'e.<i. 

AViih  a  sa^'acity  (piit(!  char.ictei'istie.  he  suuimoned  a  c(ian- 
cil  of  the  chiefs  of  till  the  neiu'hhoiin.n'  tribes. 


I  com"  to  you.'"  he  said 


a  friend  and  brother.     1 


Isli  to  buv  your  furs.     T  \\\\\  pav  for  them  in  m:ns  mal 
hatchets,    ketth.'s,   beads,   and  siudi   oijicr 


P 

articles  as  yon  want. 


owder,    lv?uves, 


(Ml  can  (io  nie  .uood,  a 


nd  [ 


cau  do 


von  ii'ood.  W'e  can  be  biothei's.  t  am  biiildiiiLi'  a  ve-sel 
that  1  may  visit  other  tribes,  buy  tli^'ir  I'ui's.  ami  carry 
ur  goods  to  them.  Let  us  sh!ik<3  hand^  and  smolu!  the 
friendship.     The   ({reat   Spirit  will    be  j^leased  to 


o 


)e  ol 


P'l 

nee  ns,  His  childi'en,  help  each  olhei-and  love  each  otjici'. 

I  wish  to  establish  u  trading-post  here,  whe)t>  I  ciin  collect 


in 


vl'urs,  and  where  you  c;in  enir.e  to  .'^ell  them. 


Alio  hen? 


yon  will  find  mechanic's  who  will  m«^iid  your  guns,  kniv 
and  kettles  wh(>n  thev  iret  out  of  order." 


es, 


These  wer<^  honest  and    convincinic  words.     All  smoked 


'  11  is  two  li'iii^Mcs  iihnvi'  llu'  r.i)!-'.  Immcdiiilflv  in  front  of  it  is  iin  i^lniirl  ii'innt  n  mile  !nrr.', 
K'lmnili'd  from  \\w  sliorc  li,-  a  niirrondiiil  (Iri'p  .'ii'm  of  llw  Niii'jirn.  into  vliicji  Cjiynf::)  Cr''i'l<i!i!>- 
«'tiiir;j('s  ilsi'lf.  Till'  place  is  so  (ll)Vlo^^l'■  s\iilr(l  to  Im.ildjn^  ninl  Ini'iic'iin'^  ii  vp<si.l.  tlMt  in  tli8 
«ar!y  part  of  ltrn  rcntnry  the  (iovcrnmcnt.  of  tlir  I'nitiMl  Stiiti'silin-i'  It  fortlic  ronstrncti'in  ot  n 
fclioonc- ti)  carry  snpplli's  to  llic  L'nrrison- of  ilio  I'lipcr  Lakes.  Tiiu  neigliboriiig  village  naW 
biars  llio  name  of  La  Salle, —/'(.//.v/uui. 


nouKitT  ('.\vi:r./f:ii  i>k  i..\  smj.k. 


M." 


tlio  jiipo  of  peace  and  f^raspcd  liamls  in  token  of  fraternity. 
TIh'  I'renclinian,  far  from  beiriii;  an  enemy,  was  a  benel'actor. 
His  lH'e  was  to  i)e  ciU'efiiilN  i)rot('('leil.  Siioiild  he,  from  iin- 
luinl  Ireiitment,  refuse  to  come  to  tlieir  countr}',  tliey  could 
luiy  no  more  ^tins,  oi-  l\iiives,  or  ki.'ttles;  anil  heiicefortli 
every  wigwam  welcomed  the  entmnce  of  a  Frenchman.' 

Diirin^:^  th«3  constrndion  of  the  new  vessel  La  Salle  was 
absent  attending-  to  other  nuilters  of  imi.oi'taiice,  and  the 
work  ])rog'ressed  nnder  the  siiiierinteiidence  oi  his  lietiten- 


aii 


t,  Tonti.     In  the  spring  she  w;is  ready  for  hiuiichin 


Father  Hennepin  gave  her  Ins  blessing;  the  cannons  were 
lired,  and  amid  the  wild  shont.s  of  Indians,  and  tlie  solemn 
cliiint  of  the  71"  J)nn//,  she  glided  safely  into  tht;  ]N'iagara. 
river,  Jia  Salle  nameil  her  the  (Jrijl'ut,'  in  luaior  of  the 
Count  de  Frontenac's  armorial  bearings. 

On  the  7th  of  August,  1(170,  the  vf)yagers.  thirly-fourMn 
all.  embarked^  and  with  swelling  canvas  t  he  ^//•///'///  i)!()nghed 
ilie  virgin  waves  of   Lake  Frie,  where  sail  was  never  seen 


bcion 


For  three  days  tliev  held  their  couise  over  these! 


Tiiiknt)wn  watei'.s,  ami  on  tlu^  fourth  turned  northward  into 
the  Strait  of  Deti'oit.  Here,  on  the  light  hand  and  on  *the 
lell,  lay  verdant  prairies,  dolled  with  groves,  and  bordered 
W'hh  lofty  forests.  Tliey  saw  walnut,  chesnut,  and  wild-plum 
tnH»s,  and  oak  festooned  with  gr'ipe  vines;  herds  of  deer, 
and  llocks  of  swans  and  wild  turkeys.  The  buluarl^s  of  the 
Griffiit  were  pleiitifidly  hung  with  gann*  which  (he  men 
killed  on  shore,  and  among  the  rest  with  a  n^MHlier  of  bears, 
nuich   commended  by  Father  Hennepin  for  their  want   of 


f.'rocitv  and  the  (excellence  of   their   llesh. 


Tl 


lose 


h 


says,  "who  will  one  day  have  the  hai)piness  to  [possess  this 
fertile  and   pleasant  strait,   will  be  very  much  obliged  to 


thosi'  who  have  shown  them  the  wav 


'J'Ih  v  crossed  Lake 


'  Alibott, 

Tills  LMOil  fi'i  !in!j.  hinvrvi-r,  did  not  h\^i  Inna; ;  iu  f  uot,  the  Indiaiia  around  Ni;i^';ir;i  i^ooii  j,'rc'\V 
jfalonsand  sih.|)ici()iis  of  llu  ir  French  ncii^lihors. 

'Tile  (Iriff'in  WHS  iilioiif  foily-livc  Ions  hiirdcn. 

"  Time  Fruncisciui  Fatliiis.  IIimmk  pin,  ^Ii-iidn-i;',  anil  lliu  aged Eibourdp,  were amoni^  thu  Kuin 
btr.    Th(.  y  uccumpauiud  tUu  8:i:puditiou  Uis  lui&iiuuuics. 


f 


i 


/I 


t  ,1 ::; 


■>rm 


nio 


nonrnr  cayei.ter  m:  i.\  r^M.i.E. 


St.  Clair,'  ami  slill  sailod  iiorflnvavd  n.^ainst  tlio  rni'i'onf 
lili  nou',  siKiilding  in  the  sun,  Lake  Huron  spread  Ix'fory 
tluMu  liko  a  s(>a.' 

Ai'tci'  l)rav(My  woatlieriiiG;  a  violent  linvricano  of  sevin-al 
days'  diiialioii,  llio  (irijjiit,  rc-ached  Maclviuaw.  On  L;) 
Salle's  arrivid  at  tins  old  mission-center,  tlio  Indians  \v(>it.! 
about  )o  I'lin  away  in  frii;,'lit.  Tlie  canse  of  it  all  was  tlio 
vessel  and  lier  white,  flappiug  sails;  but  when  they  luvird 
the  roar  of  the  cannon,  their  terror  :;nd  astonishment  wiio 
indes(:i'ib;d)1e. 

The  ]>arty  now  landed  in  state,  and  marclied,  under  arms, 
to  i]i(>  bark  cha]iel  of  the  Ottawa  village,  wliere  Mass  was 
celebrated.  La  Salle  knelt  before  the  altar,  dressed  in 
a  mantl<>  of  s'/ailet,  bordered  with  gold.  Around  him  oa 
every,  side  w^nw  kneeling  sailors,  ai'tisans,  liardy  bush- 
rangers, and  painted  savages.  It  was  a  devout  but  motley 
congregation. 

The  (irijfiii  proceed(Hl  on  lier  voyage,  nnd  on  the  3d  of 
Septembiu-  cast  anchor  in  C^i-een  Bay.  'J'his  was  the  d(>sti- 
nation  of  the  ti'avelers,"  so  far  as  they  could  ]irocee(l  by 
watcu-  and  nialse  use  of  their  v(\'<sel.  La  Salli>  had  come  lo 
this  tradirig-jiost,  to  collect  tlit^  furs,  whi(di  had  been 
brought  lu're  from  th(>  interioi',  and  Iiaving  laden  the  f/rijfni 
Avitli  them,  in  order  to  satisfy  his  <'ianu)ring  creditors,  he 
disj^atched  hei*  for  Niagara,  with  the  "richest  cargo'  that 
h:ul  yi't  been  borne  on  the  waters  ot  Lake  Erie." 

La  Salle  and  liis  m(Mi''  now  directed  their  course  towards 
the  soutli."    On  reacdnng  Lnke  Peoria,  on  ihe  Illinois  river, 


'  Iji  S:illi'  iianic'il  it  iVih'/j'i;  Cfiihr,  in  honor  of  the  holy  virjjiu  of  thiit  name.  Tlii:  proaont  name, 
n^  I'.irlciiKiu  justly  ninaik.--,  i'*  ;i  iiri'vi-i.-iun. 

-  I'Mvkmnn. 

'  It  \v:is  valuoil  iit  ovrr  ."lO.iliV)  rnincB. 

*  Foiirlocn  in  iimnbfi,  iiirliivlinir  Ihp  tlirpp  nii,«*lonnrio'!. 

''Tlio  lonu'  .'oiinioy  from  (irccn  liay  lo  Voit  rrrvcco'iir  wiin  fill  of  ndvciitnrp-.  wliicli  \ho  ')r"vi(r 
of  our  skclcli  will  not  prrinil  nw  lo  n-proiliici'.  Wo  incivly  slimci'  iit  tnir:  In  iryiiij;  .o  tliiil  !l:''  >vriy 
that  led  Ironi  tlic  St.  .Io-.'iili  river  to  llio  licachvatcrs  of  Iho  Kaiikiiki'i',  I,a  S,\i!o  ini[)rurl.'i\iiy 
oi't  out  to  i.'-c(ilor>'  al.ini-.  H.-  lost  liis  way  in  llio  dcn'io  forc.'^t.  Tlic  darkness  of  a  ttormy  I'lirlit 
wi"i  falliiii,'  snow  overtook  liini:  and  lie  tired  Ids  Kwn  M  a  si;:nal  of  distress.  I'.iit  silenee  was  tho 
oidy  answer.  Soon,  lio-.vever,  lie  saw  in  tlie  distanee  tlin  itrlit  of  a  lire,  .t  was  the  eii.-a;n|iaieat 
ot  a  iono  Indian  who  luid  formed  for  hi. itself  u  soft  bed  of  leaves.  The  savage  was  ularmeU  by  tut 


nOBElir  CAVELIEIt  DE  LA  SALLE. 


547 


f  scvin'nl 

Oil    L;. 

iaiis  \v(>ro 

Avas  tlio 

I'V  lieaid 

II 'lit  W.'l'O 

Icr  arms, 
Mass  was 
f'ssi'd  ill 
1  liiin  oil 
ly  hiish- 
L  inutlev 

li(^  3'1  of 
he  (lesti- 
1('('('(1  by 

('OHIO  l() 

ad    bi'i'ii 

itoi's,  lii> 
go'  that 

1(/\vrinls 
ois  rivci', 


I)I■o^'(;nt  imine, 


oh  llio  lir'vitr 

ttorniy  I'lL'lit 
iluncc  «;isll:;i 


]i^  l)?2:an  tlio  constnif'tioii  of  a  foil  to  wliicli  lie  iravp  llie 
8,1(1  naii'e  of  Civ'vcc'.rMir,  or  tiic  "Brokt'ii -hcarrcd.  '  'i'his 
\v;i'^  iht'  iirst  civili/i.'d  of^taipatioii  of  tlie  ro.u'ioii  wliich  now 
foiius  the  State  of  Illinois.  Tho  stiot  may  still  bo  seoii, 
nliith3  below  Feuria.  CrevtM'o'ur  tells  of  disaster  and  siif- 
fcrin.,'.  but  does  no  jiisti(V3  to  the  iron  liearted  constaney  <if 
the  >iifb'rer.  U])  to  tiiis  titiie  Ik;  liad  cluiiu'  to  the  ho[H'  that 
liis  vcssi'l,  the  <>rijjhi,  iiiiglit  still  be  safe.  Her  safety  was 
vital  t<;  his  entei'i)rise.  She  had  on  boaid  articles  of  I  hi; 
last  lu'cessity  to  him,  incliidinu;  the  liggiiii;'  and  anchors  of 
another  vessel,  which  he  was  to  bnild  at;  Fort  CrevecdMir, 
ill  older  to  desci'iid  the  jNIississippi,  and  sail  theiu'i^  to  the 
\Vcst  Indies.  Here  his  last  lio[)e  had  vanished  She  was 
(ioiibrhvss  lost;  and  in  her  loss  ho  and  all  his  plans  seemed 
ruined  aliive." 

L:;  Salle's  sup]dies  were  now  exhausted.  lie  depended 
on  the  return  of  his  vessel  for  more.  One  path,  l)eset  with 
liardsliips  and  tei'rors,  still  lay  ()i)en  to  him.  lie  miuht  re- 
turn on  foot  to  Fort  Fj'onteirac,  througli  over  twelve  hundri'd 
miles  of  a  wildi'i'uess,  and  bring  Iheiico  the  ni'edful  succors. 
Leaviim'  Tonti  toeonnnand  in  his  absence,  he  set  out,  accom- 
Ijaiiied  l)y  four  Fi'cnchmen  and  a  ^Mohegau  Indian.' 

li  was  early  in  March,  IGSO.  The  journey  was  really  ter- 
ril'viim'.  Sixty-tive  days  of  toil  and  misery  passed  before 
they  reachi.'d  Niagara  Falls.  All  but  La  Salle  were  over- 
conn;  with  disease  and  exhanstion.  The  foliowip.g  is  a 
glimjjse  of  some  of  the  ordeals  thi'oiigh  whii'h  they  passed. 
Il  i-;  from  f'  '  ])en  of  La  Sidle  himself: 

"At  noon  on  the  2.")th,"  '  he  writes,    "we  resumed  onr 


report  of  flic  -iwn.  mid  lied.  T,ii  Salle  oiitt  ivd  int  .  possrs-ioii  of  llie  clu'orip.'s  q'lartcrs  uiiU  «;('i); 
wmndly  iiiilll  nioniiujr.  All  tlii' fnri'iio.  ,  of  llie  iioKt  day  he  waiidcri'd,  anil  t«i>']'.'  .ir.i.  .:;? 
afli'rnuoii  lh.it  ln'  was  so  foi'tiiii.ili'  ii<  'o  >•  iiHli'  id  rijoin  \\\<  [oinpanions,  ',{:  raim:  i.  w.'ji  .wo 
di  ail  o|ii)Jsi'iiis  luiiiLriii;;  lit  liis  Ijcit— tlu?  rtsiut  of  Ids  udvonturoiis  ir.iii;iii;j  CAdirsiou. 

'  l':iikiiiaii. 

Ijow  .lie  iirVHn  ivri-hcd,  or  what  bocame  oi  !iiT, '.s  not  Known  w'!h  r^  :,.r.iKV'  ')ut  -ho'vas 
nrvi  r  a^ain  ncard  of. 

-  Whilr  I,a  Salic  wa^  on  his  way  to  Canatrh,  Kathor  I.onis  Hennepin,  -ly  -is  inh-rs,  eft  c'nrt 
CrOvccirur.  mid  explored  the  I'ppcr  Mi^hisi^ippl  as  .'ar  ».•'  ;lie  FalN  of  .■St.  Anaioiiy— i!iu  i.umj 
f  ivt'ii  liy  the  I'muei.-uaii,  :u  honor  of  the  famous  St.  An.hony  of  i'adua. 

«  ilurcli. 


!  1 


•f      1    'I 


i:'\ 


?]■: 


548 


liODETlT  CAyKLIHR  BE  l.\  SALLE. 


'  *' . 
!«i1- 


M 


■\vnlk  tlirouu-li  tlie  woods,  wliu;!!  were  so  matted  ■with  (liorns 
iiiid  brambles  (iial  in  (wo  and  a  lialf  days  our  cloilics  wcn,. 
torn  to  tatters,  and  our  faces  so  srratclied  that  we  luirdly 
Iciiew  eacli  other.  On  tlie  28tli,  the  woods  were  more  (([u'li, 
und  we  began  to  faro  better,   meeting  a  good  qnaiiiiiy  of 


anie 


such  as  deer,  bears,  and  turkeys,  which  W(; 


\VM\    1 


lot 


found  bel'oi'e,  so  tliat  we  liad  often  traveled  from  ninrniii!.; 
till,  night  wilho.ut  breakfast." 

The  in(h)autable  travelers  were  now  crossing  tlie  sont1i(M-n 
part  of  ^[ichigan.  Indians  were  following  tlieni,  and,  lo 
throw  ihe  savag(^s  olT  the  track,  they  set  lire  to  tie'  dry 
grass  of  the  meadows  through  which  they  passed,  to  wij)e 
out  any  marks  of  tlKur  trail. 

"We  did  this."'  continues  La  Salle,  '"every  niglit.  It 
answered  very  well  so  long  as  W(^  found  o])en  lields;  but  on 
the  I50th  we  ij,ot  into  great  marshes  Hooded  bv  the  iliaws. 


lUL 


I  were  forced  to  wade  through  them  in  mud  and  Avat 


er, 


.i  h; 


so  that  our  tracks  werc^  seen  by  a  band  of  ]\laskoiitins  who 
were  out  after  Irotpiois.  They  followed  us  through  the 
marshes  duiing  the  thr«M^  days  v.'e  were  ci'ossing  them,  but 
we  ma(h'  no  tire  at  night,  merely  talking  off  our  soaked 
(■h)th(^s,  and  wrai^ping  ourselves  in  our  blankets  on  sonic 
di'v  knoll,  where  we  sle])t. 

'•fjiit  as  there  was  an  iinconinionly  sharp  frost  on  the 
night  of  the  "Jd  of  April,  and  as  our  clothes,  which  were 
cotnph'tely  saturated,  were  still  as  .sli(d\s  in  the  moi'inug, 
we  could  not  put  them  (Ui  willuuit  making  a  \\\\'  tn  I  haw 
them.  Tills  betrayed  lis  to  the  India 
camped  aci'oss  the  marsh.  They  ran  towards  us  \\\\\\ 
loud  cries,  but  were  stopped  lialf-way  by  a  wati'i'-couise, 
which  they  could  not  get  over,  as  the  ice  was  not  strong 
enough. 

"We  went  towards  them  within  gunshot,  and,  wli(>tli«'r 
our  iire-nrms  fiightiMied  them,  or  whether  they  thought 
there  were  more  of  us  than  (here  I'eally  were,  orwheilier. 
in  fact,  (hey  ",ii(^ant  us  no  harm,  (hey  called  out  in 
the  Illinois  language  that  they  had  taken  us  for  Iro(]uois, 
l)ut  iK)w  saw  that  we  were  lirothers;  whereupon  they  wmit 


lis,    Wlu>    wel'e    eu- 


nODEnV  i'AVKl.IFAl  !)!■:  J.A  SM.I.I-: 


D-ID 


off  US  they  came,  and  wf  \v\A  on  our  way  lill  tlio  4lli,  wlien 
two  of  my  men  fell  sick  and  conld  not  liavel."' 

This  is  but  one  of  a  hundred  t^xanqiles  tliat  nii,i;lit  Ite 
cited— examples  wiiich  show  the  da;  Ini-'  ener^^y  and  li.Toic 
nature  of  La  Salle.  ]>ut  hio  mettle  was  ti'ied  lo  ihe  utmost. 
In  about  seventy  days  he  reached  I'^ort  Froiitenac.  and  the 
most  distress! nii,'  iateliigence  tilled  his  ears  from  every  side. 

The  loss  of  tlu^  (JriJJ'ni  was  coidirmed.  Tin;  news  ol:  dis- 
aster after  disaster  fell  npon  him  like  an  avahiiK  lie.  His 
;igeiits  had  plundered  him,  his  creditors  had  seized  his  })rop- 
(.rty,  a  baud  of  hd)orers  on  the  .way  to  join  him  bad  been 
pt'isundi'il  to  desert,  some  of  his  canoes  richly  laden  with 
fins  had  been  h)st  in  the  rapids  of  (he  St.  Law  rcnce,  and  ;i 
ship  from  Fi'ance,  freii;hted  with  <i-ootls  to  the  value  of 
2:.V'""  livres,  had  been  totally  wrecked. 

Yet  every  didiculty  luid  given  way  before  the  indomitable 
La  Salle.  He  had  succeeded  in  collecting  men,  cano(>s,  and 
sujiljlies,  and  was  on  the  point  of  hastening  back  as  he  had 
come,  for  the  relief  of  Tonti  and  the  men  left  with  him  at  Fort 
Civvec(eur,  on  the  Illinois,  when  two  Canadians,  dis])atched 
by  that  ollicer,  brought  Iiim  worse  tidings  than  all  Ihe  rest. 
T(Hili  wrotf;  that  nearly  all  his  nu'U  had  deserted,  after  de- 
slroyiug  Ihe  fort",  plundering  tlie  magazin(>,  and  throwing 
into  the  rivci-  all  the  aims,  goods,  and  stores  that  they  could 
not  cari'y  off. 

La  Salle  lost  no  time  in  lamentation,  lie  soon  learned 
that  lli(!  deserters  had  passed  Niagara,  and  Avere  on  the;  way 
to  ]'\)i't  Frontenac,  where  he  then  was,  intending  to  kill  him 
\\ln'i(>ver  they  migVt  llnd  him,  as  the  surest  way  to  escape 
punishment.  He  did  not  await  their  approach.  l)Ut  went  to 
iiiei't  th(>m  with  such  men  as  he  had,  discovered  tliem  on 
Lake  Ontario,  and  cai)tured  all  but  two,  wlu»  nuide  light 
and  were  .shot  by  his  b)IIowers.     This  was  one  point  gained. 

Like  a  brav(^  conuuander.  he  next  hent  all  liis  thoughts  to 
succoring  Tunti  and  tlu»  thn^e  or  four  laithtul  men  who 
ri'niained  with  him  at  the  Illinois.  A  (h'l'p  anxiety  pos- 
sessed him.  I'or  some  time  past  ;i  lumor  had  spread  that 
the  Irixpiois,  encouraged,  as   he  belK'ved,   by  Ins  eneaiies, 


I  I 


. 


Ii 


C.'O 


ROLRR'l   CAVKI.Uni  LI':  LA  SALLL. 


AviMi-  ]ii'epni'in,!jj  a  gnmtl  inroad  into  the  valley  of  the  Tl!i. 
nois  wiiicli  rlircateiic:!  to  involve  in  a  coinnion  di  sinictidii 
t!i('  trihi's  ol  that  (jnarter  unci  the  inCant  colony  ol  La  Salle. 
Tile  (lan.Li'er  ua^  lait  too  real. 

11'  was  l)iit  halfway  t(,  his  destination  when  a  host  of 
Ivoiinois  wanior.s  fell  upon  Tonii  and  his  Indian  allies,  and 
Idled  the  valley  of  the  Illinois  willi  cai'iia.i^e  and  devasta- 
tion When,  after  a.  Ions:  and  weary  journey,  tli(^  dauntless 
La  Salle  and  his  folUuvers  reached  tlu;  ^'t'eat  towti  of  the 
Illinois,  where  he  ho[)ed  to  lind  his  lieutenant,  he  beheld  a 
most  irhastlv  scene. 

"On  the  1st  of  December,''  he  says,  "we  arrived  ne;ir 
evc>ninii  at  the  town,  and  fonnd  nothin,^-  but  nslies  and  the 
relics  ot  Iroquois  fury,  Everythin.i;,'  was  destroyed,  and 
ncthiiiL'  ]'eniaiiied  but  the  stumps  (d"  bui'iied  lod^-e  poles, 
which  showed  what  had  been  the  (>xtent  of  the  villaire.  and 
on  most  of  which  were  stuck  dc^ad  men's  head**,  half  eaten 
bv  the  crows.  The  iields  Avere  strewn  with  carcasses, 
g'unwed  by  wolves.  Tlie  scafTolds  on  which  the  dead  had 
been  ]tlaced  in  I h(>  cemetery  Avei'o  all  torn  down,  and  such 
Ol  the  bodies  as  had  been  buried  were  du!^:  Uj)  and  scattered 
over  the  ,:^rouud.  Th;*  wolves  were  tearin^L;;  them  bcd'ore  our 
eyes,  with  stranue  howlin^i^-s."' ' 

I/i  Salle  and  his  men  souuht  till  nij;-ht  for  traces  of  Tonti 
.".nd  Ins  few  ciiiiipanions,  bnt  in  xn'xn  they  searcheil.  'I'dnii 
was  not  tc^  be  l(;un<l.  They  encamped  on  the  spot.  "I 
passcMl  the  niuht  full  of  trouble,'"  writes  the  iri-eat  ex]>lorer. 
'"I  could  not  slee]\  but  tried  in  vain  to  make  up  my  mind  :is 
tc  what  I  ouulit  to  do.'' 

Ihit  h"  was  no  dreamer.  l\vc>r  "up  and  doiniv,  with  :x 
ilea]'!  lor  any  fate, '"  he  aprin  set  out  in  search  for  his  li<  u- 
teuant,  iind  jjassed  down  the  Illinois  till  he  came  to  tlio 
jMississij-.pi  Frcni  a  rock  on  llie  banks  of  the  ^-reat  river 
li(^  sa.w  a  tr(>e  Icaidnir  towai'dsthe  water.  lie  stiipjiej  ir  of 
Its  balk,  in  order  lo  make  it  more  conspicuous,  liun^'  ujion 


Tilt  trrrsr.inc  nric  ■  dcfrriptior  oi  I,a  P:ilic'i»  rcmarkalili'  jniimcy  from  Fort  Cri'vc'ctnu  tn  P'lrt 
rroMhiiiK,  f.tir.  iKirk  i.'  tnlicii  wiif  st.nic  Kil;.'lr  cliaiigci',  from  rarUiii:iirs 'irticn'  on  l.ii  !'.illc',  iu 
Xlu  ^loiti'i  Ameriian  lievuu-  to:  Xuvcmuei   ISTT. 


rJjBKUT  CA  VEl.lKR  1)E  LA  SALLK. 


Col 


ii  a  i)o:u'il,  on  wliich  he  had  di'invn  fiii:tiros  of  himself  and 
his  uK'n,  seated  in  their  ranoe,  and  bearing;  a  pip*^  of  peace. 
To  this  lie  tied  a  lelter  for  Tonti,  inl'(irniin;j;  him  lliat  ho 
li;i(l  ivtumed  u[)  llie  river  to  tlie  mined  village.' 

]i\\  Salli'  now  i)U.shed  np  the  Illinois,  arid  arrived  at  the 
jiiuriion  of  the  Kankakee  with  tliat  river,  early  in  Jamuiry, 
]ivl.  Here  he  leii:  his  eanocs,  and  with  his  four  men  Ix^gap 
till  overland  joui'ney  to  Fort  Miand  on  the  8t.  Joseidi  river, 
;i  j)(isl  which  he  had  establislied  two  years  l^d'ore. 

Saow  Ceil  in  profusion,  till  the  earth  was  deeply  bnried. 
So  li.uht  and  dry  was  it,  that  to  walk  on  snow-shoes  was  im- 
]M)ssibie;  and  La  Salle  after  his  custom  took  the  lead,  to  bi'eak 
lac  i)ath  and  cheer  on  his  followers.  I)(\'-q)ite  his  tall 
.stature,  he  often  waded  through  drifts  to  the  waist,  while  tlie 
iiii;i  toiled  ou  behind — theseow,  shaken  froui  the  burdened 
twigs,  showering  on  thein  as  th<'y  passed.  Aftt'r  excessive 
fitigue  they  nniched  their  goal,  and  found  shelter  and 
safety  vrithin  the  walls  of  Fort  ^littmi.'' 

Here  I/.i  Sallo  might  hav(^  brooded  on  the  redoubled  ruin  that 
had  liefallen  him— the  despondiiig  friends,  the  exulting  foes, 
the  wasted  enei'gi(^s,  tln^  crushing  h^ad  of  debt,  tln^  stormy 
]\;st,  the  black  and  lowering  futu;'(>.  But  his  mind  was  of 
a  uiiferent  temper.  Tie  had  no  thought  but  to  grapple 
with  ndv(>rsity,  and  out  of  the  fragments  of  his  ruin  to  rear 
the  fabric  of  a  frium])hant  snccess.' 

lie  would  m)t  recoil;  but  ne  niodilied  his  I'lans  to  meet 
tlie  ViCW  contingency.  His  white  (Miemies  had  found,  or 
latl'er  ])erhaps  had  made,  a  savage  ally  iii  the  Trcnpiois. 
Their  incursion  must  be  stopped,  or  his  enterprise  would 
cniiic  to  naught;  and  he  thought  he  saw  the  means  by  which 
this  new  danger  eonld  be  converted  into  a  sonire  of 
strength.  The  tribes  of  the  "West,  thrcvatened  by  the  com- 
mon enemy,  unglit  be  tanghr  to  forget  theii-  mutual  ainmos- 
iiies,  and  join  in  a  defensive  league,  with  La  Salle  at  its 

'  Parkman. 

•  Parkmiin. 

Tort  :Miami  was  ou  tUo  St.  Josepli,  by  the  borders  of  Lake  Michigan, 

«Ib. 


m 


1  *;* 


553 


liOni-niT  CAVJJ/JKR  DE  LA  SAUJ']. 


k.n 


■  ' 


licnd.  TIi(\y  nii,uht  bo  ('()l()niz(nl  nrouml  liis  fort  in  tlio  vul- 
Joy  (»['  I  hi'  Illinois,  wlicre,  in  tlio  .sliadow  of  tiio  Fj'onch  1l;i_r, 
luidwiili  tin;  aid  of  French  allies,  tliey  conld  hold  ihi' Ji.,. 
qnois  in  chock,  and  acqniro,  in  some  measure,  lln^  arts  (,f 
sctth'd  lif(;.  The  Franciscan  Fathers  roidd  teacli  tin m  \]\r. 
Faitli;  and  La  Sallo  and  liis  associates  could  supply  them 
witli  goods,  in  exclianL!,'e  for  the  vast  liarvest  of  furs  wliich 
tJieir  liunters  ooukl  gather  in  these  boundless  Avilds.  Menn- 
wliilo  lie  would  seek  ont  the  mouth  of  the  ^Mississippi;  and 
tlie  furs  gatliered  at  his  colony  in  the  Illinois  \v-ouhl  then 
lind  a  ready  passage  to  tin?  markets  of  the  world.  Thus 
n:iight  tht3  ancaent  shinghter-lield  of  warring  savages  l)o 
redeemed  to  civilization  and  Christianity;  and  a  stable  set- 
tlement might  grov/ up  in  the  heart  of  the  western  wilder- 
ness. The  s(',h'>m.'»  was  bnt  a  new  f(>nture,  the  resnlt  of  new 
circumstances,  added  to  the  original  plan  of  his  great  en- 
terprise; and  he  addressed  himscdf  to  its  execution  with 
liis  usual  vigor,  and  with  an  address  whicli  never  failed  him 
in  liis  dealings  with  Indians.' 

A  gniat  council  of  the  Mianiis  vras  soon  called.  Cliicfs 
grizzly  with  age,  and  others  haughty  with  tlie  strength  of 
youngei'  manhood,  came.  La  Salle  eloquently  harangiuMl 
tlu?  dusky  concourse.  Ilis  words,  l)acked  up  by  gifts.  1)1-0- 
duced  a  deep  impression.  "We  make  you  the  master  of 
our  1)eaver  and  our  lands,"  they  excdaimed,  "of  cur  minds 
and  our  bodies.'"  Could  La  Salle  have  wished  for  anythiiiii; 
more  ? 

15ut  the  (mterpriso  so  often  defeated— the  d!scov(>ry  of 
the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi — was  yet  to  be  achieved.  To 
this  end  ho  set  out  to  return  to  Canada.  It  was  in  ^fny. 
On  touching  at  Mackinaw,  to  his  great  joy  he  found.  Toiia 
and  Father  IMemliiv.  Ea(di  liad  a  tale  of  disastiu'  for  tlio 
other,  but  La  Salh;  was  as  calm  and  determined 'as  if  l!ie  sun 
of  prosperity  sIkuk;  brightly  on  his  adventurous  pathway. 

"Any  one  else,"  writes  Father  jMembre,  "would  have 
thrown  up  his  hands,  and  abandoned  the  enterprise ;  bnt, 


larhmaa 


EO'JERT  CAVELIEIi  BE  LA  BALLS. 


5*33 


m 

M 

In 


farfj'om  tliis,  Avilli  a  firmness  and  conshmcy  fhat  never  liad 
irs  ('(jual,  I  saw  liiiii  more  resolved  tluiii  ever  to  eoutinue 
his  work  and  i)usli  forward  his  discoser^'." 

\j\\,  Salle  and  his  men  now  turned  the  frail  prows  of  their 
canf»es  for  Fort  Frontenac.     It  was  more  than  a  tluHisand 
miles  away,  but  was  soon  reached.     Here  vigorous  prejia- 
ratiouswere  begun  anew,  and  everything  for  a  fresh  exppdi 
tiou  was,  with  as  little  delay  as  possible,  in  readiness. 


-■'I 


CIIAPTEH  III. 

THE  MOUTH  OF  THE  MI.SSISSIPPI  DISCOVERED. 

The  cxpedilioii  down  the.  Father  of  W(ders — "  TJu;  vm! 
the  std!  the  open  HeaT'  —Tak'nuj  formed  posticssion  (fth6 
Mississippi  V(tlh>/  for  F ranee — Aflcmpfs  eit  colon  iza. 
t'lon — DiJIl'odlies—-  M^aitderlni/s — Thr  last  tragic  Jour- 
ney  towards  the  north — Traitors  in  the  cami) — Father 
Doiuufs  account  <f  La  Butte's  assassination  -///.■( 
charaeler  as  depicted  bij  seccral  distliif/nishcd  irrilcrs. 

Winter  had  scnrccly  relaxed  his  icy  ,2;ra.sp  on  the  pTeat 
rivers  ot  tlie  West,  when  tlie  indel'ati.n'able  explorei",  with  a 
lew  Fraiicisean  i)i'iests,  twenty-three  I'^renchinen,  and  ei^h. 
teen  Indians — all  innred  to  war — directed  their  courso 
towards  the  Mississi])pi.  Floating  down  the  Illinois  river, 
they  reached  the  "  Fatiier  of  Waters''  in  Fel»niary,  ]()82. 
AVithout  delay,  they  began  the  descent  of  the  mighty 
Siti'eani.  As  tliey  pressed  on.  they  freqnently  came  in  contact, 
with  the  Indians,  whom  La  Salle  won  by  his  elo(pience  and 
engaging  mannei's.  We.  are  told  that,  al'ter  the  Indiaa 
mode,  he  was  "tln^  greatest  orator  in  North  Ann^'ica." 

The  missionaries  also  annonnced  the  words  of  trnth  to 
the  savages.  "As  the  great  ex])lorer  pnrsucMl  his  course 
down  the  .Mississii)])i,"  wriles  ]>ancroft,  "his  sagacious  (\vo 
discerned  thi;  magnilic(Mit  resources  of  the  counti'y.''  At 
cvei'y  i)oint  where  rlu^y  landed.  La  Sallo  phuited  a  cross, 
lie  was  most  zeah)ns  for  the  Faith.  Finally,  after  many 
adventures,  too  nunnn'ous  to  recount  here,  the  mouth  of  the 
great  river  was  reached,  and  they  beheld — 

'The  sea!  tlie  sen!  the  open  seii. 
The  bhie,  the  fresh,  the  ever  free." 

On   the  9th   of  Ai)ril,   La  Salle  took  possession  of  the 
5o4 


m^m^i^^ 


nOBKnT  CAVKUER  BE  LA  SALLE. 


655 


(■minlry  in  the  name  of  T^itiis  XIA".  For  tliis  purpose  lie 
li:i(l  :i  cross  erected,  while  the  wliole  party  chiinted  the 
Yr.rilla  Ii('(/is: 

"Tlu'  hiiiiiu'is  of  Ilcuvcn's  Kiiiir  ndvniir-P, 
Tliu  niystury  ul'  lliu  cro.-s  s-liiiics  forth." 

Thc!  cer<MiK)ny  av:is  linisliod  witli  the  7V  iV?/w,  and  the 
raising'  of  ;i  colmuu  with  the  I'oHowiiig  inscriijtiou:  ••  Louis 
the  (ti'eat,  i\iu,<^  oi'  France  and  Navari'(\  rei.u'us;  ilic  !)ih 
i>i  Auril.  J()S-2."  'rh(>u.  "amid  a  volley  from  nil  oiir 
liiuskets,"  Avrites  Fatlier  ^lembri',  "a  li'adeii  plate,  iii- 
!<ci'ilied  with  the  arms  of  France  and  the  names  of  tlu)So 
Avlio  liad  just  made  tlie  discovery,  was  deposited  in  tlio 
carrli." 

]\v  his  (Mierixy  and  enterprise,  La  Salle  had  now  ex])lored 
fi'oiu  tlu^  Falls  of  St.  Anthony  to  the  Gulf  of  ^Mexico.  Tu 
Jioiior  of  his  soverciii'ii  he  nanu'd  all  the  teri'itory  rdoui:-  tlin 
iriajesric  river,  Louisiana — a  name,  at  present,  restricted  to 
olh^  Slate. 

Tiinuuu,',  he  ascended  the  i\rississi|ipi,  and  sailed  for 
Fi'ance,  in  order  to  secui'e  tlie  assistance"  of  Louis  XI  \'., 
and  the  co-oijcratiou  of  liis  countrymen  in  coloni/.ing 
tlie  uT(>at  valley,  a n.d  in  developing'  its  immcuise  natui'al  re- 
sources. Success  si'enied  to  smile  on  his  jilaus.  TluMiov- 
cnuu'Mit  ]>rovi(led  hiiiMAith  four  ships,  and  a  lai'ue  numlxir 
(if  liersons  was  soon  enliste(i  in  liis  scluuue.  jn  July,  ](I8-1, 
Ih"  h;i(le  adieu  for  the  last  time  to  tiie  shores  of  sunny 
I'l^auc-:  and  witli  his  ships  aiul  two  JiundrcHl  and  eiuhly 
P"is()!!s.  iuciudiuii"  three  l-'i^aiu-iscau  I-'iithers  and  lliteesecii- 
l.ii-  priests,  v.ell  supplied  with  ail  the  lU'cessaries  to  i)lant  a 
C'lloiiy  at  t1ie  Uiouth  of  tlu'  iMississijiiji,  \w  dii'ecled  liis 
ciiUl'se  [lei'oss  I  he  Aliautie. 

P)Ut  the  eiitra]U'(>  of  the  ''Father  of  Waters"  was  hard  to 
liiul.  La  Salle  missed  it.  \\v\\\  westward,  and  eaily  in  K'.'--.") 
iaiidiil  his  colony  at  ^latauorda  I'ay.  in  Texas,  wIhmc  he 
huilt  Koi't  St.  Louis.  In  the  ch(!ic(>  of  his  men,  he  soon  found 
that  he  had  made  an  uuliaiii\v  mistake.  They  were  lar.udy 
coiniiosed  of  \agabi)nds  picked  \\\->  on  the  streets  of  Rochelle, 


I  I 


t 


IW'-I 
I 


m 


'1 


41 


m 


i  4 


C50 


lioninn  caveluui  ni:  la  smj.k. 


\ 


find  tlii'ir  rondnct  was  in  keei)liift-  Avith  their  cliuracter,  aa 
cvciifs  unloitun.'itoly  proved. 

At'ter  (several  vain  attempts  to  rt^adi  tlio  nioiUli  of  iluj 
Mississippi  by  sea,  La  Salie  resolscd  to  siiike  out  for  it  Iiy 
land.  FatJier  Doiiay,  O.  S.  F.,  liis  ('lia])lain,  has  left  us  ;i 
minute  account  of  tlieir  adventurous  cou'  e  over  i-iaiiiM, 
forests,  roolvs,  and  rivers.  But  after  six  niontiis'  friiilji'ss 
v.nndeiinii's  tliey  were  obliged  to  return  to  Fort  St.  Louis. 
Ilei-e  La  Salle  heai'd  that  his  last  vessel  was  wrecked.  Any 
other  man  would  have  thrown  np  his  hands  Iji  despair, 
]3ut  with  the  giant  energy  of  an  indomitable  will,  Lavln^r 
lost  his  hopes  of  fanif^  and  fortune,  lie  now  resolved  to  tia\  el 
on  foot  to  his  countrymen  at  the  North,  and  return  from  Can- 
ada to  renew  his  colony  in  Texas, 

A(X'ompanied  by  a  few  priests  and  twentj'  men,  ho  set 
out  on  this  immense  journey  early  in  1(587.  For  nearly  two 
months  and  a  half  the  travelers  b(jldly  forced  their  way, 
despite  tln^  hardships  to  be  endured  from  a  wintry  climate, 
des[)ite  tlie  countless  obstacles  offered  by  a  savage  country. 

In  this  brief  sketch  ir  would  be  as  needless  as  impossibly 

to  follow  the  detail  of   their  daily  march.     It  was  sucli  a 

one,  though  with  unwonted  hardships,  as  is  familiar  to  thii 

memory  of  many  a  prairie  traveler  of  our  own  time.     They 

suffei-ed  greatly  for  the  want  of  shoes,  and  found  for  awliihj 

no  better  substitute   than   a   casi'ig   of  raw  buiralo-Iiidts 

Avhich  they  were  forced  to  keep  always  wet,  as  when  dry 

it   hardened  about  the    foot    like    ivon.     At    length   they 

bought  dressed  deer-skin  from  the  Indians,  of  which  diey 

nndi!  tolerable  moccasins.     The  rivers,  streams,  and  ,<i'ul- 

3ys  filled  with  water,  were  without  number;  and.  to  cross 

hem,  they  made  a  boat  of  bull-hide,  like  the  "bull  boat" 

•till  used  on  the  Upper  Missouri.     This  did  good  servic(\  as, 

vith  the  help  of  their  horses,  they  could  carry  it  with  theni. 

'i'wo  or  tliree  men  could  cross  in  it  at  once,  and  the  horses 

swam  after  them  like  dogs.' 

Sometimes  they  traversed  the  sunny  prairie;  sometimes 

» rarkraan. 


jiuumiT  t'A  vicLiEU  ni:  la  sma.ii. 


557 


divt'd  in.fo  llio  (lark  reopssos  of  tlio  fonr'sr,  whoro  the  biifTiilo, 
Ji'sceiuling  daily  iroin  their  pastures  in  loiin'  lilcs  to  drink 
■It  the  river,  oft(>n  made  a  broad  aiul  easy  path  lor  liie  trav- 
clcis.  When  foul  weather  arrest(Ml  them,  they  built  huts  'A 
hiirk  Mild  lon,!,^  niea(h)\v-grass;  and,  safely  sheltered,  loun,i;'e(l 
jiwiiy  the  day,  wliile  tneir  horses,  picketed  near  by,  stood 
srt'iuniiig  in  the  rain.  At  ni,i;ht,  tiiey  usually  set  a  lude 
stoc'ivade  about  their  cam [>;  and  here,  by  the  ii-rns.sy  border 
of  a  brook,  or  at  tiie  edij:e  of  a  <;'rov(^  where  a  spring  bubbled 
up  throuLih  the  sands,  tiiey  lay  asleej)  i'.i'ouiul  tht  embeis 
o!  their  lire,  while  the  man-  on  uuard  listened  to  the  deep 
Di'CMlhing  of  the  sluniberiuL?  horses,  and  the  lu)wlin<i,"  of  the 
wolves  that  saluted  the  rising  moon  :is  it  flooded  the  waste 
of  pniirie  with  jiale,  mystic  radiance.' 

On  the  l.Tth  of  ^[ai'ch  the  hold  travelers  arrived  near  a 
place  wiiere  La  Salle,  on  Ins  preceding  journey,  h:id  caused 
:i  (jiuintiLy  of  Indian  corn  and  beans  to  be  buried.  The 
coiuniander  sent  seven  men  to  hunt  np  this  nndergroinul 
stock  of  provisions.  They  killed  two  buffaloes  on  reaching 
tlie  place,  and  one  of  their  number  returned  to  La  iSnlh', 
rc(pit'sting  the  use  of  the  horses  to  l)ring  the  meat  to  tlie 
CM  in  p.  He  complied,  sending  his  nephew,  ]\Jorganet,  with 
tv.o  companions  and  two  horses. 

Tmi  the  arrival  of  Morgnnet  at  the  spot  where  the  dead 
buffaloes  lay,  a  dispute  arose  between  him  ;ind  several  of  the 
iijivfy_men  wlio  liated  La  Salle,  nnd  nuj'sed  dark  designs. 
Aniiry  words  passed  around.  Night  came.  The  woods  grew 
dnrk;  and  before  morning  dnwned  ^forganet  and  two  others, 
dtMf)!(>d  followers  of  their  commander,  were  murdered. 
It  \v;is  a  bloody  deed.  The  Hoodgnte  of  assassinntion  was 
now  open;  and  those  despernte  men  took  evil  c(ninsel  of 
V{Migpanco  for  their  own  safety.  One  l)lack  crime  led  to 
another,  still  blacker. 

Tjn  Salle  soon  became  alarmed  for  the  safety  of  ]\rorganet, 
nnd,  as  if  anticipating  what  had  c>ccurred,  he  asked  in  the 
encampment  if  some  ot  the  absent  ptirty  had  not  sliown 


'  Paikman. 


rC)S 


JiOnHRT  CA  VKLlJ-.n  !)!■:  LA  SA/J./T. 


•['    u 


Riixns  of  (lis;in(vfi()n.  U*:  ri^solvcii  nr  once  (n  u'o  in  sonccli  of 
his  ii"|ilii'\v.  \\\-  sliall  ,i,^ive  llu!  rt'inaiiKlci' (if  liic  tragic  iiar- 
lafivc  ill  IIk^  laii,nMia,n'('  o]  an  rye  wilncss. 

"Askin.u;  inc  foacconipany  liiin,"  wiifi's  i'ailicr  Dniiay,  "lii! 
t^ok  twit  In'lians  and  sot  out.  All  tin-  way  ln'  convi'i'scil 
v/ith  MIC  in  iflatiDn  to  iiiattrrs  of  i)i<'ty,  ^'laci',  and  [tiv^lcsii. 
/lation  ('\'i>atiatinti  on  all  his  oblii-'ations  to  (iod  I'ur  haviiij^ 
Ha'.»d  liini  from  so  many  ilanucrs  dmini;  the  last  twenty 
yi-ai's  that  hi'  had  travtM'scd  Ani<'i'ica.  11,'  srcmcil  to  nu; 
]iaili('ularly  p'liotratfd  with  a  smsi'  of  (joirs  IxMU'lits  to 
Jiini. 

"Sndilcnly  I  saw  liirn  j^lnn^-rd  into  a  deep  nichincholy, 
tor  which  he  hinisclf  conld  not  acconnt.  He  was  so  triinliji'il 
that  I  did  not  ktiow  him  any  longer.  As  this  was  I'ai  Iroiii 
his  usual  state,  I  ronsi'd  him  IVom  liis  h'l  hai'^'v. 


Two  lea""n('s  after,  wn  found  tlu'  hloodv  cravat  of  h 


IS 


lack(»y.  lie  ])i'rci'ivt3d  two  ca,ij,'l('.s  llyin,:;'  over  his  head,  and 
at  the  same  time  saw  some  of  his  people  (Jii  tlii'  ed,i;'e  of  the 
river,  which  he  approached,  asking  them  what  had  liecunie 
of  liis  nephew. 

"They  answered  us  in  broken  words,  slutwina;  us  wlun'o 
we  slionld  Jind  him.  \V»?  i)r(K'eeded  some  steps  along  tlio 
baidv  to  the  fatal  spot  where  two  of  tli»>se  miii'denu's  were 
Jiidden  in  the  grass,  (me  on  eacdi  side,  with  guns  ('ockeil. 
Oiii.'  missed  M  de  la  Salle,  Ww.  other  at  the  same  moineiit 
.shot  him  in  the  head,  lie  died  an  hour  after,  on  the  I'.Uh 
of  March,  1087. 

"I  expected  the  same  fate,"  continm^s  Fatlier  ])ouay, 
"i)iit  this  dtmger  did  not  occupy  my  tlutughts,  jx^netrated 
with  grief  at  so  cruel  a  sppotucle  I  saw  him  fall  a  stop 
li'om  me,  ^vith  his  face  all  full  of  blood.  I  watered  it  Avitli 
my  tears,  exhorting  him,  to  tJu'  l)>'st  of  my  i^ower,  to  die  well. 
He  had  confessed  and  fnllilled  his  devotions  just  Ix^fore  we 
fcitarted.  He  had  still  tiine  to  recapitulate  a  i)art  uf  his  life, 
iiud  I  gave  him  absolution. 

*•  During  his  last  moments,  ho  elicited  all  the  acts  of  a 


'  A  soutlivrn  branch  of  tht  TritxIly.—J'ixi/cmait. 


BBBI 


n<)iu:uT  CA  vri.iF.n  di:  la  salij-:. 


ffnn 


cooil  ('l;'isli:in,  ;;r;is])inu:  my  lininl  n(  every  word  I  .su,i(- 
rivsti'd,  iind  ('si)t'('i;illy  ;ir  tliiit  of  pardoniiiix  liis  fUciiiics. 
]\|c;m\\liilt'  his  murdci'ci's,  jis  imicli  nlnninMl  as  I,  Ix'LL'aii  lo 
Mtril^c  tlit'ir  ])r('asts  and  d"?cst  tlicir  Miiidiicss.  I  cduld  not 
leave  tlie  spot  where  ]io  liad  exi)ire(l  without  haviiiir  Imried 
liiiii  as  well  as  I  could,  ai'ter  which  I  raiseil  u  cross  over  his 
grave, 

"Thus  died  our  wise  cotmiiauder -constant  in  adversity, 
iutreiiid,  p'lieroiis,  enuauiii;;-,  (h'xierous,  skilirul.  cajiable  of 
cverythin*;'.  lie  who  I'or  twenty  years  liad  softened  \\w. 
jicrre  te'iipe!'  of  cotinth\ss  sava<4'<'  trilies  was  niassaci'ed  by 
the  liands  (»f  his  own  followers,  wlioni  he  liad  h»a(h'd  witii 
caresses,  lie  died  in  the  ])rinie  of  life,  in  the  midst  of  his 
coiii'seand  labors,  without  ha\iii,u'  S"en  their  siicc<'ss.'' 

'i'lie  capacity  of  La  Salle,  writes  Sparks,  "for  larire  de- 
piuns  and  for  (h'visini,'  the  methods  and  procuring  the  re- 
sources to  carry  tluMu  forwaid,  has  few  jiarallels  amoiiii'  tlu^ 
most  eminent  discoverers.  Ih;  has  been  called  the  Colum- 
])iis  of  his  nu'e;  and  if  his  success  liad  lieen  equal  to  his 
ability  and  the  compass  of  his  ])hms,  this  distinction  might 
lie  justly  awar(b'd  to  him.  As  in  great  battles,  so  in  enter- 
])rises,  success  crctwns  the  commander  with  lauiels,  def(-at 
covers  him  with  disgrac(>.  and  ]terhaps  draws  u]if)n  lijm  the 
o1)l()(]uy  of  the  woi'ld,  although  he  might  have  fought  as 
liravely  and  maneuvered  as  adroitly  in  one  case  as  in  the 
ether.  I'ortnne  turns  tiie  scale,  ;ind  bailies  the  clTorts  of 
huiuan  skill  and  ])rowess,  Tn  some  of  the  higluM-  attributes 
of  character,  such  as  persojitd  conrage  and  eiide.rance,  un- 
daunted resolution,  jiaticMice  iind<>r  trials,  and  perseverance 
ill  contendinu'  with  obstacles  and  struggling  through  "m- 
baiiassments  that  might  appall  the  stoutest  lieart,  no  man 
.sur]>assed  the  Sieur  de  la  Salle. 

'•Xot  a  liint  appears  in  any  Avriter  tlmt  lias  come  under 
notice  that  casts  a  shade  upon  his  integrity  or  honor.  Cool 
:md  intrepid  at  all  times,  never  yielding  for  a  moment  to 
des])aii'.  f)r  cen  to  desp(mden<'y,  lie  bore  the  heavy  burden 
of  his  calamities  manrnlly  to  the  end,  and  his  hojies  e.^iiired 
oiilv  with  his  last  breath.     To  him  must  be  mainly  ascribed 


1 '. 


Vhw 


h 


i 


5G0 


liOnnitT  CAVELIER  BE  LA  SALLE. 


I 


the  discovery  of  tliovnst  regions  of  the  ^''lississippi  VjiIIav 
and  the  subsequent  occupation  and  settU-nient  of  tluin  bv 
the  French,  and  his  name  justly  liohls  a  prominent  jilace 
amon.i;"  those  which  adorn  the  history  of  civilization  iu  tiu 
Kew  Worhl  " 

'  xSexr  to  Columbus,"  says  Abbott,  "he  was  themost  ilUis. 
trious  of  the  pioneers  of  the  JN'ew  AVorld.  It  would  he  dif. 
liculi  to  find  in  history  any  one  who  has  dis])laycd  in  a 
iugher  degree  the  noble  qualities  of  enei'gy,  courage,  and 
])erseverance,  combined  with  the  more  gentle  virtues  of  ten- 
derness, liuinanity,  and  amiability.  Adversity  seemed  to  have 
no  power  to  dishearten  him.  His  ch:;ract(U'  was  pui'e.  In 
the  ])nst  history  ot  our  country,  there  iwo  Init  few  names 
wlucii  are  entitled  to  stand  so  high  on  its  roll  of  fame,  as 
that  ot  tlie  Chevalier  de  la  Salle." 

"It  is  easy,"  exclaims  Parkman,  "to  reckon  up  his  defects, 
but  it  is  not  easy  to  hide  from  sight  tlie  lioman  virtues  that 
redeemed  them.  Beset  by  a  throng  of  enemies,  h(>  stands, 
like  the  King  ol  Israel,  head  and  shoulders  above  IIkmu  all. 
He  was  a  tower  ol  adamant,  against  whoso  impv(\gnable 
front  hardship  and  danger,  the  rage  of  man  and  of  llie  ele- 
ments, the  Southern  sun,  the  Xorthtin  bl.ist,  fatigue,  fam- 
ine, and  disease,  delay,  disappointuun',  and  dcferrcnl  hope, 
emptied  their  quivers  iu  vain.  That  very  pride  which,  Cori- 
olanus  like,  declared  itstdt  more  stei-nly  in  the  thickest  press 
ot  toes,  has  in  it  something  to  clnll{>ng(^  admiration.  Never, 
under  the  impenetrable  mail  ot  i)aladin  or  crusader,  beat  a 
heart  ot  more  intrepid  nit^tle  than  within  the  stoic  pmi- 
oply  that  armed  tlu;  breast  ot  La  Salle.  To  estimate  aright; 
the  marvels  of  li!:;^  i>atient  fortitude,  one  must  follow  on  his 
track  through  rhe  vast  scene  ot  his  interminable  lourney- 
ings,  those  thousands  ot  weary  miles  of  forest,  marsh,  and 
river,  where,  again  and  again,  in  the  bitterness  of  hallled 
snr.Tng  tlie  untiring  pilgrim  ]mshed  onward  towards  the 
goal  wliicli  he  was  never  to  attain.  Au'.i  ■  ".ca  owes  him  an 
eiKiuring  meuu)ry  ;  for  in  tliis  masculine  ligure,  cast  in  iron, 
she  sees  the  lieroic  pion(^er  who  guided  her  to  tlie  pttsses- 
sion  of  her  richest  heritage." 


'.  ';i 


\,"M 


'  I 


*•: 


I': 


l^W 


nOBERT  CAYELIER  DE  LA  SALLE. 


501 


'•TJob^rt  Cavelier  do  la  Sallo,  the  first  fxplorer  who  navi- 
p\t>'i\  Ontario,  Eiie,  ISlichignn,  and  Huron,"'  writes  the  lion. 
T.  I).  Mrdee,  "deserves  to  be  ennnierated  among  tlie  gieat 
ciiptnins.  A  native  of  Eouen,  early  employed  in  the  colo- 
nies, he  had  been  instigated  l)y  tlie  reports  of  niissionai'ies  to 
s'elc.  throi'.gh  th(^  noi'thern  lakes,  a  passage  to  the  rinlf  of 
I\[exi('o.  liuilding  a  schooner  on  the  Caynga  creek,  h« 
ascendi'd  the  lakes  in  1679,  chanting  the  Te  Dcnm.  C'tirry- 
iiig  hi'^  boats  overland  from  the  ^Vlinniitoa  branch  of  the 
Illinois  liver,  he  forced  or  found  his  way  into  the  I'pper 
Missis«i]ipi.  Ftir  mnny  years,  with  most  heroic  constancy, 
thi.-?  soul  of  lire  and  fran)e  of  iron  was  dm-otfd  to  the  ttisk 
of  opening  routes  between  the  GJulfs  of  St.  Lawi-eiice  and  of 
Mexico,  until  he  perished  in  his  enterprise  b}-  the  liinids  of 
t'Ao  of  his  own  unworthy  followers,  on  an  excursion  into 
Texas,  in  1087. 

"The  Catholic  character  of  La  Salle  is  marked  in  every 
act  of  his  life.  He  undertook  nothingwithout  fortifying  hini- 
f;elf  by  veligioTi;  he  completed  nothingwithout  giving  tlie 
first  fruits  of  the  glory  to  CJod.  He  planted  the  Cioss 
v.herever  he  landed,  (>ven  for  an  hour  ;  he  made  tlie  western 
desert  vocal  with  sone's,  hymns  of  thanksgiving,  and  ad(  ra^ 
tion.  He  is  the  woithy  compeer  of  De  Soto  and  ^larquette; 
he  stood,  sword  in  hand,  under  the  banner  of  the  ('i'f)ss,  the 
tntelai'V  genius  of  those  gi'eat  States  which  stretch  awav 
from  Lake  Ontario  to  the  Eio  Grande.  Every  league  of 
that^  region  he  trod  on  foot,  and  every  league  of  its  water 
he  navigat'Ml  in  frail  canoes  or  crazy  schoonei's.  Alov<^  his 
tonil)  the  Xortlnn-n  pine  should  tower;  around  it  the  Zslichi- 
gan  ros(>  and  th(>  Southern  myrtle  should  mingle  their  hues 
and  unite  their  perfume^j." 


u 


■ill 


51!. 


VENERABLE  MARGARET  BOURGEOIS, 

FOUXDUESS    OF    THE    CONGIIECJATION    DE    .NOTUE    DAME.' 


CHAPTER  I. 


inuruiT  Yovsii  ykaks. 


Ifer  h'trllt  and  pawnh—A  /r/'sc,  proviisiny  Utile  cfirl—^ 
D'lilh  of  her  mot/ier — A- plarcd,  ooir  h<'r  J'dlhi  r^ s  house- 
hold— The  T/'sion  at  the  (J/tarch  of  jSoti'c  Dame — A 
rtidnqc  of  tifc. 


('()iispi( 


nous  niiioni''  tlie  Ctitliolic^  liorocs  ;ind  li('i()iii(>s  of 


Anicricn,    in 


tl 


H'     S( 


■veiitecntli   coiiturv,    sliincs   tlic   biiylil; 


ir.iDi'' of  Miiruiiii't  Pxjurgpois.  Slic  Avns  hoin  in  llic  city  of 
Troyis.  Fnuuv.  on  tlie  ITtli  of  April,  l()l>().  Hei-  paK'Ufs, 
Alir.ini  Mi)iir,ii'('ois;iii(l  GnillcMiicttf^  (Jninioi-,  wer(^  jenitul^iible 
iii'i!li"r  for  wcaltli  nor  -wordly  distinction,  bnt  tlif'y  w(?re 
Avliat  is  bo'tter — piu'sons  of  marked  virtue  and  liiyh  cliar- 
actcr. 

W'c  ai'(>  told  tliat  ill  l»er  childhood.  !>.rariiar('t  was  distin- 
giiislii'd  anionii:  lier  little    coniiKinions  ]ty  her  aj^lilude  in 


leariiinu-  to 


r!'a( 


1  and  write,  her  love  of  laboi'.  an<l  \\oy  tact 


in  well  and  speedily  j)erforniin,c:  any tliin,u'  which  she  was 
given  to  do.  She  was  also  especially  noted  for  those  lia]>py 
disi)ositions  which  announce  a  capacity  for  piety,  virtue, 
and  uood  sense. 


Kveii  at  the  most  tender  au'e,  her  elevation  of  mind 


iin 


U'liii'f  autliorilicH  iisi'd:  Aliln'  IviilloM,  "Vie  ili.'  lii  Sni'iir  noiiru'cny-*.  Fiiiifl'itiirc  ilc  In  Coii-jn''- 
(.'iiiiiiiiili'  Niiiii'  Dmiiii'  (Ic  Villi'  Mm'ic  en  Caiiiida;"  Alitii'  Kansonpt,  "  Vif  dp  Miiririii'titi'  r.fiiir. 
pov-:"  .M)!).'  Moiili;(i;iln\  ••  Vio  lU-  M'lli' I.u  licr."  \h\)0  Fiiillnn,  "  Vic  ili'  :M'IIi'  M:iiic.>;' 
Viirkm:!!!,  "Till'  .Ii-snil-;  in  Nnrtli  Aiiii'rir;i:"  Alilii'  Fril:uiil,  "  Coinv  l)'Hi-ii)'r.'  (In  C;in;iilft:" 
Ch:iili'\oi\.  ••  ili.-iorv  :U!il  (.n'livvul  Dttciiiitioii  Of  >>\'\v  Fi'ai.cc;'"  "  Ui-loiy  of  lUu  t'ntlKi.icCiiurcli 
in  lliu  UiiiU'il  Sjlatv'B,' 


5G3 


!  .  I; 


I 


I  \ 


i. 


1 

''\\ 

if: 

,^ 

d 

'    ie 

m 

5G1 


MOTHER    MAUaAllET  nOUIlCEOIS. 


A  i 


deo[)  love  of  reliuion  sliowed  itself  in  var'on  s  wnys.  PcniTdy 
h;!d  the  lirrlo  girl  rench(>(l  her  tenth  yciii-,  Avlie!i  she  was 
often  observed  assemb'iii;,^  chihlren,  arid  instillin^t;'  into  thoir 
ininds  ideas  of  duty  and  virtue  Yet  np  to  tliis  lime  sho 
had  never  seen  a  religious  ('t)!niunnity.  Such  is  a  .glinijisi'  nt 
the  eliildliood  of  ^fargaret  l^ourgeois.  "  ^[ay  not  tliis  ho 
considered,"  says  the  Aiibe  llansonet,  "as  a  s])ark  of  that 
adinii'aMo  zeal  which  inthuned  her  soul  in  after  years?" 

About  tliis  periled  little  l^Fargaret  had  the  nn"sfortnne  to 
lose  lior  devoted  mother.  Two  (,r  three  years  p;;ss<'d  away, 
uud'>r  the  watchful  eye  of  her  good,  enli^tditened  father; 
and  her  pnidence  and  sound  juda-nient  in  the  niannfrenicut  of 
affairs  developed  so  rapidly  that  he  no  longer  hesitatc^d  to 
place  his  daughter  at  the  head  of  his  houseliold.  To  hr 
this  new  appointment  was  :i  blessing.  It  was  a  protection 
against  idleness,  and  happily  tended  to  preserve  her  pure 
and  innocent  in  the  critical  period  of  life  at  which  she  had 
now  a r lived — 

"  The  shining  (lii3's  •wliou  lifo  is  new, 
And  all  h  'n'ight  as  moriiiiii;  duw." 

^NFeanvrhile  j'onng  Margaret  felt  satisfi(>d  in  avoiding  nota- 
ble defects.  Tt.  was  not,  liovv-ever,  before  her  tv.-etify-lirsfc 
year,  that  her  desire  after  something  better  and  higher  be- 
came enlarged  by  the  following  incidents  : 

AVhilo  attending  one  of  the  churches  on  the  Festival  of 
the  Holy  Rosary,  the  concourse  of  people  did  not  pei'init 
the  procession,  as  nsnal,  to  bo  made  in  the  enclosure,  and  it 
was  conducted  through  the  street.  It  passed  before  the 
famous  and  beautiful  church  of  Noti'e  Dame.  At  this  mo- 
ment, Margaret  looked  towai'ds  the  statu(>  of  the  j^Tost  Holy 
"Mrgin,  i)hiced  on  the  frontispiece  of  tlie  giaud  edilice. 
To  her  religious  eye  this  image  Avas  no  stranger  ;  but  now 
it  appeared  to  her  of  a  loveliness  so  extraf)rdinary,  .that  her 
iieart  w;is  touched  and  tilled  with  heavenly  sentiments, 
{{itherto  she  had  been  fond  of  dress,  and  affected  neatness. 
For  these  tho  young  lady  now  felt  a  profound  contemi)t. 
Her  sweet  and  cheerful  di'^positiou  had  caused  her  to  be 
much  sought  in  society,  in  which  she  took  no    conunou 


MOTIIKR  MAllGARET  nOURGEOIFt. 


Cflft 


])]i>asuro  ;  but  at  onoo  slie  separated  from  all  that  she  for- 
iiicrly  sieemt'd  to  cherish.  Kow,  the  i>;ay  and  aniiable  i.Iur- 
uiireC  cared  for  naught  but  the  things  of  Heaven,  This 
ohiuige  was  indeed  tjuddeii,  but  it  vvaiJ  iiuue  the  less  peniia- 

SMlt. 


1* 


11 


I  -  I 


11 


iV 


il 


ill 


HI 


'*-! 
' 


1 


fr.fW; 


IT: 


Iff 


f 


CHAP  TE  11  ri. 

A  xi:u'  AND  ii];i:oif'  caiikkr, 

Fatlipr  .nnuTro.t—Lofli/  rirliK'—Puril/io/iiHiiil  and  Jharf-. 
The  tonr--Mur<jarvl  w/'s/tcfi  to  he  a  Xmi.—  I.s  rrfnyiil 
adiiiUliUice—A  new  Ordrr—A  Ions  Urn  I  is  a  r/a//i~//ir 


A  (In  (I III — '' 


Uni\ 


father^ s  didlli  --/'/vV/r/.v  jiiiioc(  iici 
J/(n\s(),n/('Nrt'—I)i(//ca/l/(,s  come  and  canis/i — 7'/it  In 
ilia  i/o'S  lo  ( \inada. 


nn 


Tiiking-  Mow  F;itluu-.,T:iiKlret,  n  avIsc  niul  virf 


lions  ])ii( 


who  wa.s  (lirccfor  ol"  the  ('ai-.iicliti' ^'iiiis,  as  lior  coiilVs.-or, 
^liss  JJoui'gcdis  sodu  iiiii(l(>  rapid  iiroiiii's.s  in  tlic  way  ol'  vir- 
tue. Her  lifi'  was  marked  by  fnider  piety,  coiiteiiipr  ef  tl.o 
world,  scir-deiiial,  couiiJassioii  J'or  the  j^oor — in  .sixnr,  tsho 
becaiue  the  iiersoiiilicatioii  ol"  all  tliat  is  p)()d. 

God,  desirous  of  ))lessiii;j,'  u  lieart  wliieii  He  liad  so  liiiilily 
ornamented  willi  J  lis  most  luecioiis  .uifls,  phiced  it  in  ll.e 
liap])y  lUM'essily  of  never  i!i\idiii,uils  all'ections,  by  iiispii'iiii;' 


]\nss  Bourixeois  to  conseciate  herseji'  to   llini  ))v  a  v- 


i\v  (;!" 


vir.u'iuity.  Slie  subuiitted  this  inspiration  to  Father  .i:i!i- 
dret,  by  whom  it  wa.s  disa])pr()\'t(l.  lie  forb.ach'  lier  to  pio 
nounee  any  siieji  vow  Ixd'ore  i\\o.  a.u;e  of  thirty.  I'ut  tlie  en- 
lig'htened  ])i'i(\st.  afterwards  ol)sei\iii,L:-  aud  aihiniiu'.^'  the 
operations  of  divino  iLirace  in  lliis  lii.uldy  ii]ivih',i:i  d  seal. 
liermitted  lier  to  nnite  lierself  more  intiaiately  to  (iod  by 
the  saered  vow  of  vir,i>-inity.  Tlds  was  in  her  twenty-thiid 
year.     Some  time  latei-,  she  added  the  vow  of  povejty. 

Miss  Bour.a'eois  was  tlins  advaneiu,!;'  in  tlie^spiiitual  life 
when,  one  da>',  as  Father  Jandn^t  was  enlargijig-  on  ilie  ad- 
vanta,u'(>s  of  \W  religious  state,  she  felt  a  stronii-  inclination 
to  become  a  nnn.  Sh(>  sought  adndttance  as  a  n)einl  er 
among-  the  Carmelites,  and  also  the  Poor  Clares.     Ey  ueilUer 


MOTIlKIl  MMiHAli'/JT  Jl()rU(!f:OIS. 


fiO? 


\v;is  I  lie  yoiin,'4  lady  tioceptod.  ProvldtMico,  it  seems, 
bliiideil  these  i'(!fi,i;'i(iiis  to  the  merits  oC  tlie  iipiilicant,  tli;it 
no  obstacle  ini<j,-lit  prevent  tlio  execution  of  the  (lecre(.\s  of 
Hcuveii. 

About  Ibis  time  !<'  'her  Jandret  was  busily  enira^od  in 
fonuini;'  tlie  phiu  of  a  new  religious  coiummiity  of  women, 
lie  tells  us  that  our  Divine  Lord  at  ITis  Ascension  lelt  tlireo 
ex;niii)les  to  tlie  devout  sex,  n'unely,  J/(f///  Mdi/d'ihn^ 
MiirllKt,  and  the  Mo.sl  Bhs,s('d  Vlryiii.  'Die  llrst  is  the 
iiiedel  of  contemplative  souls;  the  second  tliat  of  ;i('ti\e  and 
exterior  cliiirity;  while  the  Imst  included  belli  c(iii(eni[)lative 
iuid  :u''ive  ciuirily.  It  was  \\w  last  which  liiis  <i-o()d  ])riest 
iiifeaded  to  [)ro[)ose  to  his  community.  Tlie  rule  which  ho 
laid  down  for  its  <4iiidance  had  been  (>xannne(l  and  npjiroved 
by  seveial  Doetoi's  of  the  Sorbonne,  and  l''alher  .laiidret 
felt  that  the  UKJUient  was  at  hand  to  ]'eaIi/(!  his  loiig-cher- 
islii'd  expectations.  To  Miss  15oui',u'eoi.s  and  two  other  young 
ladies  he  gave  tin;  ride  to  be  observed. 

For  that  purpos(^  the  thi'ee  novices  retired  to  a  spacious 
ii])ai1nieiit  given  them  by  Miss  de  Chuly,  sister  to  tht3 
famous  J)e  Maisonneuve,  then  Governor  of  .Montreal.  ( 'anada. 
One  of  these  pious  young  ladies  died  shortly  after,  and  a  sec- 
ond v.ithdrew.  1'his  ended  the  bri(d'  caicer  of  the  \w\y 
conununity.  Father  Jandret  gav<'  up  tln^  design  as  a  fruit- 
less attempt.  As  for  Sister  Bouigeois,  slie  deii\('d  lasting 
advantages  from  this  short  ex[)eri(MK'e  in  tlie  cloister.  The 
ell'orts  she  then  nuid(\  nnder  tin;  direction  of  this  jiious  and 
learned  ])riest,  served  as  a  light  in  after  years  lo  li'uidc;  her 
Ju  the  great  undertaking  she  so  fortunately  conii)leted  with- 
out any  human  assistance  in  the  wilds  of  Canada,  on  the 
banks  of  the  majestic  St.  Lawrence. 

lathe  nieantinte,  her  lather  fell  ill,  and  died.  The  lev. 
ingcare  shown  by  hisdarling  d.'iughter  on  this  sad  ooensiju 
demonstrates  how  far  virtue  enhances  filial  affection, 

Xo  sooner  did  Sister  Bourgeois  wipi,'  the  tf^ars  of  sorrow 
from  her  <>ye,  than  she  devoted  hei'self  to  the  noble  activity 
of  watching  over  nn])rotected  innocence.  ]3ut  what  uncom- 
liiuii  virtue  dues  nut  this  iini)ly  ^    UiKiuestionubly  a  lai'ge 


M 


f 


ft 


M 


* 
1 


^  ■ 


. 


n 


I 


608 


.V(Tir:n  MA:wAni:r  noi'iiar.ois. 


filiare  oC  labor,  pniyer,  niorliiU'alion,  abstmcfidn  from 
uciidly  liioii^^hts,  Nul-diud  jiassioii.s,  and  .si'ir-:iiiuiliiliati(,ii. 
Jt  was  {'ertainly  fiuiii  llic  lamiliar  jjiactice  oi'  tlioe  \iiiiifs 
tliat  ylio  was  ever  stimulaltd  to  what  was  Leautilid,  ^i>;ii, 
noble,  and  dillicidf,  for  the  hive  of  God,  and  lier  iu'i<^l!l)t 
tis  the  follouiii';'  iueideiit,  wLiih  is  yelecttid  fiuia  nuui 
others,  will  atte^it : 

One  day  Sister  ]>()nr;2;eois  was  informed  that  an  aniiahio 
and  promising  girl  had  been  carried  oil'  l)y  dissoinie  m^'W. 
Her  veiy  heart  bled  at  the  re'cital  of  the  daring  ouini^'o 
Avmiiig  herself  with  a  crncilix,  she  lied  to  the  assistanct^  ul 
the  innoeent  one,  and  arrived  Just  in  tiaie  to  extrica'.e,  to 
deliver  the  lamb  fiom  thtj  the  grasj)  of  the  wolves.  Ou 
approaching  the  abode  of  these  diabolical  wretches,  h-^i' 
inoi'al  ('(Milage  increased,  and  she  conjured  them  in  rhe 
name  of  (rod,  whose  crncilied  likeness  she  presented,  t(!» 
give  ii[)  their  pi'cy.  But  crime  was  enshi'ined  in  the  ia- 
niost  recess  of  their  crnel  heiirts.  To  be  freed  from  tht3 
importnnities  of  this  courageous  lady  they  presented  ;• 
pistf !;  threatening  her  with  instant  death  if  she  did  iiu 
lit  once  retii'e.  Piut  it  was  to  no  purpose.  Siie  tiioiiula 
the  very  sacrifice  of  her  life  to  be  of  little  consideration, 
provided  she  saved  the  sweet  antl  unprotected  giri  ixom 
infamy. 

"Wretches,"  exclaitnod  Sist(n'  Bourgeois,  with  more f linn 
human  energy,  "it  is  Jesus  CMirist  Himself  that  you  thus 
attack  in  the  person  of  his  children.  Know  that  sooner  or 
later  He  will  take  revenge  on  your  sacrilegious  temerity  !"' 
Tliis  apostrophe  had  an  immediate  and  electrical  effect. 
The  trembling  victim  was  restored  to  her  deliverer.  With 
what  joy  and  gratitude  did  the  beating  heart  of  tiiis  ])nr(', 
amiable  girl  testify  its  feelings  to  its  savior  !  JS'or  was  she 
lienceforrh  to  lii>  separated  from  her  benefactre.ss ;  she  fol- 
lowed her  to  <'ana(hi,  where  she  became  an  ornament  to  the 
infant  establishuKmt  of  Sister  Bourgeois. 

Sister  liourgeois,  while  thus  laboring  for  the  salvation  of 
others,  failed  not  to  watch  over  her  own  soul.  Like  the 
Apostle  of    the    Gentiles,   she    chastised    her   body,   autt 


MOTITIUI  MMKlAUrr  liorrj! E'tis. 


TiCf) 


liioii'^ht  it  iindiT  subjcf'tinii,  lest  ;iftt'r  cotttriljiitlng  to  llio 
silriiriuu  ot  otiiors  shn  mii^lit,  ho  rojcctt'd  luM-si'If. 

IIi'iivcii  u:is  pleased  witli  licr  untiriinj;  cll'orts.  AVe  mo 
t(i!il  th:it  for  several  months,  al'ter  veceivinii'  Holy  Commim- 
in'i. -^Ih'  rre([U(Mitly  I'elt  her  lieaiT  iiillaiiied  with  an  iiiex- 
invs-;il»!e  love,  which  even^ippeared  extei-jorly  ;  aTid  oji  the 
Assumption  of  the  Jilessed  \'ii'i;'in,  pro!)al)ly  in  llie  ycai" 
liuY).  (liu'in.u;  the  jirocession  of  the  most  holy  Sacrament, 
she  raised  her  eyes  in  adoratim  lo  the  Sacrecl  Host,  and 
bclu'ld  ii  child  of  inconipai'ahie  beanfy.  These  fa\o!:i 
wci'c  suc('eeded  by  u  nioro  distinct  kno\vled;;e  of  the  di^- 
siuiis  of  (iod.  In  order  to  uid'old  them,  ue  must  i^'o  back 
a  fi'w  years. 

Ill  IG-i;),  l)e  Maisonn(Mive  assumed,  for  the  first  time,  tlu! 
oilici'  of  (Tovernor  of  Montreal.'  0\\  his  departure  from 
Troves,  the  Nuns  of  the  Order  of  Father  Fourrier  earnestly 
(■i!'ri';ited  to  ])e  allowed  to  accomj)a!iy  him  to  establish  a 
biaiirli  of  their  community  in  the  new  cMlony.  Had  he 
}i  'aiki'iied  to  the  impulsi^  of  his  zeal,  he  would  liav(^  most 
ccrraiuly  complieil;  but  prudenc(3  I'ecpiired  that  lu;  shciiild 
w.iir  for  a  more  favorabh^  niomcuit.  lie  visited  his  native 
l;in  1  some  years  subsequ(Mitiy.  The  ladies,  of  coiirs!!,  reit- 
eiated  their  demand;  and  a  renewal  of  promises  was  the 
ealv  replv  of  !)(>  Alaisonneiive. 

In  !(;.'")•-?  De  ]\Iaisonueuve  returned  a  s(M'f)n(1  time  to  Fiance. 
Aliiiiit  this  peroid,  Sister  Bourgeois  perceived  in  her  sleep 
a  ii'i'soii  whose  garb  was  partly  eccl(>siastical  and  partly 
civilian,  such  as  the  French  clergy  were  wont  to  Avear  in 
travelling.  This  dr;>am  made  a  uiore  lasting  im[)ressiou  on 
licr  mind  than  the  ordinary  visions  of  the  night  ever  pro- 
dufcd. 

Some  time  after,  as  she  was  talking  with  one  of  the  Nuns 
af  the  grate  in  tJie  convent  of  Notre  l)ame,  (Jovernoi-  de 
Maisonneuve,  whom  sIk^  had  never  seen,  and  of  whosc^  ar- 
rival she  was  perfectly  ignorant,  came  to  the  convent.     She 


"De  Miil-Dimniivc  foiiiK'.rd  tlio  city  of  Montn':il.  TIi' wn^  fi  rrrnn  of  R'oni  virtiu',  fTiiinlosH 
rliiinicltT.  f,'rcat  zoiil  for  llicfailli ;  iiiul  lu'xt  to  Clinmiiliiiii  llu'  nii>-t  iiol)lc  il.-iin'  in  tlii;  curly  His- 
tory of  Camidu.'—il/Kr/a^,  '•  Uislory  qf  the  Cat/wlic  Church  i/i  tUe  VuikU  bVyA-.'.-," 


R 


:     rS,' 


1 

n 

;  * 

(S 

'1 

i "     ; ;. 

i 

( 

y 

X 

;; 

: 

r 

; 

i 

C7() 


MOTIir.n  MMKlMlluT  JlorJldKOIS. 


!   )l 


ml 


IK)  sdDiiov  snw  liiiii,  tlian  s1im'X(  hiiiiKMl;   "  Boliold  my  j)i'i(.'st 
-till'  vcrv  siinic  1  saw  in  my  tlrram  I  "' 

iSlic  was  fully  coiiviiK-cd  thai  the  xisiou  was  sn]>f'riiatiir;il. 
Sim  fell  that  (uxl  thd'cby  f;-avt>  her  ti»  iiiKlcrsiaiid  thai  He 
li;V.I  ai'piiiiilcil  .hi'i'  for  the  (>])''rati<>u  ol'  soiiio  ^'ood  wurk 
conjoiiitly  with  I).'  Maisoiuicin'c,  who  was  then  iidtliiiit,' 
iiioi'e  than  :i  si'ciilar  as  to  liis  stal(>  of  lire.  l)iil  who  poyscs.-t'il 
tli(MMiiiiic!it  virtues  oL"  :iii  tM-clesiiistii-,  parlu'ularly  those  of 
zt>al  atiil  iniHienee. 


W 


ii  hoi 


II  fiii'l  her  delay.  Sister  Boiir^'eois  ])i'esimte(l 


icl'-cll 


to  this  'gentleman,  to  jtass  under  his  protection  to  the  wijils 
<>r  \ho  Canadian  i"or(>sfs,  there  to  oj)en  a  school  i'ortlie  iii- 
htruction   of    the  Ji/did/t  (jirh.     Her  oiler  was   ,ij,ratefiiily 


nccepled 


llei 


e  wa~ 


a  virluous  lady.  alou(\  under  tlu>  iiroleriioi  of 


an  oliicei',  <'rossin,a,'  to  ;i  yet  unknown,  iincivili/.ed  ].;m  of 
the  ,u'lo!n>.  u'liided  !)y  naniiht  sa\e  the  bright  star  of  conii- 
diMice  in  (<od  I  The  considejalion  of  her  delicate  .si lualiua 
:dainird  her  modesty. 

The  ac!-.no\vled;j,'ed  prudence  of  the  (governor  of  '>roiitreal 
dill  not  (juite  tranqui!i/,(^  her.  Ordinary  decorum  sei'iiicd 
tocondemu  su;'ha  s!(>p.  l>ut  in  the  end  faith  triumphed  over 
IVai".  Her  enlightened  ,uuide,  I'^ither  .landret,  fully  coii. 
^•ineed  that  his  peniliMit's  call  was  from  th(>  h'alher  of  li^iiit, 
wisely  ll!!)U<;iit  that  no  tliirKar'y  sliould  stoj)  its  e.xeciiiioii. 
}[e.  ho'Aevei'.  I'eferred  her  to  an  enlightened  priest  to  wlumi 
she  had  sonr.'times  I'evenled  her  conscience.  Tiie  lattc!' 
likewise,  after  three  days  of  deep  deliberation,  came  to  tlio 
tian\e  conclusion  as  Father  Jandret. 

The  IVishop  of  Ti'oyes  was  then  absent  from  liis  metropo- 
lis ;  and  his  \'icar-(i!en(>ral  was  consequently  consulted  on 
the  subjtM't.  After  reconimonding  it  to  (rod,  whom  he  ai- 
dently  prayed  to  direct  liini,  lie  tt)o  concurred  in  th(>  ojiin- 
i<Mi  of  Father  .landret.  This  agroeuient  of  sentiment  quito 
decide(l  the  courageous  ]\Iargaret  Bourgeois. 

In  vain  did  a  sci'upulous  and  timid  critic  di'claim  against 
the  indiscretion  of  this  resolution.  The  success  which  fol- 
lowed prove^s  a  suIUcieut  justilication  of  the  iH'Oceeding.    It 


\r:m- 


MOrilEU  MARGAllET  BOUIIGEOIS. 


571 


\v;is  even  jiislifi(!;l  l)y  tin;  iiiii'aciilons  approbation  of  t]i(-, 
Holy  MollitT  of  (J oil.  Sistci-  B()iirjj;(K)is  was  one  morning 
;il()ii('  Ml  licr  apartment,  ])i'rre('tly  awake,  and  ])on(lerin^ 
ovei"  occuiTcnccs  -wliicli  liad  no  I'elalion  (o  licr  depiiiUirH 
for  (.'nnada,  wlu'ii  suddenly  llicrc!  ap[)('arcd  bcfon^  lu'r  a 
iiiiijcstic  and  bcantiful  lady,  clotlicd  in  Avliite,  who  ad- 
dressed liei'  in  Ihest;  words:  "Depart,  1  ^vill  not  forsake 
Vdii,  "  and  instantly  disappeared.  A  ray  of  divine  ]i,i;lit, 
Id  wliicli  her  lienrt  was  ever  open,  as  the  bosom  of  th(; 
siiii-llnwer  is  expanfh'tl  to  tlie  genial  rays  of  the;  snn, 
iissiiierl  hei-  tliat  this  personage  was  no  other  llian  the 
i\iother  of  (lod.  Slie  felt,  a  renewal  of  oonsoUition  and 
strength. 

In  the  l)eginning  of  lA'ln-nary,  1(3,);},  Sister  Bonrg(H)is,  liav- 
iiig  !ittaiiie(l  liei'  tliii'ty-tliird  year,  distributed  what  slie  pos- 
sessed in  aims,  ano  witliont  dis(!Josing  lier  intention  to  her 
fiuaily,  set  out  for  Oana(hi.  TTf^r  nncle,  Mr.  Cossard,  and 
]\Iiss  de  Chnly  W(M'(i  then  going  to  Paris.  The  Sistei',  nnder 
some  plausible  ]iretenne,  a('C()m[)aniod  them  to  tin;  capital. 
Scnrcely  had  they  arrived,  wlieii  Mr.  Cossard  was  I'ecalhnl 
lo  Ti'oyes  on  urgent*  business  ;  however,  before  he  left  Paris, 
Ills  niece  Ix'gncd  him  to  accompany  her  to  some  notary  ])ub- 
lic,  in  whose  i)resence  she  o))enly  declared  ]ier  intentions, 
nn  1  at  the  same  time  signed  a  contract,  that  her  inhei'itanee 
sliould  be  bestowed  on  her  brother  and  sisfei-,  of  whom  Mi'. 
Ciissard  guaidian.  'I'lie  uncle  was  startled  with  astonish- 
ment, and  riumdnefl  for  some  time  in  dee])  silence,  seeming 
to  anticipate  a  revocation  of  the  deed.  Deing  disa])iiointed 
in  his  anticipations,  he  used  every  (>fT()rt  to  dissuadtj  his 
niece  from  her  course.  AlTection,  tenderness,  and  ev(Mi 
riilieule  wei'e  emph)yed,  ))ut  all  to  no  jjiirpose.  Maigaret 
\i;is  iidlexible. 

Un  Mr.  ("ossai'd's  return  into  Troyes.  great  excitem(>nt 
wns  ci'eated  by  the  unexpected  intelligence.  Kelations, 
fiieiids.  in  fact  the  entire  city  was  in  movement,  and  doz- 
ens of  letters  were  dispatched.  Bat  the  ties  of  nature  and 
the  efforts  of  liuman  prudence  avail  naught  when  opposed 
ti)  the  designs  ol'  God. 


■(.::{ 


! 


li   t 


m  \i 


\    I 


li;  J  Ml, 


1l 
lilf 


n73 


MOTHER  MAUaARET  nOURGEOIS. 


On  ncconnt  of  the  dress  wliich  our  lieroine  assumed,  she 
now  bocnme  generally  known  as  Sister  Bonrgeoh. 

On  her  arrival  at  Paris,  she  found  De  Maisonneuvt",  and 
doparti'd  for  Orleans  alone.  This  circumstance  led  to  asu.s- 
2)icl(jn  ot  her  virtue,  and  at  the  hotel  where  the  sta^-e 
stopped  she  was  only  miraculously  preserved  I'loin  insult. 
With  the  most  heartfelt  gratitude,  the  courageous  Sister 
returned  thanks  to  God  for  this  special  protection,  and  set 
out  for  Nantes. 

On  ]i(M'  way  there,  her  iniluenco  was  so  great  among  the 
passengers  that  they  daily  recited  with  lier  the  Odice  of 
the  Bh'ssed  A'^irgin,  and  said  the  Rosary.  Hlu^  even  pre- 
vailed on  the  rowers  to  proce(Ml  during  the  uight.  contrary 
to  their  custom,  that  the  little  crew  might  have  t!ie  advan- 
tag(^  of  complying  with  the  precept  of  the  Church,  ])y  as- 
sisting at  Mass  on  Sunday. 

Landing  at  Nant(^s,  sh(>  immediately  inquired  for  the 
•abode  of  Mr.  Le  Coi^,  a  merchant  of  that  city,  whose  dwell, 
ing  was  assigned  by  1)(!  Maisonneuve  as  tln^  rendezvous 
of  the  passengers  for  Canada.  This  uierchant  was  known 
at  Xantes  by  a  different  mime — that  of  De  la  Bessoniere. 
The  Sister's  in(xniri(>s  were  therefore  vain,  for  a  length  of 
time;  at  last,  she  providentially  impiired  again— of  a  gen- 
tleman whom  she  accidentally  met — if  he  kncnv  such  a  per- 
son as  a  Mr.  Le  Coij.  The  gentleman  hai)]iened  to  Ix'  the 
very  individual  she  s:)  anxiousl.y  sought.  l)e  Maisonm'uve 
]\ad  already  acc|uaint(Ml  him  by  letter  of  her  arrival  in 
Nantes.  Sh(>  was  therefore;  most  cordially  rccinved.  and 
lodged  in  his  own  rt'sidence  tillher  dei>artui'e  for  Canada. 

In  the  interval  which  elapsed  she  chose  for  confessor  u 
religious  priest,  to  whom  she  contidf^l  h<'i' ])ast  and  ]ireseni; 
intentions.  She  likewise  told  him  that  she  had  declined 
when  in  Paris  th(;  offer  of  admittance  into  ;i  i-eligious  com- 
jnunity  for  which  she  formerly  fi'lt  some  in(dina(i(ui.  The 
confessor,  who  belonged  to  tliis  Order,  unhesitatingly  de- 
cided that  she  should  a('C(>pt  the  proffei'ed  proposal;  and 
recomniePided  her  to  writt;  instantly  to  that  elTect,,  Again, 
her  dt)cile  and  geutlo  mind  was  cast  into  an  abyss  of  per 


w .  \ 


MOTHER  MARGAnET  BOURGEOIS. 


573 


I'lexlty,  respecting  the  will  of  her  Divine  ^faster.  In  this 
(Ulemnia,  to  whom  could  she  have  recourse  l)ut  to  (U)d  who 
iiKMcil'ully  invit(\s  those  who  suffer  and  are  heavy  laden  to 
come  to  llini  for  refreshment?  In  the  most  bewildered  state, 
slie  tluew  herself  at  the  feet  of  this  only  true  (Jomfoiter, 
in  rlic  chapel  of  the  Capuchin  Friars.  There  her  pure  and 
]iuial)lc  heart  overilowed  with  feelinij,-s  of  faith,  and  hope, 
ami  love.  There  also,  on  that  very  altar,  at  the  feet  of  her 
hidden  God.  she  was  relieved  from  all  fears  and  doubts.  In- 
stanily,  He  whom  the  winds  and  seas  obey  stilled  the  agi- 
t;iled  w.'itei's,  and  peace,  confidence,  and  Divinelight  assured 
lier  that  sh(^  was  destined  for  Canada. 

Notwithstanding  the  ])ivine  assurance,  however,  she 
llieiight  herself  obliged  to  comply  with  the  injunctions  of 
lier  confessor.  She  accordingly  wrote  two  hitters  to  l\>,ris, 
to  wliicli,  by  a  particular  appointment  of  Providence,  no 
answer  was  returned. 

In  this  state  of  things.  Governor  De  ]\raisonneuve  arrived 
atN;int(\s.  On  his  arrival,  an  anonymous  letter  was  sent  him 
to  ])i'i'vail  on  Sister  Bourgeois  to  become  a  Carmelite  nun. 
Tiiis  communication  was  disregarded,  and  served  rather  to 
indui'e  .I)eMaisonneuv(!  to  strain  every  nerve  to  strengthen 
the  intention  of  the  good  Sister  to  continue  what  she 
had  so  well  begun; 

In  the  meantime,  her  unassuming  manners  won  the  es- 
teem and  afl'ection  of  the  fanuly  of  Mr.  de  la  I3essoniere. 
to  a  ])oint  rarely  e(piah>d.  Mr.  de  la  Iicssoniere  declined 
receiving  any  compensation  for  Ixjard  and  lodging,  and 
begged  the  Sister  to  accept,  for  her  personal  comi'ort,  the 
handsome  present  of  a  bed  and  bedding,  with  a  (puintity 
of  fresh  water  whi(di  ho  had  put  on  board  f^n*  her  use, 
knowing  that  wine  had  long  been  deemed  a  supeilluous  lux- 
ury. Everything  was  now  prepared  for  the  separation  of 
this  Catholic  heroine  from  all  that  was  dear  to  Iter  noble 
and  affectionate  lieart.  AVhat  conflicting  emotions  and 
hopes  and  fears  must  have  agitated  her  nund  when  on  the 
point  of  exiling  herself  from  tlie  chei'ished  associalious  of 
her  childhood  and    youth;  and   of  changing   the  bright, 


!  'in 


I  >i 


Hi 


MOTlUiR  MARGAllET  BOURGEOIS. 


sunny  ski  as  of  hei- loved  France  for  the  snowj^  wilds,  icy 
atmospliere,  and  unexplored  wastes  of  Canada  l  But  this 
lofty  woman  rose  with  the  difficulties  of  her  position.  She 
counted  no  sacrilice.    Her  loss  was  her  gain. 


rl 


CHAPTER  in. 

CAl^ADIAX   LIFE   TWO   CKXTURIKS   AOO. 

{^ii^fiT  Boiirr/rois  arnoes  in  Caiutda — A  howlhig  wilder - 
■7ii'ss — ExfrcDie  climrde — The  *S'(f.  L'tipreiwc — '' L<>!  (lir, 
jvior  Indian,''' — How  the  I'l'l  m-ui  lioe-l^  mot^ed,  and  ha  d^ 
JiIk  being — CJan.ad.itui  toioiiK  of  the.  ser^vntceiith  ecidur/f 
— ^Jontrcnl  a  dreary  forest — Mass  in.  a  f(  idSisler 
Jj'oiirf/eois  teaches  the  little  Indian  r/irls — Mah-es  her- 
self all  I'd  all,  that  she  might  gain,  all  to  (Christ— A  neio 
■idea — The  v.oyage  to  France — Its  success — The  ship 
'•X/.  lindre.'"— Again  in  Ville-JIarie. 

On  the  22(1  of  S(»pf«ni))or,  ICm'),  affoi*  a  loii.i;  i.iid  a(lv(Mi- 
turons  voyui>'e,  this  holy  tlaii<;lif(n'  of  France,  ciioseii  from 
aiUDiiLT  tliousands,  set  foot  in  Canada — that  promised  laucl 
wliii  li  she  so  ardently  desiriid  to  I'each. 

Canada  was  disc'ov<M'ed  in  ],");?4by  tlie  Frencli,  wlio  ,u'avo 
it  the  name  of  .Neio  France ;  but  it  couM  scarcely  he  calle(l 
an  (>srahli.shed  colony  l)of()i'e  1():)S,  th;'  year  in  which  tho 
groat  Cham  plain  founded  Quebec. 

At  the  date  of  which  W(;  write  —  \()7^,\  —  it  was.  in  the 
WMids  of  Kan.sonet,  ''one  immense  forest,  interspersed 
l)y  rivers  and  lakes,  which  rendeis  the  climate  extivmely 
cold,  notwithstanding'  its  <;eogra[>]\ical  situation  in  tho 
temperate  zone.  Unless  the  utmost  precaulit)n  is  takt.'ii, 
a  clieek  or  a  hand  will  be  frozen  in  an  imperceptible  lapse 
1)1  lime,  which  will  morti''y  and  fall  off,  if  we  have  tiu^  im- 
prudence to  X)resent  eiflu'r  to  the  lire,  insti'ad  of  ai)ply- 
ing  snow.      This    excessive    cold    is    succeeded    by   such 

07D 


If, 


t^ 


$','* 


nro 


MOTHER  MARGAIiEl'  BOURGEOIS. 


in   W 


intenso  heat,  tlmt   {\\o  gi'ain  is  .sown   nrid   reaped  in   iiie 
siuu'c  of  tln't'(»  iiioiitlis.' 

■■Tlif  [ii'liicijial  I'ivci',"' coritimies  Eansonet,  ''is  tlic  mn. 
j.'stii'  St.  La\v]-eii('M,  wliicli  will  liear  on  its  icy  boxini  ilm 
lipavicst  l:i:i<Mi  vt^liicle,   J'oi'  tlie  sjiace  of   six  or  seven    ] 


iiio 


iiti 


IS. 


'I'liis  iMinicnse  bodv  of  water  is  twentv-live 


cues 


i(h'  ai  its  month,  and  contains  lakes  of  (idO  le 


isnes  m  vAY. 


ciinircrence.-  It  is  naviiialjle  for  Kships  ]*"iO  leaij,'iies  from  the 
ocean.  J I  >  waters  at  Niagara  form  a  most  stnpendons  cataract, 
jallinu-   pei'i)endicularly    with   au   iiicredil)lu   sliock   over  a 

precipice  of  2(10  feet. 

"The.  natives  of  this  barbarous  C(nintry  are  Indians,  well- 
forai  m|,  muscular,  ami  beardless.  Their  ('omi)lexioii  would 
be  tolerably  fair,  did  they  not  di'sfioy  if  by  friction  of  oil 
ami  jiaiut  of  numy  colois.  At  all  seasons  of  the  year,  liiese 
children  of  thc^  ]'or*'st  go  bareheaded.  In  winter  tiiey  inl] 
ihemsidves  in  skins,  in  summer  the  men  suspend  some  leosc 
(dvering  from  the  belt,  and  the  Indian  woman  is  half 
chtlhed  with  a  kind  of  shirt,  that  descends  iu)t  quite  so  low 
as  the  knee,  the  renuiinder  of  the  body  being  exposed.'  They 


live  ])artly  on 


anuv 


jtai'lly  on  horse  or  dog's  tlesh  that  die 


(d'  disease  or  old  age.  This  is  always  <>aten  without  bread. 
'J'liey  have,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Frencdi  settlements, 
small  plantations  of  Indian  corn,  with  which  they  make  a 
kind  (d'  poi'i'i dge  called  sdr/ainifc 

•■Tiie  Indians  Imve  no  fixed  liabitations,  but  wander  in 


trd)' 


iin  { 


)iace 


l(t  iiiace 


U'cording  as  m:'cessifv  or  lancy 


u'uides    them.     Tiiev    lodge  in   lints  or    tents   of   leaves 


har 


^ri(du'd  too'ethei'.     Nothing  is  more  ci'Uid  cu'  moii^  fe 


'  Tlic  nli'ivc  i-  fvi  11  yet  ;iii  iiicmiili'  ilrycriplinii  of  lln'  iMrciiU'  oliniiilc  of  llio  I'roviiicf  of  (Jiio- 
1  •(■.  Of  I.oucr  ( ■;,ii!'.il:i:  lull  il  liy  no  nitiiiis  ;i|i|ilii's  ui  llic  I'roviiico  of  ()nt;irio.  or  Ippcr  Ciiiiiidii. 
'I'lic  i'liin;ilc  of  Toioiiio  is  :i»  l(  iniicialc  iis  lli:il  of  liiooldyii,  X.  Y.  Wo  bflicvf  ii;oio  f'liow  fails 
ill  r.niulilyii  I  \ci-y  \wiilcr  llian  in  llic  <;ipil:il  of  Oiil.'irii). 

-  l\v  rili'i-s  to  tho  aro;it  I/.ikos— Siiprrlor,  Huron,  Ki'it'.  anil  Ontario. 

'  This,  lioiilitli'ss,  rcfer.s  to  tlio  roviiiiT  .\l;:oiii|iiiii.s  tliat  roatncd  nroiiiul  (Jiicliec,  Mdiilnal.  ami 
tlu' louiT  I'mvinci'?.  It  voalil  not  he  siriclly  tnio  if  applii'd  to  tlu'  Uiiron.s  of  Viiiicr  Canada. 
Tlio  lliinii  sijiiaWii  ^-uu'r.ally  tlolli.'d  llii'insclvi's  with  inncli  niodi'sly:  oven  more  so.  writrs  ii 
ilt'sait  FallKT,  tlian '■  tlio  n)o.--t  pious  iadios  in  Franco."'  Km  to  liu' warriors  .i  similar  ccniipii- 
mont  I'O'.ilil  r.ot,  be  paid.  Ui  siimmi-r  tlioy  dispensed  witli  every  article  of  their  rude  covering  bul 
the  riiOicasaius.— '".ffij.'c/'y  ffth<!  latKclic  Church  in  the  Unikd  States." 


MOTHER  MAUCAr.ET  BOVRGEOIS. 


Cu7 


rjcidiis  in  wni' than  these  liurbarians ;  their  re\e.i,'LC.'  is  iioc 
oven  satislied  by  death.  They  sealp,  l>nvn,  siiclv  the  hloml, 
ojien  th(>  bodies,  drag  out  tlie  entrails,  and  eat  thr  lu^art  of 
liieir  viefinis  ;  nor  tire  tliey  even  tlien  satislied.  Evciy  lor- 
luent  tliat  imagination  can  suggest  is  exhausted.  And  tlio 
(hiiigliter  of  the  forest  is  not  less  cruel  than  the  stcriui'  sex; 
iiidi't'il.  it  is  said  that  they  even  surpass  the  lui'n  in  rrlined 
eniclty. 

'•'rhnagoof  loveliness  itself  is  tluis  sehov»led  toliarbaiit}' ; 
for  while  the  savage  jwi't^ut  is  thus  gratifying  Ids  luulal 
feelings,  the  ehildren  dance  around  and  insult  the  unfortu- 
nate sulferer,  calling  him  by  the  appellation  of  woman,  if 
lie  utters  a  complaint  or  gives  a  sign  of  serisibility  in  the 
midst  of  their  atrocities.  This  cruelty,  barbarous  as  it  may 
appear,  is  not  to  be  compared  to  the  desperate  courage 
evinced  by  the  vanquished  Indian.  He  is  :^e<'n  cndr.ring 
the  dreadfid  i)unishnient  of  iire  and  sword,  (puetly  singing, 
and  reproaclnng  the  executioners  that  they  Avanl  ingenuity 
thus  stimulating  them  to  new  crmdties. 

"  With  the  exception  of  a  few  converted  by  the  mission- 
aries, the  savages  are  generally  idolaters.  The  X)rinci{)al 
object  of  their  fearful  adoration  is  a  malevolent  si)irit  which 
tlu^y  call  iiKOiiloii.  To  this  they  olTersacriliee  of  propitia- 
tion. Their  mann(}r  of  saeriiicing  is  to  thrctw  tobacco  into 
tlie  liver  or  s(  a,  a  ceremony  they  never  omit  before  a  voy- 
age is  imder taken. 

'•The  French  have  built  three  princijial  towns  in  Caiuida, 
Q'/rbcc,  Three  liivc-rs,  and  YiUc-Mariv.'  (Quebec,  the  cap- 
ital, is  the  residence  of  a  liishop,  a  (governor,  who  is  at  the 
same  time  Governor  of  New  France  and  of  the  Executive 
Council.  The  liev.  (Jenth^nien  of  St.  Suljiice  are  ^ti(/ncurs 
of  the  entire  Island  of  INlontreal ;  they  have  pioj^agated 
Catholicity  by  multiplying  the  nund)er  of  laborers  in  the 
vineyard  of  the  Lord.  Indeed  the  revenue  of  their  whole 
Sehjiuurie  is  totally  devoted  in  the  cause  of  the  CTOspel."  " 

'  Vitli'-Marle,  i.  e.,  the  town  of  Mary.    It  is  now  the  groat  city  of  Moiitri'iil. 

''  It  niiiy  1)0  well  to  rcnicnbor  tlmt  the  foregoing  was  written  just  one  hundred  andjifly  years 
t'jo,  when  Cauaila  was  u  Frcntli  colony. 


t 

^■■=!r 

V\ 

'  j  '^ ' 

i!  ■  ' 

■ 
1  1 

l^'l 


i 


57S 


MOTllEIl  MAUGARET  BOUEGEOIS. 


Tlioiiu'li  Sistor  IVjiirp-oois  Inndcd  rif  (^iifhor,  slio  did  nnt 
iviiiain  there.  The  town  that  bori^  tlu?  iiaiiie  of  jNlary,  hci' 
Protectress,  was  the  real  point  of  attraction  A('('or(liii;:ly 
she  ]iro('ee(h'd  to  IMontreal  witli  (Governor  de  ^laisoiiiicuvc. 
This  Ishind'  was  then  nothin.:^  more  tliaii  a  dreary,  dcsolato 
forest,  so  niiieli  so  tliat  it  could  not  alVord  ev(>n  a  cottauo 
in  whicli  to  oll'f'r  the  Holy  Saci'ilice  oi  llie  Mass.  A  tent 
was  the  onl y  tenijile  of  t]i(>  living  Ood,  and  a  tree  of  the 
prond  forest  iIk'  oidy  steel 


)lc 


Now  had  dawned  the  si-lcnm  day  on  wlii(di  Sister  bour- 
geois' wishes  were  to  he  realized.  The  olfsiiring  of  the  In- 
dian and  the  child  of  the  Fi'enoh  were  seated  to  I'eceive 
gratuitously  that  instruction  Avhich  tends  to  form  ilic  un- 
tutored savage  and  the  docile  French  heart;  yet,  both  ic- 
ceived  th(^  science  of  sciences,  on  which  all  human  knowl- 
edge is  hased — the  science  of  salvation.  Wlio  could  de- 
scribe the  activity  of  Sister  Eourgeois'  zeal  in  tliis  arduous 
task  ("'  With  what  delight  she  went  from  tent  to  teiu.  to 
enlighten  the  young,  when  circumstances  prevent  the  Imlf- 
clad  chihli'cn  of  nature^  from  thronging  ai'ound  hei' :  nordid 
she  limit  her  untiring  attentions  and  charity.  She  wntclud 
and  served  the  sick  with  nuitei'ual  care,  even  the  dead  re. 
ceived  fi'om  her  bene\(ilent  liaiuls  the  last  sad  services. 
She  washed  and  repaired  the  clothes  of  the  poor  soldier :  in 
a  word,  she  is  an  eye  and  a  liand  to  all — neither  tlie  want 
of  tile  nec(\'tsaries  of  life,  nor  the  insupportable  riiior  of  the 
Canadian  winter,  nor  the  almost  intolei'able  heat  of  siim- 
mei',  noi'  the  fear  of  the  savages,  nor  (he  wild  disjiosili*  n  of 
the  Indian  children — nothing,  in  shoit,  seem*  d  caj'able  of 
daniping  for  a  moment  her  fervent  zeal  and  boundless 
charity. 

Sucii  is  an  abridgment  of  the  first  five  j'ears  Sister  Uour- 
geois  s])ent  in  ]\Iontreal ! 

^Vhat  a  nnsfortun(^  that  Ave  have  not  been  gi'atified 
with  more  ample   details   of   her  actions,   and   that   tliey 


'  Montrfal  iji  biiill  oil  :iii  isliiml  of  Ihc  same  iianu' 


'  Sill'  (.pi'iii'd  IiiT  scliool,''  writes  Park; 


'in  a  ptiililo, wliU'h  nnsworpd  to  ilio  f-tain 


Etliili-'lic'iii,  kiilgiiig  Willi  licr  luipils  111  tliclofl."— 77if  Old  llegimem  Caiid'la. 


MOTHER  .MARGARET  BOURGEOIS. 


C79 


occurrcil  at  a  time  -vvlien  the  use  of  tlie  p  'ii  was  very 
]in]it''tll 

IIa\in,u'  acquirfnl  a  thoroiigli knowledge  of  tlio  country  in 
live  years,  lliis  heroic  lady  jmlicionsly  concludt^cl  (hat  slie 
alone  was  inadequate  to  accomplish  all  that  the  wants  of  Uie 
people  rcciuired.  The  idea  of  forming  a  new  leligiouscom- 
nninity.  on  the  plan  of  that  formerly  atteni])U:d  by  Fafher 
Janilret  at  Troyes,  now  engrossed  all  heraltention.  To  had 
l)eis()iis  for  that  pni'pose  in  Canada  was  as  yet  quite  impos- 
sible. She,  therefore,  decided  to  cross  the  i)e]'iIous  deep, 
in  search  (jf  young  and  devoted  hearts  to  share  in  her  apos- 
tolical laliors. 

Site  did  not  seek  in  vain.  On  her  return  she  was  aeecom- 
paiiied  I'y  four  excellent  young  ladies — the  ^Tisses  Ciolo, 
Kaisiu,  llyoux,  andChatcd.  Their  merit,  virtu« ,  and  bravery 
rendered  them  worthy  of  becoming  the  comi)anions  of  the  he- 
roic Margaret  l^oui-geois.  But  at  that  day  iio  majestic  steam- 
ers cat  the  Atlantic  with  their  iron  keels;  and  a  voyage  aci'oss 
thestormy  ocean  was  generally  a  most  i")erilous  and  soul-try- 
iiii:'  jounH'y-  "On  the  2d  of  July,  1G.")9,"  writes  l-'rancis  Park- 
man,  "the  ship  >Sy.  Andre  lay  in  the  harbor  of  Ikxdielle, 
crowded  with  passengers  for  Canada.  She  luul  served  two 
years  as  a  hospital  for  marines,  and  was  infected  with  a 
contagious  fever.  Including  the  crew,  some  two  hundred 
persons  were  on  board,  more  than  half  of  whom  were  bound 
inr  o^lontreal.  Most  of  these  were  sturdy  laborers,  arti- 
sans, ptnisants,  and  soldiers,  together  with  a,  troop  of  young 
women,  their  present  or  future  partn  ei's.  a  jxirtion  of  the 
company  set  down  on  the  old  record  as  'sixty  virtuous  men 
ar.d  tliir^v-two  pious  girls.'  There  were  two  priests  also, 
Vignal  and  Le  ]\riiitre,  both  destined  to  a  speedy  death  at 
the  hands  of  the.  Iroquois.  But  the  most  cons])icuous 
among  these  passengers  for  Montreal  wei'o  t\^o  groujis  of 
women  in  the  habit  of  nuns,  under  the  direction  of  ^Margaret 
Bourg(K)is  and  Jeanne  Mance.  IVIargaret  Bourgeois,  ^\■hose 
kind,  womanly  face  besjioke  her  iitness  for  the  task,  was 
Foundress  of  the  school  for  female  children  at  Montreal; 
her  comp)anion,  a  tall,  austere  ligure,  worn  with  sufl'ering 


tfl 


P 


i 


m 


n 


i:so 


MOTllIUl  MARGARET  BOVRGEOI^. 


i  1 


and  cnro,  was  dircctross  of  tlio  lio.si)ital.  l^olli  liad  ictiirned 
to  Franco  for  aid,  and  Avcrc  now  on  theii'  way  l)a('k,  cucli 
with  tlirt'e  rccniits,  tlirci^  l)eing  tlm  mystic  nunilici-,  jis  a 
tyiic  dl"  the  Holy  I"'aniily,  to  whoso  wor.shi[i  tlicy  wcro 
especially  (l('vot(Mi."  ' 

Motlici'  I'oiii'geois  and  lier  gentlo  companions  readied 
Montreal  salVly.  It  was  jiisc  exactly  a  yeai'  since  lier 
depnrtiire.  Tims  was  lier  i)roniise  fullilled.  IJel'ore  setting 
out  for  l'''rance,  she  had  promised  that  she  W(iii]d  ictuiii  to 
A'ille->[arie  on  tin;  voiy  day  of  tho  month  and  hour  of  iht; 
day  on  which  she  departed,  a  year  from  tiui  date  of  de- 
parture. 

'  '"i'lic  1)1(1  licL'imi'  ill  Caiiihlii."    J'lirkiiiati  mistakes  /lie  iiiiiiibiTof  laclirs  iictoinpany'ng  Jlotber 
Uourj;c'iii.s.    U  wub  luui;  uot  tluue.    £uu  Ult  ilfc  b;  iiuiisoauc. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


mpanyjng  Jloiher 


THE  FIRST  RELIOIOl'S  OlIOKU  FOUNDED  IX  AMERICA. 

All  J/z'sforic  stahle—Marf/arct  Boir/;/roisf(,)//u/fi  i/ic  -sV.vAr.v 
of  Iho.  Coiir/reridtiou,  do  Notre  lUiiuc — Ihr  second  trip 
io  Franci— Founds  a  C/iapd  in  honor  of  t/i>'  Most 
Jili'ssed  Virf/in — L(d)ors  and  growth  <>/  hvr  ronininnitu 
—Its  lirt)  fhitf  ot>j'ects — J^ress  of  the  Sistrrs—Qnatitics 
V'hich  n  leister  shovid  possess — The//  receire  tin  ir  lUde 
from  Bishop  St.  Valier—The  conrent  dcstrojed  —Four 
//(firs  <f  mental  ar/on//— Peace  ff  soul. 

As  Governor  do  'Nriiisonnonvo  was  a  devoted  Cathoiic,  and 
a  "lcni^-!it  wirliout  fear  and  without  n^proacli,"  lie  was  most 
anxious  to  sliow  his  deep  respect  for  the  reli.ii'ious  ladies 
who  honored  Yille-Marie  with  their  presence,  and  1)l(»ssed 
it  by  their  lahors.  ]hit  good  intentions  cannot  do  all 
tliiiii^'s.  The  Sisters  iKM'ded  a  liouse,  and  the  CJovernoi'  had 
none  to  give  them.  Buildings  were  so  very  rare  tiiat  he 
was  even  compelled  to  offer  them  a  stable,  wliich  they 
gladly  accepted."  And  here  in  this  stable  was  formed  by 
]\largaret  Bourgeois  the  Jirst  religious  order  ever  foundinl 
in  America— the  Conr/ref/atioii  deXotreBauic.''  Tlie'yonng 
lady  novices  immediately  began  their  labors,  faithfully  fol- 
lowing in  the  footsteps  of  their  illustrious  guide  and  found- 
ress. It  is  said  that  the  si)irit  of  holy  ])ove!ly,  which 
reigned  throughout  this  small  community,  h'd  the  g('nrU3 
inmates  to  find  new  charms  in  their  most  huml)le  abode. 

Ihit  this  wretched  residence  really  cramped  the  laboi's  of 
the  Sisters;  and,  indeed,  prevented  tlieir  fulfilling  the  end 


'  It  should  he  rcmpmbored  thnt  seven  ycirH  after  tliis— that  is,  lu  1C07— the  census  gives  lo  5Ion- 
tri'iil  (inly  TOO  souls;  (iuc')ec,  448. 
■■  Til   S'surs  of  tlie  Congregation  of  our  Liidy. 

081 


:  i' :  II 


U  ^1 


li 


W' 


^■i 


.:  t 


|i?l  I 


:>i<2 


MoriiKU  MMKiMurr  /!(>(i:<i/:(>is. 


of  llicir  vociilidii.  A  cliimpMvns  iicccsstirN'"  A  luoiv  ((mi. 
Iiindioiis  (Iwclliiiu,-  ^(loii  l)(\i;':m  l(»  rise,  ;iiitl  \v;is  iic:iil\  (■(im. 
Iilctt'd.  wlii'ii  Miilhvr  iMdiri'i'dis  ;i;;';iili  I)I':i\(m|  iIk-  liriois  df 
the  All.iiUii'.  Willi  :i  soul  lillcd  willi  ('(tiirKlcncc  jn  (;,,(1^ 
.slic  l;iM(|i'(l  ;i  second  I  iiiii'  ill  ( lie  coillil  ly  of  ln'i'  I';)!  Iicis  This 
.she  did  I'oi'  lln'  two  fold  purpose  of  oliliiiniiin'  leKeis  pnient 
ri'oiii  l.oiiis  .\|\'..  lor  the  p»>nii:iiieii!  estnlilisliiiiint  of  lid- 
Insiitiite,  :iiid  in  oi'der  to  hriiin"  <»\''r  iiiofe  Indies  lo  iissisr 
lier.  Success  siiuled  oil  lier  eH'oi'ls.  'i'lie  dociiliieiils  w  Inch 
siie  so  Jilslly  deuKiudeil  were  sl.u'iied  ;iud  put  into  her  IkukIs 
witliout  tdtuost  iiny  solicil.'itioii  ou  her  jmrl.  She  h:id  also 
the  JKiiipiiiess  of  i'ecei\iii^'  several  yomiLi,'  ladies  into  jut 
coiniiiunily. 

These  I'ortiiliate  i'(>sults  she  at  t  ribllted  to  the  i!ilerc(>ssi(.)n 
oi'  the  Most  lilessed  N'iru'ili,  whose  ]U-oleclioil  llie  lieieii' 
lady  eiidiinoi'cd  to  insure  by  erect  iiiij,"  a  clia)iel  in  her 
lioiioi'  at  Moulreal.  Tht>  i)arliciilars  of  its  erection  are  thus 
liiveli  I'y  the  loiiiidrt'ss  liersell': 

"i!  must  lie  aek nowledirt'd,"  sln>  writes,  "that  (iml  \n 
1  iis  mercy  has  watched  over  our  little  coiiiuniiiity  in  a  nidst 
adiniralile  uianiiiM'.  Ou  my  arrival  in  t  his  desolate  ((Hinny, 
1  was  no!  in  possession  ol'  a  tloiih/oii,'  and  uotwitlistandiiii!-, 
I  undeiiook  to  raise  a  cliajx'!  in  honor  of  tlie  ever  iilesscd 
\'ir,uiii  .Mother  of  (Jod.  To  succeed  1  sliniuhitcd  f he  iidiali- 
ilants  to  collect  the  stone  necessary  for  the  underlakiiii,^ 
Their  laluM-  I  endeavored  to  rcjiay  by  my  needle.  Mi'.  (lt> 
Maisoimeuve  had  ilic  tinibei'  prepai'eil,  and  others  supplied 
till'  lime,  sand,  and  boards,  in  liiu'.  I  found  sullicient  ma- 
terials  to  complete  tiio  bnihlinu'.     .lust  as  tlu^  foundations 

wei'e  laid,  the  Abbe  de arrivt'd  at  Queb(>c  from  l''i'aiice- 

Inninu- lein'iu'd   my  proceeding',  li(^  immediately  stoppc'  ii 
execiiiloii.     In  thci  nieantimo  I  returned  (o  l"'i'a!     ■         I  on 
arriviny,'  in  ('anada  I  Imil  tlio  misfortune  le  .,i     tli" 

materials  wiiicli  I  liad  so  nmdi  trouble  in  (  ,iiig  wcic 

eoinpletely  scattered.  Wliat  was  still  more  en.  aiTassinir,  I 
was  compidled,    in  consecxnence  of   the  number  of  i    us  I 

'  About  §15. 


■h.'i^ 


Moriii:!!  MMihAinrr  luirimmis. 


fiSf] 


'   l:    lis  I 


I)1'<iiil:1iI  out  IVoin  I'mtn'c.  lo  crfcl  ;i  lioiisc  :i  IiiiihIumI  feet 
jl,  IciiLiI  ll.  'I'llis,  of  cnilisc.  (Icrnicd  tlic  crccliiili  of  tlin 
,.]i;i|„.|.  I'd'ol'i-  I  ('((IMIiIi'IimI  I  lie  iiilrlioi-  ofoiir  lioiisr,  I. 
s:iw  iii\  sr|l"  nliliuvd  nuiiiii  lo  visit  llic  old  woiid  !i  sitoikI 
ijiii,..  On  Miy  ii'liirii  tlHwiiojc  coiiimiiiiity  It'll  soliciloiis 
I'mI'  ih''  coiiiiiN'tioii  of  ilic  clKipi'l,  wliicli  merely  eoiisisied  of 

lli,i  niiiliii' w  iii'U  wliii'li    li:id   I :i   |Hit,    lip  jiel'oi'e    my  liist; 

\()v;u:e.  Tliis  htii'^-wislied  I'or  l)iiildiii,L;-  was  liimily  comiilehMl 
ill    the    ye.ir   KiTT,  lllld    ;i,  sl.'lhle    of   llie  Most      l!le^;sed     \'ir- 
,<:iii.  \>\  iiie;iiis  wl'  uliieli  a  iiiiiacle  had  Imcii  (i|i(rale<|  in   I'a- 
\iiimI'  Ml',  di'  i'\iiii'oiii|),  \sas  solrniiily  plared  I  lnTcin.'' 
Sisirr     I'oill'Lieois"     illtelllioli      ill    eiecl  illU,"    lllis    liollS(!    of 

l)r;i_\ei' was  1(1  impress  on  llie  ( 'aiiailiaii  mind  the  lieaveidy 
iiciniiy  and  .^raiideiir  of  devotion  to  the  Mother  of  (jod. 
Thi'  ilieessaill    MessiliLl'S  wliieli   \\ei(>  slioweled    upon    the    in- 

I'aiii  e.slaliiishnieni  were,  no  ,loiil)l,  (jw  inp;'  to  the  jioucil'iil 
jirnii'ci ioii  of  ,M aiy. 

The  I'.ishop  of  (^iiejtec  ^avi'  riill  liheily  to  tlie  Sistcfs  to 
evieiid  their  schools  tlil'oiiuliont  tllo  jnovilice.  Tliey  lu- 
ll ned  uiih  I  hat  iiiireiiiit  liiin' /.eal  whicli  is  ever  regarded  by 
a  leii  fold  success.  And  so  ,L;reat,  was  the  niiiiilier  who 
|jeu',ed  admitlance  into  the  comniiinity  of  iIh;  Con^'reua- 
tieii,  thai  ill  tliespac(>of  ten  yeai's  the  l''oiin<li'(!s.s  liad  th(3 
liappiliess  of  I'eCeivinU" /W/y//-.sv'/V7/  members,  1(>  \\liO!ii  sho 
pKuiiised  neiiliei'  weallli  nor  eaithly  comfort.  The  only 
alliactinn  was  the  sinipliciiy  and  pov<'rty  of  tlie  (fospel. 

Silicic  we  lia\('  now  come  to  that  jieriod  at  whicli  this  cs- 
tal'lishment  attained  its  formation,  w(j  slial]  dwell  with  tlie 
iiiniv  pleasure  on  the  ad.niirable  inspii-ations  l)y  wliicli  tlin 
Holy  Spirit  directeil  .\Ioiliei'  IJoiirncoi.s.  The  two  priiHMpal 
cads  she  ])roposed  t^'  her  children  were,  (l.i  tle-ir  o'm, 
(tiiiLi-tiJi-dlioii,  ("J.I  Ui(U  (//'  Utiir  iic'xjhhor.  JJoth  these  ends 
slie  ucc()m])li.slied  in  prii.scribin.ii:  lln;  tlu'0(3  vow.s  of  ])o\'er[y, 
chastity,  and  obeditMice  ;  I'ecoir.mendin^,  at  tlie  same  time, 
i'i'e(pii'nt  prayei',  holy  ineilitation,  Kerloiis  examination, 
.s])iiitiial  retirement. 

Mother  13niiri,^eois  pi'Oi)o.sing  tin;  Afost  lilessed  A'ir^-in  ns 
llie  model  ai"  her  Si.'iterhuod,  purticuhirly  wished  that  the 


i^ 


!!'■ 


ut, 


U:  \ 


C84 


irOTUEll  .VAl!(/Al!l-JT  BOURGEOIS. 


nuns  should  ho  totalhj  devoted  to  female  instruction,  ant] 
consecjuently  gave  thcni  the  title  of  "SdMirs  Seruliere.s  do 
la  Cougiv,<.<''i I  i<-"^  *-^t'  ^'^^  I^-/'  ■  l)e(!ause,  not  making  tlie  solemn 
vows,  they  are  not  cloistered  religious.  However,  thcv 
adn],t  the  title  of  "The  Congregation  of  our  Lady,"  consid- 
ering the  QiKMMi  of  Apostles  us  their  head,  their  model,  and 
their  special  patron. 

Instruction,  in  whicli  the  Sisters  excel,  was  not  nu^rely 
coulined  to  the  city,  but  extended  to  the  more  distant 
Indian  cliild,  even  at  the  very  risk  of  life.  A'irtue  tiiey 
p:irticularly  inculcated,  insinuating  at  the  sam"  time  I  ho 
practice  of  it,  to  which  was  added  the  training  of  tlie  youth- 
fid  mind  to  tlie  love  and  luirsiiit  of  those  arts  and  sciences 
the  knowledge  of  which  may  be  turned  to  a  useful  account; 
at  a  later  period. 

The  iliT'ss  of  the  Sistcu's  was  extremely  plain,  consisling 
of  a  black  habit,  partly  ()[)en  in  front,  the  folds  formed  by 
a  belt.  The  neckerchief  and  head  dress  was  of  linen,  to 
Avhicii  was  added  a  veil  and  a  small  sih'er  cross  worn  on  the 
Dosotti. 

To  hnish  the  description  of  this  excellent  religious  iiisti- 
tiile.  W'  shall  say  one  word  more  on  the  ([ualilies  reijiiiivd 
in  order  to  be  numbered  among  the  happy  chihbvn  ui  the 
luu'oic  ^birgaret  Bourgeois.  These  qualities  may  he  gath- 
ered fi'(t!n  her  address  to  |]it>  Most  I'lessed  Virgin:  '".My 
good  and  teiuh-r  Mother,"  said  <he,  "1  I'etpiest  lieilliei' 
wealili  nor  honors,  nor  the  pleasures  afforded  by  \(irldly 
friends,  for  this  comiiuinity.  1  'oescech  thee  to  «)l)t;im  for 
me,  that  (rod  may  Ik^  faithfully  served  tlierein.  I'ermit  not 
that  woiuen  who  are  of  a  proud,  imnerious,  or  presampnions 
disposition  may  eve  iiiid  admitfance,  nor  thf)se  whose 
Hearts  are  engaged  in  worldly  jileasures,  whose  lan- 
guage is  either  .'•landeroiis  or  sannstic,  and  who  do  not 
<'ndea\(>r  to  study  and  reduce  to  piactice  that  hunn'lity 
whi(di  tliy  adorable  Son  has  taught,  Avliich  He  lias  s(>n'el 
willi  His  precious  l^lood.  aud  wliich  thon,  O  Mother  of  (ohI, 


'  Secular  Sisters  of  tlii;  Cciisrcsatiou  of  our  Lady. 


MOTHER  MARGARET  BOURGEOIS. 


C85 


liast  prnrfised  so  f:iit:lifully  I "  And  she  added:  "Let  all 
wlio  seek  to  be  admitted  into  the  Congregation  be  lirndy 
resolved  to  abandon  worldly  jjiinoiples,  bad  habits,  and  evil 
inclimitions,  to  separate  themselves  from  parcmts,  friends, 
in  a  word,  from  all  that  might  uselessly  engage  their 
attention,  and  when  admitted  tlieysliould  feel  ai)preliensive, 
li'st  they  might  prove  nnfuithful  to  God,  to  whom  tliey 
liave  consecrated  themselves.  Perfect  submission,  ])overty, 
and  interior  nicollection  should  be  the  characteristics  of 
every  member  oC  this  insti«"ution." 

It  was  thus,  above  all  things,  she  sought  in  her  novices 
tlint  religious  perfection  of  which  she  herself  was  a  shin- 
ing exiiniple.  Talents  and  intellect,  thougli  of  secondary 
consideration,  were  also  required  to  fullill  the  duty  of  a 
Sister  of  the  Congregaticni.  But  neitlier  wealth  nor  for- 
•tune  ever  entered  into  her  calculations.  ^Vliat  sin?  swemed 
m  )st  to  tear  was,  that  any  endowed  wdth  tlu^  necessary 
qualilications  should  be  refused  admittance  on  account  of 
pecuniary  circumstances. 

S  K!  used  to  say,  with  a  disintoTested  enthusiasm:  "I 
wduld  willingly  eaibraco  and  adnut  a  novice  with  a  true  vo- 
ciitioii.  even  if  her  pecuniary,  circumstances  were  at  the 
very  lowest  ebb."  It  w^as  from  this  princii)le  that  she  en- 
treated the  IJisliop  o''  Quebec  not  to  incorporate  her  con- 
gregation witli  any  other  religious  or  cloistered  community, 
addiiv'ug  as  reason,  that  a  fortune  l)eiug  necessary  in  those 
asylums,  it  would  b(^  an  impediment  to  persons  not  in  easy 
cir'uiustances  to  consecrate  tiu'iustlves  to  (iod. 

l'[)  to  this  time  the  Congregation  de  Notre  Dame  had  no 
iixe  I  rule.  Tlie  members  obstnn-ed  wduit  Mother  J5ourg(>ois 
prescribed  by  way  of  trial.  She  conversed  on  tlie  n(>ees- 
siry  (d"  a  rule  wdtli  the  T.ishop  of  Quebec.  To  su]»iily  this 
deliciency  she  came  to  the  determination  of  crossing  for  the 
third  tim(»  to  France,  thei'c^  to  seek  and  brinu-  l)aclc  the  es- 
sence of  that  adnurable  Ifide  given  to  the  Sisters  at  a  later 
]HMi();l  by  Bisho])  St.  Vali(>r,  of  Qiu'bec. 

Shortly  after  her  arrival  in  j\[(mtreal,a  lire  consumed  her  en- 
tire convent  in  the  dead  of  night.    So  sudden  and  so  dread- 


'y 


'M 


,11   '  \-i  ft 


i 


iW 


580 


MOTHER  MARGARET  BOURGEOIS. 


fill  was  this  conflaoTutioii  that  two  of  the  nuns  pprislicd  in 
the  ihiiiies.  The  (l(>atli  oi"  th(\so  two  inestinial)l(;  nii'inljers 
made  a  most  melanclioly  impression  on  the  sensiriv('  lioarl; 
of  the  iiolv  Foundress.  The  loss  of  tlio  biiildinu',  iiidr.'d 
compared  to  this  bereav(>nient,  seemed  of  no  considoaiion. 
]5ut  witliotu  delay,  she  laid  the  foundation  of  anoilKu-  con- 
vent, mueh  larger  and  more  (!onveni<>ut  thnu  the  former 
and  that,  too,  with  no  more  assistance  tliaii  ihc  scanty 
means  fnrnislied  by  tlie  strict  economy  ol'  the  Sisii'iiiodd. 

God,  who  deliii'hts  in  increasing  tlie  rneiits  of  His  Indoved 
cliildren,  soiui'tiuK^s  pt^-niits  that  trials  and  sulu'ringsshoidcl 
put  their  patience  to  the  test.  Tlie  lioui'  lias  now  struck, 
which  had  been  marked  Iw  tlie  Divine  A\'ill,  in  vlii(li  oup 
heroine's  susceptible  heart  was  also  to  b(>  tiicd  and  Inuiid 
worthy.  Interior  conilicts  of  the  inost  distressing  nature 
causetl  hei-  to  feel  as  if  her  God  had  entirely  I'cjpctcd  her. 
The  slightest  fault  was  niaguilied.  She  repi'oachcd  herself 
that  ^sellish  egotism  was  the  motive  of  lun-  v\rvy  action. 
Such  frightful  illusions  cast  her  sad  soul  iulo  ;iii  a^yss  of 
aflliction;  not  so  mu(di  from  the  appreluMision  of  In-ll.  and 
all  its  dire  consetp unices,  as  the  separation  i'roui  ihat  (jod 
she  so  tenderly  and  b(!autifully  ]ov(!d.  Prayci'.  s<  iJ-denial, 
perfect  submission,  self-contempt,  all  wcnnnelf.ci  naily  em- 
ployed for  relief.  The  (dialice  was  yet  fraughl  \\?Mi  bitter- 
ness, and  it  must  be  exhausted  to  a  drop.  Tliis  i  hm  ay  and 
ovendouded  path  she  trod  for  tlu!  s]K\re  of  fcm  \  ears,  at 
the  expiration  of  whifdi  Almighty  (<od  exhiljiteii  iTs  nieicy 
and  justice  and  love  by  restoring  peace  to  hei'  iiowMed  hut 
dauntless  soul— a  peace  which  she  had  so  hug  .-oiight  in 
vain. 

Tlu'se.  painful  temptations  having  vanislu'd.  ^[oi  nei'Txair- 
geois  resigned  tlie  supcniority,  and  even  decdiin  d  taKhipi; 
part  in  the  government  or  administrntion  of  ih.  ciunent 
for  the  last  seven  years  of  her  life.  This  time  >!  e  di  v.iied 
ox(diislv(dy  to  the  practice  of  interior  virtues  kiiouu  only 
to  Ueareu. 


Es«  :i 


CIIAPTEE  V. 

THE   SUXSET   OF   A   BEArTIFl'L   LIFE. 

The  rirtms  of  MitLhcr  Bouraeo'iH — Ilcr  Charlh/ — (I'nu's 
ivw'iy  Iwr  bed — htsttitutes  ni/'s-.s/ons/or  women — Schools 
Jof  couiilr;/  ciiililren — If'r//Z-.y.LS()  mUcs  in  (cinfrr — Ilcr 
huinilifii —  Pur<')if/  of  spirit — Jf/rar//io//-s-  /(c-ors — The 
last  suhliiiir  nH  of  life — Her  dvulk — Her  eluiravlcr. 

The  virtues  of  Motlier  Bourgeois  were  of  tlie  most  heroic 
oust.  Tu  lier  (•liai'acter  tlicro  was  a  luinnony,  a  rtniiulcd 
beiuity  that  excites  our  higiiest  adrnii'ation.  Her  tender 
allvction  for  lier  felh)W-ere;itures  was  second  oidy  to  her 
lumndlt^ss  love  of  (iod.  On  one  occasion  slie  purcliased  a 
l(il:  of  L!;roiind  at  Qaebec  for  tlie  purpose  of  openinu'  a  school 
in  tliat  city;  but  certain  intcu-ested  individuals  contested 
tli(^  purchase.  Mother  I'ourgfMjis,  rather  than  contend,  re- 
siinied  lier  le'i:al  ri,o:hts,  statiui!,'  that  she  not  only  loved  her 
n(■i^lll)or.  iMit  (>V(Mi  wishi'il  to  pres(M've  her  neighbor  in  the 
love  which  lie  oti-rd  lo  her.  Ainph'  was  she  r<>paid  for 
this  Christian  disinterestedness.  As  she  was  lea\ing  tla; 
(,'liurcli,  in  which  she  had  conlided  and  offered  to  Alniighly 
God  the  sacrilic(»  of  her  h  i^^es  and  disap])ointinents,  an  un- 
known person  aiiproaclu^d,  and  handed  hei-  a  suui  ecjual  to 
that  rerpiired  of  her  by  those>  unjust  and  exacting  men  I 

Her  disposal  of  the  b(>d  ]iri'sented  to  her  before  lier  de- 
])arturi»  from  France  by  Mr.  de  la  Bessoniere,  is  (piito 
fharactiMistic.  The  first  winter  she  passed  in  Canada  was 
licrhaps  ihe  most  rigi>rous.  Paring  that  fearfully  cold  sea- 
son, a  i)oor  so]di(U'  came  to  comi)lain  to  the  common  r.iolhiT 
of  all  tlie  disti'ossed  then  in  Montreal,  that  he  was  peri^liing 
for  want  of  a  mattress  Avhereon  to  repose  his  weary  lind)s. 
Dear  Margaret  Bourgeois'  tender  heart  was  touHied ;  but 

5«7 


If" 


:lf     , 


X 


lit   '    r    ,     ■       '      k. 


jpl 

\ 


{ 


!  i 


.'588 


MOrilHR  MAIIGARET  BOURGEOIS. 


\v]iat  i';'licr  ('(^ul'.l  slio  afVonl  ?  Slie  gave  him  her  own  bod, 
the  only  one  slin  had.  Siiortly  after,  a  comjianion  of  tlie 
imfoi'tunate  soldier,  Inivlng  k'arned  the  sncee.ss  of  liis  fc]- 
low-in-arins,  cnnie  to  make  a  new  draft  on  th<i  good  Sister's 
cJiai'ily.  She  gave  him  the  Maidvets.  JN'o  a|i])licalion,  it 
a])l)ear.s,  wa'^  made  for  tlie  pillow.  Thns  she  reduced  her- 
self to  tin;  extremity  of  passing  nearly  th(>  whole  of  a  rigor- 
ous Cana<lian  winter  on  the  Ixire  gi'ound;  and  her  sulferiiigs 
innst  have  been  beyond  description. 

Knowing  well  the  immense  power  that  woman  wields  in 
this  world,  Mother  Bourgeois  considered  it  of  the  ntmost 
iniportnnce  to  promote  solid  piety  among  lier  sex.  For 
mai'iied  and  unmarried  females sliiMnstitutedassembli(»s.  to 
Avliich  sermons  and  exhortations  were  addressed,  according 
(o  their  respective  stations.  For  a  time  these  meetings 
^seemed  to  produce  slight  results  ;  and  it  was  thought  advis- 
abh»  to  discontinue  them.  P.ut  sln^  would  not  hear  of  it. 
."Sliouhl  no  greater  good,"  she  remarked,  "bedei'ived  from 
them  than  that  one  sin  should  thereby  be  prevented,  she 
would  deem  heiself  amply  r(nvarded  for  the  trouble  they 
gave."  Even  just  befo]'(^  her  death,  tliis  saintly  woman  en^ 
joined  on  her  Sist(n'hood  never  to  consent  that  those  asseiu« 
blies  should  bo  al)olished.  Iler  intentions  wen*  i)unctnally 
fulliiled.  To  this  day  they  are  the  object  of  the  zeal  of  tbe 
Sisters  (»f  the  Congregation.  She  also  entreated  her  relig- 
ious to  give  spiritual  retreats  for  the  poor  scholars,  and  ini- 
])osed,  as  an  impcM'.ative  obligation,  that  the  membei's  of  her 
(.V>mmunity  should  be  sent  to  form  schools  in  diU'ereut  parts 
cd'  Cantida  for  the  instruction  of  the  country  children. 

In  lOSti,  ^Mother  Bourgeois  learned  that  the  IMshop  of 
Quebec  wished  to  confer  with  her  on  the  sid)ject  of  a 
liouse,  which  he  intended  to  o])en  in  his  episcoj^d  city  for 
(he  instruction  of  ])of)r  childnui.  Immediately  she  set  out 
for  Qm^bec.  The  distance  was  about  one  hundred  iuid 
eighty  ndles.  and  the  journey  was  made  on  foot,  in  the 
midst  of  snow  and  ice.  But  her  i)ainfid  voyage  was  the 
least  part  of  the  work.  She  s]-)ent  four  days  of  IIolyA\'(>ek 
in  the  laborious  undertaking  of  preparing  and  furnishing 


1  tfr^MumsmmmMmmaiPW^^m^mmmm^ 


MOTHER  MAUGARET  BOURGEOIS. 


589 


the  new  house,  and  passed  whole  nights  prostrate  before 
the  Blessed  Saeranient,  praying  for  the  suceess  of  her  mis- 
sion. To  her  all  labor  was  luxury,  and  suffering  a  blessing 
in  disguise,  provided  she  gained  souls  to  God. 

In  her  humility  tliere  was  also  something  heroic  and 
beautiful.  She  often  said  she  believed  she  had  not  the 
l(\isr  inti'lleet,  and  desired  to  l)e  forgott(>n  and  despised. 
Ycl"  her  lol'tv  and  sensitive  nature  felt  humiliations  keenlv. 
"I  request  liuniiliations,"she  would  say, '*  and  v»hen  the  Al- 
iniLrlity  permits  that.  I  am  so  favored,  1  keerdy  feel  them.  I 
f;';ir  I  may  yet  fall  into  some  serious  faults."  In  giving 
tlic  habit  to  her  novices,  she  was  wont:  t-)  repeat:  "  Aly 
dcu'  Sister,  Ih^  always  huml)le  arul  litlh;  in  your  own  eyes." 

The  love  of  povei'ty  was  another  virtue  that  adorned  tlui 
cliararter  of  this  noble  woman.  >>he  Mas  most  eareful 
tli;il  tlu^  Sisters  sliould  l)e  trained  to  the  praclice  of  this 
virtue.  "The  BlessLul  Virgin,"  she  writes,  "whose  ehil- 
(livu  we  are,  endjraced  the  most  rigorous  povei'ty.  Our 
Loril  chose  a  slahlc  for  his  palace,  a  nuinger  for  a  cradle,  a 
little  straw  for  a  bed  of  sfnle.  In  after  years.  He  had  not 
wluTeou  lo  repose  His  adorable  Itcdd ;  and  in  the  ])ainful 
a,u,')ny  of  death,  a  cross  was  His.  dii'ing  pillow.  Blessed 
are  the  poor  in  spirit,  says  our  Lord  in  one  of  his  lirst  in- 
striu'tious.  It  will  a\-ail  naught  to  be  exteriorly  poor. 
Tiie  heart  must  be  dt>tached  from  the  little  possessed,  and 
even  lro;u  the  tlesire  oT  acipiiring,  and  be  satisiied  with 
^\lla:  the  community  ail'ords,  even  in  sickness,  unless  ne- 
cessity reijuires  the  contrai-y.  In  the  missions,"  she  con- 
tiimes,  '"  tli,e  Sisters  should  live  in  the  same  state  of  pov- 
erty, seeking  .not  their  own  eomfOi.'t,  but  the  good  and 
li'liliiuees  of  their  neighbor." 

How  great  soever  was  the  poverty  she  so  wisely  pre- 
si'iihcd  to  her  Sisters,  the  aiijirehension  of  their  suffei'ing 
from  want  never  gave  her  the  least  concei'u,  being  persuaded 
tiiat  '7A  who  provides  for  the  birds  of  tlu^  air"  will  not  fail 
I'l  [iri)\id(.'  for  them!  Her  unlimited  conlideuep  in  I)i\ino 
Ih'oviilence  was  frecpiently  rewarded  by  exti'aordinary  suc- 
cor in  the  moment  of  need.     ]Juring  a  fandne,  the  Sister 


(' , 


590 


MOTlIEli  MAliaAHET  JWL'llGEOIS. 


.1; 


I 


I'  1 


i»     <    ;:    : 


-„  i! 


cliargedwitli  tlio  bakery  saw  her  portion  of  Hour  reduced  to 
Hiicli  a  ])()int  that  slio  docmied  it  iisoh}Ss  to  bal\(i  for  tlio 
Coniuiuiiity.  Motlier  ]5ourgeois,  however,  tohl  her  not  to 
defei'.  The  obedient  Sister  imni(,>diately  complied,  and 
found  the  Hour  multiplyini?  in  her  hands,  and  that  to  surh 
a  de,<j,-ree  tliat  she  had  as  many  loaves  as  ilve  times  Llio 
quantity  of  ilour  could  have  produced  ! 

On  another  occasion  the  Community  was  so  reduced,  that 
not  oven  a  mouthful  of  broad  could  be  afforded  for  supper. 
The  humble  Mother  ]3(jurgeois,  whose  desire  was  to  do  good 
in  secret,  sent  for  the  same  nun  who  had  charge  of  the 
bakery,  and  told  her  to  go  to  the  cha]ttd  and  beg  the 
Most  Blessed  A'irgin  to  sui)ply  the  deficiency.  No  sooner 
was  the  prayer  olfered  than  the  bread  desired  was  sent  to 
the  Convent.  This  dear  and  holy  Mother  used  to  go  where 
the  wheat  was  deposited,  and  there  recite  the  Lord's  jnayer; 
and  He  who  is  ever  attentive  to  the  suj^plications  of  His 
beloved  children  caused  the  quantity  of  the  little  store  visi- 
bly to  increase.  Some  of  the  Sisters  were  so  struck  witii 
this  extraordinary  angmentiition  that  they  l)egan  to  meas- 
ure the  wheat,  but  Mother  Bourgeois,  being  informed  of  it, 
]uit  a  stop  to  their  laudable  curiositN',  adding,  ''that  it 
Avordd  be  the  cause  of  a  privation,  a  cessation  of  the  beuelitjj 
of  our  Heavenly  Father." 

Pecuniary  circumstances  not  permitting  the  Sister  Treas- 
urer, in  KiiJi),  to  ])ur(diaso  even  a  htishcl  o^  wheat,  so  giTiit 
was  the  ('A!)rnse  com]nu'ed  with  the  means  of  the  Conniiii- 
nity,  ne\('i'theless,  sufficient  flour  was  found  for  the  whole 
Community  for  the  space  of  four  months.  This  the  Trens- 
Tirer  very  judiciously  attributed  to  the  prayers  of  Mother 
Bouvgtois.  who  never  failed  to  visit  the  little  wheat  that 
remainod,  from  time  to  time,  offering  npher  IVn'veiit:  prayers 
for  its  increase.  A  person  highly  ci'cdital/le  wlio  lived  in 
the  Convent  also  r>'lates  that  wine  luul  become  so  scnrco 
that  it  could  not  b(^  had  in  Monti-eal.  The  Sisters  of  the 
Congregation  supplied  the  sick  of  the  cit}',  as  well  as  the 
quantity  nece^ssary  for  the  Masses  said  at  the  jKuish 
church.     What  is  here  ])articularly  remarkable  is,  when 


MOrilER  MARGARET  BOURGEOIS. 


591 


tiie  ships  arriv(Ml  from  Franre  with  wino,  the  barrel  which 
had  so  froely  supplied  tiie  Ihpior  refused  to  How. 

The  same  person  asserts  that  tlie  Sisters  were  once  on 
the  p')ii)t  of  entyrint;'  the  dining-room  for  dinner,  wlien 
Mother  I^ourgeois  was  told,  it  was  useless  to  assend)le  her 
(laughters  for  the  frugal  rejiast  ;  nevertheless,  she  had  the 
hell  rung  for  the  examination  of  conscience,  and  proceeded 
as  customary"  to  the  refectory ;  Avlien  lo  !  a  perscni  entered 
Avith  all  that  is  required  for  dinner.  It  is  thus  our  Heavenly 
F:;ther  realizes  the  word  of  His  Divine  Son:  "Seek  fii'st 
the  Kingdom  of  (lod  and  His  justice,  and  all  these  things 
sliidl  he  added  unto  you." 

But  hir  from  presuming  on  the  extraordinary  assistance 
of  Trovideuce,  Afotlier  Bourgeois  rarely  recjuested  to  be 
miiaculously  favored.  Such  was  the  austerity  of  her  life, 
that  indeed  very,  very  little  was  nnpiired  for  her  subsis- 
tence; and  (!ven  that  little  was  seasoned  with  niixtur(,-s  in- 
geniously introduced  to  render  it  uni)ala table.  One  meal, 
with  a,  little  s()U[)  in  the  evening,  was  her  daily  diet.  Her 
positions,  either  sitting  or  standing,  she  rendered  painful, 
through  a  spirit  of  mortilication. 

^50  c()mi)letely  had  she  destroyed  the  sense  of  taste  by 
an  uninterrupted  api)1ication  to  render  food  disagi'e(>al)le, 
that  she  could  ipartake  of  the  best  and  the  woi'st,  without 
either  ph  :i:^iire  or  disgust.  Her  bed  ^^as  of  straw  and  her 
pillows  of  wood.  Tn  her  fre(pient  voyages,  tlu^  cr.bles  or 
ro])es  wei'e  the  bed  on  which  she  repos(Ml,  and  this  painful 
rejiose  was  short  and  regnlaily  interrupted  two  hours  every 
night  to  olbN' her  pure  and  holy  meditatitms  to  (iod.  The 
severity  of  tile  most  rigorous  season  she  nover  alleviated  by 
aiiiiroachii'g  a  fire.  And  to  all  this  could  be  added  differ- 
ent kinds  of  austerities  not  easily  described. 

Th  '  last  act  of  >[other  Bourgeois  was  indeed  a  fitting 
tcnniiiiiiiou  to  th(»  heroic  and  b(>autiful  lilV'  which  now 
(liew  to  its  close.  On  tln^  last  night  of  the  year  1(51)9,  Sis- 
ter St.  Aiig'el  fell  dangci'ously  ill.  A  svulden  alarm  was 
spread  thi'ough  the  convent.  But,  holy  and  gentle  Sisters, 
despair  not  oi!  the   life   of    your   dear  comx)anion  !     She 


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MOTHER  MARQARET  BOURGEOIS. 


Avlidse  life  was  one  continiUMl  net  of  charify  shall  sliortlv 
end  it  l)y  a  siiiJi'cine  act  of  that  sublime  virtue.  No  sooner 
was  the  venerable  Foundress  informed  of  the  critical  con- 
dition of  Sister  8t.  Angel,  than  she  exclaimed,  witli  all  the 
ardor  of  her  [»ious  and  lofty  soid  :  "()  A[y  (jod !  Avhv  wilt 
thou  not  accei)t  the  sacrifice  of  my  life,  j'athcr  than  de- 
ju'ive  the  C  >ai;iiuuity  of  tluit  dear  and  exccHent  child  V 

The  words  were  scarcely  uttered  when  the  dai),L;<Moiis 
symptoms  of  the  sick  Sister  disai)peared  ;  and  .Mother 
]?oui',ueois  was  seized  with  a  mortal  disease  which  she  bore 
for  the  space  of  twelve  days  with  that  <iiand  sjuiit  of  self. 
denial,  resignation,  and  blessed  joy  which  ever  cliaiaclerizcd 
her  in  her  suiFerings.  The  Sacraments  of  the  Church  con- 
soled her  last  moments.  She  breathed  her  i)nie  soul  into 
the  hands  of  (fod,  and  calmly  departed  this  life,  cheered  bv 
the  bright  liope  of  those  who  having  instructed  many  unto 
Justice  shall  sliinc^  as  the  stars  of  heaven  l'oi'(ner  and  forever 
And  thus  passed  away  annd  the  scene  of  \\vv  (oils  and  suf- 
ferings the  famous  and  saintly  Foundress  of  the  Congrega- 
tion de  Notre  Dame,  in  the  eightieth  year  of  her  age,  on 
the  12th  of  Jainuuy,  1700.' 

" 'Tis  ploasant  in  tlio  crav  ffiTonwood — so  all  the  popta  siiiii— 
To  hrctitlic  the  vimt  bvciitli  of  llowers,  and  hear  the  sw((;t  buds  sing; 
'Ti<  pleasant  tn  shut  out  tlio  world — bi'hind  thuir  curtain  tirct'n, 
And  \\\•^'.  and  lanj;h.  or  muso  and  jiray,  fnriroltcn  and  iiiisci  u; 
But  men  nr  aii'.ri'is  seldom  saw  a  siL;ht  to  1  leaven  more  dear, 
Than  Sister  .Maruaret  and  her  fioek,  upon  our  hillside  here.* 

"From  morn  till  eve,  a  hum  arose,  above  the  majile  trees, 
A  hum  (if  iiarmoiiv  and  jiraise  fiom  Sister  Margaret's  liees; 


1  "  In  Miir^iicriti'  HoMriioois."'  writes  Parl<ni!ii),  •'  \vns  roalizcrl  flint  fair  idoal  of  riiiistiaii  »nm- 
niihood.  a  llf)\viT  of  cailli.  (•xi)aiiiliiit;  in  llio  rays  of  Heaven,  uliicli  .-oollied  wilh  seiulu  iiillii- 
piice  till'  wil'lcnii's<  of  ,i  liavliarous  hl:o." 

Tlu'  wortliy  spiritiril  ilanirlilers  of  llip  vonoralilc  ^loilier  Boiiriicois,  tliP  Sister--  of  the  f'nii'.'rt'- 
palioniU'  Noire  U:i!Mi-,  iiinnln-r  nearly  seven  liiindn-d.  'I'lieir  puiiiN  may  he  set  down  as  ovt-r 
Iti.lHHI.  Tliese  |-eli;;i(iiis  Ladies  (oiislitiite  tlie  ^-reat  female  I-:diK-alioiial  Order  of  Canada— and 
tlieir  Inll-e'iu'elia"  heen  widely  fell  oven  in  the  ITnilnl  Stales,  wliere  lliey  eondiiet  several  e-^lali- 
liKlimeiits.  ^!e^ill.'s.  maiiv  Anieriean  yotin^  ladies  attend  llieir  lioardiiiL'-seliools.  especially  tlu 
fanioMs  Villa  Maria,  at  Monlreal.  wlii(-'i  i<  tlie  prineipal  Academy  of  tlioeon;,'regatioii.— "i/i»to'J 
qftlie  CallniVn:  VIniiih  in  the  Lliittd  ^liitt'i,"  p.  t:.'!. 

Since  llie  forcL'oins:  went  to  prutjs,  ilolhcr  Bourgeois  wua  declared  Venerabk, 

'  Monnl  IJoyal,  at  AloiiLreal. 


MOTHliR  MARGARET  BOURGEOIS.  593 

Eiiypliiin  huu  inid  spct'cli  uncoutli  grew  fair  iind  swoct,  when  woa 
To  siiiLf  the  song  of  Alary,  and  to  serve;  lior  i^aviour  Sou  ! 
TIk;  coiiricr  hailed  on  Jus  patli,  tlio  sentry  on  liis  round, 
And  bareliead  l)lesded  tlio  holy  uuu  wlio  made  it  holy  ground. 

"Tlicre  fame  a  day  of  tempest,  wliere  all  was  peace  before — 
Tliu  Huron  war  cry  rang  dismay  on  llochelaga's  shore — 
Tlieti  in  that  day  sill  men  eonfessed,  with  all  man's  luunliled  pride, 
IIovv  brave  a  heait,  in  God's  good  time,  a  convent  serge  may  liido. 
The  savage  triumph'd  o'er  the  Saint — a  tiger  in  tlie  fold — 
But  the  niounlain  ndssion  stands  to-day  !  the  Huron's  l;de  is  told  I 
*  *  *  *  *  *  #  *  # 

"  Dear  M  ilhir  of  our  m  ounlarn  homo  !  loved  foundress  of  our  school—' 
Pray  for  thy  children  Iliiit  they  keel)  thy  every  sacred  lulc, 
Bescecli  tiiy  glorious  Patron — Our  Lady  full  of  grace — 
To  guide  and  guard  thy  Sisterhood — and  her  wlio  tills  thy  place,  t 

Tliy  olher  self — to  whom  we  know  all  glad  ohedieuce  given 
As  ren  lered  to  thyself,  will  be  reiiaid  ten-fold  in  Heaven  I 

"For  thee,  my  country  !  many  are  the  gifts  God  gives  to  thee, 
And  glorious  is  tliiiio  aspect,  from  sunset  to  the  sea. 
And  many  a  cross  is  in  thy  midst,  and  many  an  altar  fair. 
And  many  a  place  wlnu'c  men  may  lay  the  liurden  that  iliey  bear. 
Ah  !  may  it  i>e  tiiy  crowning  gd't,  tlie  last  as  'twas  the  first. 
To  see  thv  children  at  the  knee  of  Alargaret  Bourgeois  nursed  I  "' 


': 

in 

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f 

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5iif 

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in 

. 

ill 

ii^ 

» Written  by  the  lion.  T.  D.  JIcGfc,  at  MontrcaJ,  iu  Oct«k«r,  18(>5. 


I 


li! 


.y- 


m  * 


in. 


h\   > 


M 


t 


LOUIS  josiuMi  nr.  AioxrrALM, 

TlIK  LAST  fUMMANUliU-lNCIlllU'  OF  Till:  11:1:N(  M  KuUClOS  IN  CANADA.' 


CIIArTKIl   I. 

A  ii:i;x(ir  jmitlosoi'iiku  o.v  fi:.vn<k  in-  A:\n;uicA. 

Thcfdriiihj,  1/011  r/i^  alucatiov.,  and  eitrhi  camr  of  Mont- 
ad  m— Tin'  driddfiil  vluirye,  dl.  Iki'.  jxisn  of  Krillcs — A 
(jlaiu-e  attheJFap — Ht<dv  (f  dfairs  in  Canada  at  the 
tunc  of  JI(jN.tc(d/ti\s'  arrical. 

TlioFreiicliplulosophei-  and  pnot  Chn,f(\'uibrian(l,  at  tlio 
closiM)!  tlie  el()(]ii(>nt  iiarc-itivo  ol'  liis ''Ti-avi'ls  in  JS'i^rtli 
Aiiii'iicii."'  ^•ivosi;xi)r('s,si()U  {o  tlio  pninl'ul  leeliiin-s  tliat-'Iuiiji^ 
to  liim,  w!u!ii  forced  to  dwell  on  the  names  ol"  (.'anada  iiiul 
Jjoiiisijiiiiu  and  when  the  old  maps  disi)Iayed  lohiin  llic  ex- 
tent oL"  the  ancient  FiTineh  dominion  in  Ainei'ica,  lie  mnsed 
sorrow  fnliy  on  the  (!vil  doom  l)y  wluch  I'^i^anee  Icjst  a  trans- 
Atlantic  empire,  wliitdi  might  now  bo  to  her  a  source  of  in- 
exluinstihk*  prosperity. 

]h'  trnlv  s;ivs :  "  From  Acadia  and  Canada  to  Louisiana, 
from  tlie  month  of  tlie  St.  Lawrence  to  tliat  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, tlie  territories  of  Xew  Fr;in(!e  sni'i'ounded  what  orii^- 
inully  formed  tlie  conCederation  of  the  thirteen  United 
States.  The  other  States,  the  j)istrict  of  Colnm]>ia,  and 
Michiu'nn,  Northwest  Missoni-i,  Orei?:(m,  :ind  the  Arkansas 
t(Mi'itories,  beloni^ed.    or   wonhl    have  belonged    to   \is,  as 


'  Chief  uiitlinritios  used  ;  I'iiPltp  .Tcsiilto,  "  Do  Montcnlm  on  Ciinndn,  nil  les  Drrnitfrosnnndes 

do  In  Cdloiiio  Frnnriiisc  ;  "  \)v.  I'niilportiiis,  "  l.cs  FriineiiiH  en  Aiiu'riiine  ;  "  "  Dnitlcy's  Misci'l- 
laiiy  :  "  Aliliu  rcrhiml,  "  Coiir^  (VlliKtoini  f'.ii  Ciminl.i  ;  "  Wiirliiirtoii,  '•  Tlio  CiiiKim-st  of  C«u- 
ni!:i  ;  "  Riuicroft,  "  Uistory  of  thi;  Vuitt-'i-l  HUlt-a  ;  "  Do  Dounochu.'u,  "  Jluutciiliu  ol  lo  Cuuuda 
Fraiioais." 

C95 


i^n 


ii'  m 


IINIIK 


«! 


m  i 


I  'A 


COG 


LOUIS  JOSEPH  DE  MOIs'TCAUr. 


they  nr)iv  bolonc;  to  tlio  United  States,  by  tlie  cession  of  the 
English  and  Spaniards,  oiu'  fii'st  lieirs  in  Canada  and  in 
Louisiana.  More  than  two-tliirds  of  Xortii  America  wuulil 
acdiuowledg'e  the  sovereignly  of  France. 

"We  oniie  possessed  here  vast  countries,  which  riiirLt 
liave  offered  a.  home  to  tlie  excess  of  our  population,  an  im- 
portant market  to  our  commerce,  a  nursery  to  our  navv. 
]S\)\v,  \V(;  are  ±V)rced  to  conhn(i  in  our  prisons  cnlprits  con- 
demned by  the  tribunals,  for  want  of  a  spot  of  gi-uiuid 
whereon  to  pla(!(3  th(>s(>!  vrr'dc^hed  creatur(>s.  AVe  are  ex- 
cluded fi'om  tlu!  Xe  w  "World,  where  the  human  race  is  recoiii- 
inencing'  Tiie  Eni;;lish  and  Sjjanish  languages  si>r\e  to  ex- 
I)ress  the  tlioughts  of  many  millions  of  men  in  Africa,  in 
Asia,  in  the  South  Sea  Islands,  on  the  continent  of  llio 
two  Americas  ;  and  we,  disinherited  of  the  cou(]uests  of 
our  coui'age  and  our  genius,  hear  the  huignage  of  Kacinc, 
of  Colbert,  and  of  J^ouis  .X\M.,  spoken  merely  in  a 
few  handets  of  Louisiana  and  Canada,  under  a  fori'ii';a 
sway.  There  it  remaius,  as  thongh  Init  for  an  evidence  of 
the  reverses  oC  our  fortune  and  the  errors  of  our  policy. 
Thus,  then,  has  I'h'ance  disappeared  from  Xorth  America, 
like  those  Indian  tribes,  with  which  she  S3'mpathized,  and 
some  of  lluMvi'ecks  of  whicli  I  liave  beheld.'' 

The  great  Frenclimanof  the  nineteenth  century,  who  thus 
mourned  o',  er  the  glorious  dtnninions  in  tlie  AVesteni 
AVorld  which  niiuht  have  been  his  country's,  could  at 
least  hav(!  consoled  himself  by  the  rellection,  that  it  was  not 
through  any  want  of  individual  heroes  among  licr  sons, 
that  France  lost  those  fair  lands,  and  was  dejjii^-ed  of  so 
bright  a  future.  YW're  we  to  mete  out  our  aduiration  of 
the  various  European  settlers  in  America  by  imlividual 
sp.H'imiMis  of  aJ)ility,  energy,  virtue,  and  heroism,  there  is  no 
nation  tiiat  would  have  a  higher  claim  to  our  ]iiaise.  tliaa 
that  which  ])roduced  Chamjilain,  Jogues,  l)e  Brebeuf,  ^[ar- 
quetr(^  Li  Salle,  and  liually,  "the  wisc^  aiul  chivalrous" 
Montcalm,  the  last  and  the  best  of  the  Paladins  of  Franco 
beyond  tlu^  westt'rn  wave, 

Montcaliu  had  fallen  upon  evil  clays.     As  he  was  born  in 


m^ 


Miv- 


LOUIS  JOSEPH  DE  MONTCALil. 


507 


1712  mid  (lied  in  175D,  tlie  whole  of  liis  life,  except  his 
oarlv  iiii'iincy,  was  comprised  in  the  period  of  the  reign  of 
Louis  X\'.,  pcrliaps  I'le  most  disgraceful  and  disas- 
trons  p'^riod  in  tlio  history  of  modern  I'^nince.  Coarse  li- 
centiniisness,  imliecile  favoritism,  sordid  prodigality,  and 
apathetic  disregard  of  duty,  stigmatized  the  Conrt ;  and. 
the  n'ii)l('ss(',  who  monopolizt^d  all  nulitary  and  civil  com- 
iiiands.  in  g(MH:rMl  but  too  faithfully  imitated  the  vices  of 
tliiMr  S!)vereign.  A  few  brilliant  exceptions  arediscorniblo; 
and  no  nanu^  shines  Tiioro  pur(dy  than  that  of  Montcalm, 
tlic  r<'iHvs(Mitative  of  a  long  line  of  illustrious  ancestry, 
whose  glories,  won  in  hap[)i(n'  timos,  he  eclipsed  by  the 
hiu'h  ipiiidtics  which  he  displayed  in  the  darkest  season  of 
teinpration.  didiculty,  and  distress. 

L)iiis  Joseph,  Marquis  do  Montcalm  de  Saint  Yeran,  was 
b)riiatilie  chateau  of  Candiiic,  near  Nismes,  on  the  28th 
of  February,  1713.'  IIo  had  an  ebbn*  l)rotlier,  who  was  re- 
nowned as  a  youthful  prodigy  of  limi'uing,  and  who,  like 
many  other  youthful  prodigii^s,  died  in  childhood  of  a  dis- 
ease of  tlie  bi'ain.  The  two  brothers  were  educated  by  Du- 
mas, undei- \vii')iu  the  future  defender  of  Caiuula  accjuii'ed 
a  famlliariry  with  the  classics,  and  ;i  fondness  for  literature, 
which  distinguished  him  throughout  lif(>;  and  which  would 
probably  have  given  him  celel)rityas  a  writer  and  a,  scholar, 
if  tlu>  circumsttinces  of  his  rank  and  social  station  had  not 
deviitinl  lilm.  while  still  young,  to  a  nulitary  career. 

lie  soon  attracttMl  notice  in  the  French  arnnes  both  for 
bravery  and  intelligence.  Ev(>r  forwaixl  to  me(M  danger,  he 
received  three  wounds  at  the  battle  of  Placentia,  and  after- 
wai'ds  siilfiu'ed  still  more  severely  at  the  battle  of  Kxilles. 
Ill  I7h').  wlien  this  last-mentioned  engagement  was  fought, 
the  'ifanpiis  de  ^[onteabn  was  colonel  of  a.  regiment  of  in- 
fantiy,  and  he  Ihen^  riM'eiveil  a  lesson,  which  he  afterv, ai'ds 


'  I'll  do  ffi  nncftroSj  Jean  ilo  Mmuoalm.  nvnit  I'pDiisc'!  Jciniio  (In  Oozon,  pi-tito-nliVn  rlii 

gRii'.il-mnilri'  DcDikit  do  ("iondii.  lo  v:ilni|iii'iir  do.  dmuMii  <|iii  d('.><iilii,  lun.'to'.np-i.  I'ilo  do  Ulmdo!'. 
On  iiiiiu- 11  voir  oiiroro  aiijourd'liiii  d.'iiw  loi  iiriiioM  dos  Mi'iitialni,  iiii-d!'--i>iu  do  I'l  dovii'j  iiuo  lu)- 
Irc  lii'niH  a  si  liioii  jiistilloo;  ■'  M'>n  iuwuviiiV.  e^l  «u/y/'^t.Tf3it',"U  liijurc  iiiy-loriou.-'i;  liu  roiluula- 
ble  drat'cni.— "Z^tf  Muitkahn  en  C'unatia,"  p.  S. 


ir  '; 


djl'Mf ' 

^  : 

I'f. 


Iwiii^ 


I 

1 

1         ,    1 
i              i 

, 

1 

■  1 

508 


LOUIS  JOSEPH  J)E  MONTCALM. 


tiirni'd  fo  good  account,  of  liow  iisclcvss  the  valdi-  of  tlio 
best  tro()i)s  may  i)i'()ve  :)ii;aiiist  I'ortilii'd  lines,  tlioimli  Ik:-!-! 
by  !i  very  iiiLerior  force,  if  the  defenders  are  jiuUcioiislv 
commanded. 

His  regiment  in  that  campaign  fornK^d  part  of  tlic  Ariiiv 
of  Daupiiine,  with  which  the  Count  de  Bellei.sle<'!ulc;i\(ir('(l 
to  penetrate  into  Piedmont.  On  tlie  (Mil  of  .Iu]y,  i^  iieisle 
assaulted  the  entrenchments  with  which  the  I'icdiiinutese 
had  strengthened  the  pass  of  Exiiles.  The  French  coliimrs 
advanced  gallantly  in  three  attacks,  but  -were  each  tin 
driven  back  witii  heavy  loss  ;  tlunigh  such  was  tlir  devoicd 
valor  witli  which  the  assaults  were  made,  that  some  of  ilii> 
Fj'ench  soMiers,  who  liad  reached  the  foot  of  the  liatleiics, 
spi'ang  into  the  enemy's  lines  through  tlie  embrasures  in  the 
forcilication,  when  the  Piedmontese  cannons  recoiled  aftora 
discharge. 

Eni'ag-'d  at  these  repulses,  the  Count  dc  Bi'lleis].',  (o 
whom  a  mai'siiaTs  baton  had  been  promised  if  lu>  could 
force  his  way  into  Piedmont,  collected  the  offu'erii  of  liis 
iirmy,  forncM!  ile-m  into  a  single  column,  and  ])lacing  liiiii- 
self  at  llicir  head,  with  the  l''r(U)('h  coh»i's  in  his  Laii'l.  led 
tiiem  on  in  person  to  a  last  and  des])erate  charge.  J'usli- 
ing  forward  through  a  tii-e  that  thinned  their  I'anksat  every 
step,  this  dauntless  cohort  of  French  nobility  cann>  swnrd 
in  hand  II i)on  their  sheltered  foes.  Thonuh  Avoundeil  liv  a 
musket-l)allas  he  advanced,  Belleisle  planted  the  Fi.'ucli 
standai'ii  within  the  Piedmontese  lines,  and  was  tearing 
down  the  palisades,  when  he  was  run  through  with,  a  bayo- 
net. (L'uable  to  force  their  way  forwni'd,  and  nnwilliiig  to 
retreat.  tli(>  givater  part  of  his  officfM's  were  killed  around 
him.  ^[outc.-.Im  was  one  of  tlie  few  that  esca])e(|.  lie  was 
wounded,  and  liad  falh'n,  but  was  boi'n(^  back  by  some  of 
liis  surviving  comrades  to  the  French  position. 

On  recoveriim-from  the  elTectsof  that  dreadful  day.  Aloid- 
calm  returned  to  active  service;  and  contiiiiie'l  to  dislin- 
guish  liimsidf,  as  he  gradually  ros(>  in  rank  in  the  French 
nrmi(>s.  in  Paly  and  in  (.'ei'many.  In  !7:)n,  he  was  a  Field- 
marshal  ;  and  in  that  year  he  receiv<'d  the  pei-ilotis  honor 


'*}  m: 


l<ii'  of  tlio 
oiii':li  held 
uUiciijiisly 

the  Aiiiiy 
'ndciivorcd 

ed  11  HI  11 1  est} 
'h  ('(i]iniii<! 
each  liii, 

10  devoted 
Hiu"  of  tile 
.'  I'atlfrics, 
iin'sintlie 
Jed  after  a 

'11(M:-L',  In 

lie  eniild 
•cr.^  of  his 
icinL;'  liim- 
!ai;d,  led 
.  J  •lush- 
es at  e\ery 
nip  swdi'd 

11  (led  1)}-  a 
le  French 
IS  tea  rill!,' 

h  a  Imyo- 
williim'  to 
d  around 
]ic  was 
some  of 

ay.  ^Font- 
to  distill- 

I'    I'lVMcll 

s  a  Field- 
IS  holier 


LOUIS  JOSEPH  DE  MONTCALif. 


C99 


of  beini;  nominated  commander-in-chief  of  the  French  forces 
lll^■ol•!h  Aiiiei'ica,  and  of  being  intrusted  with  tiie  missionof 
.stiiviu,'.':  to  rescue  Cuuudci  from  tlie  tUmgerous  grasp  of  Eng- 
hind. 

'riic  amplitude  of  tlie  dominion  which  the  Fi'ench  once 
h.^ld  in  North  America  has  already  been  descilbed  in  the 
words  of  (Jliateaubriantl.  But  a  single  glance  at  iIk^  niaj»  is 
iHorc  convincing  than  tlie  niost  eloquent  and  copious  de- 
ficriprion.  On  looking  at  tlie  chart  of  tiie  eastern  coast  (;f 
America  below  the  Iiarren  limits  of  the  Arctic  circle,  the 
broad  estuary  of  the  8t.  T 'iwrence  lixes  the  alt"iition. 
I'lissing  iiihmd  along  the  line  of  this  n.ighty  river  in  a 
1)111  Investcrly  direction,  by  Cape  Breton  and  ]S'o\a  Scotia, 
ami  thence  through  the  Dominion  of  Canada,  we  roach 
Lake  Ontario  and  ij'ike  r^rie,  the  two  lirst  of  the  roiuarka- 
l)le  cliain  of  lakes,  or  rather  of  ii\land  soas,  whicdi  belt 
loimd  tlio  habitabl(>  districts  of  tlio  >«'('W  World  as  far  as 
the  ni'ighlioidiood  of  the  sources  of  tire  Mississi])])!.  of  the 
pivat  liver  that  rolls  its  waters  from  the  precincts  of  Lake 
Siip(>fior  for  over  tliree  thousand  miles  from  north  (o  soutli, 
till,  liowing  tlirough  Louisiana,  they  fall  into  the  Ciulf  of 
Mexico. 

Fiaiic(>  claimed  to  possess,  and  actually  had  oiganized 
the  colo'.iization  of  tlu^  whole  of  the  territories  that  form 
the  basin  of  tlie  8t.  Lawrt'irce  and  the  nnmniticent  valley  of 
the  ;>fississipiii.'  She  lind  founded  the  city  of  ]S'ew  Orleans 
on  tlio  ein])oiiclnne  of  th(>  last  of  tlK^^o  rivers,  and  tlu'  cities 
of  Montreal  and  (,>iiebec  on  the  most  commanding  sites  of 
the  shore  of  tlie  St.  Lawrence.  Jfcund  New  Orleans  sIm^ 
iiad  coloiiiz(xl  a  district,  wliicli  she  liad  named  after  her 
"(Ji'aiid  \[oiiar(pi'»,"  L'Oiiisiana.  But  on  tln^  lim^  of  |])(> 
tnvat  iiorlliern  river  she  had  founded  the  far  more  iiiipor- 
laiit  settlements  of  Canada;  and  liad  also  c(d<tiii/ed  ('a]»e 
I'nton  and  Acadia,  Avhi(di  gave  tlie  ajtpartuit  command  of 
the  entrance  of  tlie  St.  Lawrence,  as  lier  Loiiisianian  settle' 
aii'iit  gave  h(U-  that  of  the  Mississii)])i. 


'  "  I.tt  vnllrn  (111  MlssU-sIppi  I'ft  .^  tout  prendre  la  pliiii  msgnlfiquo  dcineuro  q'.io  Dieu  uit  ,ama« 

fire]i:ir(_'i'  jiuiir  riiomiiu'."— iff  7l«'(/i/ti'iWi'. 


If 


I  ^^ 


■!<  {1 


.' 


1  I 


I-  ?l 


LOUIS  JOSEPH  DE  MONTCALM. 


Iler  AA'isest  statpSTTicn  had  iii'Licd  on  the  Court  of  Vor- 
snilles  tlie  expediency  of  I'oniilng  a  line  ot  l'oi'tilic;ifii)jis 
tlironu:liout-  tli(^  intermediate  spa(!e  between  Canada  ;iii(l 
L(>".i.siana,  and  als(j  of  sending  ont  ten  tliousand  FivnrU 
peasants  to  form  settlements  under  the  shelter  of  tliese  for- 
tifications along  the  shores  of  the  most  southei'ly  ef  iIkj 
great  lakes,  and  along  tlie  banks  of  the  INfississippi  niul  its 
Avestern  allluents.  This  bold  and  wise  jiroject  was  sjiglitcd 
h\  the  home  government;  bnt  the  able  men  -whu  ci  ni- 
nianded  in  Canada  for  France  did  nmcli  for  its  realization. 

The  conilict  between  the  French  and  ]iritish  racs  in 
America  had  been  long  and  chec^nered;  but:  the  balance  df 
advantage  and  of  resources  foi'  further  struggles  was  tle- 
cidedly  against  France,  when  >rontcalm  received  the  dnn- 
gerous  dignity  of  Military  Commander  of  Canada.  \'\']icu 
the  great  wai'  of  the  Spanish  Snccession  was  terminated  iu 
FiUi'ope,  some  (dauses  were  added  to  tlie  Treaty  of  rti'ccht. 
by  wdii(di  Louis  X\\ .  ceded  away  foi'evcr,  with  ii;no- 
rant  indifference,  the  noble  jirovince  of  Acadia,  or 
Jsova  S(;otia,  the  inexhaustible  fisheries  of  New  Found  hind. 
and  his  (daims  to  the  vast  but  almost  unknown  reyioa.'j  cf 
Hudson's  r)ay. 

The  forty-three  years  that  followed  lli'A  had  Ihmmi  p:irtly 
times  of  ox)en  war;  and  they  luid  always  been  times  of  act- 
ive real  hostility  between  the  Fi'ench  and  J'aiglish  in 
America,  even  avIkm'  the  two  nations  were  nominally  at 
peace.  In  tin)  nudsunim(^r  of  IT.")!?,  the  first  yeai'  id'  the 
Seven  Years'  "War,  the  English  had  ex])ei'ienccd  several 
disasters,  l)Ut  on  the  wdiole  thev  were  slowlv  gainini;  the 
mastery  over  the  Fi-(>n(di  in  America.  Braddock's  did'cat 
on  the  8th  of  July.  17."),  had  caused  the  crushed  aims  of 
Britain  to  recede  for  a  time  from  the  Ohio.'  But  Oswego,  the 


'  Goncral  nriiddtx  k  wms  the  Mc.'ulKlroiii:  fnininriiiiU'r-iii-iliirr  nf  I'ii:.'l;mir-  forci-s  ir  luT  N'irlli 
American  colouK'si.  Ho  liad  lucn  hciu  out  In  ilic  spriiis,'  of  J.'j.'i,  mid  in  llic  siiiiiiiii  r  "f 
the  Piunc  year,  h(  \v)ia\\  liN  ii^.Tortiinatc  cxpcdiriiui  ii'^'ahwt  Fort  DiiriiM'siu'.  a  I'lviuli 
HlroM'^Mold  on  the  Oliio,  af  tti''  priMcnt  hIIo  nf  rili-linrt;h.  Hi'  left  tlic  fronliiTs  of  Vir- 
piniii  with  -i.rm  men.  After  n  tlinn  he  yri'W  Impatient  nt  tlio  wlowiiesH  of  the  nianli.  or- 
dered Oeneral  nanliar  lo  foilow  him  wllh  the  bn;:;:a,i;e.  and  pushed  on  wllli  l.aiO  ll^dit  iriiM|w. 
Till-'  \v.i>i  done  at  llir  advice  nf  Wa-hincfon,  who  wn?  w\v,  of  his  aiils-(h'-eanip.  Tlie  latter  l::iil 
ttlrcady  warned  IJraddoek  of  thy  Indian  mode  of  ll^ditliiH;  and  oven  Denjaniln  Franklin,  ulio 


LOUIS  JOSEPH  DE  MONTCALiT. 


601 


most  important  post  on  the  line  of  operations  from  Canada 
towards  the  Mississippi,  Avas  in  Kn.^lish  hands:  and,  on  the 
line  of  Lake  Cliairipluin  and  Lake  George,  Sir  William. 
Jolinsun,  at  the  head  of  the  militia  of  the  New  England 
States,  had  gained  coJisiderablr  uilvantages,  and  had  es- 
tiihlislied  and  garrisoned  two  forts,  named  Fort  William 
Henry  and  Fort  Edward. 

Tlie  number  of  regular  European  troops  collect*  d  in 
the  English  colonies,  far  outnumbered  those  in  Canada, 
And  tlie  diU'erence  between  the  }>opulation  of  Canada 
ami  tliat  of  the  English  colonies  was  sucli  as  to  throw  fear- 
ful otkls  into  the  scale  against  those  whose  dut\  ,i  was  to 
uphold  the  deur-de-lis  of  France  against  the  blood-stained 
ilag  t)f  England  in  the  IS'ew  Workl.  The  w  hole  number 
of  th(!  Itabilaas  of  Canada,  when  Montcalm  arriv(!d  there, 
(11(1  nut  amount  to  sixty  thousand.  The  iiojiulation  of  the 
thiiteen  English  coloides  exceeded  a  million  and  a  quarter. 
'Die  difference  in  wealth  and  resonrces  was  perhaps  even 
i^rt^ater.' 

Earnest  entreatiey  had  been  sent  from  Quebec  to  Pari.s 
for  assistance  in  what  was  now  felt  to  be  the  decisive  .strug- 
gle her  ween  the  French  and  Engli.sh  in  America.  With  all  its 
faults,  the  French  Court  cannot  be  denied  the  praise  of  having 
jrenerally  selected  men  of  eminent  ability  to  till  the  stations 


ri?iti'd  the  Gnicnil  at  Frcdcrickton,  did  the  Fame.  But  it  wns  words  ilinnvn  iiwaj*.  Tlio 
fnsli.'h  cnnimandcr-in-fliiof  was  a  vnm  man,  and  Ik'IiI  tlif  proiinclnl  Iroopf  and  llio  Indiann  m 
miiU'iiipt.  nifi  nlf-conlidi'nco  proved  liit<  ruin.  \Vlun  lif  wan  lens  than  si'\cn  iniirs  from  Kort 
Diiqni'pnc.  hi' \v:i>i  Kudili'nly  attaoki'd  on  (he  8th  of  July,  ir.",5,  liy  alioiit  MKI  huhans  and  a  few 
Fn-nchnicn,  conininnded  hy  an  ollk-er  with  no  hiphor  rank  tlian  tliat  of  Captain.  'I'hi'  Krciuh  iind 
liiiil.in»  wore  ]>osted  ciiicHy  ticliind  trees.  The  Knglisli  were  in  open  pround.  and  were  m orehed 
hy  d("iiiiy  volleys  of  niiiKketry.  As  the  ofHrers  led  their  ir.en  HL'ainst  ,he  nnseen  roes,  Jiey 
thi'm^clv.^s  were  shot  down.  Uraddoek  W!i3  killed,  after  exhibilin..'  the  most  olistiiiale  bravery. 
The  liiiti^h  troops  fell  into  eonfiision.  and  it  loidc  all  the  skill  of  WashiiiL'ton  lo  cover  a  precip- 
iL'.ti'  retreat.  It  was  a  most  disiislroim  day  for  the  Knirlish;  ,S(X)  of  their  niimher  were  Uilied  ana 
of  these  (,i  were  nWicvcf.— Scott. 

'  What  was  the  respeelivc  (•itnalions  of  the  two  rolonicp  ns  they  proeeeded  'o  eontend  .n  a 
deailly  duel?  Tlie  Knulish  plantations,  with  their  1  ..MM1,(Xt()  iiihahilants,  were  nt  lliis  perjoil 
twenty  limes  more  po|iiilous  than  C:inaria,  wliieh  tlien  niimberi'd  only  SCl.dOO.  At  the  Mune  unio 
their  territory,  more  ecmipart  and  infinitely  less  e.iuiided  than  that  .if  Canada ,  was  more  en.sy  of 
defense.  'Bi'sides.  it  was  haeked  liy  the  sea,  and  in  direct  eommnnieatlon  with  the  metropolis, 
whiK'  after  the  loss  of  Aeadia.  Canada  had  no  oth.  r  ineniie  than  the  St.  Lawrence.  To  lliese 
iiihanta.'es  of  situation  and  nnniher  add  another,  ilie  Ilritisli  co|()niL>«  were  more  rich  and  flour- 
Ifliint'.-  I)t  Ikmtuchobe,  ■'Montcalm  et  ie  Canada  Franfait.  ' 


m 


*f 


i  i  , 


602 


LOUIS  josErn  be  montcalm. 


m: 


!«'  : 


: 


of  high  command  in  its  provinces;  and  it  was  fioni  his 
reputation  not  only  for  courage  and  military  skill,  but  lor 
general  intellectual  capacity  and  energy,  that  Montcalm 
now  received  the  appointment  of  Commander-in-chief  of 
the  French  armies  in  Canada. 


■'  \ 


CHAPTER  II. 

MONTCALM  IN  AMERICA. 

At  Quehee—Tlie  chief  strongltoIds—The  Indian/^  as  allies 
^Montcalm  greatly  loved  by  the  dusky  chiefs  and 
icnrriors—At  Fort  Frontenac — The  storming  of  Osioego 
—  The  capture  of  Fort  William  Henr]/— Famine — The 
hiilth'.  of  Ticojideroga— Great  fores igJit  of  Mo ui calm— 
The  battle  of  the  Plains  of  Abraham-  at  Quebec—  Wolfe'' s 
tidory— Montcalm  mortally  wounded— His  last  hours 
—Ills  death — His  x)ersonal  appearance. 

Tlie  ]\farquis  de  Montcalm  took  with  him  to  Amprira  iive 
veteran  re<^iments  of  the  French  army,  some  of  wliich  had 
nlready  been  under  his  command,  and  all  of  which  lie 
l,)rou,ii:ht  to  Canada  in  the  highest  possible  state  of  equij)- 
iiient  and  efiiciency.  lie  arrived  at  Quebec  in  the  sumnKM- 
of  ITjG,  and  remained  there  only  a  few  days  to  refresh  Lis 
troops,  and  make  himself  master  of  the  state  of  alTairs  in 
CaiKida.  and  of  the  jiosition  and  probable  plans  of  the 
enemy's  forces. 

At  this  time  the  Enfrlish  held  Oswego  with  about  four- 
teen hundred  re<^ular  troops.  Lord  Loudon  and  (Jeneial 
Abercromby  were  at  Albany,  on  the  Hudson,  with  the  main 
force,  of  more  than  ten  thousand  soldiers,  partly  British 
and  pa rvly  provincial.  From  that  point  the  I]n,ii;lish  army 
could  move  either  upon  Oswef^o,  or  upon  Lake  Cliami)lain. 
An  Eiiirlish  force  under  (feneral  ^Vinslow  was  already  in 
the  vicinity  of  this  lake,  and  threatened  the  French  stron";- 
hold  (,f  Crown  Point  and  Ticonderosxa. 

Montcalm  resolved  to  strik<^  an  efTcctive  blow  u]ion  the  Enp:- 
lish  power  at  one  of  its  two  advanced  ])oints  before  support 
could  be  given  from  Lord  I/judon's  central  but  more  remote 

003 


i   I 


i    t 


Mt'l   '' 


I     I 


H 


LOUIS  JOSEPH  n/'j  .voyrcALM. 

Jinny.  Oswego'  was  Montcalm's  mark;  but  lie  first  ir,afle 
a  rapid  journey  to  Ticondf^roga,  im])roved  its  defenses,  and 
assured  it  as  far  as  possible  from  capture,  while  he  concen- 
trated the  chief  part  of  the  French  force  ux)on  Oswego. 
]i:!turning  rapidly  from  Ticonderoga,  he  collected  at  Mont- 
real tlie  veteran  regiments  that  lie  had  brought  fioni 
I'^rance,  and  a  considerable  force  of  the  Canadian  niiHtia. 
With  these  he  marched  to  Fort  Frontena(!  (now  Kiiigstdni, 
near  the  northeastern  extremity  of  Lake  Ontario,  and  on 
the  5th  of  August  mustered  his  European  and  Canadian 
troops,  and  also  a  large  force  of  confederate  Indian  war- 
riors. 

The  co-operation  of  the  native  tribes  was  eagerly  sought 
both  by  the  French  and  the  English  in  their  struggles  I'ur 
us(!endenc3'  in  America.  The  Indians  were  nearly  useless 
against  regular  troops  in  an  encounter  in  a  fair  Held,  as  it 
was  found  impossible  to  bring  them  under  effective  disci- 
l)line,  or  to  check  their  ferocious  cruedty.  But  they  were 
formidable  combatants  in  the  irregular  warfare  which  nec- 
essarily formed  a  main  part  of  a  contest  carried  on 
amid  the  primeval  wildernesses  and  forests  of  Xorth 
America.  The  French  far  surpassed  the  English  in  the  skill 
Avith  which  they  ingratiated  themselves  with  tlie  Red  ]\Ien 
of  the  New  World;  and  Montcalm  was  peculiarly  eminent 
for  the  ascendency  which  he  acquired  over  the  native 
•warriors. 

The  personal  description  which  is  given  of  ^Nb^ntcaim 
might  at  first  lead  us  to  suppose  that  he  was  less  fitted  to 
become  popular  among  the  dignilied  chiefs  and  warriors  of  the 
Indian  tribes  than  among  the  ranks  of  his  brave  and  courte- 
ous countrymen.  He  is  described  as  "small  in  stature, 
rapid  in  conversation,  and  of  restless  mobility."  But  his 
courage,  his  remarkable  power  of  enduring  i)rivations  and 
fatigue,  the  cheerful  readiness  with  which  hi»  set  the  exumiile 
of  facing  every  necessary  danger  and  bearing,  every  hard- 
ship,  the  skill  which  he  showed  in  concealing  his  plans 


'  Iq  New  York. 


!  I 


LOUIS  JOSKVU  1)K  MOSrCAlM. 


r.(»3 


%\ ' 


I  I 


foTTi  [\\o  onemy,  the  energetic  celerity  with  which  he  deMlfc 
liis  Mows,  and  tlie  adroitiKJSS  with  wiiicli  he  wiiJidrew  from 
the  counter-blows  that  were  aimed  at  him,  soon  raised  liim 
hiuli  in  the  estimation  oi"  his  native  allies ;  and  no  other 
European  general  ever  was  so  well  aided  by  the  Intlians 
as  was  Montcalm,  not  only  during  the  successes  of  the  lirst 
vf^'irs  of  his  command,  but  also  during  the  reverses  and 
tlilliciilties  of  the  latter  portion  ol"  liis  American  career. 

On  the  i)th  of  August,  IToO,  Montcalm  reviewed  at  Fort 
riiiiilenac  the  force  with  which  he  designed  to  ca])ture  Os 
wego  ;  on  the  Otli  lie  had  placed  a  division  of  his  army  within 
a  mile  and  a  half  of  the  British  position  without  his  ap- 
proach having  been  discovered;  and  on  the  12tli  he  had  his 
whole  force  assembled,  and  opened  his  lines  against  a  small 
fort  which  the  British  had  raised  near  Oswego,  as  an  ad- 
vanced work  Tor  its  defense.  On  the  18th  the  small  fort 
was  ca[)ture  ,  and  on  the  evening  of  the  14th  ]\fontcalm 
had  battered  down  part  of  the  walls  of  Oswego  itself.  The 
English  commander  and  many  of  his  men  had  fallen  beneath 
the  superior  fire  of  the  besiegers,  and  the  remainder  of  the 
irarrison  surrendered.  Two  English  regiments  thus  became 
Montcalm's  prisoners;  one  hundred  and  twenty  cannons, 
six  vessels  of  war,  a  large  flotilla  of  barks,  which  had  been 
collected  on  the  river  close  to  the  fort,  three  chests  of  gold, 
and  an  immense  quantity  of  ])rovisions  and  military  stores, 
were  also  the  fruits  of  this  enterprise.' 

Immediately  after  his  victory,  Montcalm  paid  due  hom- 
a;:i'  to  the  God  of  victories.  In  the  middle  of  the  enclosure 
of  the  fort  he  planted  a  large  Cross,  with  this  inscription' 
1))  hoc  fthjiio  rhiotiif,  ''by  this  sign  we  have  con([uered." 
The  Altbe  l*iqiu)t  blessinl  tiie  pious  monument.  Near  this 
Cross  he  raised  apost  which  bore  the  armsof  Framieandan 
o'hei'  ius'.'riiition. worthy  alike  of  a  polished  and  great  coni- 
niandiT   -Maiiilnix  (hifc  Jilia  plevis. 


'  rill-  olTiiisivo  works  of  Oswego  were  quite  foniiUlablo  for  the  time  and  eoiiiitiy.  '[hey  con- 
i-in'i'd  (if  three  iletaclied  fortu,  iiaiiied  respeetively  Ontario,  Clioiiagiieti  (llie  aiieieiil  name  of  IM- 
»'i'i;(ii.  nnil  (Jeorge.  Tlv;  pian  of  tliesi'  worlis  can  lie  seen  in  "  Montealin  en  Canada."  p.  .Ti. 
Th.'  lMi'_'li-<li  ijarrison  numbered  nearly -J. 0<X).  Montcalm's  force  consisted,  aecordins  to  his  owu 
atiuunt,  of  i,:jOO  regular  troops,  1,500  L'miadians,  aud  'JJO  luUiaua,  or  a  total  of  y.OJO. 


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r.or/s  josEi'ii  />/■:  MosrcM.M. 


'V\\i\  Ti'(H|M()is  li.'id  looked  on  (lie  (»xisl('ii{'(>  of  a  I'^iimpi.an 
fort  al.  ().s\v('i;-()  willi  pi'ciiliar  jealousy  and  ill  will;  and  in 
order  to  Heciiiv  their  ri'ieiidship,  Moiitcalin  lia<lllie  .sauacity 
lo  forego  the  iinniediat.'  ad\ aii(a,ii;e  of  itlaciii^a  l"'ivii(li::ar. 
risoii  at  the  split,  aiul  caused  Ihe  roinaiiis  oi"  liio  dcleuses 
to  l>e  leveleil  uilll  thei;idund. 

'I'his  spl(Midid  success  raistMl  liiii;li  the  uulitary  I'epulalion 
of  l-'rance  in  the  N(>\v  World;  and  Montcalm  siii,t)ali/,i'd  ilie 
followiu!^-  year  by  an  eipially  bold  aiul  brilliant  acliie\tiiicm:. 
Lord  iioudon,  the  l-'aiu'lish  commander  in  America,  resolved 
to  makiMlie  sicije  of  liouisburii:,  in  ('ape  r>reloii,  (he  ^rcnt 
operalii)n  of  the  cami)aii;n  ol  l7o7.  Monlcalm  watched  in 
grim  ex])<'ctalion,  until  Ijoudon,  l)y  di'awinL';  away  tlu; 
(lower  of  the  lirilish  I'oi'civs  lo  (his  dislant  enterprise,  ^ave 
him  the  oppoi'Innity  of  striking;  a  blow  on  the  advaaccd 
I)os(s  of  l-aiLjIish  ])ow(>r  near  Lake  (leor^e,  like  that  which 
lie  had  dealt  them  near  Lak(>  Ontario. 

Colonel  Motu'o  Indd  I''ort  \\'illiam  ll<>ni'y  witli  a  parrisen 
of  two  thousand  men.  and  (ieneral  Webb  had  a  force  of 
four  thousand  mon'  at  Vorl  Ivlward. .  >:ontcaltu  detcr- 
inin(>d  to  surpi'ise  and  capture  l'\)rt  William  Henry,  lie 
sndilenly  collected  tlu;  warriors  of  tliirty-f lire*  Indian 
tribes  and  his  Froucli  veterans,  with  heavy  ordnance  and 
stoi'es  for  a  si(\i;'e,  at  Ticonderoii'a,  and  thence  moved  rap- 
idlv  southward  on  his  intended  i)rev.  Tt  had  Ix-en  a  season 
of  scai'city  in  Canada.  Hut  small  sloi'es  wei'e  collected  for 
the  army.  They  must  conquer  speedily  or  disband.  "On 
isuch  an  exi^edition,"  said  .Montcalm  to  liis  ollicers,  ''a  blan- 
ket ami  a  bearskin  are  the  warrior's  couch.  Do  like  lae 
■with  cheei'ful  s;-ood-wiIl.  The  soldier's  allowance  is  enough 
for  us." 

Enabled  by  the  zeal  of  his  troops  and  ins  Indian  allies  to 
drai;-  a,  llotilla  of  canot\s  and  boats  across  the  necl;  of  land 
between  Lake  Champlain  and  Lake  Heorue,  and  to  traverse 
unobserved  the  northern  ])art  of  the  last  lake,  ]\rontcalm, 
on  the  "Jd  of  Auu;ust,  broui^'ht  his  full  force,  amountim:  to 
eight  thousand  men,  close  upon  Fort  William  Henry  :  and 
on  the  Cth  the  trenches  had  been  dug  and  the  besieging  but- 


I.OUIH  JOSKIV!  UK  .UOXTCALM. 


Oil 


(,.|irS  (ipi'tH'i 


l',V(i  (l;i 


1.      Moiiio  :iti(l  his  ^jirrisoii  bnivcly  rcsist'M]  for 


\  s  ;  Itiit,  llifir  iiintnmiilioii   l)(';i;;ni  lo   l';iil.      W'cIjI)  ic 
fii.scil  tn  tii;ir<'li  to  I  heir  nssishiiicc,  iind  on  I  lit' Dili  of  August 
i!i,.\c:iiiitiil;it<'<l.     I''<"rt  W'llliiim  llt-nry,  like  Furl  Owuc^o, 


WilS   i( 


\c|cil  to  tlld  cilllh. 


Till' iK'ws  of  its  full  I'ciiclicd  Lord  liOiidoii,  in  Cnix'  l>ro- 
toll,  ;Mid  i't'(';illt'd.liini  from  his  im-lliciciit  opcrjiiioiis  :m;iin,sl; 


]i(iii 


ish 


iirii;  to  (Icfciid  New  Yoik.     'I'Ih' dow  iifiill  (d'  llmllriL- 


i.^h  powiT  in  Ainciicii  was  thoiij^litby  many  lo  Ixr  ininiiniMit, 
iuul  llioiiudi  Montcalin\s  means  were  inad('(|iiate  for  follovv- 
iiiLi'  111!  ills  success  by  a  rcixular  invasion  ol  llio  lOn^lisii  <!ol- 
oiiics.  lie  ,L;'ii'l  IJKMi'  wliole  landward  frontier  with  llame  uiul 
(Icsiilalioii.  Muineroiis  hands  of  (Canadians  and  Indians 
mad'' incessant  inroads  into  the  tenilory  of  every  Jh'itish 
,s('tileiiie:it,  from  >«ew  llam[)shire  uiid  ^Mii.ssachiisetts round 
to  I !i  '  <  '.ii'oiinas. 

r.ii!  HioiiltIi  tliiisfriiimph'.int  in  tln^ field,  the  heroi(r  Monf- 
ciilni  fell  liis  strength  jj;radiially  diniinisliiii.ir,  and  kiunv  too 
well  liow  iiiade(]nale  wei'(^  the  resonrces  of  Canada,  a/^ainst 
these  which  the.  iMie'U.sh  in  America  still  jxissessed  a,i:ainst 
liini.  His  enterprises  and  the  incessant  hoi  dcr  \varl'ai'(? 
(MJled  iieaiiy  the  wlnde  serviceal)le  male  p<»pulation  of  Can- 
iu[;i  ;i\\ay  from  the  labors  of  a.ti'ricnil  lire.  A  scaicity  of 
cnni  and  other  provisions  was  the  inevitable  result. 

In  a  di-natch  written  by  Montcahn  tf)  the  Fi'ench  jiiinis- 
Iry  in  l''ebriiary.  :l7r)<S,  the  victorious  (Jeiieial  says,  "I  shud- 
der when  1  think  of  ])rovisions.  The  famine  is  \-ery  , urea t. 
Ill  siiiie  of  all  our  success,  ("anadu  needs  ]ieace,  or  soonei' 
urla'er  it  niiist  fall  ;  studi  are  the  numbers  (d"  the  i-hiiilish, 


such  the  dilliculty  of  our  recei\in,<^  supplies. 


II 


e  was  ur 


iii'iit  ill  his  entr(^aties  lor I'einlorcements  in  troojjs.  ai'tillery, 
and  munitions;  but  the  French  (fovernim'nt  i/.ave  itself  no 
trouble  alioiit  the  fate  of  (Canada;  while,  on  tin*  other  hand, 
tlio  I'aiu'lish  Government  had  i^assed.  in  17.-)7,  into  the  enor 
getic  hands  of  the  elder  IMtt,  whose  favorite  pi'oject  was 

'  Till'  |>l;!n  of  Foft  WilliMm  Ili'iiry  rnii  lie  sivn  .n    •  Morit(Mlm  (in  Caiuilii,"  j).  81. 
Sec  alto  llic  "Journal  ol'  Chark's  CarroU  of  C'arroUtou,'  p.  4'J,  etc. 


If.  r  i 


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Photographic 

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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBST  .fi,  N.Y.  14S80 

(716)  872-4503 


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i 


608 


LOUIS  JOSEPH  BE  MONTCALM. 


the  destruction  of  French  power  in  America,  and  who  era- 
ployed  the  vast  resources  of  England  unspaiingly  and 
l)ertinacioasly  for  the  complete  conquest  of  Canada.  Yet 
for  twelve  months  more  did  the  splendid  genius  of  Mont- 
calm dehiy  U:at  event;  and  the  year  ITHS  was  marked 
by  tlio  most  brilliant,  though  it  was  the  last,  of  his  victo- 
ries. 

Three  expeditions  were  undertaken  by  the  British  this 
year  in  America.  Louisburg  was  attacked  by  a  formida- 
ble aritiamont  from  England.  A  force  of  fifteen  thousand 
regular  Bri'^ish  troops  and  five  thousand  provincials  was 
formed  in  Philadelphia  under  General  Forbes,  and  destined 
to  capture  Fort  Duquesne,  and  drive  the  French  from  the 
valley  of  'lie  Ohio.  The  largest  European  army  yet  seen  in 
the  NesV  World  was  collected  at  Albany,  under  General 
Abercrombie,  and  designed  to  conquer  the  French  forts  at 
Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  and  advance  by  Lake  Cham- 
plain  into  Canada. 

Montcalm  knew  this  to  be  the  most  formidable  of  tlie 
blo'vs  leveled  at  hl:s  province;  and  ho  determined  to  meet 
it  in  person.  Abercrombie  set  his  army  in  motion  early  in 
July,  and  reached  the  northwestern  shore  of  Lake  George 
a  little  to  tlie  south  of  Ticonderoga.  He  had  fifteen  thou- 
sand men,  more  than  six  tiiousand  of  whom  were  regular 
British  troops.  Montcalm  had  not  more  than  three  thou- 
sand French  soldiers,  and  about  five  hundred  Canadians. 
But  he  remembered  the  day  of  Exilles,  and  fortified  a  posi- 
tion in  front  of  Ticonderoga  with  an  earthen  breastwork  and 
a  tiiick  abattis  of  felled  trees.  Abercrombie  made  no  at- 
temi)t  to  turn  his  line,  but  sent  the  British  infantry  forward 
to  storm  the  center  of  Montcalm's  well-chosen  position. 

As  the  regiments  of  Britain  struggled  on  the  8th  of  July, 
IT.IS,  amid  the  felled  trees  that  formed  the  front  of  tht^  French 
position,  Montcalm' s  men,  admirably  posted  behind  the 
breastwork,  shot  them  down  by  hundreds.  Hour  after 
hour  did  this  scene  of  butchery  continue.  Th<i  obstinate 
courage  of  the  English  only  served  to  increase  the  cariuige. 
At  last,  the  attaddng  columns  in  their  fright,  confusion, 


LOUIS  JOSEPU  DE  MONTCALM. 


600 


and  desperation,  fired  upon  each  other.  Wild  disorder 
followed,  and,  finally,  Abercrombie' 8  ouce  splendid  but  now 
shattered  army  fled  in  utter  and  disgraceful  rout,  leaving 
nearly  .0,000  men  in  killed  and  wounded,  while  Montcalm's  lit- 
tle force  only  lost  390.' 

Writing  to  his  friend  Doreil,  on  the  evening  of  the  vic- 
tory, M)utcAhn  says,  "Tli3  King's  little  army  has 
whipped  its  enemies.  What  a  day  for  France!  If  I  had 
had  20:)  Indians  to  serve  at  the  head  of  a  detachment  of 
1,000  picked  men,  I  would  have  given  the  command  of  them 
to  the  Chevalier  de  Levis,  and  few  of  the  English  could  have 
escaped.  Ah !  what  troops  are  ours,  my  dear  Doreil.  I 
never  saw  anything  to  match  them!  "  ' 

I  The  pli-n  of  this  battle,  termea  by  French  vvritora  the  "  bataille  de  Carillon,"  may  be  seen  in 
"Jlonlcalm  cii  C'anadu."  p.  128. 

'  Tlic  fulliiwiii;^  cx^riict  U  frum  the  Journal  of  the  famous  Charles  Carroll  ofOarroUton.  It  was 
writiin  on  liis  visit  lo  Canadii  in  ITTti,  us  one  of  the  Commissioners  from  Congress: 

"  iid  April.  I  this  inorninvj  took  a  ride  with  General  Schuyler  across  the  port.ij,'e,  or  from  lh« 
luntliii,.' plaieat  the  bottom  of  Lake  Georj^e  to  Ticoiuleroipi.  The  lundint^  place  is  properly  on 
tlio  rvcr  which  rtiiis  oit  of  Like  (rnorLr<(  Into  Liltc  Champlain,  and  may  be  a  mile  and  a  naif 
from  tlie  place  w  Ucru  tlie  foraier  may  bo  said  to  terminate,  i.e.,  where  the  lake  is  contracted  into  a 
river,  a*  a  current  and  shallow  water.  Tliis  river.  conipnlinK  its  lenj^th  from  the  aforesaid  spot 
to  the  fool  of  till' falls  at  tliu  saw-mill'',  and  its  windings,  which  are  inconsiderable,  1b  not  more 
than  four  or  five  miles  Ions.  Prom  tho  foot  of  the  Raw-mill  falls  there  is  Stillwater  into  Lake 
Clmmplain.  It  is  at  tho  foot  of  these  falls  that  tho  batteaux,  brou;,'ht  over  land,  are  launched 
into  the  water,  and  the  artillery  and  tho  apparatus  belonijinK  to  It  are  embarked  in  them:  the 
uteres,  such  as  provisions,  ball,  powder,  etc.,  are  embarked  from  Ticonilero^a.  At  sLxty  or 
Mvonty  yards  hilow  th(!  saw-mill  there  is  a  brid.;u  over  the  river.  This  bridge  was  built  t)y  the 
Kin;;  ilurini;  the  last  war;  the  road  from  tho  lantllng  place  to  Ticonderoga  passes  over  it,  and 
yon  then  have  tho  river  on  the  right;  wh^n  you  have  jiassed  the  bridge  you  immediately  ascend 
a  pretty  high  hill,  and  k^ep  ascending  till  you  reach  the  fimus  lines  mad<!  by  the  Fr.'nch  in  the 
lai^t  war,  which  Abcrcrnmhie  was  so  infatuated  as  !o_  attack  with  musketry  only— his  cannon 
wan  lying  at  the  bridge,  about  a  mile  or  something  better  from  these  Imes. 

Tlie  event  of  the  dav  la  too  well  known  to  be  mentioned;  we  lost  near  I. RIO  men!  Had  the  can- 
non heen  brought  ni>  the  French  would  not  have  waited  to  be  attacked;  it  was  morally  imposgi- 
ble  to  succeed  ncnlnst  these  lines  with  small  arms  only,  particularly  in  the  manner  they  were  at- 
tarked-oiir  army  passing  before  tb"m,  an  1  receiving  a  fire  fri>m  the  whole  extent.  Whereas, 
hM\  it  marelie.l  lower  d  )wn.  or  to  t'l"  n  )"h.vest  of  th-se  llni^s,  it  would  hive  flinked  them;  they 
were  constructed  of  Inrire  tniuU-s  of  trees,  felled  on  each  other,  with  earth  thrown  up  aiiainst 
them.  On  the  side  next  the  I'Verich  troops,  they  hid,  bo'^ides  felling  trees,  lopped  and  sliarpened 
their  branches,  and  turned  them  to  v.irds  th"  enemy.  The  trunks  of  the  trees  remain  to  this  day 
plleil  upasdi'M-rilied.  hut  are  fast  going  to  decay.  As  soon  as  yon  enter  these  lines  you  have 
B  full  view  of  Like  rlianiplain  nnd  Ticouderoga  Fort,  distant  about  a  (piarter  of  a  mile.  The 
land  fnun  thence  gndiially  derliucs  to  the  spot  on  which  the  fort  Is  built.  .  .  .  TIconderoira  P'ort 
is  'n  a  ruinous  condition;  it  wan  one,!  a  tolerable  fortiflcatlon.  The  ramparts  an-  faced  with 
Mnne.  I  saw  a  few  pieces  of  cannon  mount  'd  on  one  bastion,  more  for  show  '  apprehena  man 
fcrvire.  In  the  present  state  o'  a.TaIrs  this  fort  is  of  no  other  use  than  as  ati  fiiti  'pdt  or  m.iga- 
rliie  for  stores,  as  fnun  this  place  all  supplies  for  onr  army  in  Canada  are  shipped  logo  ilowu 
Lake  c  hamplain.    I  saw  four  vessels,  viz;  three  Mbooners  and  one  sloop;  thuao  aio  .o  be  armed, 


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610 


LOUTS  JOSEPH  DE  MONTCALlf. 


Tlie  French  consecrated  a  whole  day  to  the  solemn  work  of 
interring  their  heroic  dead.     Though  the  number  was  com- 
paratively  small,  it  was  an  enormous  loss  for  tiie  struggling 
colony  of  Canada.     This  sad  work  was  accompanied  by  mil 
itary  honors  and  the  prayers  of  the  Church. 

At  the  very  summit  of  the  breastwork  which  had  wit- 
nessed  the  slauglit.er  of  England's  trained  and  stubborn 
cohorts,  the  pious  Montcalm  raised  a  majestic  Cross  to  rea- 
dor  glory  to  the  God  of  victory.  To  it  he  attached  this  in- 
scrip  tion: 

"Qnrn  Dux?  Qnrn  Milks?  Quid  stoat  v  inokntia  ijona? 
En  sionum!  En  victor!  Deus  uic  DKUsiPaii  tulmpuat."' 

The  grand  victory  of  Ticonderoga  gave  Canada  f?afety 
for  the  year  IT.'jS  along  the  line  of  the  lakes,  but  on  the  other 
two  scen.^s  of  warfare  the  English  were  successfid.  Louis- 
burg  and  Port  Duqiiesne  were  taken:  and  it  was  known 
that  Pitt  was  resolved  to  renew  the  attack  on  Canada  in  the 
next  year  with  still  larger  forces,  led  bv  abler  mid  bolder 
generals.  Abandoned  by  the  French  Government,  the  gal- 
lant M  )ntcalm  pi';pxral  to  do  his  duty  to  the  last,  and,  in 
his  own  words,  "resolved  to  find  a  grave  under  the  ruins  of 
the  colony." 

Though  convinced  of  the  hopelessness  of  the  struggle 
which  he  was  left  t.)  maintain,  and  certain  that  he  must  in- 
evitably be  crushed  sooner  or  later  by  the  enemy,  Montcalm 
found  consolation  in  the  thought  that  the  concpiest  of 
Canada  would  eventually  prove  a  more  injurious  blow  to 
England  herself  than  to  France.'  He  had  the  saua'-ify  to 
foresee  and  foretell,  that  as  soon  as  the  English  colDuists 
in  America  were  relieved  from  the  pressure  of  a  hostile 
French  power,  they  would  feel  themselves  independent  of 


to  keep  the  inasU'ry  of  the  laknlncase  we  should  lose  St.  John's  dnd  lie  driven  ont  of  Cnnads:  in 
IIjc  nii'uiitiuiu  tUoy  will  bo  imployed  in  carryiii{{  supplies  to  our  troops  iu  that  country.— J*p. 
M-liU. 

'Which  may  be  thus  translated:  "What  has  the  General  done?  What  have  the  »oIdien 
done?  To  what  purpose  have  thcw  enormous  trees  heen  oveiliimcd?  Hcliold  t!ie  true  ^taudardl 
Behold  the  Conquerorl    Here,  It  is  God,  it  is  Ood  IJImaelf  who  lias  triumphed." 

*  See  his  letter  to  M.  Molo,  cited  in  the  Appendix  to  Warburton,  p.  'JD',  Vol.  U, 


LOUIS  JOSEPH  DE  MONTCALM. 


Oil 


English  protection,  and  that  their  revolt  against  England 
would  be  the  speedy  result  of  that  feeling. 

The  illustrious  French  General  made  this  remarkable  pre- 
diction only  a  few  days  before  his  own  death,  and  when  he 
knew  himself  to  be  a  doomed  man.  Like  the  prophecy  of 
the  dying  Hector,  the  prediction  of  the  falling  defender  of 
(Junada  was  speedily  and  completely  realized.  The  sur- 
render of  (Jornwallis  and  his  English  regiments  at  York- 
town  followed  within  twenty-two  years  of  the  victory  of 
Wolfe  at  Quebec. 

Of  the  three  English  armies  which  assailed  Canada  in 
IT.VJ,  two  were  so  far  kept  in  check,  that,  tliough  they 
gained  advantages,  they  were  unable  to  reach  Quebec  and  co- 
operate in  its  reduction.  And  had  the  third  English  army 
been  commanded  by  an  ordinary  general,  that  also  would 
have  been  baffled  and  out-generaled  by  the  skilful  tactics  of 
Montcalm,  and  compelled  at  the  approach  of  winter  to  retire 
from  the  uncaptured  walls  of  the  Canadian  capital. 

Even  against  the  frowns  of  inevitable  misfortune  and  the  ge- 
nius of  Wolfe,  with  an  army  of  chosen  troops,  the  great  Mont- 
calm long  maintained  the  advantage;  and  on  the  last  day  of 
July,  he  gave  the  British  General  a  severe  repulse  in  an  at- 
teiti])t  made  to  storm  the  French  lines  at  Montmorenci. 

WhfMi  at  length  "Wolfe  succeeded  in  placing  his  army  on 
the  Plains   of  Abraham,'  above  Quebec,   the  Marquis  de 


'  '^T  rail"  1  Iinfniisp  this  district  of  country  wns  ttip  property  of  Abriiliiim  Martin,  Pilot  to  the 
Kiiv'  iiM  till'  St.  Ivnvrouci',  in  lOt'i.  Th.?  niimc  liii.^  lu'coinc  liiHtoric.  Tlic  wril^T  lias  often  Hloort 
nn  til  ■  Tiain"  of  Atiraham— to  thi'*  day  a  va-t  common  situati'd  lomc  disiancc  wr-t  of  the  t;rpnt 
military  works  wlUch  crown  the  wimmit  of  Pape  Diamoiul, directly  nliovc  llic  city  of  (Quebec.  A 
miiniinii'nt  marks  the  opot  where  Wolfe  fell.  Tlic  cronnd  where  the  hallle  wan  foii^^lit  In  not 
eiitir'ly  level,  liiit  somewhat  uneven  and  broken  in  appi.'arance.  The  ••'reneii,  it  seemx,  oeciipiod 
the  hiirher  Tround  towards  t'l"  eifv.  h'lt  this  was  the  only  advaiitace  they  possessed.  Montcalm's 
force  was  larixely  made  up  of  militia  and  Indians.  As  reijards  the  niimlHTs  on  each  siile.  tliB 
Ic.'inied  and  very  accurate  iiMt'ior  of  "Montcalm  en  Canada"  puts  the  Kiejlish  at  I.S'JH  men; 
the  Fii  i.ch  at  t.,5no.  The  Enijliifh  foroi;,  it  must  be  re.nombured,  consisted  of  picked  troops— the 
V'Tv  Hitf  of  the  army. 

It  1-1  eiirioi'.s  to  notice  how  authorities  differ  as  to  the  nnml)er  of  troops  on  each  side  in  thii 
historic  battle. 

Bancroft  tfives  the  French  .5.000;  the  Enaiish  ,5,000.  Oameau,  the  French  l.-xVi,  the  EnRilah 
Xi>n  U'atsim.  the  Frendi  T.-VW;  the  Enn;IIsh  4,«.M.  Dussie'.i.K,  tiie  Freiicli,  \.rM;  the  En-jli.sh 
5.1'».    Hawkins,  tlie  French  .-i.mX),  the  Knciish,  4,800. 

Til  ■  fl;iires  gi\en  by  Ciarueau  to  the  English,  and  \>j  Beatsm  to  the  French,  aro  evidently  ezi 
»i:;;eratod. 


ii 


«!| 


1.3 


IV't 


i 


612 


LOUIS  JOSEPH  DE  MONTCALM. 


Montcalm  led  his  feeble  force  to  the  desperate  undertaking 
of  dislodging  the  English — by  which  alone  the  city  could  be 
saved — with  as  much  impetuous  valor  as  he  had  previously 
shown  caution  and  coolness.  But  the  result  of  the  encoun- 
ter between  Wolfe's  carefully  chosen  veterans  and  "Mont- 
calm's five  weak  French  battalions  mingled  with  disorderly 
peasantry"  could  scarcely  be  doubtful.  The  geniiis  of  no 
one  man  could  have  changed  the  tide  of  victory;  and  Can- 
ada soon  became  a  part  of  the  British  empire.' 

Early  in  the  action,  Montcalm  was  struck  by  a  muskot- 
ball ;  but  with  dauntless  courage  he  continued  to  cheor  on 
his  men  that  fought,  and  to  rally  those  who  fled,  till  lie 
received  a  second  bullet.  He  fell  mortally  wounded.  As 
he  was  borne  into  Quebec,  some  women,  seeing  the  blood 
flowing  from  his  wounds,  exclaimed:  "The  Marquis  is 
killed!"  lie  graciously  reassured  them,  and  told  them 
not  to  feel  anxious,  as  it  was  nothing  serious. 

On  being  taken  to  the  residence  of  the  surgeon  his  wound 
was  pronounced  mortal.  "How  long  have  I  yet  to  live?'' 
calmly  demanded  the  dying  hero,  "Ten  or  twelve  hours, 
at  the  most,"  replied  the  surgeon.  " The  shorter  the  bet- 
ter,'- returned  Montcalm;  and  he  added,  "at  least  I  shall 
not  see  the  English  in  Quebec." 

Addressing  himself  to  De  Ramezay,  the  next  in  command, 
he  said,  "To  your  care  €  commit  the  honor  of  France,  and 
the  task  of  seeing  that  my  little  army  shall  retire  to-night 
above  Cape  Kouge,  in  order  to  rejoin  the  forces  of  De 
Bouganville.  As  for  me,  I  am  going  to  pass  my  time  with 
God,  and  prepare  for  death.  I  leave  the  affairs  of  the  King, 
my  dear  master,  in  good  hands." 

One  of  the  very  last  acts  of  Montcalm  was  to  write  with 
his  own  trembling  hand  to  the  English  General  Townsend, 
these  words,  so  worthy  of  his  great  heart : 

>  The  French  held  out  for  abont  a  year  after  the  battle  of  the  Plains  of  Abrnhnm.  Or.  the  8th 
o(  Septorab'et  iTbO  the  terms  of  capltuliition  were  signed  by  both  parties,  and  by  this  act  nil  Can- 
ada was  handed  ovci  to  England.  The  "article«  of  capitulatiou'  con  be  seen  in  the  appeudix  ut 
'  De  Montcalm  en  Canad«." 


rtakin/jf 
on  Id  be 
vioiisly 
incoun- 
''MoTit- 
orderly 
s  of  no 
id  Can- 

riiisket- 
lieor  on 
till  lie 
'd.  As 
i  blood 
quis  i,s 
.1  them 

wound 
live?" 
hours, 
le  bet- 
[  shall 

mand, 
e,  and 
-night 
of  Do 
e  with 
King, 

e  witli 
isend, 


)r.  the  8th 
t  nil  Cnn- 
peiidix  of 


i 


:\' 


I 


\l 


i,l 

i-. 


DEATH  OF  WOLF. 


LOUIS  JOSEPH  DE  MONTCALM. 


613 


"General,— 

"The  hnmanity  of  the  English  tranquilizes 
me,  in  relation  to  the  fate  both  of  the  French  prisoners  and 
the  Canadians.  Have  for  them  the  sentiments  which  in- 
spired myself.  Let  them  perceive  not  that  tliey  have 
chani^t'd  masters.  I  was  their  father;  be  you  their  pro- 
tector.'' 

He  now  occupied  himself  with  nothing  but  the  interests 
of  eternity.  With  the  most  lively  sentiments  of  faith  and 
piety  the  dying  commander  received  the  last  Sacraments  of 
the  Church,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  14th  of  September, 
1759,  the  day  ai.er  the  battle  of  the  Plains  of  Abraham 
he  rendered  bn(;k  his  soul  to  God,  at  the  age  of  forty- 
eight  years.  Montcalm  was  a  Catholic  hero  whom  France 
may  proudly  rank  with  her  St.  Louis  and  her  Chevalier 
Bayard,  a  true  knight,  "without  fear  and  without 
reproach." 

He  was  small  in  stature,  but  his  figure  was  manly 
and  ele,ii;ant.  A  pair  of  extremely  bright,  large,  and  lively 
eyes  li<rhted  up  his  open,  handsome,  and  most  expressive 
countenance.  An  Indian  chief,  astonished  that  a  man 
who  liad  accomplished  such  extraordinary  things  was  not 
of  greater  stature,  exclaimed  on  seeing  the  Marquis  for  the 
first  time  :  "Ah !  you  are  small,  but  I  see  in  your  eyes  the 
vivacity  of  tlie  eagle." 

In  the  city  of  Quebec  several  monuments  have  been 
erected  to  the  memory  of  this  illustrious  soldier. 


* 


1    ; 


i;; 


'Its 


i 


1 


I 


[I 


III 


i 


^^rU^x^   /3^ 


COMMODORE  U.  S.  N 


COMMODORE  JOHN  BARRY, 

THE    "FATHER   OP   THE    AMERICAN    NAVY."« 


CHAPTER   I. 

BATTLIXO  FOR  FREEDOM   OX   THE   i)    KAN. 

Barrifs  inrtli-place  in  Ireland— Jlla  lone  of  the  ,  cenn— 
liecomes  a  sa>lor — Meets  WasJiiiif/ton — The  Revolution 
—Barrif's  hold^  enter  prising  spirit— K<inipplvg  a  Jlcet 
—  The  "  i^tarsand  Stripes''  hoisted— The  first  Capture 
— Fighiinrj  on  the  Delaware — Lord  Howe  tries  to  bribe 
Barry — liarrfs  noble  answer — Fiyhting  with  little 
boats  and  gaining  a  brilliant  victory. 

One  of  tlie  truest  heroes  of  the  Revolution  was  John 
Barry,  the  father  and  founder  of  the  American  Navy.  He 
was  born  in  the  year  174."),  in  the  seaside  parish  of  Tacum- 
shane,  frontini^  on  the  broad  Atlantic,  in  tlie  county  of 
Wexford,  Ireland.  Ilis  father  was  what  was  termed,  "a 
snup;  farmer." 

The  i)urest  principles  of  the  Catholic  faith  were  deeply 
impressed  upon  tlie  mind  and  heart  of  the  youthful  f3arry, 
and  bri,ii;htly  they  shone  forth  throu.i^hout  his  whoUi  life. 
The  home  of  his  birth  was  so  near  tlie  beach  that  "he  had 
bat  to  step  out  of  his  own  door,  to  stand  beside  the  sea." 
As  his  eye  daily  swept  the  majestic  Atlantic,  the  mind  of 
the  ardent  boy  expanded,  and  he  conceived  a  ^reat  fond- 
ness for  a  life  on  the  ocean  wave.     His  father,  noticing  the 

'  Chief  autlmritk'i  need  :  Clarke,  "  Memoir  of  Commodore  John   Biirry,  U.  fl.  M. ;  "  Cooper, 
"  -Xiival  Ili-tory  of  the  United  States  :  "  McOee,  "  History  of  Irish  Settluru  In  Ami-rica." 

CIS 


ii 


i 


; 


■,  I. 


i 


616 


COMMODORE  JOHN  BARRY. 


111  l\ 


direction  of  his  inclinations,  placed  him  on  board  of  a  nipr 
chantraan;    and,    at   about   fourteen  years   of    a-'e    John 
Barry  began  to  sail  regularly  between  Philadelijliia  and  the 
British  ports. 

By  self-culture  and  fidelity  to  duty,  he  rose  rapidly  in 
his  chosen  profession  ;  and  at  the  age  of  twenty -the  lie 
was  captain  of  the  Black  Prince^  one  of  the  best  jjacket 
vessels  of  that  day.  The  owner  of  this  ship  was  Mr.  Mere- 
dith, of  Philadelphia,  at  whose  house  Washington  was  an 
occasional  visitor.  Here  '"  the  Father  of  liis  Country  "  liist 
met  the  young  sailor,  "and  marked  the  future  Commo- 
dore." 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  Captain 
Barry  was  a  prosperous  man,  actively  engaged  in  liis  favor- 
ite profession,  and  rapidly  acquiring  a  fortune.  But  (>aily 
in  177."),  he  espoused  the  cause  of  the  oppressed  American 
colonies  and  embarked  his  all  in  the  struggles  of  liis 
adopted  country.  No  American  Navy  was  then  in  existence. 
Congress  possc-ssed  no  ships. 

Captain  Barry,  however,  was  one  of  those  bold,  enter- 
prising spirits,  suited  to  the  exigencies  of  the  times,  and 
well  fitted  for  ])ringing  into  existence  an  infant  navy,  wl.ich 
would  trr.vel  the  trackless  path  of  glory  on  the  high  seas. 
lie  at  once  abandoned  tlie  lucrative  pursuits  in  which  he 
had  been  so  fortunate,  in  order  to  liazard  all  in  a  very 
doubtful  contest.  lie  gave  up,  to  use  his  own  manly  words, 
"  tlie  finest  ship  and  the  first  employ  in  America,  and  en- 
tered into  the  service  of  his  country." 

Towards  the  close  of  the  year  177o,  Congress  purchased 
several  merchant  ships,  with  the  view  of  having  them  has- 
tily fitted  up  as  vessels  of  war,  and  committed  to  Cajitain 
Barry  the  equipment  of  this  fleet — the  first  that  sailec" 
from  Pliilndelphia.  At  the  same  time,  he  superintended, 
by  the  authority  of  the  Philadelidiia  Committee  of  Safety, 
the  building  of  a  State  ship  for  the  public  service.  In  tlui 
new  squadron,  Captain  Barry  received  the  command  of  the 
brig  Lexingtoii,  of  sixte(m  guns,  then  lying  in  the  Dela- 
ware ;  and  Paul  Jones  entered  as  first  lieutenant  ^n  the 


COJifMOBOIiE  JOIJX  BARRY. 


617 


Alfred.  When  the  fln.o:  of  the  Fnion  -was  first  adopted  by 
(liinifrcss,  llie  Lvxlnntoii  and  the  Alfred  Avere  the  lirst 
sliips  that  lioistod  alloat  that  new  ensign  of  fi'eedom. 

At  tlie  time,  our  coast  was  greatly  infested  by  the  enemy  =! 
siiKill  t-riiisers.  Captain  ]5arry  received  or  h'rs  to  proceed 
to  sen,  and  ch^ar  our  waters  of  such  a  serious  annoyance. 
This  oonitnission  was  without  any  emolument,  but  was  nont* 
the  less  rciidily  accepted  by  the  brave,  i»ati'iotic,  andgeuer- 
onslicarted  Irishman ;  nor  was  lie  daunted  by  the  fact  that 
;iii  English  ship  of  forty-two  guns  and  two  frigates  were 
watciil'ully  cruising  along  the  capes  of  the  Delaware. 

In  the  midst  of  this  hostile  force,  Cai)tain  l^arry  skill- 
fully accomplished  his  mission.  ]iesides  captuiing  s(neral 
(if  tliH  enemy's  smaller  cruisers,  and  forcing  the  rest  of 
tlii'-n  tf)  take  shelter  in  port,  the  Lexington  fell  in  with  the 
Eflwiird,  an  armed  tender  of  the  Liverpool.  A  close  and 
spii'ited  contest  occuri'ed.  It  lasted  nearly  an  hour,  and  re- 
sulted in  the  capture  of  the  Edmnni  by  the  Lc.ruKjfon. 

This. alfair  is  worthy  of  note,  as  the ^/Zrs^  capture  of  any 
vessel  of  war  by  a  regular  American  criiser  in  battle.  The 
jirst  naval  victory  was  hailed  witli  great  joy  by  the  country, 
as  an  olfset  to  the  unfortunate  contest  of  Commodore  Hop- 
kins' squadron  with  the  (rla.'^f/oio. 

Captain  r>arry  was  transferred  from  the  Lexinpton  to  the 
command  of  the  frigate  ElTinijham.,  then  in  building  at 
Philadelphia.  In  the  naval  establishment  created  by  the 
resolution  of  Congress,  on  the  JOth  of  Octolier,  177G,  em- 
bracing twenty-six  vessels  of  various  grades,  (^apfain  Barry 
was  placed  on  the  list  of  Captains,  and  he  still  retained  the 
command  of  the  ElfingJian.  The  rigors  of  the  winter, 
however,  having  suspended  navig.-ition,  the  EiTingliain  was 
one  of  the  vessels  that  was  taken  up  the  Delaware  off 
Wliit(>hall,  in  order  to  escape  the  British  forces,  whicdi 
were  in  ])ossession  of  Philadelpilna  and  the  forrs  of  the 
river  Ice-bound,  the  ElJingliain  could  not  be  brought  into 
acMon. 

Bin  the  active,  energetic  s[)irit  of  Civptain  Barry  would 
nut  permit  him  to  be  idle  ;  and  having  won  laurels  on  the 


if 


"A 


».  .1 

I 


^W 


Hi 


i^ 


.iH 


m 


i 


ii 


'i 


i 


618 


COMMODOEE  JOIIX  DAHRY. 


ocean,  lie  now  turned  liis  attention  to  the  dcfiMicp  of  Ins 
country  by  laud.  General  Cadwalader  liavin^-  I'aisctl  scvi^al 
companies  of  Pennsylvanians  to  reinforce  General  Wnsliini,^- 
tons  army — then  luuch  reduced  in  uuuihcrs  and  jji-csscd  hy 
the  ILissiaus — Captain  Barry  obtained  comniand  of  a  cdin- 
pany  and  some  heavy  cannon,  and  reruhuvd  uallaiit  and 
important  services  to  the  cause  in  that  .ulooniy,  but  linallv 
viciorious  cam[)aign.  He  acted  as  aid-dc-cani])  to  Cadwala- 
dei",  and  at  tlw,  ini[) ortaiit  oi)fira.tions  at  TriMirou  i-cccived 
praise  for  his  tact,  coolness,  and  couraL;,'e,  wiiiiiiiiij,-  tiie  re- 
spect and  admiraiion  of  every  one. 

After  tlie  British  army,  under  Lord  ITowo.  had  dbiaincd 
possession  of  Philadcdphia,  Captain  I'arry  cnntLiiinMl  ia 
coiniuaud  of  the  J-lp'iiKjhaiii  wld(di  was  slill  iccdiomid  in  tlie 
"J)('la\vare,  a  few  miles  from  the  city,  and  in  a  position 
which  the  JJrilish  General  saw  coidd  be  londiivd  of  utvat 
service  to  t:i:;  royal  ciiisc,  if  the  vessel  a:i  I  !i<';'  c  ).iiai  lader 
couxd  only  be  j^'ained  ovor.  This  lie  had  some  hopes  dl"  ac- 
c()ni[)lishinii;,  since  the  Captain  was  then  in  a  position  to 
risk  nothing'  pjii's  )iially  I)y  abanh)iiiaj;  th  >  j)ii'i  »!  for  tlio' 
royalist  cause.  Accord! n^'ly  an  olfer  of  iri.uoo'  ,:i!iiu'as  was 
made  to  Captain  Bariy  by  liord  Howe  if  lii'  won!. I  ildivcr 
U[)  the  vess(d,  and  to  this  Avas  adufd  th"  oH'.'i'  (d"  the 
conunaud  <»f  a  British  ship  of  the  line. 

Idle  I'hiii'lish  l)ribo  was  iudi,ij::nant]y  rejected  by  tln'  h<'rnio 
Barry,  and  this  noble  answer  returned,  that  "he  had  ile- 
voted  himself  to  the  cause  of  his  country,  and  not  the  valao 
or  command  of  tlie  wlnde  British  lleet  could  seduce  liiui 
from  it."  Early  in  1777  the  British,  unhappily,  siici'eeded 
in  l)uruiu2:  the  Anwu'ican  vf^ssels  in  the  Delaware;  and  thus 
tlie  J-lll'iiKjJniiu  perishinl  witli  the  rest. 

Amonii'  other  bold  enteri)rises  undertak"ii  b\  Cajilaiu 
Barry  durinu,-  the  winter  that,  his  shij)  lay  ice  l)()iiiiil  i:]!  fiie 
Delaware  was  the  dariuu;  plan  of  ann()yin,u-  the  tiieiny  by 
Tueaus  of  small  boats  i)roi)er1y  manned,  wliicdi  <  eiiia  sta- 
tioned down  the  river  and  bay,  mi,i>-ht  intercepi    siipiihes, 


COMMODORE  JOHN  BAKRT. 


G19 


nivl.  in  rase  of  daiiL^or,  take  refniJiie  in  the  croi^^s,  into 
wliiili  rh<'  vessels  of  the  enemy  conld  not  pni'snetlieni.  He 
111  rri '  1  Jiii'l  •■()  )!ly  cxifcuted  several  such  attacks;  and  they 
ii'suhi'il  in  ,<rreat  (l.inia,ii<'  to  tlie  enemy,  and  in  the  seizure  (jf 
sii|)])lii's  of  InvaliiaMc  service  to  the  AmiM'ican  army. 

Oil  (in<^  occasidii,  in  narticuhir,  lie  lilted  om  from  V>\\v- 
jiimtoii  four  ro\v-l)();its.  and  ])r(>c(M'(led  with  mntllcd  (virs 
down  rhc  hchiwarc,  which  was  liJlcd  witli  the  shi]i|iinLr  aTid 
smallci' craft  of  the  enemy.  Soim^  alai'm  was  given  at  one 
]iriiiir  of  the  passage;  hut  dashing  onward,  two  of  the 
tiiiv  lii);its  passed  on  uninjured,  and  with  sud(h^n  anil 
(lai'inii'  intrepidity  tiie  little  force,  under  Ca]»tain  Harr\% 
nttnckc(l  the  eii'Miiy's  two  shii)s  and  a  schooner  loaded  with 
valiial)le  ])rovisioJis  for  the  P)i'itish  land  forceps. 

The  two  English  shi[)s  mounted  six  four-])ounders.  with 
fiaireen  iruMi  each;  and  the  schooner,  which  was  attached  to 
till'  e;ij,'iii''ering  deparrnieiit.  mounted  eight  douhle-fortilied 
toai'-peainlers  and  twehc  foiir-iiouud  hovvitzer.s,  and  was 
manned  with  thirtv-tiiret;  hands.  Captain  Bari'v  had  onlv 
t'.venryeight  men.  'rh(^  hostile  force,  however,  was  flirown 
into  iii^niay  by  so  sudden  and  daring  an  attack,  and  the 
two  siiijis  and  schooner  soon  ca])itulated  to  the  ^\meiic;ins. 
The  s.idden  ajipearaiice  of  a  fleet  of  the  enemy's  cnifi  com- 
]ielli'il  (.'aiitain  liai'ry  to  burii  tln^  .ships,  but  not  n)itil  ho 
liiiil -secured  tlieir  valnable  cargoes.  T(>  (Jeneral  Washing- 
ton h(>  wi'ote  that  he  was  determined  to  hold  on  to  the 
x'lio'incr  at  all   lia/.ards. 

'I"hc  ( land  hai)]iy  courfigp  that  inspired  th(>  small  and 

lieroie  hand  is  not  alone  snilicient  to  account  for  ]>ai'ry"s  won- 
derful success,  but  it  must  be  as,  ilbed  to  a  combination  of 
dariim'  Iiraveiy  and  consununate  skill,  by  wh.(di  the 
diminutive  power  under  his  command  was  diiveted  with 
uiiiTriiiii'  raj.idity  and  irresistible  foi-ee.  Tli<>  troi>lii.'s  of  his 
valur.  prodnefive  of  no  personal  btuu^lit  (o  himself,  nor  eal- 
cniaied  for  mei-e  display,  consisted  of  artich^s  eminently  ser- 
vi.eable  to  i he  American  army,  which  was  then  in  great 
^v:lnl  of  ilit>m. 

I'll  ■  following  liighly  complimentary  public  testimonial 


ml  i 


i* 


J  f 


020 


VOMMOVORE  JOny  BARRT. 


oi  thanks  was  received  by  Captain  Barry  from  the  Comman- 
der-in-chief himself : 

''Head  Quarteks,  12  March^  1778. 
"  To  Captain  Joiix  Bahuy  : 

"SiiJ, — I  have  received  your  favor  of  the  nintlj  inst., 
and  congratulate  you  on  the  success  which  has  crowned  your 
gallantry  and  address  in  the  late  attack  upon  the  enemy's 
ships.  Although  circumstances  have  prevented  you  from 
reaping  the  full  benefits  of  your  conquest,  yet  there  ia 
ample  consolation  in  the  degree  of  glory  which  you  have 
ac(|iuir(Hl.  You  will  be  pleased  to  accept  of  my  thanks  for 
the  g0(jd  tilings  which  you  were  so  polite  as  to  send  me, 
with  my  own  wishes  that  a  suitable  recompense  may  always 
attend  your  bravery. 

"I  am,  sir,  etc., 

"Go.  Wasiiixgton." 


It 


IM    1 


II 


it 


CHAPTER  11. 
STILL  "vvAlaa^"G  ox  the  oceai^. 

Barry  receloes  command  of  the  ^^RaleirjW^ — AcoiiifM  idUTi 
two  British  fihips — Takes  command  (f  the  frigate  "^1/- 
liancc' — Another  sharp  contest — TJie  Connnodurelxidly 
'iconndcd—Eiicounier  uiith  a  British  squad ro/i — Barry' s 
memorable  reply,  when  liailed.  hy  tJie  squadron. 

In  September,  1778,  Caiitaiii  Barry  received  tlio  com- 
mand of  the  Italeiyh,  of  tliirty-two  guns,  and  on  the  25th 
of  that  month  he  \)\\t  to  sea  from  Boston,  havinu,-  a  l)ri<;  and 
sloop  liuder  convoy.  It  was  not  long  befoi-o  liis  courage 
and  skill  were  brought  into  active  exercis(\  The  wind 
being  fresh  at  jS".  W.,  the  Ilaleiyh  ran  olf  at  X.  ]■'.  About 
noon  two  strange  sails  were  discovered  to  leeward,  abf)ut 
fifteen  miles  distant.  The  strangers  giving  cliase,  Cai)tain 
Barry  ordered  the  convoy  to  haul  nearer  to  the  wind,  and 
to  crowd  all  sail.  Afterwards  the  strange  shii)s  were  dis- 
covered to  belong  to  the  enemy,  being  the  E.vp<  rinient, 
iir.y.  Captain  \Vallace,  and  the  Unicorn,  rating  twenty- 
two  and  nujuntinc:  twentv-eii2;ht  guns. 

After  dark,  the  lialriyh  lost  sight  of  them,  the  wind 
bejiio-  light  itnd  vai'iable.  Having  tacked  towards  the  land, 
tlic  Iljdi'i'jh^  cleared  for  action,  iind  ke})t  the  crew  at  (]^aur- 
tcrs  all  night.  In  the  morning,  the  weather  being  lia/.y,  the 
eiii'niy''s  ships  w^'i'o  not  in  sight,  and  the  Balciyh  soon 
niado  the  land  ahead,  quite  near.  At  noon  it  beciinH'  clear, 
and  the  enemy  wei'ediscovertMl  in  the  southern  board  and  to 
windward,  crowding  sail  in  pursuit.  Again  the  weather  be- 
came hazy,  tlu;  pursuers  were  no  longer  visilile,  ami  tlio 
A'''// /V///.  hauled  olT  to  the  eastward.  At  <layliiiht  Captain 
l-iarry  look  in  all  sail,  in  order  to  conceal  the  }>ositiou  of 


i  .    ' 


. 


(\-2-} 


CO.V.UODORf:  JOIIX  BAIUIY 


lii.s  sliijx  whicli  jiow  (lrif(-,(^I  nil  Inr  han?  polios.  Xotliinirbr'' 
iiii;- visil)lt'  at  (*>  A.  M.,  til"  /t /AvV/Z/crowdcd  s;iil  imnin  ainl 
ran  S.  K.  by  l-i.,  but  at  iialf-past  iiiiv  the  fiuMiiy  were  nuiim 
(iiscovi'ivd  aslcni  in  piii'stiit.  The  JtaUiijli  now  liauh'd 
close  npon  a-\viii(l,  headin.u' at  W..  witli  the  larboard  taeks 
abi)ai<l.  The  eneni}- fame  to  wind,  all  three  vessels  can v- 
iii!,'  hard,  with  a  sta,u'gering- bree/e.  Ijai'i-y'.s  ship  oinsailed 
her  ])Ui'siiers,  makinii;  ehn-en  luiots  two  J'athoiiis  on  a 
drau'u'ed  l)<)\v  lino. 

The  wind  moderated  at  noon,  wluni  tlie  rnici,ni  over- 
liaiiled  the  Jidhlj/t  (piit(>  last,  eveji  llie  E.rpi  riiin  iil  also 
lioldiiij;  way  with  lier.  At  4  v.  M.  the  JiithnfJi  tackiil 
to  the  westward,  in  order  to  discover  tlie  Vuicoru' k  j'oice 
niakiiiij,'  in  this  movement  .sevei'al  small  islands  wjioseiiaaies 
wei-e  nid^nown.  To  Ins  jxreat  tirief  and  m<iitilicati  n.  (,'an- 
tain  i>aii'\'  fciind  tliat  not  oik!  of  his  crew  was  ac,uaiiitecl 
witli  tlie  coast,  so  tliat  bol'ore  he  conld  reacli  a  place  of  se- 
curity, about  .■)  P.  M.,  the  IJiiifoni  nearly  closed.  Tlicr 
Ji<(li  ///'/.  liow(n-er,ed,u,"e  1  away  and  (grossed  her  fore  foot,  brail- 
ing  her  mi/./.en  and  takini;-  in  her  stay-sails.  The  (  iilcnrn 
showed  a  battery  (U'  fourteiMi  u'uns  of  a  side,  iiiclu.iiiiu'  Itoih 
decks,  and  now  displayed  St.  (reorge's  Ensign.  Tiie  twe 
shijts  exchangtnl  broadsides,  as  they  crossed  ea(  ii  oilifi'.- 
the  J^ii'irurn  came  up  nnder  the  qiuirter  of  the  Jhth iijli^ 
wlien  a  \\ai'm,  steady,  and  ;reueral  action  ensued,  wliicii 
lasted  s'Ven  hours.  At  the  second  lire,  the  Rdliiijli,  liaviii,' 
been  obliged  to  ci'owdon  all  hersailsin  ordei-  !o  kfe])cli';!i  of 
the  laiger  ship,  X\w  Erpi-r'nui  nt,  nnfoi'tunately  lost  her  foi'^- 
toi)mast,  mi/zen  top-gallantmast,  jib  and  for(>stay,  which 
I'endered  four  of  lier  guns  nseless,  and  greatly  encumbered 
her  with  the  wreck,  giving  the  em-my  gi'eat  advantage  vx 
maneuvering  throughout  tlie  engagement. 

Fimling  the  broadside'  of  tlu^  /j^/A/'/// getting  tno  hot, 
the  enemy  soon  shot  ahead,  and  for  a  sh(»rt  time,  while  the 
crewof  the  AV^/c/c/Za  were  clearing  the  wreck,  sluM-ngaged  to 
windward  and  at  a  distance.  Not  long  afterwards,  however, 
the  English  vessel  edged  away  and  attempted  to  rakr  her 
antagonist,  when  Captain  ]3arry  bore  uji,  and,  bringing  tlio 


■ 


COMMODOJiE  JOHN  BMiUY. 


623 


siiin-;  .'ilniiLr^idc  (>ach  other,  endcavorod  to  board;  but  tliis 
iiiivi'llii'  I'liicorn^  favored  by  all  her  eaiivas  and  by  lirr 
suiK'rior  sMibnn-  in  a  ]i,L:;lit  wind,  readily  prevented.  I'y 
this  tiin(^  I  Ik?  otiicr  hostile  ship  ha.il  got  so  near  ;is  to  rendci' 
il  cerfaiii  she  \v(»idd  V(M"J'  soon  close,  and  lindiiiii'  it  impos- 
sible to  esca|)(',  Ciptaiii  Bai'ry  called  a  c(Hiii<'il  (»r  his  odi- 
(K'l's.  It  was  dcrcniiiiu'd  to  make  an  elV<)rt  to  run  tlu* 
brig  ashore,  tlu*  land  bein.i^"  within  a  IVw  miles.  The 
Aiii.M'ican  vessel  a-rordin^ds'  wore  round  and  sto;)d  for  the 
islaiuls  ali'i'ady  mentioned,  her  antau-onist  slickiii!;-  to  Iku" 
ill  a  most  ,;;'allant  manner,  a/n,d  boih  ships  ;dl  t!ie  lime  main- 
taiiiiii'j,-  I  lie  ;;eli(in  with  s])ii'jt.  .\b(ml  nndniii,-ht.  how- 
ever, ihe  enemy  hauled  oil',  leavin.i:,'  {\ni  Jldlctfj/i  lo  piiisno 
liei' course  tovvaids  the  land. 

The  el iii'a !.;■(•  men t  had  now  laslel  seven  hours,  buih^vessels 
liaviim  sull'eied  maleiiaily,  part  iciilai'ly  tlie  rinhiijli,  in 
lier  spns.  I'iuuiiH-',  and  sails.  Ills  ship  beim;-  snon  al'lei'  con- 
ceal"d  by  the  d  iiku'is,  (laptain  i*)arry  had  some  liopes  of 
gi'tiiiij;  oil'  aninni;'  tht*  islands,  an  I  w.is  in  the  :ici  uf  bendin,!; 
on  ni'W  sails  for  that  pnrpos(\  when  (he  eiieaiy's  vessels 
a.>j,'aiii  came  in  si-'ht,  closjiej,'  fast.  The  Ihihrjh  immedi- 
ately op:'ii:-d  a  h.'avy  lire  from  th(»  stern  uams.  iskI  e\-ei'y 
luunan  ellort  was  mad;'  to  force  the  ship  towards  the  land. 
The  enemy,  iiowevei'.  easily  closed  aLi'ain,  and  opened  u 
lieavy  tire,  wliicli  was  returned  by  the  it  iJct./Ii  until  she, 
gi'Mauded.  when  the  /v,"y>''/'/,//'/(f^  Ininiedialei}'  hauled  oil"  to 
avoid  a.  similar  result. 

(iaininix  a  safi;  distans'e.  both  the  enemy's  v(>ssels  con- 
tinued their  lire  froin  })  )sitions  they  had  taken  on  the 
Riiiciilh' s  tpiarter.  Captain  Harry,  liiidinii'  that  the  island, 
wliicii  is  called  Woo  I'll  !>all.  and  lies  about  twenty  niil('.y 
front  ih>'ino.uth  oT  fiie  Penobscot,  was  rocky  and  mi^ht  be 
(lehaided,  determined  to  land  and  l)urn  the  ship,  the  enemy 
liaviiiij:  ceased  lirini;-  and  anchored  at  the  distance  of  a  nnh'. 
The  greater  i)ortion  of  the  nu'n  had  got  on  shore,  and  a 
h')at"s  crew  wi'iit  to  t,i,k!'  ashore  the  remainder,  together 
v^irli  the  miilshipinan  who  was  left  in  the  ship  to  set  lu'e  to 
the  combiistibleis. 


ill    ii^ 


1  0  i 


ii 


024 


COMMODORE  JOHN  BARIIT. 


After  waitlnj:!;  in  vain    till    daylight,  it  was    cli 


scovorocl 


that  tlio  midshipman  had  troachorously  oxtingiiislK.'d  tin 
li^^'hts,  and  suricndcivd  tin;  sliij)  to  tho  enemy.  The  I 
roni  Avas  mucli  cut  up  al'le'i-  tiio  aiVair,  aud  had  t 
kilh^d,  1)  'sides  111  i!iy  woiiii  h;  1.  C.4)taiii  1>  iiiy  savc'd  (•i<.•htv• 
o^  lii.s  iii.'u,  and  had  tweulydivo  kil](3d  and  wouiKh'd.  ifo 
gained  great  credit  i'or  his  courage  and  i)Hi'.-,everanc(;  en  tlii.s 


en  men 


occasion,     (l.-neral    Waslungton,    in    hi 


account    of  tl 


le 


alVair  to  Congiv^ss,  writes  thai:  Captain  Birry  niad(!a"k 


and  vei'V  n'allant  I'esistanc 


His  conduct,  la 


)nL 


)\ve\-er,  Mas 


Bubmitred  to  a  couilniaitial,  and  his  rei»uiaiion  only 
g:iinod  hrigliter  jastor  by  th)  investigation.  The  conunaiKl 
of  another  siiip  was  given  to  him  at  tln^  lirst  ()i)p(ii'tunity. 


For  some  lime  after  his  courageous   dei'ensi^ 


tile  lid- 


leigli.  Captain  liany  Avas  actively  engag(>d  in  the  jjublicser- 


vici>  in  sevei'al  vova^es  to  the  West  Indi 


es. 


II 


e  rei'( 


■ived 


the  title  of  Commodoi'e,  being  the  lii'st  American  ollicer 
upon  wliom  it  was  conferred.  In  1781.  the  frigate  AJliiuivi^ 
a  great  favoi'ite  in  tlie  service,  was  placed  uiaha' Ins  ceiii- 
mand.  In  I'^ebraary  of  that  year  he  .saih'tl  fiom  I'ostonfer 
France,  Imvingou  board  Colonel  Laurens,  a  biave  and  distin- 
guished young  odicer,  who  was  charged  by  Congress  with  an 
important  end)assy  to  the  French  Cotirt.  Coniniodoi'cl'any 
was  so  careful  of  his  repntation  that  he  felt  u'reat  regref 
and  liesitation  aixmt  going  to  sea  with  so  infeiioi'  a  crew  as 

thev 


then  manned  the  i. 


\llla 


lice. 


It  is  nrobabh,',  1 


loweve!', 


soon  became  elflcient  seamen  nnder  his  strict  and  excelleni; 
disciplin(\ 

Ilavimi- c;iptui'ed  on  the  outward  ]iassag(^  a  small  priva- 
teer called  the  Ah  r!,  the  ^l/Z/r/y/^v landed  Colonel  Laurensat 
L'Oriente,  and  on.  the  oOth  of  March  sailed  on  a  ci'iiise,  in 
company  with  the  Jr<ir<j)iis  de  la  Ju(i/t:lli\  forty,  tlira 
h.ound  for  Amei'ica  Avith  pi'ovisions.  On  the  2d  (d.'  .\])!il 
they  fell  in  with  and  captnred,  with  little  resistance,  two 
Gnernsay  itrivateei's,  th(>  J/'vy-.v,  a  lu^avy  vessel  of  twenty- 
six  guns  and  one  hundred  and  Iwehe  men.  and  the  Mi- 
iwrni,  with  an  armament  of  t(Mi  guns  and  Jifty-live  men. 

Having  parted  com|)any  with  the  Maniius  dc  la  Fay  cite, 


^K, 


COMMODORE  JOHN  BARIIT. 


625 


the  AUiaiico  continiiecl  her  cruise  until  the  S^th  of 
M;iy,  wiuni  she  descried  two  sails  making  dire'tly  for 
her.  The  strange  vessels  came  up  after  darlv,  and  hauled 
up  on  the  same  course  with  the  AllicLiice,  with  the  manifest; 
view  oi  postponing  tlio  engagement  to  the  following  day. 
A  dead  calm  prevaiUid  at  the  succeeding  daylight,  and 
when  tliP  mist  disappeared  the  two  vessels  were  seen  not 
l:ii'oir  vvith  Ui'itisli  colors  tlying.  Th^y  proved  to  i)e  the 
slitop-ol'-war  Alafan/a,  Captain  Kdwaids,  ratingsixtccn  guns 
and  carrying  a  crew  of  one  hundi'<>d  and  tliirty  men,  and 
hi'rcnnsort.  rhe  brig  Tiupassi/,  Cajitiiin  Smitli,  rating  four- 
teen ,;j,'!i!i.s  and  carrying  a  crew  of  eighty  men. 

The  sea* was  perfectly  calm,  which  left  the  Alliance 
llnariiu'in  tiic  water  like  a  log,  without  steerage  way,  while 
the  I'lieiiiy  were  enabled  1)y  means  of  sweeps  to  command 
their  movements  and  select  their  own  positions.  The  hos- 
tile shi]is  ('(iiikl  not  get  within  hailing  distance  before  noon, 
when  t'omiiiodore  l^arry  ordered  them  to  Imul  down  the 
Eaglish  (;olors.  Tiiis  was  oL'  course  refused,  and  the  bat- 
tle eoiimienced.  For  more  iliananhour  ilinAUidncc  fought 
at  great  disa  Ivantage,  the  enemy  being  on  her  (piarters, 
whi'iv  (iiily  a  l^'w  of  the  aflermost  guns  could  bear  on  tliem, 
Tiiis  advantage,  increased  by  t In;  calm,  at  one  time  seemed 
ti)  pnanisea  ciTtain  victory  to  the  enemy,  for  they  had  the 
ii'iht  principally  to  themselves.  In  this  unfavoralile  jiosi- 
tinn  of  tliiniis,  Conunotlore  Ijarry  received  a  grapeshot 
thiniigh  the  left  shouldrr,  iiimI  after  remaining  o]i  (le(dv  for 
seme  time,  was  ol)liged  by  loss  oi  bkxnl  tobecarrii'd  below. 
This  misfortune  greatly  increased  the  disheartening  ])osi- 
tiiiii  of  till'  Aimu'ic.iu-!,  who  were  sulTering  undi'r  the  close 
tile  of  two  s[drit(Hl  and  ])ersevering  antagonists. 

At  t,.is  cri;!.?  tlie  ensio-u  of  the  Allidiicc  was  shot  awav, 
ill  th"  i!ii(M'val  of  loading  the  guns,  and  at  tlie  same  time 
her  tii'e  .shi<'ken<Ml,  wlien  the  enemy,  supposing  she  had 
striick  her  colors,  and  reckoning  the  day  already  tlieirs, 
])ei'initted  tlieir  crews  to  h>av(>  their  guns  and  give  three 
ciieers  for  victory.  At  this  gloomy  juncture,  one  of  liis 
lieutenants  went  to  Commodore  Barry  to  represent  the  great 


'.::4 


1  fm 


ti    :! 

Hi 


1  \. 


%Wi 


G20 


co^rMODouE  JoiLY  n.innr 


injury  the  shi])  liad  susfainod  find  tho  (lifiiciiltios  with 
whicli  sh(*  had  to  contiMid,  and  iislvcd  wlirfhrr  ihcy  .should 
surrciidc]'.  "Xo,"  replied  the  Coniniotloj'c,  ••jl'  tin' .shji) 
ran" t  be  foiij-dd  ■without:  nic,  1  will  bo  carried  on  deck.'' 
This  thrilliii.ti;  answer  was^at  once  repoi'ted  to  tin.;  crew,  .md 
inspii'ed  them  with  renewed  ardor  ami  jiersevei'ancc.  (jon- 
ciirreufly  wilh  t  his,  a  li^'hr  bree/,o  sti'uclc  the  j-wils  of  tlm 
jUlic //■'■(',  and  she  came  fairly  under  st(>(!rag'(»  \v;,\-.  A  sin- 
gle broadside  poured  iuto  the  en-'Uiy  chaw-'cd  the  whole 
slate  t)f  the  cond)at,  and  tlui  royalists  luul  to  I'eluiii  to  tiieir 
guns,  discovering  that  tho  \ictory  yet  remained  to  lie  won. 
After  a  luaveaud  noble  resistance,  which  had  lasrt,il  nearly 
all  day,  and  l);'fore  the  dressing  of  the  Comiuodore's 
wounds  would  i»ei-uut  liini  to  reach  the  d<'ck.  tlu^  Ih'iri.sli 
vessels  struck  their  llaga.  They  were  ])oth  badly  iujiuvd, 
andsnsiain(Ml  a  joint  loss  of  (eleven  men  killed  and  iliiitv 
■\vouaded.  The  Ailinura  also  was  much  damagi'd  in  Iki' 
riggingandhull,  owing  principally  to  tho  \'m\  <ii'  the  iiiemy 
across  her  cpiartcr  and  stej'n  ;  ]i(>r  loss  was  elevca  kilh.'d 
and  twenty-two  v/outuled.  Cominodore  ]>arry  r.iade  a  cnr- 
t'.d  ol'  the  7/v/>f/.v.v/A  and  sent  lier  into  an  English  ])ortwith 
the  [iriso!!<'rs,  but  the  *.l/c/7r/// /a  was  retaken  wliileal>Mul  to 
enti'r  Boston  Harbor,  by  a  scpiadron  of  the  enemy  cj  uLsiug 
oiT  (liat  plact!. 

In  tlu'  ensuing  fall,  Commodore  Barry,  in  compliance 
with  orders  received,  refitted  the  xilliavve  foi'  the  juiijiose 
of  carrying  tluj  Mar(pns  de  la  Fayette  and  Coiinr  Xoailles 
to  France  on  important  public  business.  Having  performed 
tliat  duty,  the  (joiniuodoro  saiknl  for  ILivana,  and  rdiidn- 
ticlI  for  some  time  cruising  iind  rendc-ring  important  service 
to  tlie  American  cause  on  the  West  India  station.  The  Al- 
l/d.iKw  was  kept  constantly  in  active  service,  being  a  great 
favoritt}  on  account  of  lier  superior  sailing  qualities. 

Amongst  other  services  performed,  rUe  ATHaiirc  was  sent 
to  Havana  for  specie.  Tn  ^^farch.  1783.  she  sailed  from  the 
])ort  of  Havana,  in  (company  with  tlu)  Ijuzcnw,  Captain 
Green,  loade*!  with  a  large  amount  of  specie,  and  witli  f<up- 
plies.     Shortly  after  leaving  port,  the  Alliance  and  La- 


coMMonouE  joirx  bmiuy. 


027 


^n-;/'' fncountci'tMl  ;i  I'ritisli  s(iii!i(1ron,  \vlii(li  pivo  f) 'cn' idu 
foi'  :i  l)iilli:iiit  trial  ol'  tlic  C()iiiMn»(l()r«''s  ii:iv;il  slvill  niul 
iiidwcss.  The  l;irgt'st  of  tlie  t'n(Mii}''s  vessels  was  ('(jMa!  to 
the  Luzerne  in  swiftness,  wliilst  the  I'liiglisli  slooi)  sni'- 
passi'd  liei'.  Tlit>  coiKiiicsi;  ])r()ini.H'(l  to  ])rove  nil  (^asy  oiio 
for  th"  en  Muy.  In  order  to  faeilitati  their  escajie,  the  A//- 
:vi-)h  was  liuhtelied  by  tlu'owiiiij,-  lie)'  gillis  uverlioard,  aiul 
tlif  specie  was  transferred  lo  the  AILanee. 

In  thecliuso,  according  lo  a  tiadition  in  llie  service,  tho 
il ///(///' v  ran  lifteeii  knots  by  the  log,  with  I  he  wind  ahead. 
^\'hile  rims  eiuleavoring  to  sav(.«  his  j)r<'<'ions  fi'eight  from 
falli'Ti  into  tlio  enemy's  liamls.  Connnodore  I^arry  discov- 
en'il  a  sail  on  tiio  AUUnice  h  weather  bow,  which  turned 
oiil  ii)l)eii  I'^'iMudi  two-decker  of  lifty  gnns.  l-lxchanging 
sii:nals  with  the  Fren<'h  vessel,  mid  tsni')>osiiig  lie  would  l)o 
sii|4iv)i'ted  l)y  her,  Coinniodore  J'arry  \s()re  round  and  took 
his  station  on  the  weather  quarter  of  tlui  Luz-  rue.  As  tho 
liriiish  sl(>(»i),  the  S/7////,  rating  twenty  and  nioinitiim-  tliiity 
iriiiis.  endeavored  to  (doso  hei-,  ho  bore  tlown  and  engaged 
the  Si/i'/f,  before  t\vi  oth;'r  shi[)  of  the  enemy  could  come  to 
her  relief.  Tiie  Fi'eiudi  vessel,  liowevei'.  did  Hot  enter  tho 
t'ligaizeitient,  but  ke[)t  lier  wind,  i\hd  the  Alliance,  had  to 
sustain  1  he  whole  action. 

The  enemy's  guns  had  been  actively  engaged  frf)m  tho 
cnniiiieiicement,  l)iit  the  guiis  of  llio  Allidnee  were  I'eiidered 
iiKii'e  elVectual,  by  having  been  reserved  until  she  wa.s 
within  a  very  short  (llstam.'o  of  her  adversary.  The  aciioii 
lusted  ;il)(»ut  threo-quarters  of  an  hour,  when  the  .s'/A///  ro- 
tiivil  ;ind  madesignal.s  of  distress  to  her  consort.  The  .1^- 
//'//e-r  now  stool  for  the  Fren<di  vessel,  and  having  spokm 
her.  it  was  def  "miiK'd  to  giv«whase  to  tho  eneiiiy  and  oii- 
cleuvor  lo  liriiig  the  two  jh'itish  vessels  to  action  again.  It; 
w;iss()o!i  perceived,  however,  that  tlio  Fi'ench  ship  \\a'<  too 
heavy  a  sailer  to  attemiit  to  overtake  the  enemy,  and  tho 
pursuit  was  abandoned.  The  coolness  and  intiviiidity,  no 
k'ss  than  the  skill  and  f(  rtility  in  expedient,  which  Com- 
iiiedoiv  ]')arry  displayed  on  this  occasion,  are  described  in 
naval    annals   as  truly  -wonderful.     Every  quality  of   tho 


i 

I 


C28 


COMMODORE  JOHN  nAIUlY 


prcat  naval  commander  was  brou^^lit  out  with  extraordinary 
lirilliuiicy. 

The  lo.ss  of  tlio  Allianrc  wn.s  three  killed  :uid  elevt-n 
Wdiiiided,  while  that  of  the  Sihi/l  is  said  to  Inive  Iiccn 
llilrly-scveu  killed  and  lifty  wounded.  When  hailed  hy  the 
Uiilish  .scjiiadroii  and  asJved  the  usual  (juestions  as  to  tlus 
ship,  the  captain,  ete.,  the  hero  pivo  this  sjiirited  and  char. 
a('terls(i(M'ei)Iy:  "'riid  I'nitt'd  Slates  shij)  .l///"/^rc,  .s;uicy 
Ja(;k  IJari'y,  half  Irishman,  half  Vaidvce -wh')  are  yoiiT' 
It  is  I'elatcd  iu  the  "Annals  of  IMiiladelphia,"  hy  AVats(m, 
that  *'  the  widow  of  Commodore  Jiarry,  reniendx-riiiy  witli 
what  esteem  hin"  hMs])and  re.i^^arded  this  shii),  had  a  teu- 
cuddy  made  out  of  her  wood,  as  a  memento." 


CHAPTER  III. 


FAITHFUL  TO  THK  KND. 

difn^ultics  in  creafinff  our  JJrsl  nar>/—Aokff'vcmevfs  of 
th<'  iKU'H — Bari'ii  conthinca  at  the  ?iMd  of  the  serniee — 
TIk'  friifitte  United  Stateff  chostisinrj  the  Freveh — 
B(irr>ff<  derolion.  to  h/s  rountr// — ///.v  dea/h— Personal 
appeitranee  and  charaeter. 

The  {liirioulti(?.s  wliich  ouibniTJissfd  tlic  fornintioii  of  a 
navy,  dining  the  Kevlutioiuny  Wai-,  nciH  vciy  gical.  It 
would  occupy  too  much  spaci;  in  this  brief  sketch  (o  detail 
thiMii.  The  very  nature  of  the  war,  wliich  Avas  almost  en- 
tirely con  lined  to  land,  in  consequence  of  the  invasioh  of 
the  ( nuiih'V  by  the  IJritish  land  forces,  was  unfavorable  to 
niival  prepanition.  The  paramount  necessity  and  duty,  on 
the  part  of  Congress,  to  provide  the  means  of  resistance  to 
tlio  British  arnnes,  left  little  time  or  means  for  maritime 
defence.  Besides,  the  enemy  Avere  in  possessifui  of  the 
rivers  and  ports,  especially  of  the  most  important  of  all  the 
American  ])orts  for  naval  o[)erations,  tlniL  of  New  York. 
So  that  only  six  of  the  thirteen  vessels  laid  down  in  the  ur- 
ranij:ement  of  October,  1775,  could  ever  get  to  sea.  The  re- 
mainder either  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy's  land 
forces,  or  were  destroyed  by  the  Americans  to  pre\  ent  that 
result. 

The  absence  of  system  and  discipline,  dissensions  about 
rank,  the  dangerous  and  injudicious  but  perhaps  necessary 
expedient  of  raising  sailors  from  landsmen,  and  even  from 
isoners  taken  in  the  war,  were  great  drawbacl 


pri 


ipon 


this  branch  of  the  public  service.  The  Atl/'a/iee  was  the 
only  frigate-built  vessel  that  went  to  sea,  after  the  first  or 
second  year  of  the  war,  with  a  full  crew.     These  irregulari- 

629 


H  n 


B     I'  tf.  ■ 


c;3o 


COMMODORE  JOHN  DAURY. 


ti(^s  \v,)ul!l  h;iv(?  sa<'i'ifif'(>:l  tliat  favorite  s]iip  of  Ili.'TJcvolu 
tiou  Jiml  liiT  precious  fi'ciuhr  in    the  West  liidit's.  l^f  f|,j. 
tluMiitrciii'liry  and  .skill  oi'  Coiiimodore  J'avry.     -Nutwitli, 
stamliii.;'  tlicsp  (liltioiilties,  the  infant  navy  piincd  icn.iwn 
in  a  (•(>iui"-^t  wiili  the  ,ii-r(>at('st  maiitinic  ]>oAvpr  in  (||,>  ^(.rld 
nnd    si'MM-a!  naval  ht>ro;:!.s   won  inmiortulity.     Tlic  rniiKnis 
liistorian    nf    the    navy    mentions  .loncs.     J'ai-iy.     rjainv 
]jiddi(\  M.iiily,  Xicliolson.  Wickcs,  Kailibnriic,  (.'(juvniiliiii'n 
and  Ilcckrr  as    '"the  naval  names  that  liave  descended  to 
ns  from  !his  \v:ii'  with  tho  pt-atest  I'ejtntation/' 

Alter  tiu'  ternunatiunof  tlio  ]*evolntion,  Coinmndoiellarry 
still  remained  in  tho  service,  and  at  its  head,  and  took  an 
active  pii't  in  all  measures  I'elating  to  the  navy.  Dmino; 
the  misnndeistandin^-withrhe  FrenchGovei'nnien  t.  which  ec- 
casion.'d  a  jKii'tial  navid  war,  he  lendcK d  eniir.enl  services 
in  prott'ctinu' I'u^  .Vmer,('an  lia,!^'  and  commerce*  from  the  dep- 


redations ol'    tlie  Fren(di  jirivateers  which  inlested  tl; 


c  seas. 


Ili.s  e.v[)erience  and  skill  a.s  a  commaiidiM-  rendered  hi 


s  as- 


sistanci?  a  ill!  coi 


insel  of  invaluable  advantasxi'  to  t! 


ie  r(j||iitry 


]n  lavni; 


th  ■  I'nuiidatioin  of  tlio   present  I'erMianeiit   i 


law, 


II 


e  siiccee 


U'ettinir  ihe  (Joveinnienr  to  aihijit  a  .•<iii  eiiDr 


hd 


ino( 


nieiits 
suppli 


lor  su 


ins.  and  it  i -t  co.'.sidered  that  \\\ 


e  new  an'aime- 


n   iiitrodiiced   inl>)  the   service   hav(^  (d't 


en  since 


1- 


th<'  want  of  iiunierlc'd  strength,  riidrrtlie  \u 
ministrafion  ol'  the  (dder  Adams  In^  sii]>vrinten(h'd  ;:t  Piiil- 
ad(dpl!ia  rlif  luiildiiin'  of  the  line  fri.^-ate  Hithd  ^/atcs^ 
fortv-foiir,   of  whi(di  ht>  retained    th.e  command  niiiil  she 


was  .a 111 


n  oi'.linarv,  iinde-  Jerr(">rson's   adminisiiai 


mil 


ThelawofM  irdiriTth.  1701.  pri)\ided  forsix  frluates.  and 
('(immndore  i'arry's  name  was  ]ilac<Hl   at  the  head  if  ihe 


conimaiiilers 


1ie    I 


II  ll:  < 


1   t^ldtea   vas    laaiudied 


list 

nt  Pliiladelpliia  on  the  10th  day  of  J'uly,  1704.  and  wa.^ 
the  lirst  vessel  t]iat  rrot  afloat  umh'r  the  orti-anizafion  of  1704. 
Early  in  .hdy  the  next  year  the  ship  was  I'ei.dy  Inr  sea.  and 
C'iimniodor>  ("airy  ])i'oceeded  to  cruise  in  her  to  ihe  cast- 
ward,  lie  V, as  remarkably  fond  of  aidin.u'  yonn.i;:  oflicers  in 
thidr  iirol'ession,  a  trait  of  character  sti'onuly'indicativi*  ef 
true  uTeatnes.s  of  soul,     lie  carried  out  wltli  him,  in  hiy  lir.st 


COMMODOllE  JOHN  BAURY. 


g;ii 


tlii'T'icvdlu 

•     -N"t\\it]|. 
incfl  ivnr.wii 

'I'llC    i'jlllioiis 

■I'.v,  IJiirny, 
''onyiiLilijiin, 
'^'^'■•■iKlcd  to 

odfiicIjMn'y 

md  tiKik  an 

yy-     niirino; 

llt.wlliclKic- 

ciil  scrvici-s 
•om  tlicdfj). 
ed  r!:e  seas. 
leied  liis  as- 
tlic  cdmitiy 
nx'iil  iia\y. 
[tt  !l  Mil  ciinr 

lew  ai'i'an,i:('- 
"rfcii  since 
idrr  (he  ;id- 
!<■<!  :;r  IMnl- 
i/cd  Sf'ili!^^ 
id  miiil  .slio 
liinsiiafidn 
Viiiatcs.  and 
lead  (f  llio 
s  laiinclicd 
)4,  and  wdA 
tionof  17;)4. 
for  sea,  and 

to    llic  rast- 

,<;  oflicfrs  in 
ndicarivc  <»f 
,  in  \ii6  fir.st 


rruiso  in  tlie  United  Statt'.<t,  mnny  youiiir  gontlomdn,  -vvlio 
afti'i'wni'ds  did  honor  to  tlieniselves,  tlieir  i)rereptor,  and 
riicir  connrry.  Anion^^i;  thi'Sf^  \ve  may  mention  sncli 
n;iini's  as  ]^).s.s,  Murray,  James  Bari'on,  and  (.'Iku'Ics  Stewart, 
will)  were  the  lienteniints  ol"  the  Unltad  t<tAtcx,  and  .l)(M'atur, 
Si)mi'rs.  Caldwell,  doiies.  and  ('i-ane.  w  ho  were  Jiei'  nddsliip. 
men.  ills  ••lioys,""  jis  tliey  weie  called,  wore  made  (.[  noMe 
stiilL  and  their  names  are  anion.ust  tlic  hi'i.u'htest  oinanients 
on  the  ]):;g  's  of  our  niival  liistoi'v. 

The  (h)vt>rnnient  now  resolvetl  to  s(>nd  a  sti'oim'er  foi'ce  to 
tlii' We.-'.  Indies.  Comni'idore  I>arry  hoisted  a  hroad  j>enna;it 
en  iieard  ihe  l^iiiinl  .-sfi/^rs.  pi'oceeded  to  tlie  neighborhood 
(if  Cajie  Cod,  and  then  sailed  (lir(>ctly  for  the  W't.'st  Indies 
liiaildition  to  the  Hag-ship,  tlie  sipnidron  consisted  (d'  the 
7»VAn/v//-<'.  Captain  Decatur,  ami  the  /A /-'A/.  Captain  Sc\('i. 
In  tliis  cruise  they  cajirured  the  piavateei's  Nc///.v  Pdri:!^ 
sixlei'ii.  wwA  .1iiU>HA\  fourteen,  and  seal  (hem  in  in  (lie  fall 
of  the  year. 

Ill  \\y^  latter  part  of  th(^  y(>r.r  17;).^,  the  ■\V(\st  India  force 
was  di.iilMl  into  four  scpiadrons,  (lu^  ])i'incipal  o!'  which 
was  conlided  to  Commodore  I^arry.  In  adi'iiion  (o  the 
VuHi'il  S'/(((rfi,  which  was  tho  llag-shi}),  tlie  squadron  con- 
sisted of  the  l\)ii.s(lhiU(Hi,  Cai)tain  lN"i'diolson ;  (i('i,r(;o. 
Vt^iixJiin'/fdii,  Captain  Fl(>tcher :  M(  rrinHtcl\  Cap(ain 
Brown;  PDrfsiunii'h,  Capt;;in  M/Xeill  ;  Ifirald,  .Master 
Cum.  Ilussell:  Pirlt-(rin'i,  Li'sit.  Com.  Pi'el.Ic;  E>t'jJe, 
Lient.  (.'oni.  Campbell;  Sf'tmmt/,  Lieut.  (Ann.  Adams;  and 
Bi/ii/i'iic/u  Li'.nit.  Com.  Brown.  These  v(^ss(ds  were  Ivept 
C'instantly  and  actively  cruis'ng  during  the  year  IT'.>'.).  j»ass- 
ii)i  IVoai  p  tint  (o  point,  and  '"jaking  a  general  i'ende/.\ou.s 
at  I'lhn  e  Iviiiterfs  I]av. 

Among  nuiiHM'ous  (idler  cnptnres  made  liy  (he  squadron, 
Cuininr)]  )re  Barry,  with  tlu-  rnilcl  X/^/,'  .v.  ciiil  u'vil  rhe 
I'leiich  p'.ivatetH's  L'.\///'>>/r  dc  A?  Pafr/r  and  '.'•  TininfJ'c. 
'lewirds  the  close  of  the  year  I7;)l*.  tiie  Crench  Covi>rument 
111  I  hecfune  p'-rsnaded,  by  the  active  and  <le((>i'in!ned  nieas- 
iiii'S  ot  the  Cnited  Sta(es  (lovei'ument,  to  consent  to  enter 
into  negotiations,  and  assurances  were  given  that  new  nun- 


[U 


1i 


r    i 


"U,i 


tl; 


'|i'"M 


J' 


1 

■! 


i 


: 


M 


i 


632 


com:jodoiie  joiix  bapjit. 


ister?  Avould  now  bo  rocoivod  Avitli  moro  rosport  tlinn  those 
previously  sent,  who  lind  encountcied  only  insult  and 
neglect.  On  tlie  'kl  of  Noveniber,  Comniodon^  liarry  siiiled 
from  Newport,  II.  J.,  with  the  United  Sfaics,  luivina  on 
boaj'd  the  American  envoys  to  tlie  French  fTOveinuKMif, 
whom  lie  conveyed  to  their  desfinntion.  lie  then  retiirni'd 
to  the  West  India  Station,  wlu>re  he  cruised  during  the 
year  1800. 

Commodore  Barry  continued  at  the  head  of  the  navy  till 
the  day  of  his  death,  lie  was  always  i'(>ady  lor  any  duty, 
and  rendered  impoi'tant  servici>s  to  tlie  country,  no  less  I'V 
his  exortions  wIkmi  ailoat — notwithstanding  an  astlmi;itic 
ail'<^ction  with  Av.hich  he  was  suiTei'ing  for  many  y(>nis  — 
than  by  his  counsel  when  asliore,  in  slmping  tlic  navid 
jiolicy  of  the  ffovernnient.  Xo  man  could  be  more  devoted 
to  his  adoT)ted  country  than  (^)mmodore  Bariy,  as  a  Lmo; 
life  of  public  services  will  tt^stify;  yet  he  ii-'vcr  ceased  to 
love  the  beautiful  but  oppressed  isle  of  his  biitli.  wjiidi 
he  visted  after  the  Peace  of  Pai'is.  It  is  related  that  (lie 
people  of  his  native  parish  of  Tacumshane  I'emendieivd- 
his  visit  for  years  after  with  unabated  gratitude.  A['\"V 
a  useful  and  brilliant  car(>er  of  glory,  this  good  and 
brave  man  was  carried  off  by  his  old  coni})laint.  tlie 
asthma.  He  died  at  Philadelphia  on  the  i:]th  of  Srpiiiii- 
ber,  18o;?,  and  was  buried  in  the  cemetary  of  ohl  St.  ^laiy's 
Church. 

Throughout  his  whole  life  Commodoi'o  Barry  was  a  good, 
sincere,  ju'actical  Catholic.  As  he  died  without  childieii, 
he  left  the  Catholic  orphan  asylum  of  Philadtdjihia  his 
chief  legatee. 

Many  noble  and  generous  qualiti(\s  combined  to  rondev 
Ills  heroic  character  on<^  of  singular  synuufdry  and  beauty. 
]^y  all  he  was  loved  and  honored  ;  and  to-day  his  meniory 
is  held  in  veneration  fi'oni  the  (Jreat  Lakes  to  the  (Jidf  of 
Mexico. 

Barry  was  above  tln^  ordinary  stature.  Ilis  ]i(M'son  was 
graceful  and  commanding;  and  his  whole  deportment  was 
marked  by  dignity,  untinged  with  ostentation.    He  had  a 


COMMODORE  JOHN  BARUT. 


G33 


sti'onu^ly  marked  countenance,  which  expressed  tlie  qualities 
of  liis  iiiiii'l  and  the  virtues  oi"  his  heart. 

His  private  life  was  as  aniialjle  as  his  public  car(>er  was 
l)i'illi;iiit.  In  his  doiriestio  relations  he  was  l"ranl\,  open, 
and  alt'ectionate  ;  and  his  kind  courtesy  to  all  made  him  a 
Jiost  of  friends.  Deeply  impressed  with  reliiiion,  lie  ex- 
acfi^l  an  ol)servanc.3  oi'  his  holy  duties  and  cei'emonies  (jn 
hoard  1)1"  his  ship,  as  well  as  in  the  retirement  of  private 
lift'.  His  lofty  feelings  of  lionor  secured  the  conlid(Mice  of 
the  uiii'^t  illustrious  men  of  the  nation,  and  gave  the  fa- 
mous commander  an  extensive  influence  in  the  various 
sithcres  in  which  his  active  life  re(piircd  him  to  move.  He 
]i()'<si'ss('(l  in  an  enunent  d<'greo  the  regard  and  admii'alion 
ol'  Washington.  His  public  services  were  far  from  being 
limited  to  any  customary  ridt^  of  professional  duty;  and 
wirluuit  regard  to  labor,  danger,  or  expense,  his  devotion 
to  his  country  kept  him  constantly  engaged  in  disinter- 
ested acts  of  public  utility. 

''TliiTP  iiri'  !j-.'ill.ni(  lioni'ls  whose  glory 

('(iluinl)i;i  Idvcs  to  11:11110, 
WIiosc!  (k'ods  shall  live  in  story 

An.'l  evoiiiisiini;-  faiin'. 
IBut  luver  yet  one  Iiraver, 

Oiir  stany  lianner  Ijnre, 
Than  saucy  old  .Tack  1!  ;rry, 

Tiie  InsU  Cuiuuiodois," 


1     M 


\\\ 


\r\ 


{!       i 


hi',.  1  '- 


!• 


ihii^l 


<  I 


i.Sl: 


I 

1  I 

11 


'' 


tf'^ 


11 


MOST  REV.  JOHN  CARROLL,  D.  D. 


FIRST    ARCHBISHOP    OF    BALTIMORE. 


^3 


'^.<^''im. 


MOST  REV.  JOHN  CARROLL,  D.D.,LLC., 

FIKST  ARCIIUISIIOP  OF  BALTIMORE.' 


CHAPTER  I. 
FIRST  YEARS   OF   OUR   FIIJST   ARCHRISIIOP. 

BirlJt  —Pdroits — Ancestors  —  Fjdncatloii  and  the  Pen  no 
Laws — Bohemia  Manor — Vounf  Carroll  Hmd  to 
Europe — Enters  the  Socictf/  q/  Jesus — J.v  orda'nicd — 
Suppression  of  the  Soektij — ^ikeich  In,  a  note — Father 
(,'arroll  goes  to  Enrjland. 

Tlio  name  of  Archbislinp  Carroll  sparkles  lilce  n  ppin 
of  purest:  ray  on  tho  most  brilliant  pages  of  Aiiiericiiii  l)i;>g- 
ra|ihy,  lie  was  i(l(>ntifie(i  with  the  stii'i'lnp;  events  of  tho 
K'n'oliitloa,  ami  was  tho  friend  of  Wasluuirton,  I'hanklin, 
and  oiiier  illustrious  men  whose  services  gave  tlie  rich  in- 
heritance of  freedom  to  our  counti'V,  and  the  briuhtest  ex- 
anip'.c.;  of  pitriotisju  to  the  world.  S(>lected  by  <J(»d  to  be 
th'lir^t  Bisliop  oL'  His  Holy  (Jliundi  in  this  Jlepublie,  he 
proved  liov>-  good  and  lia])py  was  the  choice  by  tli(>  wisdoni 
•11  his  acts,  the  ])urity  of  his  life,  and  the  unsullied  sj)len- 
(hr,'  of  his  repiUation. 

.)i)!iii  Carroll,  tlu'  tliird  S(ni  of  Daniel  Carroll  and  l'>Ieaiior 
Danrill,  was  bnrn  at  I'ppei-  >[arlI)oro,  Maryland, on  January 
f'ih.  l?;').").  His  r.iiluM-  w.'i-,  :i  native  of  Ireland,  and  h(>- 
I'lim^d    to    !i    Catholic    r;;;uily    that    nolVly    prel'cri'eil    tlie 


'  Chief  anthiiritlo^  ii«oil:  BriMit.  '•IJIosraphy  of  Arclihi-^ho!)  Cirroll  ;"  Caniplidl,  '•  Jli'inoiisof 
I'll' I.ut' imd  Time.-' dt  till-  ^!nst  1? 'V  .Idliu  CaiT.)ll:  "  Clarke,  "  .'Ntonioir  of  Aicliliisluip  Ca-niu;  "' 
Cl.'irliP  '  Lives  o.'  (lie  I)ere;isoil  IlisliopB  of  Uw"  Catliolic'  Clinrcli  in  ilie  I'liited  States;"  \ 
r.'i|>ii'!i  HNfiiv  o'  aic  Callioric  Cliunii  ia  (irj  Ciiilfl  States" ; ''  Los>inj;,  '•  l/ves  of  C.'.obnUed 
Aiacric;iue." 


!       V 


\ 


i 


!,:        i 


1 

i 

( 

i\  M 

1 

03G 


MOl^T  EEV.  JOIIX  CAUnOLL,  D.I).,  LLD 


loss  of  llu'lr  property  lo  the  abandonment  of  jlieir  Rilrh  In 
couipiuiy  with  his  parents  he  came  to  Maryhuul  wJiile  yet 
a  voiitli. 

It  liapponed  tliu.s.  The  Ai-rhbishops  grandfatlier  was 
secretary  to  Lord  Powis,  a  leading  minister  in  tlie  caliiiict 
of  the  unfortnnat(3  -lames  If.  It  is  rehited  that  Mr.  Carroll 
remarked  one  day  to  his  lordship  that  lie  Avas  happy  to 
lind  that  pnblie  all'airs  and  liis  Majesty's  service  -were  p,ru- 
gressing  so  prosperonsly. 

"You  are  (piito  wrong,"'  replied  Lord  Powis;  '•  affairs 
are  going  on  very  badly;  the  King  is  very  ill  advised."  And 
after  pansing  a  few  moments,  he  thus  addressed  his  secre- 
tary: "Young  man,  I  have  a  regard  for  you,  and  would 
be  glad  to  do  you  a  service.  Take  my  advice — great 
changes  are  at  hand — go  out  to  Maryland.  I  will  speak  to 
Lord  Baltinuu'e  in  your  favor." 

]\Ir.  Can'oU  followed  the  sidviee  of  his  noble  frien-l.  lie 
obtained  goverumeiit  employment  in  ^Maryland,  with  lil)- 
eral  grants  of  land,  lie  also  engaged  in  commercial  ])ur- 
suits  at  Upper  Marlboro,  and  died  iu  ITUo,  leaving  his  fam- 
ily quite  indei)endent. 

Eh'anor  Baraall,  the  mother  of  the  Archbishop,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Maryland,  and  <laught(n'  of  a  Ave.althy  Catholic  gen- 
tleman. She  was  educated  with  nuu^h  care  in  a  select 
school  at  Paris,  and  was  greatly  admired  for  her  ])iiny, 
amiability,  mental  culture,  and  varied  accomplishments. 
The  grac:^'s  and  virtues  of  the  mother  did  not  fail  to  impress 
the  cluu'acter  of  her  son. 

The  penal  laws  were  then  in  full  force.  Catholics  were  pn/- 
hibted  from  teat^hing,  an(t  Catholic  youth  were  deprived  not 
only  oft  liar  \vi-;iM>diication  which  unites  religions  with  literary 
and  sciiMitilic  knowledge^  but  were  also  exposed  to  tlie  danger 
and  moi'tification  of  s(^tdving  learning  in  schools  where  tlicir 
faith  was  misrepresented,  the  very  name  of  their  ivli.iiiitn 
scorned,  and  they  themselves  treated  as  a  degraded  portion 
of  the  community. 

Tlie  zeal,  however,  of  the  Maryland  Jesuits  Imd  m  i  ingf^d 
to  counteract,  to  some  small  extent,  the  brutal  intolerance 


MOUT  iu-:r.  joiix  carrolf.,  d.d.^  ij..b. 


C37 


of  the  English  ood'.  by  estahlisliing  a  lioardinii^-^.'li.x)!  in  a 
secluded  spot  oa  the  eastern  shore  of  Mai-ylaud  iii.g:i  an 
estate  belonging  to  themselves.  It  was  known  ar;  13oiuMi)iLi 
M:in<ir.  Here  the  good  Fathers  eondueted  an  institution 
whicii  was  intended  to  prepare  Catludic  youth  i'or  the  col- 
leijes  oi'  Kuro[ie.  It  was  about  the  year  1747  that  .J.din 
CarnJl  was  placed  at  JJoliPiriia.  Oik;  of  his  companions  was 
his  cousin,  Charles  (Jari-oil  of  Carrollton.  Here  the  youn" 
Currolls  spent  a  year  in  nssidnons  study. 

John  Carroll,  in  coni[);iny  with  his  cousin  Charles,  was 
sent;  to  the  Jesuit  Ccjllege  at  St.  (Jmers.  in  French  Flan- 
(Vrs.  During  the  six  years  that  he  ]iasspd  in  this  insti- 
tiilion  he  was  distinguished  for  his  ]^iety,  good  exam]ile, 
cjiise  application  to  study,  ready  and  bi'illiant  talents,  ai.d 
for  his  gentle  and  amiable  deportment. 

The  happy  influences  of  the  home  of  his  childhood,  the 
exalted  examples  of  the  Jesuit  Fathers,  and  the  pure  and 
peaceful  aspirations  of  his  own  soul,  led  him  at  an  etirly 
(latH  to  dedicate  his  life  to  (rod.  It  was  this  inspiring 
t!io:i;:ht  which  cast  a  glow  of  holiness  around  young  John 
Ciurol!  during  these  years  of  hard,  earnest  study. 

In  17.");3  he  entered  the  novitiate  of  the  Society  of  Jesns,  ' 
and  two  years  latiM'  he  was  removed  to  Liege,  to  make  his 
cniu'se  of  philosophy  and  th(>oloiry.  He  exhibited  more 
than  his  usual  /.eal  and  api)licati<>n  in  p>repn]'iiig  for  the 
sacred  nunistry.  In  17.)9,  being  then  in  his  twenty-fifth 
rear,  after  having  siient  eh>ven  vears  in  storing  his  mind 
with  h^arning,  he  was  raised  to  the  holy  dignity  of  the 
JH'iesthood. 

I'ollowing  the  snggestions  of  the  Onspel,  Father  Carroll 
c'lCMifully  gave  np  his  patrimony  and  all  his  worldly  pos- 
s<'«si(ins  to  his  brother  and  sisters  in  Amei'ica,  and  look 
poverty  and  the  Cioss  as  his  companions  on  \\w  way  of  life. 

After  sei'ving  as  i>rofessor  at  St.  Omers  and  at  Liege, 
wlu're  he  filled  the  chair  of  ])hiloso])liy.  he  was  received  in 
1771  as  a  jirofessed  Fatln-r  in  the  Socioty  of  Jesns. 

Father  Carroll  was  fulilling  '  tlio  duties  of  ]-!refe(»fc  at 
Bruges,  when  the  great  Society  of  Jesns.  of  which  iiu  was 


!r  i 


\M\ 


■fiir 


' 


C38 


MOST  HEV.  JOIIXCAUKOLL,  D.D.,  LL.R 


go  (lovolcil  a  nicinliPi',  wns  snpprpssfd,  h\  tli(^  luu  f  T^nm- 
i>nin  (K'  Ih'ih  vipltw  of  Po^x;  ('k'Hiciit  Xl\',,  (Ijit^nl  .Inly 
21sr,    n?;).'    ll    w;i.s    a  sovprn    blow.      In  a  letter  to  liin 


'  SI.  liiuntlns,  foiiiKlcr  iif  llic  Sorii'ty  of  Jiviw,  was  horn  in  II!,  at  llio  Ca.-ilc  of  I.oyol;!,  .«ltn. 
Btcil  III  ilii'  I'Dilli  of  Spa  in.  llis  fallicr  was  li,'ail  of  one  of  tlif  nio-'t  iincicnl  mid  nolilff.imilii^  »f 
tliil  coiiiitry.  iL'iialiiis  yrcw  up  lo  niaiilmoil,  a  proud  imrl  a^plrini;  Mildicr.  Hi>  pll^-^■-.v■d  niill- 
t.iry  tiil.'nti  of  a  IiIl'Ii  (udcr.  iiiiil  lucann'  known  as  un  iicconipli^lii'd  coiiMiiandi  r.  In  llir  s:iinn- 
\\\f,  of  raniiiclnua,  « liicli  lu'  (Ufcmlcd  af;ain>l  llni  Kicncli,  tlio  yomii;  S|ianisl,  nolilLMiw.ii  P'cc.vcil 
B  K'vcrc  wiiiind  lliat  (•onllncd  liini  lo  liis  i-iik-roiiin.  Tn  lliis  qilii'l  Hrclnsiim  lut  read— accidiMitally 
read  -thi'  lives  of  lliu  salnls.  (iracii  IohoIkmI  Ills  heart.  New  liiilil  llaslicd  on  liii<  ininil.  '1  In-  In- 
vincible  voldii'r  af  once  heiran  lo  walk  the  way  of  llie  saints.  This  was  jn<t  at  the  periml  when 
l.iithiT,  !ti:' aponulc  monk  of  Germany,  llnaily  threw  off  thu  mask,  and  hade  dellann'io  tim 
lluly  See. 

[i.'n.iliiis  of  Loyola  was  now  thirty  years  of  nirc  llis  Uiiowlcduo  of  hooks  was  limited.  H> 
r.iuild  liaroly  rend  and  write.  Hnt  with  nneqnaled  eoiira^je  he  entered  on  the  pnrsiiit  (if  !i  ariiin^' 
Jiiul  virtue.  'I'akin;,'  the  de;;ree  of  Ma«ter  of  Arts,  the  v.i.'iiil  ,  ileietider  of  I'.4in|H'liina  inmpii'ti  il 
Ms  divinity  roiir-^e.  was  ordaiiu'd  priest,  KiUhered  aronnd  him  ten  rlioiee  iiiid  leiiiiied  voiiiil; 
men,  animated  liy  hisown  nnister-siiirit,  and  formed  iheni  into  a  reli'„'ioiis  order.  'I'lie  servici's 
of  this  eompany  of  youllifnl  I'liri^llan  lieroes  ho  pl.aeed  at  the  dispo-al  of  the  I'ope.  Aliain,' 
tlieni  were  Kraneis  Xavi^r,  Jnnies  l.ayne.c,  an  1  I'l'ter  l''at>er.  Tope  I '.lid  111.  apprmcil  tlie  neiT 
Order,  In  l.'iln,  nnder  llie  tillo  of  y.'j,;  SMielij  o/Jt.iiiH—lht:  name  given  il  hy  (st.  luiialiu.'-  Inni- 
teif. 

Siirli,  ill  tirief,  was  the  ori^'in  of  that  wonderful  reliL'ion-nnsiitnte,  wliieli  from  its  lii>t  year'! 
BS-nnied  the  siatnre  of  a  eolossns,  wliieh  has  peopled  heaven  wiili  samls,  and  tilled  tin;  wer'd 
with  til  ■  renown  of  il.s  name  and  Us  deids. 

'I'lii^ -odety  of  Jesus  at  mice  hi  eaine  the  vanu'nard  of  the  Chnreh  in  Knroiic.  and  carried  the 
Knitli  to  the  ends  of  tlie  c;irtli.  '"  It  was  an  evil  day  forn.'W  horn  I'rotestantism,"  writes  Trancis 
P.irkiiian.  "  when  a  rrench  nrlilleryinnn  struck  down  Ij.'iial ins  Loyola  in  the  breach  of  I'aai- 
I-i'lnna."  "'I'll"  .I<'miII.s,"  saystlie  Alilc  lialme.s,  "were  a  wall  of  brass  a'.;ainst  th.e  assaults  upon 
tlie  Catholic  Kaitli." 

Si.\ieen  Jesuit  Fat'.ieis  bedewed  the  soil  of  the  I'niled  States  with  their  martyr  blond,  Ihi'.o 
nid  On  Thet  wevcni'ir.!er:'(l  for  the  Riilli  in  .Maine.  Joj-nes  shed  h's  blend  in  New  York.  Sc- 
(nira  and  his  ci-jht  Jo.snit  rompiinions  laid  ihiwn  their  lives  in  Maryland.  Th"  aijcd  Me-n!ird 
f.'r,ii,-hed  in  the  wildeincss  of  Michiijan.  Dn)>ois:on  and  Soiiel  snlTered  de.ith  <ni  tile  Lower 
Jlississippi,  In  i-hort,  the  footsteps  of  the  Je.-nit  ci.u  be  traced  frinn  the  Atlantic  to  the  raclic— 
from  the  Great  Lakes  to  the  (Jnlf  of  Mexico.  The  .'ons  of  Loyola  stand  at  tlie  very  eat e  of 
American  tiislory.    We  cannot  enter  wilhont,  paying;  Ihtm  onr  respects. 

In  Knrope,  the  Jesuit  Fathers  were  the  foremost  champions  of  theFailh,  the  <:nai'dians  of 
Christian  edncaliim,  i.nd  the  vijroroiis  defenders  of  the  rights  of  God  and  nun,  They  came  into 
the  world  diirin,';ii  ifreat  convulsion  of  Christianity— an  a'.;e  of  social  storms  and  religions  revnUi- 
tions.  Catliolieity  was  assailed.  The  authority  of  the  Ilidy  See  was  scoITed  at.  ?Icn  fell  av.'ay 
from  the  Faith  of  their  fathers.  The  Ihii;  of  heresy  waved  In  triumph  over  En^h'.nd.  (iennaiiy, 
and  other  lands.  15iit  the  sons  of  Loyola,  trained  to  virtue,  and  masters  of  all  knowlcdje.  aros« 
in  their  miL'lit.  Tliey  met  Heresy  nKnv  than  half  way  ;  and  Heresy  and  its  professors  have  never 
foi'L'iven  them.  ISiit  the  Catholic  Church  honored  them-  ranked  them  anion'.;  her  noblest,  best, 
flv.d  bravest  sons.  NIneieen  Popes  rjave  their  warm  sanction  to  the  Society.  The  Council  of 
Trent  enlo^i/.ed  their  con«tiiutions  and  shnwed  so  mneli  deferenco  to  the  Order,  tliat  when 
Father  Laynez  was  taken  sick,  the  sittiiiLjs  of  tliat  celebrated  body  were  suspended,  and  resumed 
when  he  was  able  to  bo  present. 

Two  ceiitunes  rolled  hy.  and  Infidelity,  the  ofr,-|irini;  of  Tleresy,  bcL'an  to  plot  the  des'niftion 
of  the  Cli'.'.rch.  Trrellirioiis  L'overnments.  writers,  and  kinjjs  leai^ucd  tocellier  for  this  ladiely 
)iurnose.  The  Jesuits  had  thedistinsnished  lioiiorof  lieiie,'  the  earliest  victims  immolated  tn  the 
hatred  of  these  powerful  wri^tches.  The  Keiitinels  of  Catholicity,  they  wi're  the  tirst  tn  feel  thn 
ra;eof  its  encmifs.  All  their  hoii.ses  in  Porliii.'.il  and  its  colonies  were  suiipresscd  in  I^iS  :  tliu 
French  Parlianient  unpi)ressed  the  Society  in  ITIW  ;  Spain  and  Naples  continued  the  wcirkof  sac- 


l!     .\ 


^[i)ST  ni:v.  juiix  vmuioll,  tid.,  lld. 


nno 


brorluT  BfiTili'I,  F;i flier  Cnrroll  torms  the  8.oei('ty  "tlic  first 
of  all  ecclesiastical  bodies,"  but  exelainis,  with  ])i()iis  aiui 
(rciu'ioiis  li('7'()isni :  "(lod's  holy  will  be  (l(»ne,  ami  may  His 
iidly  name  be  blessed  fon-ver  and  everl" 

The  institutions  of  the  .Jesuit  Fathers  were  given  up  liy 
thi'm<»stoi"  the  governments  of  Europe  to  i)luridi'i\  dcse- 
cratiiiii,  and  every  kind  of  vandali.sin.  Jiriiu-cs  was  j)illa.u'e(l 
liv  tilt!  Austrian  "Tovcrnnu'Ut.  Lieii'c  was  dcjirivrd  of  its 
jncdMie.  and  its  inmates  were  expelled  from  the  home  which 
they  had  madt^  the  seat  of  learnin,!,'  and  religion. 

Tlie  Ka^i^dlsh-speakin,!;-  Jesuits  of  I'^landers  returned  to 
Enixland,  whither  Fatla-r  CanoU  acc{)nii)anied  them,  acted 
!is  the  sccretai'y  in  their  niectiii^s,  and.  in  fact,  comlncted 
the  important  cornispondciice  with  the  French  (iovernment 
m  iclatioa  to  the  property  of  the  suppressed  Society  in 
France. 

While  thus  ena;a,2:ed  in  Kii!.rland,  he  received  the  nppnint- 
nient  of  clia]>lain  to  Lord  Arundel,  and  ttndv  up  his  resi- 
(li'iice  at  W'lrdour  Custl(>.  ])Ut  the  charms  of  this  splendid 
nl)iiile  did  not  withdraw  the  attention  of  the  devoted  priest 
fniiii  the  irrand  and  self-sacrificing  duties  of  his  sacred  call- 
iii'.r.  which  lie  conlinm^d  zealously  to  ])erforni,  whenever  an 
o])]i()rtunity  for  doing  good  was  within  his  ivach.  He  had, 
liowi^vf-r,  lor  some  tinu!  cherished  the  intention  of  r<-lmiiing 
to  Maryland;  and  circumstanc(^s  of  an  exciting  and  impor- 
taut  nature  now  hastened  its  execution. 


rlliL'liiiis  (l(';!|riicti()ii  ill  i;iJ7  ;  and  AiiMlrhi  Fonn  affcnvnrds  followed  tlicir  cMaiiiidcl  Kvi'ii  llila 
fliiv.rliH'r  did  not  >iitir-fy  Ilic  wolves.  Tlii'V  demanded  nolhiiii,'  le^s  Unin  the  i;ller  iM;niliil:iliou 
of  llii'  Society  of  Jesus.  The  situation  of  lOiirope  was  iviily  feaifiil.  I'lenieiit  \1\  .  was  iires.-((l 
(111  nil  side.s.  Tlireats  of  seliisin  ffom  the  so-ealleil,  '•  C'alliolie"  coiiri.s  werelieiird,  in  case  lie  did 
rjltuinply.  Tlin.s  paiiifiilly  placed  i)et«eeii  two  evils  the  Holy  Father  accepted  what  he  con- 
flilered  the  lesser— ho  suppressed  the  Society  of  Jesus  by  tho  brief  Dciiniinin  ac  llnlciiiplur, 
(lilted  July  Slst,  ITTy.  If  Inlldelity  raised  a  howl  of  trimiiiili,  tlie  Catholic  world  sfion  fell  its 
l(i-<. 

\\"\\\\  the  permission  of  Pins  VII.,  tlie  Society  was  revived  in  Kussia  in  ISOl,  ni;.I  six  y^iirs  later 
ill  the  Cnited  States.  In  Aiitrnst,  It-'U,  llie  same  holy  pontift  Ijy  Ihe  bnll,  .sW/i.  i/'c/o,  ollici-illy 
resuivcd  the  Society  of  Jesus  thioii'.'liout  llio  whole  Christiaii  world,  and  tlie  lieeree  was  hailed 
with  joy  by  all  true  friends  of  the  C'liiircli,  of  religion,  uiiU  of  education.— See '• /yifforyc/'W* 
CaUiuiic  i/iurch  in  tits  i'niUd  .SUt'e-;''  pp.  .'35r~0j~. 


1 
1 

1 

11 

t 

1 

Tif  If 


M 


U 


CnAPTKT?   IT. 
DUUixct  Tin;  Ki:\  (H,;  TioN". 

'  IHnpland  and  Jicr  colontts—Iudhrr  Carroll  saih  f^r 
America— "■  I foiiie,  amect  liome"' — (ViftngeK  —Jicstidat 
icith  his  violker  a  I.  Rock  ('ruck — CoiKfrcss  iuviitea  Father 
Car  roll  to  <jo  to  Vuuada—TIic  joiinict^ — litKiiU  of  the 
wis'S'ion — Franklin  and  Father  Carroll — Homcminl— 
Praiiin(f  for  tJie  caiuc  of  / rcc(h)iii—C<>iitrorcrsi/  iriik 
Wharton. 

Tli'>  wai'iu  controversy  hetvvenn  Kriijhiiul  and  licr  /uiicri- 
can  colonies  was  daily  liastiMiini^  ti)  a,  crisiK  Fatlni  CaP' 
roll,  thou:rli  siirronndcd  by  English  Rocicly  iuid  its  \n\]\\- 
cnccs,  at  one  csjioiiscd  the  cans(^  of  his  own  cfjimtry.  iuul 
MtMing"  adieu  to  his  Ixsloved  companions  of  ihe  lat(^  Soricty 
of  Jesus,  and  to  his  n()l)le  and  u'cniToiis  fi'iends  at  Wiu'dnur 
Castli\  he  sailed  fi'oin  England,  and  reached  his  luitivi;  laiul 
in  the  summer  of  177-4. 

'rii<>  ])atriotic  ]iriest  soon  enjoyrMl  the  hn]>]nnoss  of  ntrain 
belioldiin;'  his  venei'able  mother,  his  dear  sisters,  and  many 
of  the  I'riends  ol'  his  youthful  days — 

"TliG  sIiiiiiuli:  (];iy  J  V, '!('ii  lite  was  new, 
Ami  ill!  wv-  lnjglit  :»•  moriiiiiu'  diw," 

TL^  had  left  homo  a  itr'Li'lit  boy  of  fourteen,  and  ro- 
tiU'ued  a  care-worn  man  ot  forty,  destitute  of  lortune,  and 
disaitpointed  in  the  hojies  lie  had  formed  for  the  triimiplis 
of  reli,u-ion,  to  be  achie\-ed  by  the  illustrious  S^x'iety  to 
•which  he  had  pledj^ed  Jiis  failli  forever.  Jt.s  banner  had, 
iudivvl,  been  struck  down;  but  the  glorious  motto,  Ad 
'/iia,'orei/i  Dot  glorian,  was  incribed  upon  his  heart. 

He  had  left  ^laryland  in  a  state  ol  vassalage  to  (ireat  r>;it- 
ain  ;  but  ho  returned  to  iind  her  preparing  to  assert  her  iiide- 
04U 


M\    '\ 


MOST  hi: V  .loiix  c.\u::<n.i.,  d.d.,  i.l.d. 


01 1 


pondt'nro  of  tyi'.-iniiy  und  royjil  .".iithority.  In  tlif  diiys  (if 
liis  yiMitli  Cut  holies  A\  ere  ;i  jn'osciilicd  class,  ^frouud  (lnwii 
1)V  |i<'ii:il  lii^^'''^  'II  tilt  \ery  liiml  whicli  tlicy  luid  coldin/cd  ; 
l)tir  )i''  H'>\\'  foiiiid  Ins  countryiiit'n  eii,u:i^»'d  in  disciissiiiL;' 
LM'cat  (|nestiun.s  of  civil  liberty,  and  he  looked  forward, 
with  11  clear  vision,  to  emancipation  from  all  the  bon(Ia,i:n 
of  t>i,^''■try)  us  u  cuuseq^uence  of  their  buccesisl'ul  battlea  for 
frt'ciloin. 

Tiir  fiitnre  i^.rc^lbisllo))  took  up  lusresidfMice  viih  his 
mother  at  Rock  Creek.  Here,  at  liist,  nroom  in  the  family 
cl\velliii,ii:,  and  snbseqnently,  a  wooden  chap"I,  were  lii(! 
scenes  of  the  holy  i)i'icst's  niinislerial  oll!c(>s.  The  woodtn 
chapel  has  since  been  siijieisedid  l)y  a  neat  brick  church, 
which  is  now  well  known  under  tlu^  revered  name  of  "Car- 
roll's ChapeL" 

At  the  time  of  Fatlier  Cari'oH's  arrival  in  America  there 
was  not  one  Catholic  chnrch  open  in  Maryland.  I'lider 
till'  faaiily  r(jot  only  could  tin  lioly  saciilicc  be  oH'cicd  up 
to  tlie  Alnii^'lity.  This  explains  why  tlieold  Catholic  cha])- 
els  oC  ^^Faryland  contain  ]ar;^e  hearths  and  IIk  j)!aces  \\ithin 
theiii.  ami  massive  brick  (liimiu'ys  jirojectiiii;'  Ihrou.uh  the 
roofs.  In  the  once  beantifully-nanud  "J. and  of  the  Sanc- 
tuary" ther(^  were  then  only  nineteen  Catholic  clergymen — 
all  ex-.Tesiiits.' 

Father  Carroll  contiiuK  d  to  reside  r.t  l^tx'k  Cicek.  Tie 
did  not  wish  to  leave  his  a.ired  mother,  to  whose  declinin.i? 
years  he  was  anxious  to  minister.  His  missionary  labors 
were  chielly  perforna  d  in  the  iiei^udiborinii;  country,  lie 
always  traveled  on  horseback,  nuikin<r  long  and  fre([uent 
journeys  to  distant  Catholic  families  and  settlements,  rid- 
ing-fre(]nently  thirty  nnles  or  moi'(>  to  sick  calls,  and  paying 
inontldy  visits  to  a  small  congregation  of  L'atholics  in  Stiif- 
lord  Cminty,  Virginia,  which  was  distant  illty  or  sixty 
miles  from  his  honu.v'' 


'  Col.  n  U.  Cumphell,  In  ln» '•  Lifo  nnd  Tiiiit-*  t)l  ArclibiHliop  riirrnll,"  >:ivf?s  tlio  namosand 

rc^idciici's  of  tlicyf  Miiryiiniil  iii-.cKts      A"  to  iialiormlity    it  :iii|ic;irs  tli:a  llftriT.  of  tlii'iii  wtTf  iia- 
tivi'S of  M;inlaiKl,  llirt'i'  Kiiu'li^luiien.  iiiid  ono  a  JVIt-i.iii.     , 
'TUuru  wa:-  only  wi«  lilUi.'  .Miot  in  Virginia  \Yl;orc  tU^- 2)e?ial code  Uid  not  rule    Forming,  be  It 


"m 


il 


;?!'■': 


I'i 


M^- 


i 


C.;3  2I0ST  nEV.  JOIIX  carroll,  rd.,  ll.d. 

Ariel"  about  eiglitfoji  niontlis  tlms  spent,  iu  the  nrti'.-e  ,ln- 
ties  (jf  the  holy  luiuistry,  tiio  call  of  his  ('(tiuitry  .sum- 
iiioned  Father  Carroll  to  her  service.  Open  war  lauvd  be 
t-.vee'U  England  and  the  thirteen  colonit  s.  The.  .luipes  of  n 
,s(>tlleinent  had  vanished,  and  I'or  the  lirst  time  was  heard 
the  mn2;ic  sound  of  the  word  Independence.     To  .uain  tlio 


active  assis 


tance   of  the  Canadians,  or  at   lea.sf  iu 


<eciU'e 


their  neutrality,  was  a  matter  of  the  hig'hest  inipoHance. 
Congress  appointed  three  commissioners  to  repair  to  Can- 
ada. Tliey  woi-e  i)r.  jicnijamiu  i^'rankiin,  Samuel  Clias(^, 
and  Cliarles  Carroll  of  CarroUtou,  and  by  as])ecial  reselu- 
tion  the  last-named  gentleman  was  desired  "to  pievail  en 
Mr.  John  Carroll  to  accompany  the  committee  to  Canada, 
to  assist  them  in  su(di  matters  as  they  shall   think  useful."' 

Father  (Jarroll  acceded  to  the  recpiest  of  Congress.  Af- 
ter four  we«dvs  of  toil,  exposure,  and  uiuisual  diilicul- 
ties,  wliieh,  however,  di<l  not  dampen  the  cheerful  spirits  of 
the  patriotic  travelers,  nor  check  the  ever-ready  and  en- 
tertaining wit  of  Dr.  Fraidxlin,  th(^y  reached  .Montreal  on 
t!i(^  n'ght  of  the  L'Oth  of  April,  ITTG.' 

WhiU;  the  commissioners  Avere  n(^i2'otiatina:  wi!h  the  an- 


(lid,  II  rt'in.'ivkable  oxcrption,  it  (Ip.^tTvos  n  word  of  iiotico.  Tliis  littio  spnt.  oniisi'cnitrd  to  n  IIl'- 
ijus  fiTcdom,  \v;h  ill  (St:ilf>)ril  CiMiity,  and  wiis  called  Wood-^tofk.  TIic  iiili;ibi!:iiit<  ^M•rl'  vi-<t('(l 
wit'.i  till' rijrlit  of  frci'ly  ('xi'ivi-^inj;  tlic'ir  rcliorioii,  by  a  »norial  crniiit  nrdiT  tlic  royal  siijii' t  if 
James  11.  Captain  Cooi-lji.' Itroiit  was  tlu' Iradrr  of  tills  band  of  rallinllc  pIlLTini''  in  VirL'iiii.i, 
In  I<!Sii,  two  of  whose  di-scoiulants  won-  mari-icd  to  Ann^'  and  KUaiior ', 'arroll,  si^icrs  of  K;'v.  Mr 
I'aiToU,  a,  the  tiiiii'  of  his  missionary  visits  to  StafTovd,  In  17T."i-(;. 

The  ori'_'inai  docnnii'iit  by  which  .Tamns  H.  conferred  this  sinsrnl'ir  privilese— "inmln"  "f  '•'■'' 
time— on  Wood-tockis  ^iven  by  Dr.  Ciarkr'  in  bis  "  ^fenioir  of  Arc-bbis!iop  Cnrro'I."  'I'! '  .'A')* 
pnHfan.  Vol.  TV.    Also,  in  bis  "  fares  nf  ti,,.  [)„oot^,.  l  I'.islion-i."  Vol.  T. 

For  a  liiiiulred  years,  in  the  midst  of  perils,  tills  brave  little  band  of  CnlhoMrs  r^L'i  Hv  ai'.lii  rcl 
to  tb"!r  reli'jion.  They  were  oecasinnally  visited  by  priests  from  "Maryliind.  who  nlv  iiys  cres-cil 
t'le  roloinac  for  that  pnrpo-"'  in  dis'inise.  The  ^ood  Falher  Framlvuk.  who  frequenily  iiMentli'd 
them,  had  to  exercise  the  greatest  rantinn  to  avoid  discovery,  sli'epin;:  L'enerally  in  tin-  ■^tiihlc  iic- 
pide  his  horse.  Ill  nr.lnr  to  b,- prepared  for  sudden  tliudit.  On  one  occasion  he  bfirclv  c^cipi'l 
with  his  life.  m<  fMlllifnl  hor-e  carried  him  safelv  fbroiinb  the  water  of  the  Tcitoniiic  ;  hat  h« 
was  lired  upon  before  h?  liad  reachi'(l  the  ^Maryland  side  of  the  river, 

1  To  lb  •  eeriest  of  (■•.in-.TC-''.  ^fr,  C  irroll  aere.led.  with  the  \new.  sn  far  as  be  was  to  liiivo  an 
a'.'eiuy,  to  iiid'ice  the  inhabitai, ts  of  that  comilry  wdio  pro  sed  the  same  r  ■li.'ion  with  limi'i'l., 
to  remain  neatral  and  to  refrain  from  nkuv-  up  arms  on  the  side  of  fireat  Ibltain  :  fnrllKr  lli:in 
this,  he  deemed  It  inconinalibl,' with  his  cliiriicter  as  a  minister  of  rclliiion 'o  intcrfcre.-/.'Wi  . 
Pee  ".Toarnal  of  Pharle-  CarBoll  of  trarrolllon  dnriinr  his  vl  ^it  to  Cinada  in  ITTH." 
rather  rarroll  addr-s-ed  a  letter  to  his  niolher  dated  at  Montreal.  May  1st.  wliirli  al-o  '-''y'"_"j' 
•nterrstiii','  account  of  the  journey  to  Canada.  It  can  be  found  in  the  "Auiericau  Archives,  \  o 
V.  p.  IIOS. 


\  m 


MOST  EEV.  JOnX  CARROLL,  IX D.,  LL.I). 


G43 


tliorUit^s,  ivp:ulatiii,a:  the  affairs  of  the  Amoriran  forees  then 
ill  Caiia'ln.  and  carrying-  out  tlie  iiistruciions  of  Coniiress, 
Father  Carroll  was  visiting  the  Canadian  dergy,  exjJaining 
tln'  nature  and  principles  of  the  nn-olntioiuuy  struggle, 
pointing  oTit  tlie  identity  of  desliiiy  and  interest  which 
(iiiuht  to  nnite  Canada  to  tlie  English  Colonies,  and  in  an- 
swering ohjections,  removing  i^rejtidiccs  of  race,  and 
appwduig  to  their  love  of  lilierty.  lie  was  treated  with 
resiK-ct  and  ]ist(>ni'd  to  with  polite  attention. 

Bat  both  the  commissioners  and  Father  Carroll  I'eceived 
the  same  answer  from  llic  Canadians—that  for  themselves 
liioy  had  no  canse  of  complaint  against  tli(>  li(jme  govern- 
nicat  of  (Jre;;t  ]?ritain,  which  had  guaranteed  to  tlicm  the 
iivi'  and  full  exercise  of  their  religion,  liberty,  and  prop- 
erty, and  t-liat  in  return  the  duty  of  allegiance  and  lidelity 
was  (li;e  fi'om  the  (.'anadians  (o  the  government.' 

The  mission  was  IVuirlHss.  Charles  Carroll  of  Carrollton 
and  Sanuu'l  Chase  remained  in  Canada  to  attend  to  thciif- 
iairs  of  the  army."  But  ])r.  Franklin's  health  became  so 
]K)()r  tlnit  he  was  foi'ced  to  leave  the  country  without  de- 
L'ly.  and  Father  Carroll  became  his  comi)anion  on  the 
lioiiH'ward  journey.  The  priest  and  the  iihihxsoph.er  con- 
tnuii'd  a  siiicer<^  friendship,  as  we  learn  iVom  the  giateful 
l('tto]'s  of  Franklin.  On  reaching  Js^ew  York  he  wrote: 
''As  to  mys(df,  T  gi'ow  daily  more  fee])!e,  and  I  shf>uld 
luiidly  liav(>  got  along  so  far  but  for  ^Ir.  Canoirs  friendly 
as>-isi:mce  and  tC'Uder  care  of  me." 

On  liis  return  home  to  Roj-k  Creek,  FatlMM'  Cairoll  re- 
siiincil  the  duties  of  the  sacriMl  ministry,  wliich  he  con- 
tinued (o  p(MTorm  without  inteiruiition  duiing  the  whole 
Ki'vnhitionai'y  War.  Throughout  the  long  an.d  gi'(>at 
f>trn'j,i:le  he  ard(>nt]y  sympathized  in  the  caus(>of  liidejtend- 
t'nce.     In  his  coi'rcspondence'  with  his  late  brethren  in  Ihig- 


'  Then-  '.vrro,  nf  roiiTT.  nth(>r  reasons  why  ho  C.inadiiin"  dirl  iinf  '■.'in-  to  join  IijiikI-^  with  lh(>  I->i','- 
il'li  mlmiii'-  in  thi'  uiviil  !>lrM'_"."li'.  ^Vi-  liiivo  not  >|iiii'('  hcri'  In  j:ivc  llu'iii  mi  (iciiiil  '  t  uiiihI  siilliro 
Itisiy,  liii\v:>viT,  tli.'it  \\\e  lii'.'o'Oil  iiiii'.rii:!;'i'  iitiI  liy  ihc  rioviiii-i;il  Coiiini--  i;l  nn-lnTi  ,ii  lTV:i,  iiiiU 
ll  ";pi:l:li('  c'xpri's-loii,;  of  iii-:ilt  to  lUi'  I  niliolir  Kiiilii.  iisccl  iit  iitlii'r  liliitc-r  uboiU  llii'  'iiintj  ailio, 
«•(•■,!' licv.v  riTiillr'I  liy  till'  CiiiiiMli.iiis.  Mil  1  «l:()  C'lii  jiislly  lilnmr  llirm  \ 

''  S.'|.  sKiich  r,f  rlKirl(>.!  f 'irroll  (if  CiUrolUoii  in  tlic  present  voliimo, 

'  Sir  Ci.iijilu'll'.x  •  /.ii'nKiir.i." 


(t 


a    I 


I    1 


iw 


!f 


G-14 


MOST  nEV.  JOUX  CARROLL,  I).T).,  LL.L). 


land  lio  explained  and  defended  its  in-inciples,  ;;!!(!  olTenxl 
up  constant  and  fervent  players  for  its  sufceKS.  Aial  no 
citizen  of  tlie  Re])ul)lic  saw  with  greater  joy  tlie  consuniiuiition 
of  the  giorions  result  of  the  contest,  eiilianced  as  this  p;;!ii. 
otic  joy  was  on  tlie  cessation  of  strife  and  cainage,  and  the 
blessed  return  of  peace  and  happiness. 

Fatlier  Carroll's  i)owers  as  a  controversialist  wore  sum- 
moned into  service  in  17S4.  Tlie  Kev.  ]\ir.  Whmidiu  hiy 
f(n'mer  friend  and  fellow-nieinber  of  the  ISociety  of  .lesus, 
had  apostatized  from  tln^  Catholic  Faith,  aiid  written  a  j)ul)- 
lic  letter  attacking  its  pi'i!ici[»Ies.  The  reply  is  worthy  uf  (jur 
iirst  Archbisho}),  and  is  noted  for  its  strength,  elegance, 
and  triumphant  logic. 

Wharton,  among  other  charges,  had  asserted  that, 
"neither  transubstantiation,  no?'  the  infallibility  of  the 
Konian  Church,  are  taught  moro  ex])licitly  as  articles  of 
faith  than  the  impossibility  of  being  saved  out  of  the  cum- 

ninnion  of  this  Church." 

• 

Father  Carroll  replies  thus  to  this  point:  "I  boijiu 
with  observing  that  to  be  in  the  communion  ot  ihn 
Catholic  Church,  and  to  1x3  a  member  of  thi>  Catholic 
Church,  are  two  very  distinct  things.  They  are  in  Ihn 
communion  of  the  Ckurcli.,  who  are  united  in  the  jtrofcs- 
sion  of  her  faith,  and  participation  of  her  saci'amt'i'.ts, 
through  th''  ministry  and  government  of  hoi'  lawful  jiiis- 
tors.  l^tit  the  vwinhers  of  Ihi'  ('(itTidlU'  Cliiirch  aic  :i]I 
those  who,  with  a  sincere  lieart.  set^k  true  religion.  ;iii'l 
are  in  an  unfeigned  disposition  to  embrace  the  truth  wliiu- 
(>ver   they   liiid  it. 

"  Now  it  never  was  our  do'^trln<>  that  salvation  can  I)i'  ol)- 
tamed  only  l)y  the  ff)rmer,  and"  this  would  have  nianifosily 
appeared,  if  the  chaplain,'  instead  of  citing'  Pope  I'ins's 
creed  from  hi>;  nv^mory,  or  some  unfair  copy,  hail  taken 
the  pains  to  examine  a  faithful  transcript  of  it.  These  are 
tlie  words  of  the  obnoxious cret'd.  and  not  tho'-e  wroiii'.fiilly 
quoted  by  him.  which  are  not  to  be  found  in  it.     After  eim- 


1  Wluirtou. 


MOST  nnv.  joiix  cariwll,  d.i).,  ll.i). 


G45 


nirrntinp:  tlie  severnl  artiHes  of  onr  belief,  ifcgoeson  tlnis: 
'  77//.S'  ti  lie  ('aiJiollc  F((i(h,  idf/ioiit  icltirjiuo  one  caji  be 
jifin'l,  I  do  at  tills  present  final ij  pro/ess  and  sliwcrel/j 
Ii'M: 

"Here  is  notliinj^  of  the  necessity  of  comvivn inn  Aviili 
our  Cluireli  for  .salvation;  and  nothing,  I  i)ixMnne,  but 
^vll:U  is  tauglit  in  every  Cliiistian  .soeiiMy  on  eairli,  viz., 
that  Catliolic  Faith  is  necessary  to  salvation.  The  di:;- 
tini'tioii  bi'tween  being  a  nieniber  of  tJie  Catholic  VJnirc];, 
aiiil  et'  the  coinntunion  of  the  Church,  is  no  modern  di.s- 
tinclion,  but  a  doctrine  nniforndy  tanght  by  anciep.t  as 
w'>ll  as  later  divines.  ^V/t(lt  is  said,  says  ]](^llarmiiie, 
(f  none  hcinr/  saved  out  cf  the  Church,  must  he  itwhr- 
slooil  <f  those  who  belong  not  to  it  either  in  fatt  or 
(h'.sire.'' 

i'ath(>r  Carroll,  after  dwelling  at  considerable  length  on 
the  charity  and  hiiulness  of  the  Catholic,  Church,  refers 
auaiii  to  the  question  of  exclusive  salvation,  deeming  i(,  :;s 
lie  says,  "of  the  utmost  Importance  to  charity  and  mutu;;l 
f<i!'h('ai'ance  to  render  our  doctrine  on  this  head  as  perspic- 
uous as  I  am  able." 

'•Fiist,  then,"  ho  continues,  "it  has  been  always  and 
uuifunuly  asserted  by  our  divines,  that  Baptisra,  act;::.l 
]5:ii>ii-;in.  is  essentially  requisite  to  initiate  us  into  ih(i 
(ouiiiiunion  of  the  Churcli ;  this  not\vithstandin;r,  their 
(luctriiie  is  not  less  uniform,  and  the  Council  of  Trent 
(Scss.  ().  chap.  4.')  has  expi'essly  establisluMl  it,  that  sal- 
vation may  be  obtained  without  actual  Baptism.  Thus, 
tlii'ii,  it  appears  that  wo  not  only  -v/";/.  but  (tre  (ihliijul 
to  believe  that  out  <f  our  couun.union,  .salvation  may  be 
obtained. 

'•Siv'oudlv,  with  tiie  same  unanimitv,  our  divines  delirn^ 
Jicrcsy  tol)e,  not  mt'rcly  a  mistaken  opinion  in  matters  of 
Faith,  but  an  ol)stinaro  adhei'ence  to  that  opinion;  r.oi 
baivly  an  error  of  judgment,  but  an  error  arising  from  a 
piMverse  allection  of  the  will.  Hence  they  infer  that  lie  \^ 
no  heretic  who,  though  he  hold  false  ojiinions  in  nuitters 
of  faith,  yet  remains  in  a  habitual  dioposilion  to  renounce 


IJ 


',     -^ 


i    '. 


prtl 


M 


rl 


1    ,  >:     \. 


i:  r 


046 


MOST  REV.  JOIIX  CARROLL.  D.D.,  LI..D. 


tliose  opinions,  wlienever  he  discovers  tliem   to  Ije  coiitiai y 
t.)  the  doctrines  of  Jesus  Ciirist."  ' 


'  "I  call  liim  (>'.ily  n  licrcllc,  who,  when  the  rtoctniie  ot  C'ailic/lic  I'aith  in  iii;iiiit\v.i,.ri  t<!!i:aj, 
pn'fuH  rt'.^Nlanci'."— >V.  AiKjxiMne. 

"  Ilcri'sy  In  a  Christian,  or  liapli/.cd  ppr.-ou,  i.i  'i  \vi;.fUi  ana  oost:iu»io  error  of  Uic  uinlcrL^tdKt' 
ing,  iu  oypusition  lo  soiuu  triuh  of  i'wlh." — Mouur. 


CHAPTER  m. 

FATHER   CxlllKOLL   AND   OUIl  EAKLY   ClirRCir. 

Sta/e  of  ecclesiastical  jurisdiction  hcfore  the  Revolution — 
Viliat  the  cJevf/i/  of  ^lari/land  and  Pennsz/Irania  did — 
Father  Carroll  appointed,  Prefect  Apostolic — Dr. 
FranJdin —  W'asJii /if/ton  at  Mass— Dr.  Carrolf  s  loJjors 
— Appointed  first  Bishop  of  Baltimore — /Statistics  of 
Catholicity. 

Before  the  War  of  the  Hevohition,  the  Catliolic  Clercy  of 
Maryland  and  Pennsylvania  wore  subject  to  the  ecclesi- 
asticiil  jurisdiction  of  tlie  A'icar-Apostolic  or  liishop  of 
London,  England,  who  was  repr'^sentod  in  these  iJrovlnces 
by  his  Vicar-General,  tlie  liev.  Fallier  Lewis,  Superior  of 
the  Society  of  Jesus  here,  at  the  date  of  its  supiircssion. 

Sooii  after  tlie  termination  of  the  war,  however,  the 
clerii'y  of  Maryhind  and  Pennsylvania,  being  sensible  that, 
to  diM'ive  all  advantnge  from  the  new  state  of  things  in 
America,  it  Avouhl  be  proper  to  have  an  ecclesiastical  supe- 
rior in  the  country  itself ;  and  knowing  the  jealousy  pre- 
vailing in  the  American  governments  against  the  right  of 
jurisdiction  being  vested  in  a  person  residing  in  Gi'eat 
Britain,  addressed  themselves  to  the  Holy  See.  ])i'aying  that 
!i  su]i('rior  might  be  allowed,  and  that  he  might  be  chosen 
jiy  ilie  chn-gy,  subject  to  the  approbation  and  conlirmation 
of  liis  Holiness. 

Tli(>  Anunican  clergy  believed  the  timo  and  the  circum- 
stances of  the  new  nation  as  premature  for  the  ])i'esence  of 
n  Ijislio]),  Tlie^^  simidy  desired  a  sujierior  with  some  of 
the  episcopal  powers.  The  Holy  See,  in  its  wisdom,  came 
to  the  same  conclusion,  and  resolved  to  give  Mai  viand  a 
provisional  ecclesiastical  organization.     Tlie   leai'm-d  and 

G-17 


i  5.; 


in 


m 


I    i  1 


I. 


G4S 


MOST  REV.  JOJIX  CARROLL,  I).D  ,  LL.I). 


puti'ioti(^  l?ov.  Dr.  Carroll  recfived  the  nppointniont.  II9 
was  (.Mupowered,  among  other  things,  to  bless  tiie  holy  nils, 
and  to  administer  tlie  sacrament  of  conlirnuUion.  This 
liol\'  sacram  'lit,  which  strengthens  faith  in  man,  had  iievt-r 
yet  been  coiifeiTed  in  the  I'nited  States. 

But  we  must  not  onnt  to  mention  a  fact  as  inttn-estir.:^ 
as  it  is  singular.  Th(!  venerable  statesman  and  pllil(l^o• 
pher,  Dr.  Franklin — then  tiie  American  miiuster  at  Paii.s— 
]iad  an  honorable  share  in  the  nomination  of  the  future 
Patrivr(di  of  the  Catlu-  .,;  Church  in  the  f'nited  States. 
"''  '  '.  the  Nuncio  at  Paris,''  writ(L\s  Father  Thorpe,  in 
a  Ic  c  :'^  Rev.  Dr.  Carrol!,  from  J?ome,  dated  June  Otli, 
1781,  "a]iplied  to  ]\ir,  Franklin,  the  old  genth-iiiau  re- 
in umbered  :n\i  ;  he  had  his  memory  refreshed  before, 
though  ,,  on  i.ad  m  idestly  put  your  own  name  iu  the  last 
place  of  the  list."  Fraidvlin's  Dlanj  records  this  nieiii- 
orable  event  thus: 

"1781,  Jnl'l  \^f. — The  Pop(^'s  Xnncio  called  and  ac- 
quainted me  that  the  Pope  had,  on  my  r('''onimendali(in, 
appointed  Mr.  Jolin  Carroll  8u])erior  of  the  Catholic  cicrgy 
in  Amei'ica,  with  many  of  the  powers  of  a  Ijisliop,  and  that, 
probably,  he  would  l)e  made  a  Bisho]:)  In  jxiiiibuH  before 
the  end  of  the  year." 

In  consulting  Dr.  Franklin,  the  Tfoly  Sim>  sinijily  wislicd  to 
pay  an  act  of  courtesy  to  the  young  Pepublic.  TIh^  Con- 
stitution of  the  United  States,  which  i)laces  religion  beyond 
the  sphere  of  the  civil  power,  was  not  yet  drafted.  And  it 
need  excire  no  astonishment  that  even  educated  Europe 
was  not  familiar  with  the  principles  which  underlie  the 
American  (government. 

The  Very  Rev,  Dr.  Carroll,  as  Prefect  Apostolic,  at  once 
began  his  visits.  His  l(»ug  j(»urn(\vs  were  chiell>'  through 
Alaryland,  Pennsylvania,  and  Xew  York,  The  first,  as  the 
seat  of  the  old  Catholic  colony,  liad  still  a  resjiectalile  num- 
ber of  Catholics ;  and  in  Pennsylvania,  Dr.  Carroll  found  a 
pi)l)uhitiou  of  about  seven  t]u)usand  faithful. 

Some  time  before  the  arrival  of  the  Prefect  Apostolic, 
Pliiladelphia  was  the  scene  of  a  notable  religious  ceremony. 


MOST  REV.  JOHN  CABnOLL,  D.B..  LL.B 


C49 


lont.  lis 
lioly  oils, 
(m/  This 
luid  iievor 

iiforpstir.a; 
L  iiliilo.'o- 
it  P; iris- 
he  future 
'd  States, 
'liorpc.  in 
.luno  91  h. 
Iciuaii  i(>- 
(l  Ix^oi'e, 
ill  tlic  last 
diis  nu'Ui- 

L  and  ar- 
lendation, 
5lic  clergy 
,  and  tliat, 
UH  before 

wishi'd  to 
ThcCiin- 
n  beyond 
.  And  it 
1  I'ju'ope 
lerlie  the 

c.  at  onc;^ 
:  tlirouirh 

fst.  a<  tlie 
il)li'  nuin- 
I'ound  a 

\|l(istnli(% 

•(■reinony. 


At  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  War  a  solemn  Te  Dernn  was 
flianted  in  St.  Josex)h's  church,  at  the  request  of  the  Marquis 
(1-  la  Luzerne,  the  French  embassador.  lie  invited  the  nieni- 
bcrs  of  tlie  United  States  Congress,  as  wcdl  as  the  principal 
(generals  and  distinguished  citizens,  to  attend.  Washington 
and  Lafayette  were  present.  The  Abbe  Bandalo  delivered 
a  most  (doquent  discourse.  "AVho  but  He,"  exclaimed  the 
eloquent  priest,  "He  in  whose  hands  are  the  hearts  of  men, 
could  inspire  the  allied  troops  with  the  friendship,  the  c(mri- 
(Lmk'c,  the  tenderness  of  brothers?  Ah!  the  combination  of  so 
many  fortunate  circumstances  is  an  emanation  of  the  all-per- 
fect ^[ind.  That  courage,  that  skill,  that  activity  bear  the  sa- 
cred impression  of  Ilim  who  is  divine.  .  ,  .  Let  US  with  one 
voire  ]i()ur  forth  to  the  Lord  that  liynm  of  praise  by 
^vhi(•h  Christians  celebrate  their  gratitude  and  His  glory— 
Tc  Dim  m  Laud  a  m  u  .s'. " 

For  live  j-ears,  Very  Rev,  Dr.  Carroll,  as  Prefect  Aposi 
tolic.  toiled  on  with  the  amiability  and  zeal  of  an  apostle, 
daily  encountering  obstacles  from  the  nature  of  his  duties, 
from  insubordinate  priests  and  laity,  that  would  have  dis' 
couraged  any  but  the  bravest  spirit. 

'•Everyday,"  he  writes,  "furnishes  me  with  new  reflec- 
tions, and  almost  every  day  produces  new  events  to  alarm 
my  conscience,  and  excite  fresh  solicitude  at  the  prospect 
before  me.  You  cannot  conceive  the  trouble  I  suffer  al- 
ready, and  still  greater  which  I  foresee,  from  the  medley 
of  clerical  characters  coming  from  different  quarters  and 
various  educations,  and  seeking  employment  here.  I  can- 
pot  avoid  employing  some  of  them,  and  they  begin  soon  to 
create  disturbances." 

This  state  of  things  was  almost  to  be  expected,  on 
account  of  the  heterogeneous  character  of  both  i)eoplo 
and  clergy.  As  many  of  the  clergy  were  entirely  ignor- 
ant of  the  English  language,  and  others  in  no  very 
good  repute  at  home,  it  was  soon  found  that  anqjler 
powers  than  those  possessed  by  the  Prefect  Apostolic  were 
needed  to  hold  the  tangled  reins  of  authority  with  proper 
tirnmess. 


I'    <"i 


!' 


W 


n 


\\  n 


V4^  \ 


.k. 


050 


MOST  rj:V.  JOHN  caiuioll,  d.d.,  i.l.d. 


T]i!3   principal   incnihors   of    Mic-   American    dcj-pry  wlio 
had   tlie  .u'fjocl   oi'    rcliuioii  at   licart   asseiiiMod,  and  pci. 
tlouecl    Koine   lur  a   bishop.     The    rt'tpiest   was    graiircd 
witli  tli<3  privilt\'i;c  (.£   si'lecling  llio   candidal o  and   of  lo- 


catinj 


iH  ni'W  si'i' 


Tliey  iixed   n[)oii   ]'alliiii()r( 


I114 


beini;:,'"  writes  Dr.  Cai'roll  to  a  clerical  friend  in  Eumi,!- 
"  tlio  prini.'ipal    town  in  ]Mai'yiand,  and  lliat  State  Viein; 
the  oldest,  and  still  the  most  nnnierous  residence  of  ti 
religion   in   Anieiica.     So    fiii    all   was    riglit.     W 
proc 


tie 


;eetled  to  tlio  election,  the  event  of  which 


ilifii 

was    such  ;!S 


deprives  me  of  all  expectation  of  vest  or  ]>leasiire  licnce- 
forward,  and  lills  nie  v.itli  terror  witli  lespc'ct  to  eteruiiv. 
I  am  so  stunn(,'d  with  the  issue  of  tliis  business,  tliat  I 
truly  hate  tlie  hearin.g  or  the  mention  of  it;  and,  liiere- 
fore,  will  say  only,  tliat  since  my  brethren — v.-jioai  in  tlii.-i 
oase  I  consi(h'r  as  the  interpreters  of  ilie  Divine  \\'ill  — 
say  I  must  obey,  I  will  do  it  ;  but  by  obeying  shall  sacii- 
tice   henceforward   eveiv  moment  of    pieace   and   satisfnc- 


tion. 


One  of  Dr 


ii'roll 


s  cons])icuous  cjualitirs,  a  k\\\ 


Ins 


ity  tliat    shed  a  luster  over  his  whole  character,  was  1 
modest  humiliiy — 

'  ITiiinility,  flml  low  swi.'pt  root 
From  wiiich  ;iil  liciwiily  \'irtiica  shoot  1" 

By  the  IT;)ly  See  lu;  was  nominated  lirst  I'isho])  of  l^alti- 
more  On  the  rec('[)tion  of  tiio  oflicial  documents  the  n(MV 
prelate  at  once  pi'ocee(h'd  to  England  for  cons(M'ration.  The 
solemn  ceremony  took  place  in  Lnlworth  Castle,  the  lordly 
residcmce  of  the  pious  Thomas  Weld,  on  Sunday.  Aiii'iist 
l.'th,  171H;.  The  consecrator  was  "Rt.  llev.  Dr.  Walni.Nlcy, 
senior  Catholu;  bishop  of  Great  Dritain. 

Late  m  the  same  year  Hishop  Carroll  reached  the  slions 
of  America,  was  joyfully  welcomed  by  his  people,  and  in- 
stalled in  his  episcopal  see.  On  the  Sunday  of  installiiti'-n 
he  addressed  them  a  discoui-se  which  shall  ever  remain  a 
masterpiece  of  sacr(>d  elocpience. 

''This  day.  niy  dear  bn^thren,''  began  the  v(mer;ible  niniL 
''impresses  deeply  on  my  mind  u  lively  sense  oi  the  new  re- 


MOST  REV.  JOHN  CARROLL,  D.D.,  LL.I). 


G.'l 


latioii  in  wliicli  I  stand  before  you.  The  shade  of  retire- 
in.. nr  and  solitude  must  no  lon^^-er  be  my  hope  and  XH'ospect 
ofcnnsdlation.  Often  have  I  ilatt(n'ed  my.self  tliat  my  dc- 
clinin.ii:  years  would  be  indulged  in  sucli  a  state  of  rest  fioni 
l;il)or  and  solicitude  for  others,  as  Avonld  leave  me  the  bt'.sfc 
(,j,|i()iiiiiiity  of  attending  to  the  great  concern  of  my  own 
siilvatioii,  and  of  conlining  myself  to  remendu'i-  my  jiast, 
y!';irs  in  the  bitterness  oi"  comi)uncti<)n.  But  it  has  jjlea-ed 
(iod  to  order  olliei wise;  and  though  my  duty  commands 
siibniission,  it  cannot  allay  my  fears— those  fears  which  1 
feel  fur  yon  and  for  myself.  .  .  „  .  .  In  God  alone  can  1  lind 
jiny  I'onsDlation.  lb;  knows  by  wdiat  steps  I  have  been  con- 
(Itictod  to  this  important  station,  and  how  much  I  have  al- 
ways dreaded  it.  He  will  not  abandon  me  unless  I  iii'sfc 
(jr;i\v  down  J  lis  malediction  by  my  unfaithfulness,  to  my 
chaii:''.  I'ray,  dear  bretlnvn,  ])ray  incessantly  that  I  may 
not  incur  so  dreadful  a  punishment.  Alas  !  the  punish- 
ment would  fall  on  you  as  well  as  myself— my  unfaithful- 
ness wonkl  redound  on  you,  and  dejjrive  you  (if  some  of 
the  iiii'ans  of  salvation."  AVhat  modest  grandeur  and  sim- 
ple sublimity  mark  these  first  utterances  of  the  Patriarch  of 
tli(^  American  Church  ! 

At  this  ]iolnt  it  may  be  proper  to  exnnnne  into  the  num- 
ber of  lUshop  Carroll's  spiritual  children  in  171)0.  Kelig- 
inns  statistics  in  our  country  have  been  at  all  tim(>s  in  :i 
misty,  unsatisfactory  condition.  This  early  date  was  no 
exec] ii ion.  All  ligures.  therefore,  in  that  connection,  aie 
to  he  received  as  approximations — guesses  at  trutli.  'I'lie 
first  national  census  was  taken  in  ITDO,  and  gave  us  a  total 
wiiite  ]iopnla(i()n  of  nearly  '5.200.000.  Of  these  a1)out  ;50,(i(;0 
wci'i' Catholics.'  Accoi'ding  to  this  estimate,  o?.!r;  in ev<'iy'  oua 
lnni<lrnl  (i)i(l  ten  (){  ti?  Avliite  po])ulation  was  a 'Catholic. 
15is1iii|>  (^arroll's  diocese  was  the  Ignited  States.  His  jiriest'^ 
wmv  bt'tween  thii'ty  and  forty  in  number  ;  while  his  small 
l»iit  wide-spread  Hock  was  distributed  somewhat  as  follows: 

'  M;mv  wrlfiTs  ron^ictcr  thi-i  ton  siiiiill.    Some  tin'TitiiHi  .lO.fKXI,  ami  even  higlier,  as  Ijcin^jiii'arcr 
Uiicxiut  iiuiiibfr.    Tlio  above  is  Uisliui)  CarruH's  fi-tiiiiate. 


v\    * 


i! 


[i '  I 


i    1 


It    * 


I 


\'    1 


H 


■     I     1     '  1 


4 


t    l! 


n 


i.  r: 


iji/ii 


C52 


MOST  REV.  JOHN  CARUOLL,  D.I).,  LL.B. 


16,000  in  Maryland;  7,000  in  Pennyslvania ;  3,000  at.  D.troi^ 
and  Vincennes ;  2,500  in  Illinois,  and  in  all  the  otliL-r 
States  together  there  were  not  perhai)S  more  than  ],5(iO— 
in  all  about  30,000.  Such  was  the  American  Church  at  the 
date  the  Holy  Father  firmly  planted  the  corner-stone  by 
erecting  the  first  episcopal  see  of  Baltimore. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


PLANTING  THE  CROSS. 


m 


The  Church  of  the  United  States  and  its  early  troiihles— 
J^is'hop  Carroll  directinrf  the  pioneers  of  the  Faith — 
GeorgetoiDii  College  founded — TJie  first  Synod  of  Balti- 
more— Visiting  Boston — Priests  from  France — '•''Fxiles 
of  Erin'''' — Baltimore  becomes  a  metropolitan  see — Four 
■new  Bishops — The  death  of  Archbishop  Carroll. 

As  an  organized  body  the  Catholic  Church  of  America 
now  fairly  began  its  heavenly  mission.  The  field  was  vast, 
the  laborers  few.  If  the  dark  times  had  passed,  and  the 
beautiful  star  of  hope  shone  brightly,  still  obstacles,  almost 
numberless,  appeared  on  every  side.  The  majority  of  the 
Catholics  were  poor.  Most  of  them  were  fjiitliful  Irish  who 
liad  Hed  from  English  tyranny  and  spoliation ;  numbers  of 
tl'.eni  were  exiled  French  and  Germans,  who  had  gladly 
escaped  from  the  ruin  and  desolation  that  threatened 
European  society. 

In  many  States  the  very  name  of  Catholic  was  held  in 
contempt.  The  battle-ground  was  changed.  It  was  no  longer 
a  struggle  for  existence  with  odious  penal  enactments,  but 
a  ceaseless  conflict  with  ignorance  and  fanaticism — remains 
of  an  unhappy  past. 

At  all  hazards,  however,  the  Faith  was  to  be  pres«^- v^j-il. 
and  extended.  To  many  Catholics  the  very  sight  of  ii 
priest  was  something  dimly  remembered.  They  had  not, 
beheld  one  for  years !  The  practice  of  their  religion  was 
like  a  happy  dream  of  youthful  days---almost  forgotten, 
yet  the  sweet  memory  of  which  lingered  in  the  mind.  The 
Sunday  of  fjrst  communion,  with  its  celestial  peace  of  soul 
—who  can  forget  it?    In  the  life  of  the  true  Catholic,  it  is 

C53 


Nl' 


.it^i 


I'M 


H 


Mii 


ii    ! 


i 


I 


(Ml 


MOST  nr.V.  J()1I\  (  AIUIOLL.  D.I)..  1. 1.  I). 


that   hri^^lit   diiy — tliat   day  ol'  beauty  wliicli  is  a  juvfor- 

OV(M'  ' 

Bisliop  Carroll,  aniline:  liiniscif  witli  /'>al,  ff)iira,ii;i\ 
l)ali('iiri',  caltiily  siir\'('y(Ml  (lie  iiimirii.sc  Held  ;  aiid  lik(  ,.,i 
alili'  cniiiiiiaiidt'r,  laid  down  his  i)lans,  and  at  oiicc  l)rn;;m 
ni)i'ralion8  AVitli  lialtimon*  as  abase  and  center  dl'  ;if. 
(ion.  he  soon  made  liis  p(j\Vi.'r  felt  and  I'esjieeted  even  to  tin; 
extreinitie.s  of  Georgia,  jNfaine,  and  Mielii,L:an.  A  spiiitual 
JIannilinl,  t  ho  wise  prelate  skilll'idly  nianeiueivd  his  sinail 
baml  of  a  few  doze'n  priests,  lie  /j:ave  each  iiastor  hislieiic- 
(li(;tion.  cheered  him  on  in  his  diflienlties,  remindiiiu-  him 
of  his  high  mission  as  a  member  of  the  vang'iiard  for  ilie 
<'on;[uesi  of  .souls.  Weak  points  were  strengthened;  eiic- 
Tnies  awed  into  neutrals,  or  changed  into  fast  friends  ;  aiid 
the  outj)osts  of  the  Faith  gradually  extended.  This  is  no 
imaginary  ]:ictu.ro.  Tho  i.rudence  and  lofty  zeal  of  T- 
('  rroll  (  hallenL^e  uiujualitiod  admiration. 

Wl'.ile  yer  Prefect  Apostolic,  Dr.  Carroll  had  begun 
foundation  of  (Jeoi'getown  College.  His  i)Iaii  eiiibiaci'd  ;; 
theological  S(?niiiiary  to  conduct  the  studies  of  candidates 
for  tho  ])riestliood,  and  an  a(^ad(;iny  for  the  education  of 
youth.  The  site  selected  by  its  venerable  foumler  for  this 
iirst  and  oldest  of  our  colleges  could  not  have  bem  iiiore 
judiciously  chosen,  eitlier  for  hoaltli,  advantages  of  loca- 
tion, or  beauty  and  grandeur  of  scenery.' 


«  fionrsotown  Col'fffc.  D.  C,  U  Ibo  oldest  niul  most  vcnornl)Ie  r.itliolic  feat  of  IcnriiiiiL'  in  ttii 
CiiilKl  Stall'''.  U  was  fgimilrcl  by  lii-liop  Carroll  in  lV8il,  mill  two  yoars  after  opeiu'd  it-  hall-  lo 
itU'li'iits.  At  lir.-'t  it  \v:i,<  ciinply  a  ini'paraiory  Ki  liool.  Tlie  lir.-t  i-ludiiit  wa<  the  faiiiuu<  Wll- 
Tioi  C.nstiii,  of  North  Carnliiia.  No  iiotf,  jiaMilcr,  or  |iliilosop|]ir  tould  liave  sc'lcctiil  a  plai'B 
fcioro  picliiro.-ipie  and  iii  olln-r  respuots  butter  adapted  tor  a  college,  tliau  tin.-  huburb.fof  (leori;>;. 
town. 

"'i.idilion  lia-^  preserved  111"  drfail"  of  W.T'Iiinijton'rt  visit  lo  <;rnrL;elowii.  The  little  e(illr:;o 
viis  yet  MirniMiided  by  a  wliile-wasl.c  I  palin;;  feiiee,  when  tho  rather  of  Ids  CouiUry  arrived  en 
ho'si'baek,  without  suite  and  iiiialtml'd  Hi- led  Id-;  horse  to  the  siiiiplu  eiieiosure,  niul  wai 
J'rsr  reecived  by  the  late  Kev.  \\'illi:iiii  Matthews,  llieii  a  yoniij;  professor.  The  J-'atliers  iiiwe 
h;in  a  most  eordlal  welcome.  On  vis4tiim;  tlie  whole  cstablisliiiieiit,  WashiiiL'ton  expre-sed  lim 
ndiiiiratioii  at  the  inaL'idlieent  view  whieli  tlii!  liei'.ilits  of  (ii  oijretown  enjoy  ;  but  as  it  was  win- 
ter, ami  an  iey  breeze  made  the  party  nhiver,  the  ^'reat  (ieneial  obt'ervcd  lliat  tliey  liail  to  pup 
chase  llie  lieailties  of  nature  in  suiniiier  Ijy  tlie  winter's  storm. 

In  tlie  fall  of  ISOI,  tlie  stand.ird  of  stiiilies  WHS  raised  niid  f.'enrcplown  herame  a  folleL'e.  In 
Sl.iy,  IHl."),  .laniis  .Madison  bejni;  President  of  the  I'liited  States,  the  eoHc'.'e.was  elevated  hvacl 
or  <  ■.MiL'-n'ss  to  the  rank  of  a  nniver.-ity.  Shortly  after  this  d.ite,  tlie  ■Idiji  Katliers  took  foriiiiil 
tunuol  of  the  iujlituiiun,  for  up  lo  this  they  were  often  attisted  by  other  tleii^ynieu.    it^  pro* 


^11 


MOST  iu:v.  Jons  rMtnoi.i..  D.n ,  j.i.d. 


n:.') 


Ill  \ovem1)or,  1701,  tlio  nislu)p  coiivcno;!  }iis  first  synod 
ill  Diiltiinore.  It  nuinl)'Mv;l  twiMify-two  clfr'/yiiicii.  Tlio 
s;iliil:iry  iiKsisiires  iuloitted  by  tliiit  body  rciiiuiu  to  this  (l;iy 
■I  iiiiinuitiHiit  of  its  wisdom. 

Al)  I'll  rills  time  Dr.  (J:iri'oll  paid  Lis  first  opiscr)j)al  visit 
to  iIh'  ciipitiil  of  New  Kti,Li,laiid.  '"Ir  is  woiulci'l'id,"  Iks 
wrlh'-^,  ""to  tell  what  jj;roaf  civilities  liavc  been  done  to  iim 
ill  1)  istoii,  wluTff  a  few  ycai-s  a,'i;o,  a  '  l*oj)ish  '  i»ri»'sl  was 
tliouudit  to  b«'  the  Ejreatost  moiistei'  In  creation.  Many  hero, 
esvu  of  their  princiiial  i)enple,  hav«^  aekno^\le(l,L;■ed  to  ino 
that  tlit'y  wonld  liavo  crossed  to  tin?  o])posite  side?  ol'  Ihti 
stri'i't rather  tlian  nieft  a  Koman  Catholic  some  fiitie  a,i;'o. 
The  liornn'  which  was  associated  with  the  idea  of  a  "  }ia[)ist' 
id  inia'edible;  and  the  scandalous  misrepresentation  by 
their  ministers  I'.iereased  the  horror  t.'vory  :''anday." 

On  the  other  side  of  tins  Athmtlc,  aiTairs  iiad  reached  a 
f.M'i'ihle  crisis.  ^Vliilo  Divine  Providence  was  ])reparliig  on 
this  Western  ContineJit  a  new  and  ,2:i'atefnl  Held  for  tlio 
sof'd  of  ti'ulh,  it  was  disi)osin,i;  even's  in  Europe  and  other 
(•(luntrii's  for  snpplylni;;  that  Held  wirh  zealous  and  active 
liiherers  who  would  brin^c  forth  fruit  in  fjrootl  season.  The 
French  Revolution,  Avitli  all  its  irreli-"io!is  horrors,  burst 
upon  th(^  worl'l,  (bdiiudn'j;  unhappy  I'^'ance  in  tlie  blood  of 
her  b(>st  and  bravest  sons.  It  was  a  fearful  upheaval  of 
society— a  social  volcano. 

I'lit  what  was  a  misfortune  for  the  land  of  St.  .Lonis, 
])reved  a  blessin,;:!:  to  the  L'liked  States.  PietweiMi  1701  and 
1711'.).  twenty-three  French  ])rie.vt-H  souu-ht  a  refiiixe  on  our 
slioivs.  In"  learnin,u^  virtue,  and  polished  manners,  they 
were  worthy  representatives  of  their  Divine;  ]\raster.     Ivicli 


pcrity  (lujcs  from  this  pnlnt.    Tn  ISB,  tlip  ii-tronomicnl  ohsorviitory  wiis  orcctrtl.    'VXw  iik  dical 
(Icpurim^'iit  wa-.  opcnoil  in  May.  IrtM.  and  Itic  law  tlcpartnu'nt  in  Oc'folicr,  isri). 

Tliconll.r<-conlalnsas)ilrii(li.I  llhnryof  liO.OOl  VDlunicH  ;  a  notaniral  eiinscrvaKivy :  av.cll- 
flllrd  anil  t;^«ti'fnllv  arraM'_'i>d  caliinct  nf  inin-ralo-y  and  ^colou'v.  Tlic  total  nnnii^cr  of  irradii- 
ntos  1^  rsrt.    f)f  thrsi!  ^-.l  h.^'onu  to   the  art''.  ."71  to  tlu'  incdit-i.,  and  (11  to  tli:'  law  di'iiartnn>nl!». 


The  prc-cnf  numln'r  of_Hlndcnt<  i 


O.-*') :  profi'-^jor^.  10.    Ci'Mirjii'town  rnivcr-dly  !\:i«  liad  Iwcniy- 


ts.    A'noni;  Cii'sp  wen' Hi-^liop  Dubonri;,  Tilshoj)   I'V'nwick,  and   Arclihi^lioii  N'alc. 


two  [iri'sidcn 

Ainonu'llio  dislinL'iiislii'd  profo->;oi-«  of  d'onx'-lown  nviv 


lanii'ft  Falli'T.j  Wallace,  Kciiiniaii, 


Si'ochI,  Ward.  Fulton,  and  S'lnimT.    Tlu>  pre 


lit   pri'.<id  ■III  i^<  K'V,  Patric'.i  V.  Uoaiy,  S.  J.- 


t   V, 


:; » ■ 


7  »l 


1 1 

4  I  v? ; 


'  I, 


s  riM 


VttVidar  iristory  of  the  CalMic  Church  in  the  CiiteU  Slat-Ji- 


I 


II 


606 


MOST  REV.  JOHN  CARROLL,  D.D.LL.D. 


one  was  a  valuable  acquisition  for  cur  young  and  stnif^^gling 
Church.  Each  was  a  host  in  himself.  Six  of  them,  FJa^ret, 
Cheverus,  Dubois,  David,  Dubourg,  and  ]Vrur6clial,  ut'ter- 
ward-s  became  bishops.  The  names  of  Ma'ignon,  Badin, 
Kichards,  Ciquard,  Xagot,  Nerinclcx,'  and  others  will  bo 
liL'ld  in  benediction  to  the  latest  ages. 

Tile  arrival  of  these  soldiers  of  tlie  Cross  enabled  Bishop 
Carroll  to  extend  and  partly  consolidate  his  vast  diocese. 
•  The  Catholic  Church  of  the  United  States,"says  Archbishop 
Spalding,  "ia  deeplv  indebted  to  the  zeal  of  the  exiled 
French  clergy.  No  portion  of  the  American  Church  owes 
more  to  them  than  that  of  Kentucky.  They  supplied  our 
infant  missions  with  most  of  their  earlier  and  most  zealoua 
laborers,  and  they  likewise  gave  to  us  our  first  bishops. 
There  is  something  in  the  elasticity  and  buoyancy  of  the 
character  of  the  French  which  adapts  them  in  a  peculiar 
manner  to  foreign  missions.  The}''  have  always  been  the 
best  missionaries  anion;!;  the  North  American  Indians ;  they 
can  mould  their  cliara'-ier  to  suit  every  circumstance  and 
emergency;  they  can  be  at  home  and  cheerful  everywhere. 
The  French  clergy  wlio  landed  on  our  shores,  though  vv.w.y 
of  them  had  been  trained  up  amid  all  the  refinements  of 
polished  France,  could  yet  submit  without  a  murmur  to  all 
the  hardships  and  privations  of  a  mission  on  the  frontiers 
of  civilization,  or  in  the  very  heart  of  the  wilderness.  They 
could  adapt  themselves  to  the  climate,  mould  themselves  to 
the  feelings  and  habits  of  a  people  opposite  to  them  in 
temperament  and  character." 

Scarcely  had  the  nineteerfh  century  dawned,  when 
the  great  tide  of  immigration  began  to  set  in  for  [\w 
sliores  of  the  New  World.  If  the  French  Kevolution  caused 
many  distinguished  men,  both  clerical  and  lay,  to  cast 
their  lot  in  our  land,  the  Irish  Rebellion  of  1708,  and  ifs 
fatal  termination,  likewise  forced  thousands  of  '"Exiles  of 
Erin''  to  s(iek  their  fortunes  in  some  clime  more  favoivd 
than  their  own  unhapjiy  Isle.     For  them  the  United  States 

»  faitRT  Nuriuck;:  was  u  uativu  of  Uuii^'iiim— :i  man  of  Bin^iilarly  auftcro  and  oaintly  life. 


m 


MOSi  REV.  JOHN  CARROLL,  B.D.,  LL.D. 


657 


had  a  mysterioub  iittraction,  and  the  star  of  destiny  guided 
their  course  westward. 

It  was  cliietly  on  account  of  this  vast  stream  of  immigra- 
tion that  our  Church  grew  rapidly  in  numbers.  In  1807. 
the  Catholics  of  N^ew  York  City  numbered  about  14,000. 
Seventeen  years  before  they  were  set  down  ai  less  than  one 
hundred/  It  was  regarded  as  something  marvelous,  when, 
in  1808,  six  priests  were  ordained  in  one  day,  which,  writes 
the  venerable  Dr.  Carroll,  was  "a  happy  day  for  the  diocese.'' 
Ill  view  of  this  increase,  the  Sovereign  Pontiff  deemed 
it  expedient:  to  raise  Baltimore  to  the  rank  of  a  Metropoli- 
tan Soe,  with  four  suffragan  bishoprics—New  York,  Phila- 
delphia. Boston,  and  Bardstown,  Kentucky. 

The  Uev.  Michael  Egan,  O.  S.  F.,  was  appointed  to  Phil- 
adelphia ;  Rev.  John  Cheverus,  to  Boston ;  and  IJev.  Bene- 
dict Flaget,  S.  S.  S.,  to  Bardstown.  They  were  all  conse- 
crated by  Archbishop  C.irrol,  at  Baltimore,  in  the  autumn 
oi  1810-  The  llev.  Luke  Concanen,  O.  S.  D.,  appointed 
for  New  York,  was  consecrated  at  Rome,  but  he  died  at 
Naples  on  the  eve  of  embarking  for  his  diocese.  At  thia 
time  there  were  about  seventy  priests  and  eighty  churclies 
in  the  United  Stntos.  with  a  Catholic  population  of  prob- 
ably one  hundred  and  lifty  thousand.  Of  the  five  prelates, 
one  was  an  American,  two  were  French,  and  two  Irish. 

Archbishop  Carroll  gathered  around  him  the  newly-conse- 
crated bish()i):5  in  council.  It  was  a  simple  but  venerable  as- 
sembly. Rules  of  discipline  were  drawn  up  for  the  future  gov- 
ernment of  the  American  Church;  and  throwing  themselvoe 
in  spirit  at  the  feet  of  the  Sovereign  Pontiff,  these  pioneer 
prelates  of  the  New  World  addressed  him  a  beautiful  letter 
of  submission,  asking  his  sanction,  instruction,  and  assist- 
ance in  the  government  of  their  churches.  They  also 
addressed  a  brief  but  admirable  pastoral  letter  to  tho 
Catholics  of  the  United  States. 

The  venerable  Archbishop  now  devoted  the  remainder 
of  his  days,  strength,  and  energy  to  the  great  work  of 
building  up  the  Church  and  strengthening  the  outposts  of 
religion  in  hh  own  archdiocese.     Nothing  escaped  his  gen- 


I .  '' 


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■•  I 


!'«! 


iH! 


Vim  :  ■ 


:f      \ 


I   ^, 


C^vS 


MOSTREV.  JOTIX  C.\r,nOLL,  T).T).,  T.L  D. 


tl(\  wa(('lirul  care  until  tlio  light  of  tlii.s  world  LiCivd  from 
his.  ej-('s. 

A  quarlor  of  a  century  liad  rolled  by  sinre  lio  -was  rrcatcd 
Jjishop,  and  ai>])ointed  orclesinsrical  ruler  of  this  Repidjlic. 
Ciod  had  hlessed  his  laliors.  The  Catholic  Church  of  tlio 
United  States  had  reached  a  point  in  nmn hers  and  pros]  lerilv 
as  unexpected  as  it  was  cncouraginp,-.  AVhen  his  episcopnto 
be;^an,  the  country  was  without  rfdi^c^ions  ordei's  or  educa- 
tional establishments.  2s ow  there-  was  a  great  change. 
Cliielly  by  his  exertions,  the  Jesuits,  Sulpitians,  Angusrin- 
ians,  Dominicans.  Caiani'lites,  Visitation  >.'un«,  Sisters  of 
Charity,  and  others  had  })lanted  themselves  in  the  soil,  a;ul 
were  growing  up  like  beautiful  vines  about  the  tree  of 
the  Church.  The  Uiuted  States  was  an  ecclesiastical  ju'ov- 
ince,  with  its  bishops,  an  increasing  body  of  clergy,  and  a 
Caiholic  population  numbering  over  two  hundred  thoi;sand. 
In  the  midst  ot  thes(i  happy  circumstances  God  called  awiiy 
his  faithful  s(>rvaiit.  At  the  ripe  ohl  age  of  eighty  one,  on 
]>(.'cend)er  'Sd-  IS!."),  departed  tjao  venerable  Dr.  Carroll, 
equally  illustrious  as  a  man,  as  a  Catholic,  as  a  patriot,  os 
a  Jesuit  Fa.ther.  as  a  Hidio]),  as  an  Archbishop,  and  as  tue 
Father  and  Founder  of  the  Aniei'ican  Church. 


[  ftiucd  from 

^  Avas  cicnt;! 
lis  T?cj)ii!)!ic. 
mirli  (.f  tli(! 
i(IlM"os])orily 
is  ojiiscnpnto 
rs  or  educa- 

s,  Aiigvistin- 
?,  yif^tHrs  of 
tlie  soil,  and 

the  treo  of 
:isii('al  ]))'ov- 
]prii-y,  and  a 
xl  thousand. 

called  away 
L^iity  Olio,  on 
Dr.  Carroil, 
1  pafriof.  as 
>,  and  as  uie 


»l 


m 


rv 


u 


.M 


Mi  ill 


! 


h  •  r- 


MRS.   E.  A.  SETON, 


FOUNDRESS    AND     HHST    SUPERIOR    OF    THE    SISTEKS    OF    CHARITY 
IN    THE    UNITED    STATES. 


f  i 


MOTHER  ELIZABETH  ANN  SETON, 

FOUNDKESS   OF   THE    SISTEKS    OF   CIIAUITY   IN    THE    UNITED    STATES,* 


t  ' 


CITAPTEll  I. 

EAIILY   YKAltS    OF   Ol'U   iri'ROrXK. 

Bir/h—Parrnf-'f — JMacat/'ofi — .Rdi^/ion  —  I'rr.^o?/  rrJrrpnrnr- 
anc.e — Marriaije—t^plrU  >]f  pht'j — Af;  a  iiioi/n.r—j..'LUL/o 
of  Dr.  B(t;fJ('>/. 

Elizab(>tli  Anil  Baj^leywas  born  in  Xew  York  City  on  tlie 
2Stli  of  Aim'usf,  ITT-i.  8ii(;  was  llio  younn'f'r  diiu.uhrcr''  of 
Dr.  JvJcliartL  Bayley,  a  (listinguishod  Auu'ru'an  physician. 
Ill  licr  (hirtl  year  death  deprived  the  eliild  of  the  affect  ion- 
ate  care  of  lier  iuoiIkh' ;  but  slie  I'diind  a  tender  ;ui<i  nio^i, 
excellent  ii'iiardian  in  her  accctinplished  I'atlier. 

Dr.  Ilayley  watclied  over  the  education  of  his  little 
daiiii'liter  Avitli  the  most  lovin:i;and  ceaseless  solicitude;  and 
.IS  she  advanced  in  life  all  her  aflections  became  centen'd  ia 
licr  fatluu-.  Eli/.alieth  numifested  this  unbounded  ntlav'ii- 
iiiciit  in  various  "ways.  Often,  when  at  school,  slie  would 
Icani  her  task  (piickly,  rejx'at  it,  and  tlien  watch  a  favor- 
able op])oi'tMnity  of  eludinu;  the  vi.-i'ilance  of  lier  mistress,  in 
oiilci'  to  run  (hi\yn  the  street  to  meet  her  father,  wlio]);issed 
thiit  way,  enibi'ace  him,  and  then  hasten  back  before  tlui 
old  lady  conld  notice  Jier  id;senct^ ! 

Miss  Bayley  was  brouu-Iit  up  in  tln^  docti'ines  and  prac- 
tices of  the   Protestant  J-'piscopal  Churcli,  to  which  lier 


■('!  '.'t  .'iiirlicinlipsiU'cd:  Iti'V.  Dr.  Wliitc.  "  Lift;  nf  ^tis,  F.  A.  8;''<)ri;''  "  llrrdiiics  uf  L'liaill};" 
".V  J'ii;m;:ir  llWlnry  ol'  lln'  enliiDllr  ('liar.'li  in  tliu  L'nilud  bUVjs," 
• .".:  I^MjIiy  luid  (Mily  tuo  I'luMuu—uiiuglitcrs. 


i  fk 


'\ 


'11 


:  )H 


-^ 


\m,  I 


I   = 


;       1 .  M 

U 

(M 

660 


MOTHER  ELIZABETn  ANN  SETOIT. 


if    V 


;■!{ 


parents  and  all  her  friends  belonjred.  Her  mind,  howover 
was  free  from  any  tinge  of  bigotry,  and  she  even  ndmired 
soaie  Catholic  practices  of  piety.  She  wore  on  lier  person 
a  small  crucifix — the  emblem  of  man's  redemption— and 
was  ol'ii'n  heard  to  express  her  astonishment  that  this  cus- 
tom was  not  more  prevalent  among  persons  of  her  own 
communion. 

In  tlie  growth  of  Miss  Bayley  we  notice  an  admirable 
harmony — body,  mind,  character,  all  grew  and  ripened  to- 
gether. An  excellent  character,  moulded  by  nature  and 
education,  ruled  her  every  act.  In  person  she  was  of  low 
stature,  but  her  figure  was  well  proportioned,  and  her  move, 
ments  graceful.  There  was  a  charm  in  her  vivacity  and 
clieerfulness.  A  perfect  symmetry  was  displayed  in  her 
features,  which,  with  the  sparkling  yet  mild  expippsion  of 
her  eye,  rendered  her  countenance  the  very  mirror  of  a 
noble  and  intelligent  soul. 

Such  was  Miss  Bayley,  when,  in  her  twentieth  year,  she 
l/ecame  the  wife  of  Mr.  William  Seton,  a  highly  respectable 
merchant  of  New  York  City,  part  of  whose  early  life  had 
been  spent  in  a  mercantile  house  in  Leghorn  ;  a  circum- 
stance upon  which,  as  the  sequel  of  our  narrative  will  show, 
was  mysteriously  dependent  her  conversion  to  the  Catholic 
faith,  and  all  its  consequent  blessings  to  countless  souls. 
Endeared  to  a  large  circle  of  admiring  friends  by  her  lively 
disposition  and  numerous  virtues,  and  married  to  an  esti- 
mable and  prosperous  man,  every  wordly  happiness  seemed 
now  to  be  opened  around  her;  but  instead  of  forgetting  in 
these  gifts  their  transitory  nature,  she  kept  strictly  before 
her  mind  that  every  dispensation  of  life  came  from  God; 
and  vras  thus  not  unprepared  for  those  trials  and  adversi- 
ties which  it  was  Tlis  will  should  be  her  portion. 

■\Viibiu  the  first  year  of  her  marriage,  writing  to  lier  luis- 
b  lutl,  who  was  necessarily  absent  from  her,  and  exposed  to 
some  danger  of  the  yellow  fever,  she  calms  her  natural  anx- 
iety ])y  the  reflection  that  "patience  and  submission  are 
the  only  ways  to  gain  the  blessings  of  Heaven."  And  to 
another  person  she  writes,    "We  are  not  always  to  have 


MOTHER  ELIZABETH  ANN  SETON 


661 


what  we  like  best  in  this^  world,  thank  Heaven  !  for  if  vo 
had,  how  soon  we  should  forget  the  other,  the  place  of  end- 
less p^'ice;  where  they  wha  were  united  by  virtue  and  af- 
fection here  will  surely  enjoy  that  union  so  often  inter- 
rupted while  on  their  journey  home."  Nor  are  these  re- 
marks mere  matters  of  course  •  from  Mrs.  Seton  they  meant 
all  that  is  said.  Naturally  amiable  though  she  was,  it  was 
la  constant  prayer  and  meditation  that  she  sought  for 
strength  and  wisdom  to  meet  the  exigencies  of  her  daily 
intercourse  with  the  world.  Much  of  her  time  was  always 
spent  in  this  manner ;  and  it  was  not  in  words  only,  but  in 
heart  and  soul,  that  she  referred  every  event  and  hope  to 
God. 

About  the  beginning  of  the  year  1800,  Mr.  Seton' s  affairs 
became  much  embarrassed  from  the  consequences  of  the 
war,  and  other  vicissitudes  always  incident  to  trade.  Mrs. 
Seton' s  woll-discii)lined  mind  rose  in  proportion  to  the 
necessities  of  the  occasion  ;  and  she  not  only  cheered  him 
by  her  unfailing  courage  and  fortitude,  but  aided  him  ef- 
ficiently in  the  arrangement  of  his  papers.  "It  would  not 
do,"  sliesaid,  "for  hearts  and  fortunes  to  sink  together." 

For  her  own  part,  she  turned  her  strength  and  consolation 
to  the  only  source  of  both  ;  and  the  following  prayer  will 
show  very  vividly  the  true  state  of  her  mind  at  this  period 
of  her  life:  'The  cup  that  our  Father  has  given  us,  .^hall 
we  not  drink  it  ?  O  blessed  Saviour  !  by  the  bitterness  of 
Thy  pains  we  may  estimate  the  power  of  Thy  love  ;  we  are 
sure  of  Thy  kindness  and  compassion.  Thou  wouldest  not 
willin^lv  call  on  us  to  suffer :  Thou  hast  declared  unto  us 
that  all  things  shall  work  together  lor  our  good,  if  we  are 
faithful  to  Thee ;  and  therefore,  if  Thou  so  ordainest  it, 
welcome  disappointment  and  poverty,  welcome  sickness  and 
pain,  welcome  even  shame  and  contempt  and  calumny.  If 
this  be  a  rough  and  thorny  path,  it  is  one  which  Thou  hast 
gone  before  us.  Where  wo  see  Thy  footsteps,  we  cannot 
repine.  Meanwhile,  Thou  wilt  support  ns  with  the  conso- 
lations of  Thy  grace ;  and  even  here  Thou  canst  more  than 
compensate  us  for  any  temporal  sufferings,  by  the  posses- 


i  I 


i   j   !  Ill 


002 


MOTUER  ELIZABETH  AK^  SETOX 


k 


:::l 


'\i 


sion  of  that  peace  wliich  the  Avorld  can  neither  give  nor 
talvo  away." 

In  the  eoursoof  years  Mrs.  Seton  beenme  tlio  mcjtlier  of 
five  cliiklren,  Anna-Maria,  William,  Richard,  Catherine- 
Josephine,  and  Rebecca.  She  was  the  fondest  and  most 
tender  of  mothers  ;  but  her  love  was  piirilied  and  strengtli- 
ened  by  the  continual  rellectioii  that  she  had  received  these 
children  from  God  to  train  them  for  Ili.s  kingdom.  Sjio 
watched  over  their  spiritual  welfare  even  more  anxiouslv 
than  over  their  temporal ;  and  was  not  restrained  by  any 
liuman  weakness  from  i;-uiding  them  inllcxibly  in  what  she 
believed  to  be  the  right  way.  Still,  her  reproofs  wi-re  min- 
gled with  sweetness  ;  and  with  the  sure  tact  of  a  mother's 
lieart,  she  won  them  to  the  knowledge  and  love  of  virtue. 
She  w^ould  write  short  notes  to  them  on  p.irticnlur  occa- 
sions, v.'hich  impre-iised  their  minds  with  contrition  fortheir 
little  faults,  and  inspired  desires  to  form  and  pei'severe  in 
the  happiest  resolutions  ;  nor  was  any  oj)pnrtunity  sulfered 
to  pass  away  unimproved,  that  could  lead  their  infant  hearts 
to  God. 

The  following  note,  allressed  to  her  eldest  daughter 
when  a  very  little  girl,  may  be  taken  as  a  specimen  of  the 
sim|de  but  earnest  tone  of  un:ifTect(nl  goodness  which  per- 
vades these  compositions:  "My  dearest  Anna  must  remem- 
ber that  our  Blessed  Lord  gave  us  the  parable  of  the  wise 
and  foolish  virgins  to  make  us  careful  to  choose  our  part; 
M'ith  the  wise  ones,  and  to  keep  us  in  readiness  for  His 
coming,  which  will  be  in  an  hour  that  we  know  not  of ;  and 
should  lie  lind  us,  dear  child,  out  of  the  road  of  our  duty, 
like  sheep  gone  astray  from  their  shepherd,  where  shall 
we"  hide  from  His  presence,  who  can  see  throuL^di  the  darl;- 
est  shades,  and  bring  us  from  the  furthest  ends  of  tlip 
world  I  If  we  would  j)lease  ITim,  and  be  found  amon,c;st 
Ills  children,  we  must  learn  what  our  duty  is,  pray  to  lliin 
for  grace  to  doit,  and  then  set  our  whole  heart  and  soul  to 
perform  it.  And  what  is  your  duty,  my  dear  child  ?  Aon 
know  it,  and  I  pray  God  to  keep  you  in  it;  that  in  tliat 
blessed  day  when  He  shall  come  to  call  us  to  our  heavenly 


W     ■ 

-4+- 


MOTHER   ELIZABETH  ANN  SETON. 


C63 


lioino.  we  may  see  our  dear  Anna  in  the  num])or  of  those 
l)l,.ss(  (I  cliiUlren  to  whom  He  will  say,  'Come,  ye  blessed  of 

'"y  i'-it^'"'-'  YouK  OWN  iJKAU  Mother."' 

Xnr  \v:i3  it  to  her  own  children  alone  tliut  Mrs.  Seton's 
inlliieiice  was  conlined.  She  sought,  wliert^ver  it  was  pos- 
silile,  to  draw  the  hearts  of  othtu's  to  the  ronsidoratiou  of 
their  trin;  welfare  ,  and  that  in  a  strain  of  suelialfec'tionato 
solicitude,  that  her  eiforts  were  seldom  altoi;'<!tlier  witiiout 
elTect.  And  not  content  with  giving  good  advice,  slie  also 
s'.'t  a  most  edifying  exanlple  of  active  charity  towards  tho 
J)  lor  and  suffering.  So  Z(>alous  was  she  in  this  respect, 
that  she  and  another  rekitive  wlm  frequent  y  accompanied 
her  were  commonly  called  Protestant  Sisters  of  Charity. 
Olio  wlio  knew  lier  well  at  this  time  says  of  her,  "Slio  con- 
sidered no  sacrifice  too  great  to  promote  tlie  glory  of  her 
heiivenly  Master,  and  add  to  tho  felicity  of  her  fellow-crea- 
tiuvs."' 

ft  i\Mvorthy  of  romai'k  also,  with  wliat  singular  fervor 
and  devotion  Mrs.  Seton  was  in  tlie  liul)it  of  receiving  the 
Lord's  Supper,  as  it  is  called,  in  the  Episcopalian  Church, 
ller  wh.)]e  soul  w.is  bent  on  reaching  our  Saviour's  ju'es- 
ence;  and  she  would  often  nfter  the  service  obtain  some  of 
the  remaining  elements,  and  evengofi'om  one  church  to 
another  to  renew  her  i>articipation  in  this  rite,  which  np- 
l^eui's  to  liave  been  administered,  at  certain  lixed  l)ut 
rare  intervals,  sinuiltaneously  in  all  the  churches  of  the 
city. 

lu  1  SOI  she  lost  her  venerated  and  beloved  fa  I  her,  Dr. 
Bayley.  The  close  attachment  subsisting  between  jiarent 
and  child  had  been  only  niore  firmly^  c(>mented  by  tho  lapse 
111:  years;  and  although  her  father  luul  mari'ieil  a  second 
limo,  and  she  herself  was  surrounded  bv  all  the  engross- 
ments  of  a  young  family,  Mrs.  Seton  never  faihnl  to  devote 
a  portion  of  every 


dav  to  visiting  him  in  the  midst  of  his 


arduous  and  benevolent  labors. 

lli'alth  physician  to    the  })ort   of  Xew  York   during  tlio 
last  three  or  four  years  of  his  life,  ho  found  full  scope  i^or 


1- 


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664 


MOTHER  ELIZABETH  ANN  SETON. 


his  iinhmmdecl  philanthropy  among  the  vessels  detainctl  in 
quarantine  on  account  of  the  yellow  fever,  wliich  was  tiien 
raging  The  scenes  of  distress  all  around  him  were  ]t;,st 
description  ,  yet  there  his  energetic  and  generous  spiiit 
seemed  to  find  its  true  element.  He  was  everywhere 
amongst  the  sick  and  the  dying ;  always  rheerfui,  and 
never  wearying.  Gladly  would  his  daughter  have  been  at 
his  side,  to  share  his  noble  elTorts  for  the  poor  sullerinf 
emigrants,  who  were  dying  by  hundreds ;  indeed,  so 
strongly  was  her  sympathy  excited  on  their  behalf,  that 
nothing  but  her  father's  positive  prohibition  kept  her 
from  weaning  her  own  infant,  that  she  might  become  a 
nurse  to  some  of  those  unfortunate  babes  who  were  perish- 
ing, simply  from  want  of  nourishment,  beside  their  dead  or 
dying  mothers.  She  was  also  much  struck  at  this  time  by 
the  religious  devotion  which  she  witnessed  among  the  noor 
faithful  Irish  emigrants,  whose  first  act  on  landing  at  Staten 
Island  was  to  assemble  under  the  open  canopy  of  heaven, 
and  kneeling  down,  to  adore  God  for  His  mercy. 

It  was  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty  amongst  the  emigrants 
that  Dr.  Bayley  was  at  last  seized  with  the  illness  which 
within  a  week  carried  him  to  the  grave.  Mrs.  Soton's 
anguish  can  scarcely  be  described ;  she  watched  day  and 
night  beside  his  bed,  soothing  him  and  praying  for  him: 
but  her  special  subject  of  anxiety  was  the  prospect  of  his 
eoul  for  all  eternity.  It  is  true  that  he  was  much  re- 
spected and  beloved  for  his  generous  benevolence  and 
many  other  excellent  qualities ;  but  he  had  imbibed  what 
were  then  called  ''philosophical  principles";  so  that  the 
loving  and  devout  heart  of  his  daughter  M-as  tortured  by 
uncertainty  as  to  the  condition  of  his  soul  in  the  sight  of 
God.  Under  these  circumstances  no  sacrifice  seemed  too 
great,  if  only  she  could  wring  therefrom  some  confidence 
as  to  his  acceptance  with  God.  Leaving  his  dying  bed  for 
an  Instant,  she  took  from  the  cradle  her  sleeping  infant; 
and  going  out  into  the  open  air,  she  raised  it  to  heaven, 
and  thus  appealed  to  Infinite  Love:  "0  Jesus,  my  merciful 
Father  and  God,  take  this  little  innocent  offering  j  I  give  it 


MOTHER  ELIZABETH  AyX  SETOX. 


GCT) 


to  Thop  with  all  my  heart ;  tahc  it,  iny  Lord,  but  save  luy 
fiitlifi-'s  soul !  '  Tlio  child  was,  however,  sjjared,  to  iMM-ome 
with  its  i^iother  a  iiieuiber  of  the  true  Church;  luid  Dr. 
Ijiiyley  exjtired  on  the  JOth  of  Au^iist,  1801.' 

Umli'r  this  heavy  trial,  Mrs.  Setous  deterniiuatiou  to 
love  and  to  serve  God  was  only  the  nioro  streuj^tlK'ned  ; 
and  she  thus  records  her  lirru  resolve  to  use  every 
means  in  hei-  power  to  "work  out  liar  salvation"  :  '"Sdl- 
piinily.  in  tlie  pres(>n('e  of  my  Jud'^-e,  I  resolve  thri)M;;h  His 
gi'aci'  to  rrnieniher  my  inUrniity  and  my  sin;  to  keep  (he 
diioi"  ol"  niy  lii»s;  to  consider  the  cause  of  sorrow  foi'  sin 
ill  llly^e!!■,  and  those  whose  souls  ar(.*  as-d(.>ar  to  me  as  my 
own;  to  cheek  and  restrain  all  usr'less  woi'ds ;  to  di'M\'  luy- 
seU'  and  exercise  that  sevcu-ity  that  I  know  is  due  to  my 
sin;  ti)  judge  myself,  thereby  trustinu;  through  niei'cy  that 
I  sliail  not  be  severely  judg'(jd  hy  niy  Lord." 

'  Tlu!*  liorlriltiiro  !«  to  bo  found  anidiij;  Mrs.  Seton's  pnixTS,  in  her  own  liiuul-wrilin?, 
liiil  nio-i  pioh  ihly  ivfiTs  to  lier  fiitliur: 

"Ills  voii'o  is  pvculiarly  ailnptcd  loi'liocrllie  dcspondins  iiiid  ciunur:);,'!'  the  licmblin^  ^nfTcl•t'r, 
who  shrinks  willi  fastidious  delicacy  frnni  niiy  of  the  rcnii'rllcsof  the  licalintr  art.  Xoi-  is  its  in- 
Siifncc  li'ss  ^allltal■y  to  thu  bcini;  who,  shaken  by  the  lenipests  of  the  world,  yet  slni;.'-'les  to 
braM'  Ilieai.  and  support  a  claim  to  reason  and  forlitnde.  Nature  has  endowed  hini  «it)i  that 
quick  sensihilily  l)y  which,  witliont  any  previous  study,  he  enters  into  every  characfer;  and  llio 
tfi)(kr  interest  he  takes  in  the  mind's  i)aiiis,  us  well  as  the  body's,  soon  nnloeks  its  inmost  re- 
cesses to  liis  view,  and  tits  it  to  receive  the  species  of  coiisol.'.iion  best  adapti'd  to  its  wants.  It 
nny  be  said  of  him,  as  of  the  celebrated  and  nnl'ortiiinite  Zininiernnin,  that  he  never  visited  a 
putiiait  wilhoat  inakini;  a  friend." 

Tl'.is  outline  of  character,  drawn  by  tlio  pen  of  Mrs  Setoii.  is  luit  less  er<'dii  .'  :..  to  her  as  an 
flcMut  writer,  than  hoiioralile  to  her  father  as  a  distluguiBUud  oruamcut  of  iii"  ..cJical  profoii- 
liou  iu  America.— /.'ti'.  Dr.  W'ltiti, 


I 


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i      I 


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■■■  ■■niJ 


'  }':■ 


St   I 


CHAPTER  II. 


THE  VOYAUi;  TO  ITAl.V, 


Mr.  F^i'/oii's  7/eaIi7i  dcclliie.f—A.  seavof/af/f^  propoftrrJ—Thc 
rof/(r/i' — At  Tj<'[ili.()rii — Veii-pidttrvs — '"Poor  1  ViUiom  " 
—  I)((((h  o/JFr.  ><i/<jn — Jfo/o  s//('  was  iiio.d  l-iiidhilri  'hd 
Jttj  iliti  Jlcssr.s'.  FtI(C<'hi—Al  2Ians—>^crup.'i j'roiu  h  tiers. 

In  the  sprino;  of  180:5  Mr.  Sofon's  hoaUh,  rvlwnys  {lt'1ic;iti\ 
son.sibly  clccHued  ;  and  ii  sea  voyago  was  itH-onnncii'lt'd  liy 
liis  ])hysi(.'ians.  Ho  resolvcad  upon  visiting  Ttiiiy.  aiiil  ivncw- 
ing  personally  an  intimacy  foi-nu'd  in  ynirli,  mid  ciiiihiiijcil 
by  coniinorcial  intiu'courso,  with  tlio  Messrs.  Filli'chi.  dis- 
tinguislu'd  nicrcdiants  of  Leghorn.  Mi's.  8i>ton  could  not 
allow  liim  to  travel  in  his  uoak  stato  witliont  her  watchful 
caro,  and  taking  hor  eldest  danghter,  thon  eight  years  old, 
for  her  littlo  companion,  she  committed  lier  other  children 
to  the  caro  of  her  relations  during  her  absence.  Litth;  at 
the  time  did  she  contcmiplato  the  momentous  results  that 
journev  was  to  bring  forth.  Her  mind  was  absorbed  iu 
anxious  uncertainty  about  her  husband's  lieahli ;  but  her 
conlidenco  in  God  still  kept  her  calm  and  i-osigned, 

"Not  one  struggle  nor  desi)onding  tliouglit  to  contend 
with,"  she  writes  to  a  fi'iend  when  about  midway  on  her 

passage   to  Italy  ;    "coulidiug   hope  and  consolnv/  i"- 

have  attendi.'d  my  way  through  storms  and     '■'■"      <  tli;u 
must  have  terrilied  a  soul  avIioso  rock  is  no 

Her  child  caught  the  whooping-cough  on  ivage  ;  and 

.she  Avas  thus  constantly  occupied  in  nursin,-  oth  her  sick 
hnsband  and  sulfiuing  child.  Neither  her  c(riirai  ■.  how- 
(H'er,  nor  her  patience  seem  ever  to  have  failed  b  :  ;  ""t 
even  when,  on  their  arrival  at  Leghorn,  they  were  ])i'e- 
vented  fi-om  landing,  or  at  least  were  obliged  to  reur.iiu  for 
GGO 


MOrilHU   ELlZAIiKTIl  J.V.V  SIJTOX 


007 


sonio  time  in  flic  la/.arctto,  "  jui  irnmonse  prison/'  Mrs. 
Seton  writes,  "with  :i  hii^h  uiiidow,  (1()u1)I<'<::i!i|imI  witii 
iidii ;  tlu'diiuli  wliicli.  if  I  should  wiiiit  iiiiytliiiiir,  I  jini  to 
call  a  scnfiiii'l  wifli  a  cocked  liat  and  loiii;-  rilled  t;iiii."  This 
ui'iarnt'id  infrodnction  to  Leu'liorn  is  thus  toiichin^^ly  de- 
i;c;ilic(l  in  he)' journal  by  the  alTectioiiate  uife  wlio  liad  iso 
i'iiiii!l\  hoped  tliat  her  husband  nii^ht  llnd  renewed  lite  In 
|f,ly.  I r  bciiitj:  "explained  tliat  our  ship  was  the  lirst  to 
luiiii''  the  news  of  th(»  yellow  fever  in  New  Yoi'k,  she  niiisfc 
r.KiiU  into  tlie  roads;  und  my  poor  \\'illiuni,  being  sick, 
iiiu.-r  ^i'o  with  his  baggag-o  to  tluj  la/.aretio  " 

"At  this  in)nient  tho  band  of  music  that  always  wel- 
r  inics  strangei's  came  under  oui'  caliin-window,  playing 
'ii.iil  Columbia,'  and  those  little  tunes  tliat  set  the  darlings 
(lancing  and  singing  at  iionns  Mi's.  O'Jirien,  the  ca])tain's 
wile,  :;nd  llio  rest  were  almost  wild  witli  joy;  while  I 
AViis  glad  to  hide  in  my  berth  lli<^  full  heart  of  sorrow  which 
srcincd  as  if  it  must  la'enk.  You  cannot  have  an  idea  of 
till)  looks  of  my  po  >r  William,  who  seemed  as  if  he  could 
n.r  live  over  tlu!  day.'' 

Laiideil  at  ienglli,  "  w(i  wore  directed  to  go  opposite  to 
f;i>  v.indow  of  tilt!  capitano's  lioiise,  in  which  sat  Mrs. 
I'liili])  l'''ilicclii — conr[)1iments  and  kind  looks  without  num- 
li'i'.  A  r,'U('(' was  betwiMMi  us,  ])ut  1  fear  did  not  hide  my 
faliiiUes.  both  of  soul  and  body,  l-'irst  we  had  chei'ries 
iKiiidc'l,  or  rather  placed  for  us  ;  for  after  we  had  touched 
tliciii  they  could  not  go  back  to  the  house.  At  length  we 
wt'iv  shown  the  door  w(!  were  to  enter — No.  0,  np  twenty 
f?t(iii(' steps— a  room  with  high  arched  ceilings,  brick  floor, 
iiiii.l  naked  walls.  The  capitano  sent  three  warm  eggs,  a 
bottle  of  wine,  and  some  slices  of  bread. 

'•  Willitim's  mattress  was  soon  spread,  and  ho  upon  it ;  ho 
citiild  not  touch  wine  ov  eggs.  Our  little  syiaij^s.  currant- 
ji'lley,  di'inks,  etc.,  which  he  must  have  every  halfdiour  on 
IxHU'd  ship — wdiere  were  they  ?  I  liad  lieard  the  lazaretto 
"as  the  VfU'y  i)laco  for  comfort  for  the  sick,  and  brought 
lothing;  soon  found  there  was  a  little  closet,  in  which  my 
kiiees  found  rest ;  and  after  emptying  my  heart  and  wasli- 


■  t 


.  ii; 


HH 


)1'S 


M 


668 


MOTHER  ELIZABETH  AXX  SETO^'^. 


I'    t 


'    %. 


ing  the  bricks  with  iny  tears,  returned  to  my  poor  "Willinm, 
and  r.')iiiid  him  and  Anna  both  in  want  of  a  pivnclici'.  1),..^ 
girl,  she  soon  t'lamd  a  ropo  tliat  had  tied  h^r  box.  ;iii([  1,^.. 
gan  imnpni.u'  away  to  warm  iierself ;  for  the  eol<hi('ss  d"  tlie 
walli  aad  brielvs  made  us  shiver.  At  sunset,  diiiuci'  ciiiiie 
ironi  tlie  Iviud  Filiccliis,  anil  otlier  necessaries;  we  went  to 
th(;'  u'rate  again  to  sec^  them. 

"And  now,  oil  thesiii[)  mattresses  spread  on  tliis  cddl  l!,ior, 
AVilliani  and  Anna  are  sound  asleep  ;  and  ]  trust  that  <-.h1. 
who  lias  given  him  strengtli  to  go  tlirongli  a  day  "^  ■-"(■!i 
exi'rrion,  will  carry  us  on.  lie  is  our  all  irdced.  My  eyes 
siiiai't  so  mucli  witli  crying,  wind,  and  fatigue,  that  1  must 
close  thciu  and  lift  i?p  my  heart;  sleep  won't  come  vi>ry 
easily.  If  you  had  seen  little  Anna's  arms  clasp.cd  arouiij 
my  netds.  at  her  prayers,  while  the  teai's  rolled  a  stream. 
how  you  wonl'd  love  her  !  I  read  her  to  sle<^p  with  jjieces  of 
trus*-  in  God  ;  she  said,  'Mamma,  if  pupa  should  die  h(>re— 
but  (iod  will  be  with  ns.'  (xod  is  witli  us  ;  and  if  sidTerings 
abou!ul  in  us  His  consolation.;  also  greatly  aliouiul.  and 
j'ai'  exeeed  our  utterance.  If  the  wind  (for  it  is  said  there 
neviu'  were  s  ich  stcu'uis  at  this  sesison)  that  now  almost 
])Uis  out  my  light,  and  blovrs  on  my  William  thi'ou.gh every 
ci'evii'e.  and  over  our  chimney  like  loud  tliundei',  could 
come  fi'om  any  but  His  command;  or  if  the  circumstaiict's 
tiiat  have  placed  us  in  so  foi'loi-n  a  situation  weiv  not 
guided  hy  His  hand,  miserable  iudeiMl  would  be  oni'  case. 
^\'ithin  this  hour  William  has  iiad  a  violent  lit  of  ceughinj:. 
so  as  to  bring  up  blood  ;  which  agitates  and  disti'csses  him 
through  all  his  emh'avoi's  to  hid.e  it.  What  shall  we  say  ! 
This  is  the  hour  (if  trial ;  the  Lord  supi)ort  and  strengthen 
lis  in  it  ]letros)>'H'tions  bring  anguish;  'press  f  /wards 
toA-ards  the  mark  and  priz(\" "' 

"^20///,  Snirli;/  ninniiiKj.  The  nnif  in  bells  awakeiu'd 
my  soul,  to  Its  most  painful  regrets,  and  iilled  it  with  :\:. 
agony  of  sorrov, ,  which  could  not  at  first  lind  reli(d"  even  in 
])rayer.  In  the  little  doaet,  whence  there  is  a  view  of  tlie 
open  S'/"!,  and  the  baatings  of  (lie  waves  an'ainst  the  hiudi 
rocks  at  the   entrance   of  this  prison,  which  throws  them 


1' 


tliat  <->.(!. 
y  'J  ■-'wh 
i\Iy  pye.s 
;it   1   Miust 
dini'  very 
ed  nriiiiiid 
ii  stivani. 
1  pieces  til 
die  liei'i'— 
siiri'erinjj;s 
loiinil.  and 
said  ilii'i't' 
|()\v  aliuDst 
)UL!;liev<>ry 
i^r,   could 
uistances 
were  not 
(.ur  <':is''. 

.sscs  liini 
1  \v(>  say  < 
.rivnsi'tln'n 

'  / wards 

awaUiMU'd 

with    ■ 
iel"  even  in 

iow  (if  till' 

t  tho  liiiil' 
■ows   them 


MOTIIEU  ELTZABETH  AXX  SETOX. 


GUiJ 


Ti(tli'nrlv  l)ack,  and  raises  tlie  wliifo  foam  as  liiu'li  jis  i's 
walls  I  lii'st  caiiH!  to  niy  senses,  and  I'.-ilecteil  tliat  I  was  of- 
fcii'linr  niy  only  Friend  and  Resource  In  my  misei'v,  and 
vdliiiiiarily  shnttinu,-  fi-om  my  soul  tlu^  only  consolation 
itcoiili!  receive.  Tleading  for  mercy  and  stren,!j,th  hi'ouuhi, 
peace,  and  with  a  cliein-ful  countenance  [  asked  \Vilii;;iu 
what  we  should  do  for  breakfast  ;  th(>  doois  were  unb.aiK  o, 
anu  a  liottle  of  nulk  let  down  in  tlie  entrance  of  the  i('( m 
— |)i»iir  Piiilip  f<'arin.^•  to  co  h<^  too  near.  Little  Anna  and 
AVilliani  ate  it  with  bre-vd,  and  I  walkt'd  the  floor  with  a 
crust  and  a  u'lass  of  wine. 

"  William  coulil  not  sir  up  ;  lusa,s^ue  came  on,  and  Avith  it, 
111  V  soul"  s  agony;  my  husband  oii  the  cold  biicks  wiiliout 
lire,  shiveiinir  and  g-roanini!'.  lifting'  his  dim  and  soirowFul 
eyes  with  a  lixed  u'a/e  in  my  fac(\  whil(>  his  t(>ars  ran  on  his 
jiillow.  without  one  woi'd.  Anna  rubbed  one  liaiid  ;  1  tlu^ 
otliei'.  Mil  h's  fever  came  on.  The  capilano  l)i'ou,u-ht  us 
news  lliat  our  time  was  lessened  live  days;  told  me  to  Ix; 
salislied  with  tlie  dispensations  of  (lod.  etc.;  and  was  an- 
swered by  such  a  succession  of  sobs,  tliat  h(>  soon  dejtarled. 
Mr.  I'iliechi  now  came  to  c()mrort  my  William,  and  wleii 
li'Mwait  away,  we  said  as  much  of  our  ('liui'ch  service  as 
AVilli.am  could  ,go  throu.uh.  I  then  was  oblined  to  lay  my 
liead  down.  .  .  .  Aftei' ju'ayers.  read  my  little  book  of 
si'iaiKHis,   and   becanu;   far   more  happy  than   1    had   been 

Wl'.telied. 

"  Ifdinliif/.  A\vok(?  with  the  .same  rest  and  comff  rt  \\itli 
which  I  had  lain  down,  ,u-ave  my  William  his  warm  milk, 
and  b  \Q:an  to  considt-r  our  situation  — ihoin^-li  so  uuf  i\()rablo 
to  his  cf)niidai'nt--as  one  of  the  steps  in  the  di;-))(  iisatioiis 
of  that  .Vlnnti'hty  will  which  could  alone  clioo-^e  riuJit  for 
ii> :  and  therid'ore  set  Anna,  to  work,  and  myself  lothedear 
Si'iipliires  as  usual ;  lyin.u;  close  liehind  the  pooi' shi\ crer,  to 
koi'jtliim from  tlioa.u'ue.  Our capitano came  with  hisu-uards, 
aiifl  jiut  up  a  very  neat  bed  nnd  (uri'talns  sent  by  Filicchi  \ 
and  lixed  the  ben(dies  on  whi(di  Anna  and  1  were  to  lie.'' 

],"'roni  the  Me.ssi(>iirs  Filicchi  ^[rs.  Seton  received  every 
possible  alleviation  in  her  desolate  and  sorrowful  imprison- 


,  f 


I 


si  I 


.M 


(-■  ,  -M: 

i  i,      f  » 


m 


«i 


\l  I 


g:o 


mot: I J 


LrizAinrni  axn  setox. 


:      \\\ 


III 


r.K^nt  ;  f  r:  sncii  the  time  of  quarantine  literally  was.  The 
notices  in  her  journal  at  this  time  are  most  deeply  intcn'sr- 
in'X  ^Iie  saw  her  husband,  "who  left  his  all  to  seek  a 
milder  climate,  contin'Ml  in  this  place  of  hi.uh  and  dimip 
walls;  ('xi)osed  to  cold  and  wind,  wdiich  ])enetrat('s  to  thti 
vi'ry  bones;  without  lire,  except  the  kitchen  cluircii..]j 
Avliich  oppresses  his  breast  so  nnicli  as  nearly  to  c^uiviilso 
him;"  and  yet  her  confidence  in  Uod  was  so  unslialxcii.  lur 
resii^nation  to  His  will  so  complete,  that,  far  from  inuiimir. 
ia'j;,  most  of  her  expressions  are  tnost?  of  praise  ami  iliaiiks 
givin,2j.  "Little  billets  of  paper  paste'd  on  tlie  doors  aiaik 
how  many  days  different  persons  have  stayed;  and  tlii^  shut- 
ter is  all  over  notched  10,  20,  00,  40  days.  I  do  not  maii^  (iiu's, 
truslimr  they  are  marked  above.    Heoidy  knows  best."' 

••  A  day  of  bodily  pain,  but  peace  with  CJod." 

"Anna  and  I  sun,^•  Advent  hymns  with  a  low  voice. 
After  all  w^Vi  ade;p,  E  sul  our  (J.iuroh  service  aloiii'. 
^^'illiam  had  not  been  able  in  the  day.  I'ound  heavenly 
C(iiisi)laf  ions,  forixot  prisons,  bolts,  and  sorrows;  and  would 
lmv(^  rej')ic(Ml  to  have  s:in;j;  with  St.  Paul  and  Silas. "" 

"  1  I'm  I  my  [)resi>nt  opportunity  a  treasurf! ;  and  my  con- 
finement of  body  a  lil)erty  of  soul,  which  I  may  n<'V('r 
again  enjoy  whilst  they  are  united." 

"So  you  si'e,  as  you  know,  with  God  Tor  our  porlioii. 
thei'eisno  prison  in  higli  walls  and  bolts;  no  sorrow  in 
the  soul  that  waits  on  Him.  though  beset  with  })reseii!  [lahis 
and  gloomy  prosj)ects.  For  this  freedom  I  can  never  be  sulii- 
eienlly  thankful,  as  in  my  William's  cas(>  it  kee])S  alive 
■what  iri  liis  weak  state  of  bodv  woidd  naturallv  fail;  and 
often  wdien  he  hears  me  n^peat  the  psalms  of  triuin]ili  in 
(iod,  and  read  of  St.  Paul's  faith  in  Christ,  with  my  \\liolo 
soul,  it  so  eidivens  his  si)iiit  that  lie  makes  tin  m  also  Lis 
own,  and  all  his  sorrows  are  turned  into  joy.  Oh,  well  iiiny 
I  love  God,  well  may  my  whole  soul  strive  to  please  llim; 
for  what  but  the  pen  ol  an  atigel  can  ev(>r  express  what  lie 
lias  done,  and  is  ever  doing  for  me  I  AVhile  I  ]iv(>,  while  I 
liave  my  being,  in  time  and  through  eternity,  let  me  yiiig 
iraises   to  my  God.'' 


irOTIIER  ELIZABETH  .4J\'.Y  SETOX. 


671 


"Alone!  alone?  recall  the  word— my  Bible,  connnt-nta- 
ries,  Ivcnipis— visil)le  and  continual  enj(t5'nient — when  I 
cannot  ,ix('t  hours,  I  tiilvo  minutes.  Invisible  I  Oh,  the  com- 
pany is  niuuberless.  Sometimes  I  feel  so  assured  tli;it  (lie 
riianlian-ang'el  is  immediattdy  present,  that  I  looiv  Irom  my 
})()i)k.  and  can  hardly  be  p.'rsuaded  I  was  not  touciied. 
>Ponr  soul  I'  John  IL.'ury  llobart'  would  Kay,  'she  will 
losi^  her  reason  in  that  prison.'  I'ut  tlie  enjoyments  only 
comt*  wlit'ii  all  is  quiet,  and  I  have  passed  an  hour  or  Iwo 
with  Kiai;'  David  or  tlu^  prophet  Isaiah.  These  hours,  I 
often  thiidc,  i  shall  hereafter  esteem  the  most  j)recious  of 
my  hie. 

In  this  blessed  state  of  union  witli  C-od's  will  Mrs.  Scdon 
Pteadi'iisi'iy  persevered  ;  and  was  idile  to  nurse  her  dyin<; 
liiisb.'uid  day  and  night  witli  the  most  heroic  fortitude  and 
imticncf.  Slu'  little  expected  he  could  linger  through  the 
jieriod  of  quarantinie,  and  sometimes  even  "kissed  his  ])ale 
I'acn  to  s(v!  if  it  was  cold;"  but  her  faith  never  failed. 
•■Th"  dampness  about  us,"'  she  writes  within  six  days  of 
li'aviiig  the  lazaretto,  "would  bo  thought  dangerous  for  a 
l'jr;joii  in  health  ;  and  my  William's  suii'erings— oh  I  well 
J  know  that  God  is  above. 

'■('.i[iitauo,you  need  not  always  point  your  silent  loolc  and 
linger  tliere.  If  I  thought  our  condition  the  providence  of 
■Wr'//,  inst(  id  of  the  weejiing  Magadalen,  as  you  so  gna- 
ciously  call  n!(\  you  would  lind  me  a  lioness,  willing  (o  burn 
your  hu^aretto  about  your  >'^ars,  if  it  was  i)ossible,  tlait  I 
niigh!:  carry  olf  my  poor  pris-.'uer  to  breathe  the  air  (tf  hea\('n 
ill  soMie  more  reasonable  i)lace.  To  keei)  a  poor  soul,  who 
cinii'?!  to  your  c  luutry  for  his  life,  thirty  days  shut  up  in 
(bull])  walls,  \\ith  snio];o  and  wind  fi'om  all  quaiteis,  blow- 
ing; (>v(M1  the  curtains  round  liis  bed  (and  his  bones  abnost 
tiuMUgli);  and  he  the  shadow  of  deaih,  ti'embiing  if  he 
only  stands  a  few  minutes !  He  is  to  go  to  Pisa  for  liis 
li'alth  ;  this  day  his  prospects  are  very  far  from  Pisa ;  but, 

'  Mr.  ll'ihart.  lli^n  a  miiii-KT  of  tlio  Ftiipcopnlinn  Olitirfh,  nnd  nflcnvnnl-"  IlNlmp  i.f  Vrw 
Y  Mk.  w.i-^  a  I'.iiin  (if  i-hi^iilur  takut  and  inlluciicc,  aiiU  .li»  trionj  and  B|)iriliml  iidvi-cr  '.f  M;3. 
kvlou  at  tluit  tiniu. 


'■'3r  ftlif 


iHI 


■  ii  I 


C73 


MOTHER  ELIZABEXn  AXN  SETOX 


all,  my  lieaveuly  Father!  I  learn  that  these  contriiilictorv 
events  are  periiiirted  and  giiidi-d  by  Thy  wisdom,  wlmu 
only  is  light  I  We  are  in  darkness,  and  must  be  tiianlvful 
that  our  knowledge  is  no-t  wanted  to  perfect  Tliy  woik 
and  also  keep  in  ndud  tliat  inlinite  mercy,  wdiicli,  in  per- 
mitting the  siilTerings  of  the  perishing  body,  has  provided 
for  our  sauls  so  large  an  opportunity  ol'  conifort  and 
nourishment  for  an  eternal  life;  wdiere  we  shall  nssuredly 
find  that  all  things  have  worked  together  for  our  good,  for 
our  sure  trust  is  in  Thee.'' 

After  a  few  more  "  nndancholy  days  of  combat  widi  na- 
ture's weakness,  and  the  courage  of  liope  wliicli  ]iictuied 
our  removal  fi'oni  the  lazaretto  to  Pisa,''  'Mrs  Seton  wa>  at 
•length  pernnttod  to  leave  the  inhospitable  walls  which  had 
•sheltered  her  since  her  ai'rival  in  Italy,  and  with  her  hus- 
ibandaiid  littlegirl  was  conveyeil  in  ^h:  l''ili('chi".s  cari'i;i2i'  to 
Pisa;  tliough  it  seemed  doubt  I'ul  whether  Mr.  Scton  would 
reach  the  end  of  his  journey  alive.  In  fact,  he  only  lin- 
gered a  wec^k  more,  during  which  time  his  suiferings  were 
so  gretit  that  his  constant  prayer  was  for  "|>nrdon  and  re^ 
lease"  ;  and  oa  th  >  -llih  ol'  I)  "ceaibra-,  IS  ):],  Mrs.  Scton  be 
•came  ;i  widow  ainotigst  strangers  and  in  a  foreign  land. 

Yet,  so  far  from  btung  overwlndmed  by  her  siruafion.  it 
seemed  as  if  lior  streugth  and  courage  rose  with  tne 
trial.  Slie  writes,  after  herself  performing  t!u>  last  d!::ii^s 
to  hor  deceased  hnsbaud,  "I  felt  that  I  had  dune  all— all 
that  tenderest  love  and  duty  could  do.  'My  In^ad  had  not 
rested  for  a  woelc ;  three  days  and  nights- the  fatigue  had 
l)een  incessant,  and  one  meal  in  twenty-four  houiN.  still 
I  must  work,  di'ess,  ])ack  np,  and  in  one  hour  he  in  Mr. 
Filicchi's  carri:m-(\  and  ride  fil'ti^m  miles  to  Leghorn  Carl- 
ton and  our  old  Lou**  stayed  to  wat(di,  and  my  William 
Avas  brouglit  in  the  afternoon  and  de]iosited  in  the  house 
apiioiuted,  in  the  Prot<^stant  burial-ground.  Oh,  what  a 
day  !  close  liis  eyes,  lay  him  out,  ride  a  journey,  be  oljli'i'^d 
to. see  a  dozen  people  in  my  room  till  night,  and  at  niidit 
crowded  with  the  wliole  sense  of  my  situation.  Oh.  aiv 
Father  and  my  God!  .  .  .  In  all  this  it  is  not  nece-ssary  to 


MOTHER  ELTZABFAII  AXX  SETOX. 


673 


it  ^vi(h  iia 
\\i  jiirtuved 
eton  wa->  iit 
\,liicli  had 
h   her  lius- 
s  (•:ii'riii,u'<'to 
letoii  wuiikl 
H  only  liii 
i'liiiu's  were 
Ion  luul  rti' 
s.  Set  oil  ba 
n  land. 
•;iinalii)ii.  It 
0   with   tiie 
last  (Inries 
one  all-;iU 
ad  had  i'-"t 
i'ati.irue  had 
iMiiN .   -uill 
be  in  Ml', 
orn     <'iiil- 
IV  William 
ihe  hmise 
)h.  what  n 
1)0  olili'I'^d 
1(1  nt  nidit 
1.     Oh.  my 
leoossary  to 


(Iv.  II  on  the  mercy  and  consoling  ])r(>s(Mi('e  of  my  dear  Lord  ; 
lor  III"  mortal  streng'th  could  sni)[)oii  wliat  I  cxpericiiet'd."'' 

After  the  knowledge  oi'  Mrs.  Seton's  <  haiaercr  Avliieh  we 
derive  rroni  these  passages  of  her  ])rivate  jonriuil  and  hMteis, 
it  can  scarcely  l)e  necessary  to  achl,  that  I'l'oni  the  very  lirsfc 
she  liad  made  a  most  favorable  impression  n])on  all  who 
sa'.v  her  attending  \\>'V  dying  liiisband,  ami  eiidiiiiiig  Ihe 
peci, liar-trials  ol'  those  first  b-w  weeks  in  the  hiAaicI  to  :  but 
when,  from  the  fear  of  contagion  in  othiM's,  she  hei's.di'  x\\\. 
dert'iok  to  layout  tlie  corpse,  those  around  her  ( iled  out 
vdrh  adndra-tion,  "If  she  were  not  a  lieretic,  she  would  be  a 
siint." 

The  widov.'  and  her  daughter  were  now  received  like  dear 
relations  into  the  h!)use  of  the  ]\lessieurs  Filic(dii,  ^xiiose 
names  have  b:M^;i  already  nvnitioned  as  early  friends  of  )i(>r 
h'lsSan;!.  Th"se  men  were  nKM'chants  of  the  liigliest  stand- 
i:i,',  and  besid^^s  being  devoiit  and  fci'venit  Christians,  were 
laenof  (inlightened  and  talenliMl  minds.  The  elder  bioilier, 
Mv  Philip  L-'ilicchi,  was  lionored  liy  the  special  conildence 
of  the  (inuid  JJuke  of  Tuscany 

EveiTthino:  was  don;'  by  these  genei'ou'^  friends  to  (li\('rfc 
fi'il  r"slor(>  -Mrs.  Seton  s  suffering  s[drit;  and  a  visit  was 
made  to  Florence,  that  she  might  have  an  opportiniity  of 
seeinii  some  of  tlu,'  (diaians  of  Italy  beroi'<'  }'eturniiig  to  her 
fiiiiiily  in  Amei'ica.  The  churches  and  the  sacred  i);  iatings 
«i'eni  alone  to  liave  impressed  her  dnring  this  visit.  (  d'  the 
liictniv  of  the  Descent  fi'oiii  the  Cross  in  the  Pilti  i'aiaee, 
she  says,  "  It  engaged  my  wliole  soul;  ^STaryat  the  lo^t  of 
it  expressed  well  that  th'Mron  hiad  entennl  into  Inn:; :  and 
tlr>  shades  of  dv>alh  over  her  agonized  coniUciiance  so 
strnnvjly  contr.ast"!  with  the  heavenly  ])eai'e  of  tln"  de:ir 
Ivedi'einor,  that  it  seemed  as  if  Ilis  pains  had  hilleii  on 
li-r  •' 

If  will  he  easily  conceived,  from   the  (diar;icter  of   .Afi'S 
Setfm's  friends,  and  from  lier  own  lively  and  impivssionable 
nnnd,  that  sonn^  ]iains  -\v(>re  taken  during  her  .-hoit  stav 
atiinnuNi   thiMii  to  enlighten  heron  the   snb.j.'et  oT  the  Cath- 
olic Faith.     Mr.   Filicchi  once  remarking  Jiat  lh<'iv   v.as 


b\- 


dl 


'  "M 


'■■: 


■  ;t 


n   :,i: 


I ! '  i; 


t  ,.  i 


II:        .     i 


I   '\  '. 


«l. 


C74 


MOTHER  ELIZABETH  A^^:i   SL'TOX 


t  ' 


\"'  i 


I:       I 


.     < 


but  on'^  trne  reli,2;ion,  nnd  witliont  n  li.tilit  faitli  rio  one 
coiil'l  1)3  ;u'('ir>ptable  to  God,  ^Ir.s.  8t'to:i  ri>[)li('(l,  '"Oh,  sir! 
if  tliei'v)  is  l)iit  one  fiiith  uiul  nobody  ploasc^s  (rod  without  it, 
^v•llel•e  arc  all  tlK?  ,<2;o.)d  people  who  die  out  of  itJ"  "I  iUnxi 
know,"  aiiswcri'd  li^T  Triend  ;  "  that  depends  on  wlint  liglit 
of  failli  tli(\v  have  received;  but  I  know  wheie  itoople  ^o 
V)ho  c'lii  kiiom  the  rif/ht  faith,  if  tlwij  praij  and  iti'iuira 
for  it,  and  >/i't  do  neither  "  "That  is  to  isav;  sir-  yon  want 
nie  to  ])i'ay  and  impiire,  and  l)e  of  your  faitli.''  snid  Mis. 
Seton,  laii.u-iiin,'-,^  "Pray  and  inquire,''  he  added,  "that 
is  all  I  ask  of  yon." 

Mr.  AnllKUiy  Filicclu  also  wrot(^  to  Iter  wliilsl  at  Flor- 
ence, nixin,:!jf  thi.s  important  subject  npon  her  in  (he  fol- 
lowiit,!^  tefiiis:  ^' Your  dear  "William  was  the  early  friend  of 
inyyonili :  you  are  nowc<jnie  in  liis  room  ,  your  soul  is  even 
dearer  to  Antonio,  and  will  be  so  I'tuwer  i\Iay  tl'.e  .cooil 
Alnnu'lity  God  enli,L;'hten  your  mind  and  strengthen  yuiu' 
lieart,  to  see  and  I'ollow  in  religion  the  sweet,  trne  way  to 
the  eternal  l)lessinii's.  1  shall  call  for  vou  I  must  meet 
you  in  Paradise,  if  it  is  decreed  that  the  A-ast  plains  of  the 
ocean  si);;  11  soon  be  betwixt  us.  Don't  discontintie  m  the 
ine;inwhiie  to  pi-;iy — to  knock  at  the  door  '' 

They  also  ])nt  books  in  her  h;inds,  and  intrcdnced  to  her 
a  leai'iK'd  priest.  For  awdrile  Mrs  Seton  li;id  \w  n;i.^i:iv- 
ings  respecting  the  soundness  of  the  Protestant  I'aith  and. 
■writes  as  follows  to  a  friend  at  hon.,>:  "I  am  hard  pushed 
by  these  (di;iritabli;  llomans,  who  wish  that  so  niudi  jrood- 
iiess  should  be  improved  by  a  convei'sion  ,  whi'di  to  <iYect, 
they  luive  iimv  t;d\en  tiie  trouble  to  huwji:  nie  their  bi\'-M  in- 
formed ])riest,  Abbo  Plnnkett,  \\\\o  is  an  Irislinian ;  but 
ttiey  liud  nie  so  willing  to  hear  their  enlightened  conversa- 
tion, that  consequently,  as  learned  pe(;])le  like  to  lio;u 
themselves  best.  I  have  but  little  to  say,  and  as  y(^f  keer 
friends  with  all,  as   the   best  ccmiment  on  my  profession  " 

P)Ut  it  Avas  impossible  that,  with  siudi  edifying  e.xanniles 
})efore  her  eves,  and  su(di  able  arguments  addrt'ssed  to  h»>r 
understanding,  slie  should  not  at  last  begin  to  doul-t  Iier 
X)yi'fect  secuj'ity  ;  and  vritli  the  hist    misgiving  arose  a  fer- 


itli  liO  one 

.  "0)1,  sirl 

without  it, 

"   "Idou't 

what  liglit 

!  pHoply  go 

//'/  inquire 

L'-  you  want 

said  Mrs. 

lied,   "that 

1st  at  Flor- 
ill  tlio  fol- 
ly friend  of 
sotil  is  evon 
ly  the  pood 
gtlic:i  yoiir 
tnio  way  to 
must  meet 
lair.s  of  the 
iiiue  in  the 

;irod  to  her 

no  niis,(;'iv- 

ftiith  and 

nrd  ])ushed 

lllK  h  !l.'(lod- 

1  to  ciTect, 
ir  best  in- 
nnan  ;  ])ut 
eouvei'sa- 
(3  to  hoai 
y(^t  keei, 
■wfession  " 
;  oxamiiles 
;ed  to  her 
doidit  her 
rose  a  fer- 


(■ 


MOTHER  EI.r/AJU:TII  AXX  SETOX 


CT.~ 


.eiit  prayer  to  G<k1  that,  if  not  yet  in  tlio  right  way,  she 
iiii'dit  he  .graciously  led  into  it.  This  bc^canie  her  duilj 
Tietitioii:  iioi'  iiee'fl  it  be  told  liow  .surely,  in  answer  to  this 
liciiitl'eU  and  hiind)le  prayer,  she  was  .m^adually  impressed 
liv  the  truths  f)f  Catholicity,  and  yiehU'd  up  her  soul  to 
tiiis  Divine  intiueiice  lon,^'  btd'ore  she  was  consciouM  tlnitsho 
liad  suei'ved  from  Protestant  ])eli(d'. 

Ihivinir  onc(3  aceonipanicMl  her  friei^ids  to  liear  ]Mass  in  the 
rV  ii'h  of  Montencro,  a  y()un<j,'  En;jlishmaTi  who  was  ])r»'s- 
(iit  ohserved  to  her  at  tlie  very  moment  of  the  elevation, 
"This  is  what  they  call  their  li(>al  Pivsence  !  "  "My  v(-ry 
Jn'iU't,'' says  Mis.  S('t(,n,  "  tiembled  with  pain  and  sorrow 
for  his  nni'eiding  interruption  of  their  sacred  adoration; 
foraU  around  was  dead  sih.'uce,  and  many  were  jn'ostiiited. 
Involuntarily  I  l)ent  fi'om  him  to  the  pavcMuent,  and 
thought  secretly  on  ihi!  w  )i'ds  of  St.  Paul  with  startini^ 
ti'urs.  'They  discern  not  tlu>  Lord'-s  Body  ; '  and  the  next 
tlinii,i:lit  was,  how  should  they  eat  ami  drinlc  their  own 
diiiiination  for  not  discei'uini;  It,  if  indeed  It  is  not  lliei'c  i "' 

Mrs.  Seton.  howevei',  was  not  yet  convinced  of  thech-iims 
(if  the  Calliolie  (Miur(di  n]ion  her  (d)edienco  ;  and  on  the  ;;d 
(if  Fe!>rnary,  18!) h  she  r('-eml)arked  with  lier  dar.,ui.tcr 
Anna  for  their  native  country;  l)ut  a  stoi'm  driving  l)a(d; 
tiie  vessel,  and  the  <djild  lieing  suddenly  at  taidu'd  liy  scar- 
let fever  they  were  once  moi'e  Wfdcomed  to  the  hospitabli; 
house  of  ]\rr  Anihonv  Pilicchi.  and  pressed  ts)  remain  there 
imril  they  should  again  be  able  to  take  their  departure. 
Al'ter  Anna  had  recovered,  her  mother  Avas  seized  l.y  tho 
Piinie  ihness  :  and  duiing  all  thi.s  time  the  most  alTecfionato 
cue  was  lavished  niton  them  by  their  Italian  friends. 
'■Oh  ilie  ])atieiice."'  exclaims  .Mrs.  F'Clon,  '■and  moic  t  haii 
human  kindness  of  tliese  ih-ar  IMlicchis  for  us!  yon  would 
Siiy  it  was  oar  Saviour  lliniiself  they  received  in  lli.s  j.'ocn'arid 
Mckstrangm's."' 

Thus  la-ought  ai.:ain  within  the  influence  cS  (  atholic 
piety  and  charity,  Mr.s.  Seton  avaih>d  hersidf  of  every  op- 
portunity of  becoming  better  ac(]uainted  wiili  tiie  doc- 
liines  of  that   faith   which   bix)nght   forth   such   pleasant 


1   .(. 


■;i  V   ' 


1  ?? 


W '  m 


':'    !:■' 


■mi-^ 


r  s 


^ 


■  ' 


C70 


MOTHER  ELTZABETfl  AXX  SETON. 


fruits;  am!  ('V(^ry  (l;iy  felt  liPiscH'  nioi'o  powerfully  (Irawn 
ro\v';!l'(ls  it.  "  How  liappy  we  siiould  be,"  ^llp  wi'itcs  |i,  ;j 
fricii  1,  ••  if  wo  h,:^]i(3V(3cl  what  tii  -si'  dear  .souls  belirvc  -(ii;(t, 
tiu'V  possess  God  in  tho  Saiaauieut,  and  that  He  remains  in 
tlii-ir  churches,  and  is  caii'ied  to  tlieiu  wlieii  lliey  aie  sick! 
V\'hen  they  carry  tlie  Blessed  Sacrament  umler  tny  win- 
(low.  while  r  I'eid  the  full  loiudiness  and  sadm-^s  ef  my 
ca;,',  1  caiinol:  sto^)  my  tears  at  the  llioiight.  ,My  iJod" 
how  ha;>|)y  I  should  be,  now  so  far  away  from  all  so  dear, 
if  [  C)uld  linl  You  in  the  church,  as  they  do  (I'or  tliciv  is  a 
chapel  in  the  v(>i'y  house  ol'  Mr.  Filicchi).  How  maiiv 
things  I  would  say  to  \'ou  of  I  he  soirous  ol'  my  l.iari.ai.d 
\]\\'  sins  ol'  my  life  !  The  other  day.  in  a  momeiil  ofexcts- 
SLve  dislress.  1  ftdl  on  my  knees,  '^viihout  thiid^iii,!;'.  w hen 
the  I'lessed  Saci'aiuent  i)assed  bv,  and  died  in  an  \\[:u\\\  td 
('{od  to  liless  me,  if  He  v,as  there  :  that  my  wlnth.'  jseul  de- 
sii'ecl  old V  Ilim. 

"A  little  ])rayerd)ook  of  ^Nfr.  Filic(du's  was  on  the  table, 
avid  I  opene(l  a  little  prayer  of  St.  Bernard  to  the  I'lessed 
A'fr.n'in,  be;i;,L;-in,L;-  her  to  be  our  .Niother;  and  I  said  it  to  her 
-wirh  such  a  certainty  1  hat  <iod  would  refuse  not liiiiu-  to 
His  Motliei',  and  that  she  couhl  not  he|])  jdtyinir  niui  Inv- 
ini>- tin' poor  souls  lie  died  for.  that!  felt  I'eally  I  Imdii 
riioiher  ;  which  you  kuinv  my  foolish  heart  so  often  lamented 
in  early  days.  From  the  lirst  rennMubrance  of  infiuicy. 
I  have  always  looked,  in  ail  ihe  plays  of  (diildhond  and 
v.ililu'ss  of  youth.  lo  the  (douds  for  my  molliei':  and  at 
that  moment  it  seemed  as  if  1  had  found  nioi'c  than  her, 
even  in  tf^nderiiess  and  jiity  of  a  mother.  So  1  cried  niy- 
sell  to  sh'-p  Oil  h.-r  heart."' 

At  another  tiin(>.  wrilinu'to  tlie  same  rcdation.  she  finis 
shows  tlu!  gradual  advance  ol  her  mind  to  a  hnowledu-e  ef 
the  truth:  ''This  eveninu'.  standing:  by  the  -window,  tlie 
luooii  shiuin,u:  full  on  Filicchi's  countenance,  he  raised  liis 
e\a\s  to  neaven,  and  showed  Tue  how  to  make  the  sisxn  of 
the  cross.  Dearest  Rebecca,  I  was  cold  Avith  the  awful  ini- 
Xn-ession  the  first  luakiui;-  of  it  ,c:ave  me.  The  sicn  of  tlio 
Cross    of    Christ    on    me !     Deeper  thoughts  came  ^vith 


MOTIlini  EUZMIKTU  Ayx  l^ETOy. 


(577 


ir  (if  I  lainw  not  what  ciinicst  dosirrs  iu  l',o  closely  iniiUd 
with  lliiii  who  ilicil  on  it--()i  tliat  hust  day  ulicn  llu  is  to 
l).;ii'  it  ill  triui!ii)li. 

"All  the  Catholic  ivliiiionis  full  of  these  ino!minp:s,  whicli 
inti>n'st  me  so.  Why,  J^O)e('('a,  they  believe  nil  we  do  aiui 
Miller,  if  we  uller  it  lor  our  sins,  serves  to  exj.i;  te  I  hem. 
You  may  renieuiber,  when  1  asked  Mr.  Ih^bail  what  uas 
iiieuntby  fasting  iuoui'  prayer-book,  as  I  i'oniid  iiiy>elf  on 
A.sli- Wednesday  niorninj.;-  saying  so  foolishly  to  dud,  'I 
turn  to  you  in  fasting,  wee])ing,  and  nioiirniiig/  and  1  had 
come  ro  chureh  with  a  hearty  brt'akfast  (d'  biKdvwhent  caki-s 
ami  cnlhMS  and  full  of  life  and  .spirits,  vuih  litile  thought 
(if  my  sins  ;  you  may  remember  Avhat  he  said  about  its 
iioinuohl  customs,  vu\  Well,  tlie  dear  ]Mi\s.  ]''ilie(dji  I  am 
with  n;^ver  (Kits,  this  season  of  Lent,  till  aftej-  the  c'.o  dc 
strik'-'s  three.  Then  the  family  assend)le,  and  she  says  sh;? 
offers  hei'  weakniiss  and  iiain  of  fasting  foi'  her  sins,  uniied 
with  her  Saviour's  sufferings.  I  like  that  V(  ry  nuudi  ;  but 
what  I  like  better,  dearest  llebecca-— only  th.iuk  v,  hat  a 
Comfort — they  go  to  ^^'ass  here  evei'v  niorniuu'. 

"All!  how  often  you  and  I  used  to  gi\-e  the  sigh,  and 
you  would  press  your  anu  in  miiu;  of  a  Sunday  luonniig, 
iuul  say,  'No  morc^  nntil  next  Sunday,'  as  Ave  turned  fi(  in 
the  (diiindi-door,  Nvliieh  (dosed  npon  ns  (unless  a  prater- 
day  was  given  out  in  the  AV(Mdv).  AVtdl,  liere  they  go  to 
church  at  four  evei'y  morning  if  they  please.  And  you 
know  how  we  were  ]augiie(l  at  for  running  from  one  (diundi 
to  imotlKn' on  Sacrament  Sundays,  that  we  might  receive 
lis  often  as  wo  could  ;  well,  here  p(H)pl(!  that  love  (lod,  and 
l^ad  a  regular  life,  can  go  (lliough  many  do  ]iot  do  it,  yet 
\\v'\' pfiii  go)  every  day.  Oh.  T  don't  know  how  any  one 
ran  have  any  trouble  in  this  world,  who  btdieves  all  tln^se 
(l'\'ir  s(^)nls  b(dieve.  If  1  don't  ludieve  it,  it  shall  not  ])e  for 
want  of  praying.  AVhy,  they  must  be  as  liappy  as  angids, 
almost. " 

Such  was  the  lofty  and  just  appreciation  which  ^Nfrs.  Se- 
ton  formed  of  Catholic  truth  ;  and  would  that  all  Catholics 
set  so  high  a  value  iii)oii  these  blessed  privileges  of  their 


t      i 


w 

^ .  ■ 

";:  1 

'■  ( 

r 

if 

I  '■, 

4  '■ 

%   1* 

*rT 

1  % 

a   '^'"-^ 

I'lil 

1  ' 

%m 


(M'ni; 


67S 


MOTIIKR  lU.IZ.XnhTH'ASy  SHTOX. 


inlif'vil-anco  ns  did  this  good  soul,  to  wlioin  ua  yot  tlioy  li;;^ 
not  lu'cn  iiiveii !  • 

J)iii'iii,'j,'  tho  luttcr  pni't  of  her  .stay  in  Lcciliorji,  Mi's.  St>. 
ton  fnu^iicnrly  visiti'd  tho  Niici't'd  places,  ami,  JMininu- wud 
devotion  in  rlu- scn'viccs  of  tii(<  Cliuicli,  wdnld  jioin'  fnitli 
lipv  .soal  in  iiraycr.  luilccd,  Jiad  not  !ici' I'etiiru  to  Aiiiciira 
been  hastiMi'MJ  !is  nindi  as  possihlo  tlii'on;;;li  licr  anxlcrv  to 
rcijoiu  lu'i' bM'cav(Ml  family  at  lionu',  s]it>  wdiild  [iinhahlv 
have  renounc(*d  Pi'otestanli?<ni  bcforo  Itavinn'  lialy.  llnw. 
ov(U-,  tliH  delay,  alt.lioii,L;!i  it  ontailiMl  scxcre  nn-iilul  cuiiriict 
and  suirerinu'  foi'  n"ai'l\-  a  year  at'tciwards,  servid  .mly  to 
prove  still  more  ti'ininpliantly  the  pnwev  of  the  faith  she 
had  received,  and  her  owli  lideliry  to  the  giuees  be.'5'.o\vfd. 


m 


'>i'Ji,  ^[rs.  So. 
i'liniiiL;'  wirli 
L  ]>t>iir  I'ortli 
I  to  America 
V  :iiixi('ty  to 

III     liriilllllily 

filly.     How. 
iilal   cniiiiict; 

'V(  (1   dlily  to 

le  f:iitli  she 
Si   bc'.'jtontxL 


CHAPTER  III, 

SEHKIXU    TIIK  TUlTir. 

,1/;-,v.  f^rfon.  rrhirns  to  America— Mr.  A.  Fillcchi—Jlev. 
J.  II.  lloharl — Mi'idal  Ai/oii>/ — /''(il/icr  df  ('//'rrjt/s 
—Li'jJif  (it  last — J/y.s'.  Scion,  ciid-rx llic  ( 'InircJi  af  Aijoi  — 
h  bitplr.fil  hi  old  aS7.  I'tier' s—I[cr  Jir^l  toiifcsslon  and 
Communion. 

Leaviai;-  willi  tears  the  ,c:ravp  of  hor  b(>1()V(^(l  Inislirmd, 
Mrs.  Si'Wiii  set  forth,  at  Iciigrli,  oii  tho  8t]i  ol'  Aiti'il,  uitli 
a  licnil  yiMi'iiiiii--  with  desire  [si'tcr  licr  cliildicii  at  iidiiie, 
yh'.  Anthony  Filicclii,  who  liad  long  been  Avi.shing  fur  niat- 
tPi'sof  !)ii-iiiies.s  to  visit  America,  was  (h'cidcd  by  hci'  lonely 
situariou  lo  arcoini)any  her  on  tlu;  voya,u<\  Tliis  A\as  tlio 
ffiviircst  coiiil'ort  to  hor;  lor  thu  Mend.sliip  between  tlieni 
\v;i.s  of  no  coninion  order. 

"I'lie  8tli  of  April,"  slie  writes  in  hej-  journal,  "at  half- 
past  i'onr  iii  tho  morning,  my  dearest  brother  canio  fo  my 
rnoTTi  to  awalcen  my  soul  to  all  its  dearest  lio])es  and  (>x- 
iv'('rati.)ns.  The  heaven  av:is  bright  \vi!h  stars,  the  uind 
f;i;r.  and  the  Plrnihif/o'.^  signal  expected  to  call  ns  on 
Kiaid;  nieanwhiU^  the  tolling  of  the  l)ell  caih'd  lis  to  .Mass, 
and  ill  a  lew  minutes  we  were  prostrate  in  the  ]iresence  of 
(tO(1.  Oh,  my  soul,  how  scdtunn  was  that  olfering — for  a 
Ui'^sinu'  on  our  voyage — for  my  d(>ar  ones,  my  sisters,  and 
all  «o  dear  to  UK^ — and  more  than  all,  for  tln^  souls  of  iiiy 
dear  iu!sl)an(l  and  fatlnu';  earnestly  our  desii'(\s  aseendetl 
with  thiU)les8ed  Sacriliee,  that  they  might  liud  ae(:e])taneo 
tln'ou,f;li  llini  Avho  gave  TTinis(4f  for  us  ;  earnestly  we  desired 
tc  be  united  with  llini,  and  would  gladly  encriunter  all 
the  sornnvs  oefore  us  to  be  partakers  oi  that  Bless(!d  Body 
and  Blood!     Oh  my  God,  pity  and  spare  me  I  .  .  . 

079 


it  i 


C30 


MOTiiFJi  /■:/JZAiii-:nr  axx  sktox. 


*' Filicclirs  l:isl;  Mossin,:?  to  nif  wus  as  Ills  whole  conduct 
liii'l    Ikmmi— rliiil    of   Hie    tnu.'.st   frie-nd.     Oli,  Kilicclii, 
sliall  Hot  w/fnrs.s  af/niiis'i  inc.     Miiy  (iod  bless  you  for 
ami  iiKiy  yoii  shiiie  tis  tlic  'stars  in  lilory,'  fur  whiit  y 

Most   (lear   Sotoii,  w1um\'  an;  y 


t'Vfi' : 


] 


i:ivi!  ( 


lo:i. 


IllC 


nil 
nil 
I'lil' 


Wi)\\ '.  i  los(>  sin'lit  of  tlio  shore  that  contaitis  ydiir  (i 
a-^li:--!,  hikI  your  soul  is  iu  tliat  reg'iou  of  iiuiiiciisil  \  uli,.;,, 
I  cairi  >t  iind  you.  My  Fatlitu'  and  my  God  I  Ainl  yet  [ 
iMust  always  love  to  retrospect  Thy  woiuhu'ful  disjieu.s:Ui(inis; 
to  I):'  sent  so  many  thousand  nulos  on  so  hopeless  iiri  eiiaiid: 
to  he  coii^taully  sui)|)orted  and  aecouiimnied  liy  Tliy  vu]\. 
soling-  m T/y  flii-ou  rh  scenes  of  trial  which  luituiv  iilone 
must  have  sunk  uadii';  to  be;  brou.ulit  to  tlie  liiiht  of  Tliv 
trutli,  notwithstandiug-  (ivei'y  afre('ti(ui  of  iny  JK'ait  and 
powei-  of  my  will  was  o])i)osed  to  it;  to  be  siicceicd  and 
cherish  mI  l)y  t  iie  tendtMVSt  friendship,  while  se]iiirai(il  and 
I'ar  fr.iiu  those  that  I  loved.  I^Fy  Father  and  my  (iod, 
while  1  live  h'l  me  praise,  while  i  have  my  btduL;'  let  me 
sei've  and  adore  Thee." 


Duriui;'    tiu>   voyaf^e,   wirhdi   lusted  iifty  six   d; 


IV.' 


M 


r.s. 


S<>ton  eniployed  lier  tinu^  iu  uniting  as  far  as  iiossiljicwiih 
lS\v.  A.  i^'ilicchi  in  tiie  o])servancea  of  theChui<]i,  in  read- 
iu,'4-  the  lives  of  [\w  Saints,  and  in  acquaintinu'  herself  still 
further  wMth  Tatholic  doctrine  by  frecpieut  converfsaiioa 
willi  h(U'  friend.  She  had  need  of  strena'th  for  the  f-toriii 
of  o;)positi(ju  that  awaited  her:  and  her  heart  sank,  cvdi 
in  the  midst  of  its  joyftd  auticii)ations  at  returning  hnmi>, 
at  the  si'i)aration  that  her  reliudous  convictions  would  hrin;:; 
about  between  her  and  her  hithei'to  deeply  revtu'enced  pas- 


toi',  the  Rev.  J.  if.  Ifobari 


8h 


0  says  in  her  journal,  indl- 


i;m:  forward  to  this,  ''Still  if  you  will  not  be  my  hivthcr, 
if  your  dear  i"ri(mdship  and  esteem  must  l)e  tin.'  piice  nt 
my  lidelity  to  what  I  believe  to  be  the  truth,  I  crnmnt 
doubt  the  mercy  of  (Jod,  Avho,  by  dei)rivino;  me  of  ray  doav- 
est  tie  on  earth,  will  certainly  draw  me  nearer  to  Him;  find 
this  I  feel  conlidently  from  tlie  experience  of  tlie  past,  and 
the  truth  of  Tlis  ]iromise,  Avhich  can  never  fail." 
Mrj),  Seton  had  the  happiness  of  liudiug  all  her  little 


MOTH  Ell  Ei.iz.\ni.rir  axn  setox. 


081 


diK's  ill  I'lMfi'cr  Iicjilth:  l);/r  a  sevcro  trial  awaited  her 
jii  rln'  ('.eatli  (»r  Miss  IJi'hccca  Sctoii,  Ikt  sisti'i'-iii-law 
mid  must  (li.'ar  coiiiiiiiiiioii  jiikI  I'liciid,  who  only  survived 
II  iVw  weeiis  after  tlieir  re-anioii.  In  jnsiiifj,-  iier.  Mrs.  Setmi 
s,.piiif(l  to  Itfse  tlie  last  tie  that  hound  her  to  her  ndiu'ious  life 
11^  ;i  I'rorestant.  Kither,  hiisl):i,iifl,  Crieud.  and  worldly  i)r()s- 
]vi'iiyh;id  uu\vshirie<I  I'loiu  her  one  by  one  ;  Imt  tiie  deatli  of 
tills  friend,  I  he  clierished  eoitiiiaiuon  of  ail  her  visits  (d'  cliar- 
ity;iiid devotion,  of  her  prayeisand  reading's,  and  the  syni]ia- 
t!ii::iiij,MV('ii)ient  of  Inu' heart's  most  inwaril  as[(iralions  after 
(iotl,  mast  have  bi'oken  I  he  ])ond  (hat  was  niosi  lii^ely  to 
]i;ivc  lirld  her  soul  ensnared  to  all  ils  old  associations  and 
liivjildices. 

Mrs.  Sei(»n  thus  speaks  of  ln-r  sister  indaw  :  "  She  who  liad 
Ii'i'M  tiled  'ar(';»nii)anionof  all  the  i)ains!ind  idl  the  condor ts, 
of.son'isof  praise  ami  notes  <d'  sorrow,  thedear,  faithful,  ten- 
(Iff  friend  of  my  soul  throiiii'h  every  varieil  scene  of  many 
years  nf  tiial,  .u'one  ;  only  the  shadow  reinaininu-.  and  that  in  a 
fi'ivdays  must  ptiss  away  I  The  hour  of  plenty  and  comfort, 
till'  sMciety  of  sisters  united  by  ])i'ayers  and  Divine  alfec- 
I  tiniis,  tile  eveuinn'  liyuius,  the  daily'r<?adintcs,  the  sweet  con- 
t'^iiiplatioiis,  the  si'i'vice  of  liolydays  toiietlier,  the  kiss  of 
]ii;ii'i\  the  widows"  visits — all,  all  gone  forever!  And  is 
|!(iv('i'ty  and  sori'ow  the  only  exchange  f  ]\ly  husband,  my 
-jstpv,  my  home,  my  comforts— ])Overty  and  sorrow.  Well, 
wi;-li  (JdiTs  l)|essinu',  you  too  shall  bo  changed  into  dearest 
frli'inls.  To  the  world  you  show  your  outward  garments; 
liiit  ihi'ou^'h  them  you  discover  fo  my  soul  the  ])alm  of  vic- 
tniy.  the  triuni[»h  of  faith,  aud  tln^  sweet  footsteps  of  my 
I{idi>;Miiei'.  leading  direct  to  His  kingdom;  then  let  nie 
u"iiriy  meet  you,  be  received  in  your  bosom,  and  i)e  daily 
conducted  by  your  counsels  through  the  remainder  of  my 
•li'^riiied  joiirn(>y.  1  know  that  many  Divine  gi'aces  y.cconi- 
pany  your  faith,  and  change  the  stings  of  ])enance  lor  ease 
of  conscience,  ami  the  solitude  of  the  desert  for  the  sf)ciety 

I'f  lUlgels.'' 

Mrs.  S.'ton  h(Mng  thus  fully  engaged  with  her  dying  sis- 
ter immediatc'ly  on  her  return  from  Italy,  could  not  help 


!f 


^i' 


;\'>\ 


i.    .!\ 


1.1:  ,  M     i. 


;i! 


;     li     I 


m 


l;r  <  1^  m 


i  ?'?■ 


is 


ij 


1  ■ 


:i 


C33 


MOTHER  ELIZABETH  ANX  SETOX. 


contrasting  painfully  tlin  tliiTerenre  between  tlie  deatli  Ihm] 
of  ;i  I'rotest'int  and  out;  who  is  fdrnlicd  l)yii!l  the  Saci-;i- 
ments  of  (he  Chiiirh.  Yet,  after  the  trial  was  over,  hw  mhu\ 
becain(3  uuiitterilily  litirassed  l)y  doubts  and  tem[)fatii)iis 
resjiec  tin.i!,'  lier  future  religious  profession.  On  leaving  Li'"- 
liorn.  she  had  been  furnished  by  Mr.  Filicehi  wilh  a  letter 
of  introduetion  to  the  lliglit  llev.  ])r.  Carroll,  Bishop  of 
Baltimore;  l)ut  unfortunately,  this  letter  was  not  at 
once  delivf.-red;  and,  following  the  well-meant  advice  ot 
i\[r.  Filicehi  to  accpiaint  her  pastcn*  and  friends  with  her 
(^hange  of  principles,  such  a  sLorm  of  opposition  canic  dnwn 
upon  liei',  tliat  [\)V  a  long  time  her  nundwas  divided  aii('.  hc- 
wihhu-ed.  :ind  tempted  to  straj  back  altogether  fiuiii  the 
newly-found  jxi-th  of  truth. 

Mr.  Ilobart,  in  particular,  whosi;  talents  and  rdiuioiis 
zeal  were  very  great,  and  for  whom  her  own  great  pnrtiality 
pleaded  strongly,  left  n.o  argument  untiicd  that  ccjuld  he 
brought  to  bear  upon  the  subject.  And  tlioiigh  ('(Hislaiit 
personal  communicalion  with  ^Ir.  Anthony  I'llicchi  at  New 
York,  and  e{)istolar3'  correspondiMice  -with  his  l-rotluT  at 
Leglioi'ii.  kept  uj)  liie  warfare  on  the  other  side,  yet  for 
many  mouths  she  co'ald  not  see  her  way  clearly  to  jcnouncL* 
forever  tlie  creed  in  which  she  had  been  ])rouglir  up. 
But,  accustomed  as  she  was  almost  incessantly  to  lay  <'vi'iy 
trouble  ])efore  (foil  and  implore  His  Divine  guidani'c,  rlie 
germ  of  I'aitli  could  not  bi^  stilled  within  hei':  and  perli:']!, 
it  became  only  more  linnly  rooted  diirimi;  this  lime  of  snf- 
fering.  The  brothers  Filicehi  wcu'e  unweai'ied  in  t'';iclii;m', 
counseling,  and  con  firming  her  wavering  nnnd.  Tlie 
lettcu's  of  Philip,  in  i)ai'ticular,  are  models  of  wisdom,  in'-'ty. 
and  charity;  and  as  the  letters  of  a  hiyman  engiiu'ed  in 
active  mercantile  pursuits,  they  Ix^ar  the  marks  of  iiocuni- 
mon  attaiiuiK'uts.  Tb^  much  j-eurretted  that  ^frs.  Setuii  'lail 
not  entered  the  Catholic  (Miurch  whilst  in  Italy,  and  utnlfi' 
the  full  foi'ce  of  convictions. 

Though  unable  to  act  decidedly,  ]\rrs.  Seton's  mind  seemi'd 
still  more  unable  to  h^t  go  th(>,  truths  it  had  aln^mly  'in- 
braced.    Slie  thus  describes  her  own  singular  state ;  "  <  >"  m"- 


^.. 


IPII 


MOrilER  ELIZABETH  .IXV  KETON. 


GS3 


death -becl 

tllL'    ^\W\\\- 

r,  liev  luiiul 
eiuptations 
eavluij;  Lcij; 
itli  w  Icttei- 
,  Bishop  of 
ras    not    at 
t  advict;  ot 
ds  with  lu'i' 
L  canic  down 
ided  and  bi'- 
Ler  li'oHi  the 

nd  reliLrious 
nit  partiality 
hat  cualtl  I'e 
iio'h  coiislani 
Iter  hi  al  N<'W 
is   brother  at 
si<ie,  yet   I'd- 
V'  to  I'cnotiace 
liroimht    iii>. 
to  hiy  I'vi'fy 
\iii\auiH',  the 
niid  v;'vh;'i>-i 
titnt^  of  suC- 
;n  t''a('liia'j:. 
luind.      Tli'^ 
lisdotn.  liii'ty. 
li  tMiu'a'- 


lU 


LS  O 


f  11(1 1'lllll- 
StMou  had 


and 


inidfr 


1 

livad 


mint 


sci'iai'i 


I 


a 
ite : 


'On  ar- 


riviin:  at  home  (i'rom  Italy)  T  was  assaih'd  on  the  subject  ci! 
r,'ni;'ioa  by  the  tderii'y,  who  talk'-d  of  Anti-Clirist,  idolatry, 
and  ui'.ijed  objections  "n  torrents:  wliich,  though  not  capa- 
1,1,>  oL'  changing  the  o];inions  T  liad  adopted,  liave  tcM'rilicd 
iiir  enough  to  keep  me  in  a  state  of  hesitation;  and  I  am 
t'.iii.s  in  tlie  hand?::  of  God,  praying  niglit  and  day  for  His 
piviiie  light,  which  can  alone  direct  me  aright.  I  instruct 
!iiv  children  in,  tiie  Catiiolic  religion,  witliout  taking  any 
dnided  step;  my  lieart  is  in  that  faith,  and  it  is  my  great- 
(^st  eonifort  to  station  myself  in  imagination  in  a  (.'atliolic 
chnrch." 

The  coldness  of  uiany,  indeed  most  of  hei'  Pi'oti'stant, 
friends,  who  were  scandalized  at  lior  venturing  In  enter 
!;iin  any  doul)ts  on  tiie  subj(M't  (d'  religion,  wa.s  n  great 
tri;d  to  her  warm  and  still  bleeding  heart ;  but  jieihaps  a 
sril!  ,<!;reater  temptation  for  h"r  lay  in  the  aU'ectionafe  ap- 
peals cotitinually  made  to  lierby  ^[r.  Ilobart. 

Thi>  very  fact  of  being  in  a  state  of  doubt,  of  coiii'so, 
made  Mi's.  Sefon  a  sort  of  common  prey  for  pi'oselytizers 
of  all  denomina'^ions,  Avhich  she  herself  describes  in  a 
lively  maimer.  '*  [  had,"  slie  says,  "a  most  aifectionate 
note  IVoni  Mr.  Ilobart  to-day,  asking  me  how  I  Could  ever 
tliink  of  h'aving  the  Ciiurch  in  which  I  was  bapti/ed.  J?ut, 
ih'ini:ii  whatever  lie  says  has  the  weight  of  my  partiality 
lui'liini.  as  well  as  the  respect  it  seems  to  me  1  could 
scarcely  have  for  any  one  els(\  yet  tJiat  question  nmde  me 
smile,  lor  it  is  like  saying  that  wherever  a  (diild  is  ))orn, 
and  wherever  its  pai'ents  ]ilac(^  it,  there  it  will  find  the 
truth;  and  he  does  not  hear  the  droll  invitations  uiade  me 
I'very  (hiy  since  f  am  in  my  little  m.nv  home,  and  old  friends 
come  to  see  me  ;  for  it  has  already  happened  that  one  of 
ti!"  ninst  excellent  women  1  ever  knew,  win*  ,s  of  the 
Cliiiich  of  Scotland,  linding  me  unsettled  alioiit  tl)e  gi(>at 
iihject  of  a  true  faith,  said  to  m(^ :  'Oh,  do,  dear  sotil,  >'ome 
:iiid  hear  our  ^.  Mason,  and  I  am  sure  you  will  join  as. 

■•.V  little  after  came  one  whom  I  loved  for  the  i)ui'(\st  and 
!ii(wt  iniKH'enf  manners,  of  the  Society  of  Quakei's  to  wlucli 
iliave  been  always  attached) ;  she  coaxed  nu;  ,oo  with  urt- 


I,   J 


h.  I 


G84 


MOTHER  ELIZABETH  AXN  SETON. 


loss  persuasion;   'Bb'ts(?y,  I  tell  thee,  thee  liad  bottrr  come 
with  lis.'     And  my  laithful  old  I'riend  of  the  Anabaptist 

meeting,   Mrs.  T ,  says,  witli   tears  in  her  eyes,  'Oli 

eould.  yon  1)e  regenerated  ;  could  you  know  our  experienf^'es 
and  enjoy  witli  us  our  heavenly  baiupiet.'  And  my  good 
old  Mai'y,  tiie  Methodist,  groans  and  conteinplates,  as  she 
calls  it,  over  my  soul,  so  misled  because  I  have  got  no  con- 
victions. But  oh,  my  Father  and.  my  Gud  \  all  that  will 
not  do  Tor  me.  Your  word,  is  truth,  and  without  cuntriulic- 
tio.i,  uiierever  it  is.  One  faith,  one  hope,  one  ba]iii-;  1 
look  bir,  wherever  it  is;  and.  I  often  think  niy  sins,  mv 
miseries,  liide  the  light :  yet  I  will  •cling  and  hold  to  my 
<Tod  to  the  last  gasp,  begging  for  that  light,  and  never 
change  until  I  find  it." 

Again  she  thus  writes  to  Mrs.  A.  Filicchi,  in  September; 
"Your  Antonio  would  not  even  have  been  \s\\\  jjlea.'^ed 
to  see  nu>  in  St.  Paul's  (Protestant  Episcopal)  Church  to- 
day ;  but  peace  and  persuasion  about  proprieties,  etc.,  over 
l)revailed  :  yet  I  got  in  a  side  p<'A',  which  turned  my  face 
towards  the  Catholic  cliui'ch  in  the  next  street,  and  IVnuul 
myself  twenty  times  speaking  to  the  Blessed  Sacrament 
fh(ri\  instead  of  looking  at  the  naked  altar  where  I  was,  or 
minding  the  routine  of  prayers.  Tears  plenty,  and  sighs 
as  silent  and  deep  as  when  I  first  ent(n'ed  your  blessed 
Church  of  the  Annnnication  in  Florence — all  turning  to  the 
one  only  desire,  to  see  the  way  most  pleasing  to  my  (;fod, 
whichever  that  way  is.  .   .  . 

"I  car  <t!i1y  say,  I  do  long  and  desire  to  worship  onr 
(Jod  in  truth;  and  if  I  had  never  inet  you  (catholics,  and 
yet  should  have  read,  the  books  Mr.  Il(A)art  has  brought 
me.  they  would  have  in  themstdves  brought  a  thousand  tui- 
(!.M'tainties  and  doubts  to  my  mind;  and.  these  soften  ?iiy 
heart  so  mucdi  before  God,  in  the  certainty  how  nuicli  lie 
must  pity  me,  kiKnving  as  lie  doi^s  the  whole  and  solo  hent 
ol  my  soul  is  to  please  llim  only,  and  get  (dost;  to  Ilim  in 
this  life  and  in  the  next,  that  in  the  midnight  hour,  believe 
me,  1  often  look  up  at  the  Avails  through  the  tears  and  dis- 
tress that  overpower  me,  expecting  rather  to  see  His  lin- 


bottfn'  come 

Anabaptist 

eyes,  'Oh, 
experiences, 
id  my  good 
lates,  as  she 
!  g(jt  no  con- 
ail  that  will 
ut  contradic- 
e  bapti^-i'  1 
n;v  sins,  mv 

hold  to  my 
t,  and  never 

n  Septeniber; 
will  pleased 
.)  Cliurch  to- 
les,  etc.,  over 
L'ned  my  face 
3t,  nnd  found 
ml  Sacrament 
here  I  was,  or 
ty,  and  sighs 
your   blessed 
liming  to  the 
to  my  Uod, 

worsliip  our 

athoiics,  and 

hus  brought 

tlu»usand  nn- 

so  soflfu  my 

)\v  mii''li  H« 

and  sol*!  I't'ii'^ 

St!  t()  Hiui  ill 

lioiir,  believe 

tears  and  dis- 

mj  see  liis  <»n' 


MOTHER  ETTZABETII  ANN  SEWN. 


ns,") 


^•er  writing  on  the  wall  for  my  relief,  ilian  that  He  will 
forsake  or  abiindon  so  poor  a  creature." 

Mrs.  Seton  made  one  final  effort  to  find  conifr)rt  in  that 
fonti  of  worsliip  where  she  had  been  so  long  accustomed  to 
seek  it.  ••\Vould  you  believe  it,  Amabllia,  in  a  despera- 
tion of  heart  I  went  last  Sunday  to  St.  CTOorge's  (Prutc^stant 
Kiiis('ol>ul)  Church  ;  the  wants  and  nijcessities  of  my  soul 
vei'e  s(j  ]ir(jssing  that  I  looked  straight  up  to  (Un\,  and  I 
tolilllim.  since  I  cannot  see  the  way  to  please  Yoiu  whom 
.il„iK>  1  wish  to]dease,  everything  is  indifl'ei'ent  to  me;  and 
unril  Voii  do  sliow  nu^  the  wa\^  You  mean  nio  to  ^va11■.'  in,  T 
will  trudge  on  iu  the  piitli  You  su(f<u'ed  me  r<j  be  born  in, 

lid  go  even  to  t lie  very  SacnuneJit  where  I  once  used  to 
liiid  Yon. 

••So  away  I  went,  my  o^d  Mai'y  happy  to  take  cai'e  of 
tlif'childi'cn  for  me  once  more  until  I  came  back;  ))ut  if  I 
ii^tr  the  lioiise  a  Prot(\stant,  I  I'eturned  to  it  a  Catlt.ilic,  1 
tliiiik  :  siiico  I  determined  to  gononioi't^  to  tiu'  Pr'.iC'-.tant.s, 
jieiiig  m'lch  nu)re  troubled  than  ever  1  tluiugb*  '  c(jtdd  b.! 
wliilst  1  ivmendx'red  (lod  is  my  (Jod.  J^)Ut  ^.'  if  va.s,  thr.t 
iiitlie bowing of  my  heart  befoi'e  the  15ish',i>  .o  :t" .  ivehis  ab- 
solution, which  is  given  pultliclyund  r..ii-. c'sa^.ly  to  all  iuth;^ 
('liiirch,  1  had  not  Ihc  least  faitli  !-.;  his  prayers,  and  lookf  1 
fur  :m  a]>ostolic  loosing  fi'oii'  iii;,  s'ns.  wiiicli,  by  the  bool.s 
Mr.  llol»art  had  given  ur,  lo  i--a'-l.  1  liud  1  ht'V  do  not  claim  oi* 
lulniit:  thus  treuib'iiip;  I  wnt  to  communion,  half  dead  with 
;![(■  ii'.'.vr.id  >iiri!ggie  ;  wle-ii  they  said  "  tli(>  body  and  blood 
oniirist,"— oh,  Amabilin.  no  words  can  express  my  trial. 

'•1  look  the  l)a!h/  Evcrcif^c  of  good  Abbe  Plunkett,  to 
;.:!il  lie'  jirayers  after  Cominunion  ;  but  finding  evei'y  word 
iKlilivssed  to  oin-  dear  Saviour  as  really  pr(>sent,  I  becam ; 
li.ilf  cra/.y.  and  for  the  first  tiuK' could  not  bear  lli(>  sw(>(  t 
(•messes  of  the  darlings,  nor  Idess  theii^  little  dinner.  Oh. 
my  (iod,  Ihat  day  I  but  it  linisluMl  cabnly  at  last,  abaudeu- 
iiiL;;ill  to  (Jod,  ami  a  renewed  conlideuce  iu  the  T'lessed 
Virgin  :  whose  mild  and  i)eaeefiil  look  reproached  r,iy  bold 
oxcossi'^.  and  reminded  me  to  \\\.  my  lu'art  above  with  bet- 
tcr  hopes."' 


\\:ir: 


'■'.'■  ,1'  ■* '  *  -■  '"I  '  " 


n 


fli!  ; 


GSO 


IIOTIIER  ELIZABirni  AXX  SKTOX. 


So  tortured  was  the  mind  of  Mrs.  Seton  nt  fliis  time,  tlint 
slie  had  even  tlioni^ht  in  despair  of  enil)ra('inu,'  no  i>;irti('ular 
form  of  Cliristianity  until  the  hour  of  dcntli;  l)iit  takiii"- 
up  a  sermon  of  ljourdaI(nie  on  the  Feast  of  the  E])iplianv 
and  meeting  with  the  following  observations,  in  alhi.sion  to 
the  inqniry  "  Where  is  He  Avho  is  born  King  of  the  Jews ;"' 
that  wiien  we  no  longer  discern  the  star  of  faitli,  we  must 
seek  it  where  alone  it  is  to  be  found,  nmong  the  deposito- 
ries of  the  Divine  word,  the  pastors  of  the  Churcli,  sli3  was, 
by  the  blessing  of  (rod,  so  deeply  impressed  by  the  susges- 
tion.  t>hat  she  immediately  turned  again  to  tlie  Catholic 
books  which  had  originally  so  forcibly  attracted  her;  and 
being  unahle  to  obtain  an  interview  with  the  priest  in  her 
own  neighboi'liood,  wrote  at  once  to  solicit  directions  from 
the  Rev.  John  L  )uis  de  Choverns,'  of  Boston. 

In  vain  did  her  Protestant  friends  use  all  the  common  ar- 
guments to  deter  her.  AVorldly  considerations  were  notli- 
ing  to  her  wliere  her  soid  was  concerned,  '"'i'lie  Catliolics 
of  Xew  Vork  were  represented  to  me,""  she  tells  a  Iriciul  at 
this  time,  **as  the  offscourings  of  the  people,"'  and  the  con- 
gregation as  "a  public  nuisance;  but,""  she  adJs,  'Mliat 
troubles  not  me.  The  congregations  of  a  city  may  i)0  very 
shiibby.  yet  very  pleasing  to  God ;  or  very  bad  pcojilo 
among  tliem,  yet  that  c.'iunot  hurt  the  J  at'///,  as  1  take  ir. 
And  should  the  prii^sfc  himself  deserve  no  more  resjiect  tliaii 
is  liere  allowed  him,  his  nnnistry  of  the  Saciameiits  woul  1 
lie  tlie  same  to  me,  if  I  ever  shall  receive  them.  1  seek  hut 
(lod  and  His  Church  ;  and  expect  to  lind  my  peace  in  them, 
not  in  tlie  peoi)le." 

Mrs.  Seton  then  put  herself  in  correspondence  witli  l^atlicr 
Cheverus:  and  this  step  was  of  th(3  greatest  service  to  Ih'I'. 
llis  timely  counsels  and  the  wise  advice  of  Bishop  Cai'ioll, 
at  length,  under  God,  dis]H>lh'd  the  clouds  from  her  soul, 
and  determined  her  to  dehiy  no  ]ong(M'  seeking  ndnii^siou 
to  the  Catholic  Church.  These  are  lier  own  words  on  mals- 
ing  this  important  decision,  and   are  the   hast  extiact  we 


^ 


.Vftciwaril^  Cartliiml.    He  died  in  1830,  Arcliblshop  of  DordDiuix,  lu  Franco. 


ii    il, 


mam 


is  titno.  tlmt 

0  i>;irticuliir 
but  taking 

Epiphany, 

1  allusion  to 
■  the  Jews;'' 
th,  we  must 
!ii^  deposito- 
■(;h,  sIl;  was, 
:  the  sug.u'os- 
tlie  fJatholio 
ed  her ;  and 
priest  in  ln'i- 
ec'tions  I'runi 

!  couinion  ar- 
s  were  noth- 
'he  Catholics 
lis  a  I'l'iend  at 
and  the  con- 
adds,  "that 
uiay  i)e  very 
bad  piMi]ilo 
as  1  take  it. 
respect  than 
luents  woull 
1  seek  Init 
)eaceiu  iheni, 

>  with  Father 
r\-\ro  t  )  her. 
kIioh  Carnill. 

■    '         J- 

til   her  soul, 

lim-  ;idiiii-sinu 

ids  on  mak- 

extract  we 


MOTHER  ELIZABETH  ANX  BETOK 


GSl 


.chull  mn'v3  from  hor  pen  as  a  Protestant :  '-Xow,  tliey 
tell  rue,  take  care  ;  I  am  a  mother,  and  my  (diildren  I  must 
;;ns\ver  for  in  judu'menr,  whatever  faith  I  lead  them  to. 
That  being  so,  and  i  so  unconscious,  for  1  little  .thought, 
till  told  by  Mr.  Ilobart,  that  tlieir  faith  could  be  so  full 
nf  conseciuence  to  them  and  me,  I  will  -.xo  peacefully 
and  iirndy  to  the  Catludic  Chui-xli;  for  if  faith  is  so  im- 
portant to  our  salvation,  I  will  seek  it  where  true  faith 
lirst  btgan  ;  seek  it;  amongst  those  who  received  it  from 
God  Himself. 

"The  controversies  I  am  quite  incapable  of  deciding ;  and 
as  the  sti'ictest  Protestant  allows  salvation  to  a  good  Catholic, 
til  the  (,'atholics  I  will  go,  and  try  to  be  a  good  one.  ^h\\ 
liod  accept  my  intentions  and  pity  me.  As  to  supposing 
the  uord  oC  our  Lord  has  failed,  and  that  II<^  suffered  Ilifc 
fust  foundation  to  be  built  on  by  Anti-Christ,  I  cannot  stoj) 
en  that  without  stopping  on  every  other  word  of  our  Lord, 
ami  being  temi)ted  to  be  no  Christian  at  nil  ;  lor  if 
[he  lirst  Church  became  Anti-Christ,  and  tin-  second 
lidkls  her  riglits  from  it,  then  I  should  be  afriiid  both 
iiiinht  be  Anti-Christ,  and  I  mak',?  my  Avay  to  the  bot- 
tiiniless  pit  by  following  either.  Come,  I  hen,  my  little 
(lues,  we  will  go  to  judgment  together,  and  X)resent  our 
Lord  His  own  v^ords;  and  if  He  says,  'You  l'(.>ols,  1  did  not 
mean  that,'  we  will  say,  'Since  You  said  You  woukl  bo  aj- 
n"/.v,  ev(m  to  tiie  end  of  ages,  with  this  Chundi  You  built 
with  Your  Blood,  if  You  ever  left  it,  it  is  Your  word  which 
misled  us  :  theref(n'e,  please  to  pardon  Your  j'oor  fools,  for 
Your  own  word's  sake.'  " 

On  Ash-AV»Mlnesday  then,  March  14,  18a"),  :\rrs.  Seton 
invsented  ii<?rself  for  acceptance  in  old  St.  Peter" s  Church, 
Xew  York  City.  "How  the  heart,"  she  says,  "died  away, 
as  it  were,  ill  sihMice,  bt.d'ore  the  little  tabi-rna''le  and  the 
laruv  erucillxion  over  it!  Ah,  my  (lod,  beiv  Irt  n-.e  re.st ; 
and  down  tli(>  head  on  the  bosom,  and  the  knees  on  the 
heueh.'  Aft(M'  Mass  she  was  received  into  the  Church  liy 
a  venerable  Irisii  ]>riest,  tlu>  Rev.  ^bitthew  (T  Bi'icn,  in  tlu! 
lavsi'iice  ol  her  most  true  friend,  Mr.   Anthony  Flliccla. 


?i;  I!  i  .;■ 


'!• 


\  \ 


r:i  - 


n 


088 


MOTHER  ELIZABETH  AXX  ST-ITOK 


\ 


lii'. 


li 


\\\\\\\  his  feelings  must  have  Ixhmi,  at  this  ha]i]-)v  tormina- 


iioii  to  all  his  anxieties  on  hej-  account,  can  I 


le  well  i 


111- 


agined.  Less  easily  hers  as  she  returned  lionie,  "light  at 
heart,  ami  cool  of  head,  (lie  iii'st  time  these  iiKiny  lon" 
months;  but  no!  without  Ijeggiiig  our  Lord  to  wrap  mv 
heart  deep  in  that  t)pen  .Side,  so  well  described  in  llie  hriii;- 
tifiil  crucilixion  ;  or  lo(dv  it  up  in  his  little  tabernacle,  wIkt.' 
I  shall  U'>A- re-t  forever.  Oh,  the  endeanneius  of  liijs  A\\\ 
with   the  ciiildren,   and  the  play  of   the   heait   wiili  (imi, 


w 


hile  keeping  u])  their  little  farces  vith  them 


Wh'if 


confi'ast  to  tlie  torturing  anxieties  ol  thelast  twelve  inoiulis; 
and,  in  ])artieu]ar.  to  (lie  trouble  and  disa]>j)oiniinent  she 
experienced  in  parf^aking  of  the  Lortls  Supper,  in  the  Prof. 
estant  church,  when,  '"for  the  first  time  in  iier  liie,  she 
could  iu)t  l)ear  the  sweet  caresses  of  hei  darling  children, 
n(jr  bless  thiur  dinner  I  " 

The  following  extracts  from  lier  journal  of  this  riinejill 
breathe  th'?  same  hajtpy  spirit  of  ])eace  and  coiitemniciit ; 
'"So  dtdighled  now  to  ])repai'e  for  this  good  coiire'^Hioii, 
which,  bad  as  I  am,  I  would  be  ready  to  niak(?  on  the  house- 
top, to  insure  rlie  goo<l  absolution  I  hope  for  after  it,  and 
then  to  set  out  a  new  life,  a  n<nv  existence  itself:  no  grenr. 
difliculrv  for  me  to  be  readv  foi'  it;   f.)r  frul\-  iii\    life  lins 


)oen  well  culh.'il  over  in  bitterness  of  soul,  fhivf  luontlis  (if 


sorrow  past.''  "It  is  done  ea-^N  enough.  The  kindest  con- 
fessor i.s  this  ^fr.  O'Brien,  with  the  coni]iassi(/ii  and  y\ 
iirmuess  in  thiswoi'lx  of  mercy  which  I  would  ha\e  expected 
fr(>ni  my  Loi'd  IlimseH'.  Omi'Ij  ird  Ilimsell  T  saw  alone  in  iiiiii, 
l)Oih  ill  his  au'l  my  part  iu  this  venei'nble  Saciviment;  I'er, 


oh 


liowawiu 


1th 


) so  words  of  I 


mloo 


si  nii'  a  f tei-  a  tl  n  r t  v  veiu's 


bondai 


T  felt  as  if  mv  chains  fell,  as  those  of  St.  Peter, 


it  the  touch  ot  tin?  Divine  messenuer. 


M  v  (xod  I    what   ne 


w  scenes    lor   niv  s(a 


Amiaiiein- 


tiou  Day  1  siiall  be  made  one  with  Tiim  who  said,  'I  iiless 
you  eat  .My  ilesh  and  di'ink  IMy  blood,  you  can  have  no  imrl; 
with  ^fe.'  •  T  count  X\\v  days  and  hours;  yet  a  h'^v  inorc  nf 
ho[)e  and  expe"tation,  and  theu:— TIow  bright  the  sua,  tlieso 
morning  walks  of  propurution!     Deej)  snow  or  siuooth  ice, 


1-4    ii 


p]iy  tormina- 
lie  well  im- 
ii(\  ''lidit  at 
e  iiianv  loii'' 
to  wrap  my 
I  ill  I  he  liear.- 
(niacle.  where 
s  oi"  this  day 
rt  with  (1(1(1. 
11."'     What  a 
\('lve  iiKHUll^ ; 
Miinlineiit  slie 
r,  in  tlie  Pret 
her  lil'e,  she 
•ling  children, 

■  this  time  all 
contennnent: 
)(l   confe'^sion, 

■  (111  the  lldlise- 

ir  aficr  il.  and 

I  sell':  no  ,:iwat. 

y  in\   life  has 

irct'  months  ot 

('  kindest  eon- 

ssioii  and  yet 

have  e\-])e('ted 

vnloncin  iiini, 

leniincnl  ;  Un\ 

il  thirty  years' 

.  m1'  St.  ivter, 

i:     Annniicia- 

<aid.  '  Inh'ss 

III  linve  no  irart 


a  ti'*^'  more  o 


l!ii>  sun.  tlies(3 
or  sniooth  ice, 


MOTHER  ELIZALErn  AXN  SETOX. 


nro 


all  to  me  the  siime — I  see  nothing  hut  the  little  bright  cross 
on  St.  Peter's  steeple.'" 

"•Ihtlt  M(trch. — At  last,  God  is  niin(>,  iind  I.  am  His.  Now 
letall  g'o  its  round.  I  liiive  received  ILiui.  'I'in' awful  im- 
pressions of  the  evening  before,  Jesus,  of  not  having  done 
oil  to  pi'opiire;  and  yet  even  tln^  ti-insports  of  conlidciKH^ 
nndliope  in  Ills  goodness.  My  God  I  to  the  last  breath  of 
lil'e  will  l  not  renuz'niber  this  night  of  watcdiing  for  morning 
(liuvii.  the  fearful  beating  heart,  so  ju'essing  to  be  gone;  the 
\t)\v^  walk  to  town,  but  every  step  counted  neai'cr  that 
street:  then  nearer  that  tabeinaclc :  then  nearer  the  nu)- 
nient  11(3  would  enter  the  poor,  ikku'  little  dwelling  so  all 
I[is(Avn.  And  when  lie  did  the  iirst  thought  I  remember 
was.  '  Let  God  arisi',  let  his  enemies  be  scattered;'  for  it 
seemed  to  me  my  King  had  come  to  take  his  throne;  and 
instead  of  the  humble,  tender  -welcome  I  had  expected  to 
t;ive  liim,  it  was  but  a  trium[)h  of  joy  and  gladness,  that  the 
deliverer  was  coni'^'.  and  my  defence,  and  slyeld,  and  strcMigth, 
;iud  salvation  made  mine  for  this  world  and  the  next. 
Now,  then,  all  the  recesses  of  my  heart  fonnd  their  I'ing, 
;ind  it  daneiMl  with  moi-e  fervor — no,  T  must  not  say  that  — 
hiU  perhaps  almost  with  as  much,  as  the  roy:il  psalmist  be- 
fore his  ark  ;  for  I  was  far  ri(dn'r  than  li(\  and  more  hon- 
ored than  h(^  ever  could  be.  Now  the  point  is  for  the 
fiuirs.  So  far,  truly,  I  feel  all  the  powers  of  rny  soul  Indd 
fast  by  llim,  who  came  with  so  nuudi  mnjesty  to  take  pos- 
session of  His  little  poor  kingdom." 


t\'\ 


CHAPTER  IV. 

ON  i'lli:  WAY  OF  CIIUISTIAX   PERrECTrON, 

Peace — Father  Cliemrus — FUicchi — Mrs.  Sefo/i  opens  a 
boarrUiKj-liouse — la  cnnjirmect  hi/  Inn/to})  f'lirroU— 
Aiio//ier  Convert — Fersecutions — Jicr.  W.  V  Dn'miirq 
aiuc  /lis  plans— Mrs.  i^etoii  r/oes  to  BiHiinirri'—Libiral- 
U>i  of  tilt  FillceUi  brot Iters — Mr.  Cooper — The  "  Si.sfcrs 
of  /SY.  Joseph^^ — At  EiiintUtsbarij — St.  Joseph's  VnUr//. 

Bi^liold  Mvs.  Seton.  tlien,  at  leiiu'tli  snfcly  liouscd  wkliin 
the  ark  towards  wliieh  her  soul  had  lor  so  loii^ii;  unconsciously 
yearned.  Al'ter  itll  tlie  diiliculties  and  tloul)ts  slic  had  lucu 
passin«jf  thronu'li,  she  was  well  prepared  to  I'c juice  in  tlio 
p()ss(\ssion  oi"  peace  on  which  she  had  now  entinvd;  not 
"l»eiice  undisturbed,  but  .still  peace  that  could  not  be  removed, 
yiie  was  now,  as  she  herseli  hastened  to  inform  Father 
de  Cheverus,  whose  advici;  had  so  materially  aided  her  ceii 
version,  ''a  p(jur  burdened  creature,  weighed  down  with 
.sins  and  sorrows,  receiving  an  immediate  transition  tu  lile, 
liberty,  and  rest.'' 

To  the  close  of  her  life  Mrs.  Seton  maintained  a  ,^oiiv- 
spondence  with  this  most  worthy  priest ,  and  his  sympatliy 
and  counsel,  with  that  of  Bishop  Carroll,  the  Ih^v.  Dr.  Matig- 
non.  and  other  distinguished  clergj^men,  of  whom  it  was  re- 
marked that  "their  appearance,  their  de])ortment,  their 
learning,  are  acknowledged,  almost  .with  enthusiasm,  by 
most  ol  the  Protestants  themselves,"  was  a  powerful  sup- 
port to  her  under  the  new  trials  she  was  now  called  ui)on  to 
endure,  in  the  coldness,  or  rather  opposition,  of  many  of 
her  former  friends. 

At  that  time  it  was  considered  a  degradatioii  to  embrace 
the  Catholic  Faith,  and  the  estrangement  of  her  family  ou 
000 


MOTHER  ELIZA ninVI  AyX  SETOX. 


GHl 


tliis  affonnt  loft  Mfs.  Seton  to  moot  almost  alone  tho  exi- 
gencies ill  which  the  embarrassed  state  of  her  husbamV.s 
affairs  at  the  time  of  his  death  had  involved  her.  Had  she 
remained  a  Protestant,  all  due  assistance  would  have  l)ecn 
(Tiven,  and  a  large  f(jrtune  might  have  been  hers;  but  now. 
except  for  the  munificent  aid  of  Mr.  Filicchi,  she  was  left 
dependent  on  her  own  exertions.  Not  lung  that  the  most 
irenerous  friendship  could  prompt  was  wanting  on  the  part 
of  this  noble  man.  He  would  ghidly  have  provided  a  house 
for  her  in  Italy;  and  his  agents  in  Xew  York  were  con- 
stantly directed  to  sui)i)ly  her  with  whatever  money  she 
might  call  on  them  I'or ;  and  her  two  sons,  one  nine  and  tho 
other  seven  years  old,  were  placed  by  him  Tor  education  iu 
Georgetown  College.  ''To  relieve  her  wants,''  he  told  her, 
'•was  the  pride  of  his  soul,  and  his  best  passport  i'or  his  lasfc 
join-ney." 

Mrs.  Seton,  however,  was  very  properly  anxious  to  exert 
li.'isiir  for  the  benefit  of  her  young  family  .  aiid  she  therefore 
opened  a  l)():irding-liouse  for  some  of  the  boys  who  attended 
a  school  in  the  city.  Even  in  this  change  she  found  the 
liiglu'St  consolation,  knowing  that  it  was  brought  about  ])y 
Ikt  obedience  to  the  will  of  God;  and,  after  atteiuling 
)Iass.  s!ie  W(Mit  through  her  I'ound  of  daily  duties  with  the 
greatest  cheerfulness  and  satisfaction.  She  still  kept  up 
the  ])i'!ictice  or  cf)mmitting  to  ])aper  the  secrets  of  her  heart : 
and  it  is  diflicult  to  select  from  this  treasury  oi  devotion 
ene  p;issage  more  worthy  than  another  of  sluulowing  forth 
this  jMiio,  and  humble,  and  loving  heart.  Her  constant 
prayei'  at  this  time  is,  that  the  love  of  God  may  be 
supreme  within  her. 

''Imagining  the  corrupted  heart  in  Thy  hand,  it  begged 
Thee  with  all  its  strength  to  cut,  pare,  and  remove  from  it 
iv,halev('r  anguish  it  must  niulergo)  whatever  prevented 
the  entrance  of  Thy  love.  Again  it  repeats  tlie  supplica- 
tion, and  begs  it  as  Thy  greatest  mercy  ;  cut  to  the  center, 
t!>ar  up  every  root,  let  it  bleed,  let  it  sufier  anything, 
"verytiiing,  only  lib  it  for  Thyselt,  place  only  Thy  love 
lhe:'i\  and  let  humility  keep  sentinel ;  and  what  sludl  1 


i| 


;' 


0D,2 


MOrilKli   KUZAni-nil  ANN  t<ETOX. 


feni'il  What  is  pain,  soitow,  poverty,  roprondi ;  I'li'sscd 
L  )rd  !  tiioy  all  were  once  Tliy  inmates, 'i1iy  clidsi-n  vu\\\. 
IKinions  ;  aiul  (Mil  I  reject  them  as  eneriiies,  an(l  tly  I'loiu 
the  I'lifMids  You  s(>n(l  to  bring  me  to  Your  kiii,n(l(imr 
J'^veii  ill  Ih;'  niiilst  of  the  petty  culls  upon  her  atteniioii, 
wliicli  were  now  iace.ssimt,  lliis  one  idea  was  ever  luvseui 
within,  "Who  can  bind  the  soul  wiiicii  God  sets  Tree ;  it 
si)ruu^'  to  lliin  lil'ty  times  an  hour  Scarcely  an  lioui- 
wirhitiit  beinn'  tiiiiieJ  to  lli/n  ;  while  the  voice  and  eyes 
We'll' aasucriiiu'  down  Ix'iow,  sweet!  sweet!" 

On  till' •Jw.h  ol  May,  ISiMj,  .N[rs  Setou  was  confii'uied  hy 
])islio[)  I'airoll  in  8t  Peter's  (Jlinrch,  >,'<'W  York;  and 
soon  aft.'!'  this  event  she  was  called  U[ion  to  parr  i'roiu  licr 
invaluable  I'l'iend,  Mr  A  Fibcchi,  who  was  returning:  to 
Ids  native  count I'y  No  words  can  express  all  that  Mrs 
Seton  owed  to  this  gentleman,  who  hud  left  liis  own  laiuilv 
to  a(!coini).Tny  her  hoiui3  in  her  bereavement:  who  had 
placi'd  at  her  dJr<[)osal  his  means,  his  time,  and  lii>  unlailiiii,' 
syniiialh)-"  who  had  laboured  unceasingly  to  biini:  Ii'T 
within  till'  foul  of  tli<^  trueChurch,  and  under  the  hri;.',lit 
exa/.uolc  ol'  wliose  Christian  piety  and  cdiarity  she  had  lirst 
learned  to  seeic  after  this  saving  refuge.  Mrs  Setoii  al 
ways  called  him  brofher;  and  no  brother  could  have  )jeen 
nearer  and  deaicr  to  a  sister's  heart  than  he  was  to  hers 

Nor  was  it  witliout  dee[)  I'eeling  tlud.  lie  too  could. hid 
farewell  to  one  to  whom  he  had  been  so  eminently  useful. 
We  read  that  he  considered  ''the  interest  which  he  \\  X 
talcen  in  the  welfare  of  her  and  her  family  as  the  secret  ot 
the  many  favors  he  had  received  from  Heaven  "  When 
on  his  way  home,  being  providentially  rescued  from  very 
imminent  dangn*  "on  the  dreadful  summit  of  Mount 
Cenis,  '  ho  thus  writes  to  Mrs  Seton-  '  it  was  on  ^Moiidny 
night,  the  8th.  of  December,  the  dry  cd'  the  festival  of  diu 
Blessed  Lady' 3  Conception,  Early  in  that  niorninu.  they 
(the  other  ])assengers  in  the  (lit.}f/ence)\\i\.(!i  all  laughed  at 
my  going  to  Mass,  but  fear  drew  afterwards  fi'oni  ih"ii' 
lil)s,  au-ainst  their  will,  the  awful  acknowledgment  ot 
their  forsaken  principles  of  religion. 


I  A 


MOTiiiJJi  Hi.izAiurnr  axx  setox. 


603 


llHSCll      ('(rlll- 

iid  tly  I'lom 
kingdom  C' 
1'  ultt'iuiuii, 
)vei'  present 
'tsi'ivc;  It 
.'ly  an  liuiir 
.•e  tuid  eyes 

:)nlirmed  liy 
York  ;  and 
nt  J'roni  her 
ittiirnin;.':  tu 
W  that  Mrs 
own  family 
r :  who  had 
lii>  nnrailinu' 
.)  lii'inii  h','r 
r  the  bri-lit 

she  li;i(l  lil'st 

■•s   Seton  al 
d  have  Ijeen 
s  to  hci's 

H)    ('(Ulld.liul 

•iilly  nsct'nl. 

ick   he   li  d 

lie  secret  ot 

11  "     AVlu'n 

1   ironi  vi'ry 

of   Monnt 

on  ]\rond:iy 

4iva1  of  nni 

ornin.u.  they 

lau.uhcd  :it 

ti'oni  ih'.ir 

Lnk'nient  oi 


"Hooked  inmiediatoly  to  you  as  my  princiiul  iiitcrcis- 
gor;  and  you  must  Inive  had  certainly  u  great  share  in  my 
(Hiveraneo.  What  wonder,  then,  in  my  readine.ss  to  Ixt 
sTviceahh?  to  you  i  Thi'ou,i>h  your  good  exaiuph!  tli(\v  iind 
iiic  in)\v  a  better  Christian  than  1  was,  ami  through  you  my 
nuTcanrili!  (':)iic-!rns  ar.;  ble.ssed  by  God  w'th  an  nninter- 
Mipted  snccess.  I  shall  not,  therel'oi-e,  be  so  foolish  as  to 
desert  yonr  cause.  Pray  only  our  Divine  RedcetiKn'  to  ex- 
t'U.l  His  ni-n-cy  towards  me  for  the  most  important  welfare 
ill  oiu' next  life.  If  1  hive  b3.m  hippy  (mouu,h  to  be  the 
iiisfruin  Mit  of  intiHxlucing  you  to  tin-  gates  of  the^  true 
Cliiurh  of  Christ  here  bcdou,  keep  me  fast  by  yon  when 
Hilled  iii)-stairs;  we  must  enter  together  iiilo  hea\-en. 
Amen." 

There  was  one  amongst  Mrs.  Seton's  near  connections 
who  l>y  !io  means  shared  in  the  general  feeding  of  hostility 
with  wln(di  she  was  now  regarded.  This  was  ^liss  Cecilia. 
Seton,  ht.'r  youngest  sister-indaw.  Under  fourteen  years 
(i[  age,  bt.'aiuiful,  devout,  and  most  wai'mly  attached  to 
her  proscribed  relative,  Mrs.  Seton  cherished  tin*  earnest 
i;n[ii;  tluit  tliis  sister  nught  one  day  be  partakei'  of  the  true 
failli,  ami  availed  herself  of  tiie  freepient  o]!p()itunities  af- 
forded by  a  severe  illness  to  bring  the  subject  before  her 
young  patient. 

When  raised  from  her  sick-bed,  Miss  C.  Seton  devoted 
lii'isolf  unhesitatingly  to  find  out  the  truth,  and  linally  re- 
solved, in  spite  of  the  most  furious  op])osition,  on  ))econiing 
!i  Catholic,  it  was  in  vain  that  every  means  were  eni- 
liloyed  that  bigotry  and  misguided  zeal  conid  suggest.  She 
was  threatened,  with  all  sorts  of  possible  and  iini)ossible 
evils,  and  even  Ivept  in  (dose  confinement  foi  several  days  ; 
l»nt  the  grace  of  (xod  carried  her  unwavering  through  every 
o])]iosit!on.  and  she  was  received  into   the  Church,   dune 

Siitli,  isiin 

The  immediate  consequences  of  this  step  were  the  young 
ladys  dismissal  from  home  without  the  least  ]n'ovision, 
and  !i  positive  pi'ohibition  to  enter  the  houses  of  any  of  her 
relations,  or^to  associate  with  their  families.     The  youngest 


III 


w 


III  I 


■'  ill  I  i  :l . 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


r/ 


<p 


:A 


1.0 


I.I 


li^lllM    12.5 


'  m 
'.  m 


12.0 

1.8 


1.25 

1.4       1.6 

^ 6"     

► 

v] 


<? 


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c^: 


C^#      o^ 


r  ^Sfi* 


^l 


^^ 


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// 


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^ 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y    14580 

(716)  872-4503 


.<p 


i/x 


G94 


MOTHER  KLiz.\ni:rn  axx  skton. 


and  hitherto  the  favorite  ;it  home,  this  was  a  severe  trial  to 
the  ycjiithfiil  novice  ;  but  she  was  welcomed  as  a  j;ift  from 
God  by  Mrs.  Seton,  wlio  ghidly  ofTertd  her  o.  lioiiic. 

Tills,  however,  was  the  occasion  of  renewed  perscciitidns 
towards  Mrs  Seton,  and  many  who  had  hitherto  k<'i.t  ni) 
some  Oiitward  resemblance  of  courtesy,  now  foilijidc  tlicii' 
childrcMi  to  iiold  the  sliglitest  intercourse  with  hn'.  Kv,.;^ 
the  J'rotestant,  Bishop  Moore  and  Mr.  llobart,  her  foinui- 
friends  and  pastors,  took  the  same  hostile  part,  and  waiiud 
all  who  had  hitherto  aided  her  in  her  estal)lislmi('nt  to 
a\%')id  having  anything  to  do  with  so  dangerous  a  icrsoii. 
in  c(  (isequence  of  this  state  of  things,  her  circuuistaiifes  in 
a  worldly  point  of  view  became  most  seriously  compiuinised- 
yet  still  her  soul  retaine;!  its  peace,  and  her  mind  d\v  It 
r'.[!ier  on  the  consolations  received  from  Catholic  friends 
than  the  injuries  inflicted  by  others. 

"  L'[)ou  my  word,  '  sh;;  writes  pleasantly  to  Mr.  A.  Fj. 
licchi,  "it  is  veiy  ])Ieasant  to  have  tlie  name  of  bt■in^  jier- 
secuted,  and  yet  enjoy  the  sweetest  favojs;  to  be  p^or  and 
wretched,  aud  yet  be  rich  and  happy;  neglected  and  for- 
saken, yet  cherished  and  teudeily  indulged  by  (ied's  nu  ^t 
favored  servants  and  friends  If  now  your  sister  did  not 
wear  her  most  cheerful  and  contented  countcnnnco,  slh> 
would  be  indeed  a  hypocrite.  '  Rejoice  in  the  Lord  always.' 
Rejoice,  rejoice." 

Liviug  under  the  same  roof  with  her  exemplary  sister-iii- 
law,  Miss  (yccelia  Seton  followed  closely  in  her  footstc]  s. 
and  became  day  by  day  a  bi'ighter  and  purer  witness  of  \\w 
beauty  of  that  faith  she  had  embraced.  So  remarkalily 
was  this  tire  case,  that  she  soon  won  back  the  aUVciioa 
of  some  wlio  had  turned  from  her  in  such  blind  ])rejn(lit'e. 
For,  meeting  with  some  oi  her  relations  at  the  deathbed  fit 
a  mutual  friend  they  were  sodee]»ly  toucluMl  by  the  swi'c- 
ness  and  i)iety  of  the  young  convert,  that  they  invited  her 
to  return  amongst  them. 

Mrs.  Seton,  however — certainly  from  no  deficiency  on  li(^r 
own  part,  but  perhaps  as  being  considered  a  mor<^  danger- 
ous character — was  not  permitted  to  regain  the  favor  she 


MOTHER  ELIZABETH  AXX  SETOX 


095 


had  lost.  But,  except  so  far  as  worldly  circumstances  were 
concerned— which  in  themselves  alFected  her  not— this 
ivus 'if  little  moment  to  her  ;  for  she  was  now  increasin,uly 
o(cii!'i<'d  with  lier  children,  who  had  been,  of  couist,  re- 
(vivcd  with  her  into  the  Church;  and  we  are  told,  "noth- 
iiiLrcau  surpass  the  athnirable  :  tct  with  which  ^Jrs.  Seton 
(-(iiiciliatetl  their  warm  aiFection,  and  directed  lier  iniiutmce 
over  them  to  the  j.,dory  of  (Jod  and  th(>ir  personal  sanctifi- 
cMtinn.'"  The  followiuLi' little  letter,  written  to  her  ehlesc 
iliiiiuhlcr.  then  t(>n  years  old,  is  a  pleasing  specimen  of  her 
aiTc(tinii;ite  care  for  the.  best  interests  of  her  dear  children  : 

••N!y  l)Ai:i.!.\<i  Dauoiiti:i{,— You  must  not  be  nneasyat 
iidf  sct'iii,^'  nie  eithei'  ycstciday  or  to-day.  To-mon<iw  I  hope 
io  liiild  you  to  my  heart,  which  prays  for  you  incess;in(ly, 
tluit  <io<l  miiy  give  you  grace  to  use  well  the  pivcious  hours 
of  rliis  weds.  And  T  repeat,  you  have  it  in  your  jjower  to 
]ii;ik(^  inc  the  h!!pi)iest  of  mother.'''.,  and  to  be  my  sweet 
(■()nif''!t  tlu'ougli  every  sorrow,  or  to  occasion  the  heaviest 
;il!li('tiou  to  my  i)o()r  sold  that  it  can  meetwilhiu  this 
wurM.  And  as  your  example  will  have  the  greatest  inllu- 
ence  on  your  dear  little  sisters  also,  and  you  do  not  know 
liow  soon  you  may  be  in  the  jilace  of  their  motluM-  to  Iheni, 
yoiir  doing  your  duty  faithfidly  is  of  the  grruti^st  conse- 
qiicnci'.  besides  wliat  you  owe  to  God  and  yonr  own  soid. 
I'lny  llini.  sui)plicate  Tlim,  to  make  you  Ilis  own.  Ke- 
iiit'ii\l'('r  that  Mr.  Hurley  is  now  in  the  place  of  God  to  you. 
IJcccivr  his  instructions  as  from  heaven  ;  as  no  doubt  your 
(loar  Saviour  has  appointed  them  as  the  means  of  lu'ingiiig 
ynu  tlicre." 

IV'sides  ])lacing  her  two  sons  in  Georgetown  College  with 
tilt'  Imiie  of  their  going  ultimately  to  that  of  ^bniti'cal.  Mr, 
Antliony  l-^ilicchi  had  encouraged  ^Irs.  Seton  to  hope  lliat 
sill' and  her  daughters  might  be  admitted  to  a  coiivnit  in 
til"  same  ]th)ce.  where  lier  children  would  be  trained  care- 
lully  in  the  principles  of  the  faith,  and  shehei-self  enii)!ov 
licr  talents  as  a  teacher.  Tliis  was  a  ])rospect  on  tlie 
.hnuiihts  of  whicli  Mrs.  Seton  loved  to  imlulao  •  l>ut  it  v,;;s 
bionuht  about  much  sooner  than  she  expected,  t.y  her  in- 


ill 


111 

If 


!,. 


690 


MOTHER  ELIZABin'II  .1-VA  ,S7;7r>.v. 


troduction  fo  the  Rev.  William  \.  l)iil)f)iii'<:,  Pivsideni  aiui 
Founder  of  St.  ^larv's  Cidlei-e  in  I'altiiiioit'. 

Even  before  he  became  acipiainted  with  Mrs.  Seton  lie 
was  struck  by  lier  unusual  fervor  of  devotion  duiiiiiraiiao- 
C'ideiital  visit  to  Xew  York,  where  he  celebrated  Mass;  ami 
afterwards,  learning  her  ^vish  to  enter  some  conventual  es- 
tablishment with  her  childien,  he  entleavored  to  turn  Ikt 
thouuhts  from  Canada,  and  induce  her  to  rvmain  in  the 
United  States  with  the  same  intenti(jn.  ''Ciinw  to  ns.  Mis. 
Seton,"  were  liis  words;  *'  we  will  assist  you  in  fdniiii!;^'  a 
plan  of  life  which,  while  it  will  forward  your  views  of  cou- 
tributing'  to  the  support  of  your  children,  will  .shelter  them 
from  the  dangei's  to  which  tliey  are  exposed  anioni:-  tliMJi' 
Protestant  connections,  and  also  alTord  you  much  iiKce 
consolation  in  the  exercise  t)f  youi-  faith  than  you  have  yet 
enjcjyed.  W'.;  also  wish  to  form  a  small  school,  for  the  pro- 
motion of  religious  instruction,  for  those  children  whose 
jtarents  ar(>  interested  in  that  iioint." 

•'You  may  be  sure,"  says  Mrs.  Seton,  "I  olijccffnl  only 
want  of  talents  ;  to  which  he  replied,  '  We  want  example 
more  than  talents.'  "  Father  Dubour.ii',  who  was  a  man  df 
sin,Li-ul;ir  (Miterprise  and  j^enetriMion,  had  immediately  iiK^^w 
that  Mrs.  Seton  was  cai)abie  (f  seivin.i:  the  cause  oi  re- 
litrionin  nooi'dinary  de^^ree  ;  aud  lhouiihherownhunil)l('  es- 
timate ot  herself  made  her  wonder  at  tlie  prospect  ojipning 
before  hei-,  yet  it  was  so  con^-enial  to  her  hiii'hest  wishes, 
and  offen'd  so  many  advantages  for  lier  beloved  children 
(Tor  Fathei-  Dubour^'  had  ])r(i]iosed  receivin.ir  lier  two  suns, 
free  of  expense,  within  St.  iMary's  Col]e,iie),  that  she  did 
not  hesitate  to  lay  the  ninttiM-at  once  before  Bishop  Car- 
loll,  Dr.  Matiu'non.  and  Father  Chevems,  as  fi'iends  and 
counselors  without  whose  advice  she  dared  not  act.  They 
W(M-e  unanimously  iii  favor  of  the  scheme,  and  Dr.  ^latiii,'- 
non  said,  almost  in  the  s])irit  of  prophecy,  Avhen  alhiding 
to  her  former  idea  of  aoin*;-  to  Canada,  "  Yon  are  (h'S- 
f'n<'d,lthinl\forsoin<'ffreat(ioodin  tlic  United  >^/nfr.<i, 
and  here  you  should  remain  in  jn-eference  to  any  other  lo' 
cation." 


MOTHER  ELTZADETH  ANN  f^ETOX. 


09-: 


Otlicroirciini.sfaiK't'sat:  tills  time  contributed  to  ai'trrniinc 
^[[■s.  Sctoii  to  outer  upou  this  new  si)li(>r(>  of  netiou  ;  s!:i! 
(•i)iiMii<»t  realize  enough  U)Y  the  niaiuteuanee  of  her  family 
from  the  boarcling-houso  she  had  undertaken,  nor  was  the 
.^(icit'ty  of  the  boys  ut  all  benelicial  to  her  own  ehildren. 
Her  Pnttestunt  friends  also  highly  approved  of  the  I'alti- 
iimre  sclu'nie,  observing  t hat  it  Mas  an  exceller.t  i)roject, 
lirciiuse  '"her  pi'ineiples  excluded  her  from  the  contidenco 
(,f  tilt'  inhabitants  of  ^.\'\v  York."'  Mrs.  Seton  therefore 
ivsdlvi'il  on  h'aving  her  native  cily  ;  and  lier  sister-in-law, 
MissC.  Seton,  determined  on  ae('oni])anying  liei'. 

Fiitlu'r  Duboui'g  s  jtlan  was  that  they  should  take  a  small 
Inline,  where,  with  hei*  own  family  and  a  few  boardtu's,  she 
iiiiiiht  liegiu  the  work  of  general  education  "in  subservi- 
ence to  ])ions  instruction  ;"  with  the  hope  that  in  time,  if 
it  was  (iod's  will  to  prospi>rthe  undertaking  and  give  her 
mill  her  compiuion  '"a  relish  for  their  fiinclions, "'  it 
luiuiit  be  gradually  consolidated  into  a  permanent  institu- 
tion. 

Oil  the  9th  of  June,  180S,  ]\rrs.  Seton  oml)ark(>d  with  lier 
tliivc  daughters  for  r>altinior(v,  and  her  two  S(Mis  being 
Iji'iMiglit  from  Georgetown,  to  bo  under  Fath-n*  Dubourg  s 
carf  at  St.  ]\rary's  College,  she  had  once  more  all  her  cliil- 
(lien  under  her  own  immediate  superinttnulence.  This  was 
iin  slight  alleviation  to  the  feelings  that  must  have  been 
awnkeiii'd  in  her  heart  by  iinding  herself  ihrust  oiit,  as  it 
were,  and  nnregrettcnl,  fi'om  her  native  cily.  and  the  coin- 
]i:iiii(aisliip  of  her  own  family  and  all  the  friends  of  her 
(■ally  Iile.  She  was  going  to  a  new  scene  and  spheic  of 
arlion,  amongst  strangers;  and  that  society  of  which  sli(> 
hail  been  for  so  long  the  cherished  ornament,  now  triumphed 
over  her  departur(\ 

Yot  the  only  reflections  which  her  unfailing  confidence 
mGod  inspired,  on  the  eve  of  her  arrival  at  Baltimore,  were 


iXpi'cssed  in  the  following  words 


o-mori'ow   ( 


lo  I 


f?' 


aillnll 


gstir.ntrersc  Xo.  Tlasananxious  thought  or  fear  passed 


III 


yniiiid;   Xo.    Can  1  ))e  disapjx'in 


ted^    X( 


Our  sweet  sac 


liiice  will  rc-unil(.'  my  s(nd  with  all  a\  ho  uli'er  it.     Doubt 


'.'* 


i  , !  -i 


?S' 


003 


Mnrnmi  euzahetii  AyN  sr:Toy. 


and  ftvir  will  lly  fi-om  flu»  bivvist  inlisiMf^d  liy  Uini.  Tlierp 
(Mil  l)ii  no  (li.s:ii)i)oiiifiueut,  whore  rlic  soiiFs  only  dcsir.'  uiui 
c'xnci  tiirioii  is  to  meet  His  adored  will  and  i'ullil  it." 

Mrs.  Sftuii  readied  BaltimoiTi  on  llio  l^'asi.  df  ('(i!pii<j 
CJlu'isti  ;  and  in  tin?  services  of  that  day.  and  llic  allVct'u.n- 
ute  irrecfinu;  wliich  iolh)wed,  from  a  lar^v  circle  of  ninv 
friends  :ilready  prepared  to  love  her,  she  lost  at  once  ail 
sense  of  loneliness. 

Ci»loni'l  llowai'd,  amongst  others  who  soon  after  call^'d  (o 
welcoin<»  iicr  anmnu-^t  them,  ji  very  wealthy  man.  an  I  ac- 
(pciiiited  with  iier  family,  pr(>ssed  her  earnestly  lo  lake  up 
lii-r  ul)ode  in  his  own  spacious  house  and  allow  liim  to  liiin.r 
Tip  le'r  cliildren  with  his  own.  This  gon<^rous  iiro[io.s;d  was 
fully  a])]ireciated,  but  of  course  declined ;  I'o!',  as  slie 
assuriMJ  (Joloiifd  Howard,  she  '"had  not  left  the  woild  fui' 
the  jiiirpose  of  enterin.u;  il  again.'' 

it  i-i  scarcely  necessary  to  say,  that  ]\[rs.  Seton  had  nol 
left  New  York  without  infoi'ming  tlio  Messrs.  Filiccli.i  (»l: 
her  intended  plans.  And  as  sot)n  as  she  was  settled  in  her 
new  home,  and  tlu^  design  which  Fathei-  Diibouig  had  in 
])roposinu':  iier  removal  was  a  lift  hi  matured,  she  winto 
again,  frankly  asking  what  anitinnt  of  aid  she  might  hope 
to  reieive  from  them,  in  the  event  )f  its  being  advisable  to 
provide^  by  building,  etc.,  foi*  a  permanent  insiitulion. 

Her  generous  friend,  .Vntonio,  who  was  at  this  time  con- 
Iriljuting  largely  to  her  own  su]>i)ort,  res]K)n<led  glaul\  to 
this  new  api)eal.  bidding  her  draw  at  once  on  his  aL'in's 
for  one  (housand  dollars  or  more  if  needful:  addiIlL^ 
'•y.)nr  prayers  had  so  nuudi  bettered  our  mercantile  ini- 
]n>!tan<e  here  below,  that  in  spit(!  of  all  the  einbarii'oes, 
]Militical  ami  commercial  troul)h>s,  which  havecansed  ninl 
^\ill  cause  the  utter  I'uin  of  many.  w(>  iiossess  greater  meaii-i 
now  than  Ixd'ore.  thanks  to  (lod.  with  the  same  unallei'al>!e 
;;ood  will."'  This  ])hin,  howevtu',  was  not  destined  to  ho 
carried  out;  at  least,  not  in  the  way  which  was  then  v.ni- 
tenip!ale(k 

'Mrs.  Melon's  view  was  to  begin  by  ojiening  a  boinlin'r- 
ichool  for  yoiiag  ladies,  leaving  to  time  and  the  will  of  le.d 


ilOTlIKR  ELIZABETH  ANy  SETOy 


099 


tliat  which  she  had  already  very  onrnostly  at  heart,  the 
i'(inii;iti(»ii  of  a  society  spt^'ially  coiiseerated  to  relii^ioii. 
Sill'  IkuI  no  diniculty  in  ohtiiiiiiiiu;'  tiie  I'cqitiK'd  nunilicrol' 
pipils:  and  as  tliey  lived  literally  beiie;irli  the  sluulow  of 
theCliKrch.  and  she  (Mijoyed  at  tliis  time  sin<i;nlar  reli^dons 
nHvileiies,  and  the  frec^iient  society  of  many  dislin,irnished 
cl.Tfi'yMien,  i)articnlarly  of  Bishop  (yarroll,  she  writes  in  a 
tniiisport  of  joy  at  the  l)h.^ssin,i;;  of  her  lot :  '*  i^vei-y  morning 
•1'  Cimininnioi!,  iivini.';  in  the  vei-y  wonnds  of  our  deaiest 
L'liil,  seeiii'J,'  only  his  I'ejn'osentatives.  and  receiving  tlieir 
liciietlicfions  continually." 

!r  was  lier  only  wish  that  her  yonn,2;  sister-in-law.  Miss 
v'i't'ilia  S.'ton,  would  join  her.  ]]ut  it  had  been  thouglit  ad- 
n'^iiMe  tliat  this  lady  should  renuiin  for  tlie  present  in  N(nv 
Yoil;.  >  iili  a  brother  upon  whom  she  was  entirely  depcnd- 
ciir.  f>cft  in  the  midst  of  tliose  \\\\u  had  been  so  hostile  to 
ii!'i'('li:!!i'j;e  of  reli.nior,  she  had  many  trials  to  endure;  but, 
l>v  luitliuchin.tr  lirmness,  and  the  strictest  pers(M('iance  in 
iittt'!!(lii';j,'  all  iier  reliii'ions  duties,  she  becanio  daily  a  uioio 
fi'ivcut  Culiolio,  and  ^'!m  rished  the  hope  of  one  day  devot- 
ing' herself  in  a  special  iiianner  to  the  service  of  (Jod. 

Aiinrlier  sistin-.  liai'iiet.  who  was  also  warmly  atttiched 
tn  Mrs.  S^ton.  Imd  ine:cpressil>le  longings  to  lly  to  that 
Iripiiy  retirement  which  sIk;  so  eloquently  painied  in  her 
letters  from  l>altimoi'(>.  'I'his  lady  was  "  tin;  belle  of  New 
York."'  liriii'j;  in  the  midst  of  fashionable  society,  enu'a.a'ed 
tcii  slep-])rother  of  Mrs.  Seton's  (of  course  a  Piotestant), 
iiii'l.  on  account  of  some  pref(>renoe  she  had  already  shown 
fur  the  (\itholic  faith,  was  closely  M-atched  by  her  family 
In  :i  Utter  to  her  sister-indaw.  she  writes  tlius-  "  Whei'e 
i^  it  you  could  tro,  my  b(>loved  sister,  without  ineetiuj';  witii 
ki'iihK'ss  and  atfection^  They  must,  indeed,  be  unenvia- 
i  ,'•' heiuus.  who  Ivuow  vou  v.iihont  h)vin!ji'  vou.  Ycmr  (!<■- 
s'ri]iii(iu  is  deliu'htful.  Every  thonsi'ht.  evei'y  hope.  Hies 
t  ia:u'(is  the  ha])py  spot  you  have  pictured,  (di,  that  1  may 
'iiio  (lay  b(^  there,  btit  not  in  my  present  stJite,  ro  be  happy  ! 
L"t  ii'e  enjoy  the  precioiis  ]U'ivile:i:e  of  servinu;  (iod  in  yotir 
bleL^yed  faith.     What  comfort  can  I  have  in  niv  own.  when 


m\ 


It  iHW'S  ^ 


rr 


li 


i 


I. 


700 


MOTIlKli  EUZADKTII  ANN  SHTOX. 


I  know  thi.'i'e  is  a  better?  Dearest  sister,  pray  lor  me  al- 
ways;  never  fori^'et  me  \a lieu  in  the  ehaix-l.  liicdllcct,  nj 
Hiiuset.  1  shall  always  meet  you  at  the  Toot  of  the  ( ics.,  jn 
tlie  Mi'Svrcrt',.     \Vhat  a  sweet  remeiuhi'ance  I "' 

.Presently  we  shall  have  to  reluru  to  these  hulies  ;  luitlhst 
it  is  ueei'ssiry  tiiat  we  should  relate  the  ehriiiiistuiie'cs 
wjiii-h  led  to  the  ivinoval  of  Mrs.  Setou  I'roiu  Baltinioie 
after  a  sojourn  of  only  a  few  mouths,  and  broiiL'ht  alxmt 
tlie  fiillillment  of  her  ])ious  iuteuiious  in  a  luauner  she  her- 
S'lf  hid  utncr  ventured  to  hop*;  foi'. 

lu  the  autunin  of  1808,  a  ycuium'  lady,  soeltins^M-etireiiicnt 
from  the  world,  iiad  made  u[)lier  mind  for  thi.->  [iiniK.st'  to 
CO  to  some  foreiy-n  conventual  establishnu-iit ;  but  lu'arini' 
of  .Mrs.  Seton's  plans  ami  wishes,  came  <;iatily  lu  JJalti- 
more,  and  was  there  oll'ered  by  lu;r  lather  "as  a chiM  whom 
In*  eonseerated  to  God."  Site  became  for  the  present  an 
assistant  in  the  school  ;  but  on  the  arrival  of  this  hrst  com- 
panion, Father  ]5abade,  then  her  spiritual  director,  encour- 
iii;e!l  Mi's.  Setou  to  ilisceiai  the  '  ■  aimouncenient  of  an  under- 
luivhii?  whicli  Avould  gradually  C(dlect  round  her  a  nuuior- 
ous  band  of  sjiiritual  daugiiters."'  The  time  l\)r  this  was 
iiid.>ed  already  coni»\ 

One  morning,  after  Holy  Communion,  she  felt  an  extn- 
or-ilinary  iaipulsfc.  to  devote  liersidf  to  the;  care  oi  jx.or  fe- 
male cliildren,  and  to  found  for  their  benefit  some  abidirijj; 
institution.  Uoing  at  once  to  Father  DuV)ourg,  she  said, 
"Tills  imn-ningiu  ii;y  dear  Communion,  I  thought.  Dearest 
Saviour,  if  You  woidd  but  give  me  the  care  of  poor  little 
chiidren,  no  matter  how  poor:  and  Mr.  Cooper  being  di- 
I'ectly  Ixd'ore  me  at  his  thanksgiving,  I  thought,  lie  h:is 
Tuoney  ;  if  he  wotild  but  give  it  for  tiie  bringing  up  of  pool 
Jittle  children,  to  know  and  love  You." 

Mr.  Cooj)!>r  was   a  convert,  a   student  at   St.  ]\rary's  for 

he 
service  of  God.     On  liearinu'  Mi's.  Seton's  words,  Father 


the  ])riestlioo;l,  and  anxious   to  di-vote  his  propei'ty  to  t 


Dubourg  seemed  lost  in  astonishment,  and  told  her  that 
]\Ii'.  ('oo])(>r  had  spoken  to  him  that  very  morning  of  his 
thoughts  being  all  for  iioor  children's  instruction,  and  that 


MOrilER  ELIZAUETH  ASy  SETON. 


4t 


)1 


if  ]i(^  roiiM  find  somebody  to  do  it,  he  would  .^ivo  lii.s  monfy 
firthir  i)m-i»)-i();  and  ho  won  l<u-<ul  if  >[rs.  Scton  would 
),.  willing;  to  undertake  it.  Stniek  with  the  wdiidei'lul 
(■lim'iil.-nce,  the  priest  advised  eaeh  to  lellcct  Tor  a  nidiiih 
yi  ilii' "'Hlijcct.  and  acquaint  hiiu  with  thei'esult.  Diiriri!^ 
(lis  liiii"  ihei-e  was  no  (•orninnnicatioii  between  the  pai'lies; 
iirvi'itlii'lt'ss,  they  retnrnci.' at  the  appoiuti-d  time,  (ilVeriuLr. 
tii.Miii' his  iii.MUs,  and  the  other  liur  services,  I'or  the  le- 
!;  I'lif  Chi'ist's  poor, 

T'liM'l.'i'^y  consulted  on  (hf  occasi<>n  could  not  but  ap- 
inovi' iif  :in  intenrion  so  plainly  in  the  order in,<^  (d'  C-Jcjd, 
and  tiic  site  oC  ■"inniittsluirc:,  .\[aryla?'(1,  was  fixed  ujiou 
:i<  iijf'irdln,!;' •' inoi-al  and  iili>>ical  ad\antai!:es  I'oi' a  wW'j^- 
i(,ii<r(ii)uuunity.  beinij;  far  IVoni  tin-  ciiy  and  in  the  midst 
(.f  uilil  mountain  sceiK^ry." 

The  i)r')s[)!'ct  now  openiitiJ,'b(»r.)i'o  ]\rrs.  Seton  v;ns  Imib'd 
with  delight  ])y  all  who  knew  ht-r  reinai'kabl(>  litness  I'or 
the  work.  AinouL-'st  otIuM's,  her  (>steeine  I  friend,  Father 
.liilin  Loiiis  de  Ciieverus  writes,  nlniost  in  the  lan.u'un^e  op 
lii-apliccy:  "II)\v  admiral)!*^   is  Divine  l'ro\;(lenc'l     7  av^; 

fiJlYudl/  nill/if'J'()?{S    cJloirS  of  Tirf/ilis  foUairi mi   ymi    to  Ihii 

■illiir.  I  Sic  11(111  r  Ji oh/  or <hr  (lijt'usiiif/  Hsdf  in  ihr  dif- 
f't-viif  j!<trl.'<  of  the  Unl'eil  Htiidfi,  fipr*'(nl! ii'/  cnrffwhi r<i 
ill'  <i:nil  (t'li)r  of  ./c'l/is  L'fii'i<:*,^  an.'l  tcacJiin;/  l>if  l/nlr  aii- 
;i,!lcii/ /irts'  (fiif?  jz/fju-s  ('//■'^■•/n/cfioflft  7toW  to  i^'irrc  (itid  in. 
P'liihj  mid  JtoliiK'ft^.  T  liav(>  no  doul)t,  my  ludoved  and 
viMnrnhle  sister,  lliat  lie  A\  ho  lia-s  begun  this  woik  as,  1 
lirinu'  it  to  perfection." 

T'le  liile  of  .\|orli:'r  was  nlreaily  tjladly  ,a:iven  everywhere 
I'l  Mrs.  Si'ton  ;  and  one  hid.v  after  another  came  g'titliei  in;:,- 
:ii'iin!id  lier.  in  fervor  au'l  humility  olTerim;-  tlu-mselves  ns 
c.indid.'ites  for  the  new  sisterliood  A  conv(Mitual  liab'it  was 
!''lii!;fi'd  (whicli  was  iifterwnrds  chan.u'ed  to  that  worn  by  the 

Si- 


stcr> 


("li;iiit\i,  and  un  ier  il 


e    titleol 


•Intel's  o 


-X. 


Ml. 


a   little   band  was   organized    under   temporary 


I'Ulc; 


The  lunnble  sc)n1  of  Mother  Seton,  as  slie   must  now  be 
called,  was  Idled  with  such  an  uverwhelnilni:  seii.'^e  id'  the 


.  J 


i  -    i 


f    iJi.i 


\W% 


t  Vi 


il    V 


1:11 


703 


MOTITEU  KLTZABETn  ANX  SETOy. 


responsibility  coniiuittod  to  her,  tliiit  on  (lio  ovoninirnf  the 
d'.iy  she  received  it  us  u  clirr<^e  from  her  siiiritual  diivctois 
slie  siiiilc  wc«,'pinj?  bifterly  iiDoii  her  l<iu'es;  and  at'icr -^iv. 
iny  way  to  her  etnotioys  for  Home  time,  slie  cotiresseduldii.l 
befur."  the  .sisters  who  were  ]);\  .ent  llie  niDst  frail  and  liu. 
miliatin'j;  actions  of  her  life,  -om  her  childhoD'l  iipwaids 
:ind  Ihtii  exelainu'd  from  tli'  dejjths  of  her  heart,  ••My 
^raeioiis  God!  Yoii  know  i.iy  unlitness  for  this  task;  f, 
will)  I)y  my  sins  h:iv(f  so  often  erncilied  Yon:  I  hhish 
with  sliame  and  ('(infusion  !  flow  can  I  teach  others,  who 
know  so  little  mysjlf,  uni  am  so  miserable  uu<l  impur- 
fect  \ " 

]\Irs.  8<'t;)n  bound  herself  privately  at  tin's  time,  in  tlio 
presence  of  the  venj'i'able  JJishop  Carroll,  ])y  the  usual 
yows,  for  a  y(^ar  ;  and  soon  afterwards  she  was  joini'd  hy 
one  who  had  loni?  waited  patiently  nntil  tlu;  will  of  (Un\ 
Blionld  permit  her  to  follow  where  her  heart  liad  already 
pine  before.  iV[iss  C.  Soton,  fallin*^  dan.2:eronsly  ill,  was 
iidvis(!d  by  her  physician  to  try  a  sea  voyjiue  as  a  last  rem- 
edy, and  thanlvrnlly  determined  to  visit  Mother  Seton.  Slio 
was  accomimnitHi  by  her  sister  Harriet,  two  brothers,  and 
a  servant.  Contrary  to  all  expectation,  her  heallli  iir.idii- 
ally  be,u;an  to  improve,  and  on  reachint^  llUtiinore  her  at- 
t(Midants  left  Ivn-,  with  the  exception  of  her  sister  Ilaniet, 
who  stayed  to  take  care  of  her. 

The  illness  a.c^ain  proving  serions,  clian.u'e  of  ;iir  wns  once 
more  advised,  and  Mother  Seton  then  removed  with  thi'  in- 
valid to  the  site  of  her  intended  residence  at  Emuiitrshiir!:. 
Miss  n.  Seton  of  conrse  accompani<^!l  them,  with  soiin'ia' 
the  eoinmnnity  and  Mothm'  Seton's  (diildren.  As  no  lialii- 
tation  vras  yet  ready  for  the  sistindiood,  they  were  allowed 
by  tin?  l?ev.  l\[r.  Dnlxds,  President  of  Mount  St.  Maiy's 
College'  (to  which  Mrs.  Seton\s  sons  had  already  heen  w- 
moved  from  IJaltinioi-e'),  to  occnj^y  a  small  log  lioust>  on 
the  monntain.  Here  Miss  C,  Seton  soon  recovei'ed  snUKi 
d(\gree  of  health,  and  hero  her  sister  was  strengthentMl  to 

•  At  Emmitldbiiig. 


mniiiai  KUZMiKTii  Ayx  seton. 


703 


snv.  spiro  of  all  fho  pprsenition  wliidi  she  woll  knew  such 
;i  st-'ji  woiilil  entiiil  from  her  own  raiiiily,  smd  althoiiuh  sIih 
v;is  iiiici'ilain  wliat  eiTfct  it  iiii^^lit  liav(<  ii])oii  liini  ti>  wlioiii 
slift  was  eii.naiicd,  "  It  is  dcjiii',  my  sistt'i- ;  I  ani  a  Cjirliolic 
Tht^  cross  of  our  (l»\'i rest"  Lord  i.s  the  desiro  oi"  my  .st)iil  ;  I 
will  iii'ver  rest  :ill  He  is  mine.'' 

At  the  end  of  .Inly,  Moth<'r  Seton  and  the  wlioh'  of  liov 
ooinmuniry,  now  ten  in  number,  hesidt.'s  lier  three  ihiuuh- 
fcr-!  iind  her  sister-in-law,  removed  to  the  liitle  farm  JKutse 
(lU  tlK'ir  own  land  in  St.  .losepir.s  Nnllcy,  AvhieU  was  to  bn 
their  'jiicsent  homo.  It  Was  mu(;h  too  small  to  l-eeonsiilcied 
iinytliiiiii"  l)Ut  a  temporai-y  n^Duge,  conlaining  only  thice  av 
fiiiir  rooms,  and  "a  little  closet  Just  wide  eiioii<;h  to  hold 
;in:ilr;ir,"'  whei'e  the  presence  of  the  lilessed  Saei;imeut 
rii;iili'  up  for  ev(n'y  privation  ;  :ind  a  more  commodious  and 
aiiijile  huildini;  was  beini;  i)rep:ired  at  once,  as  rapidly  as 
dn'iniistances  would  admit. 

Mfuiuvhile,  in  aecoi'dance  with  the  institute*  of  tlie  Sisteis 
of  Charity,  with  which  this  wus  inteiidt'd  to  conform,  in- 
stnicti'.in  of  y<»uth  and  care  of  the  sick  occupied  tlie  gicalrr 
]iair  of  the  Sisters'  time;  and  as  it  hiipiiencd  that  a  fever 
v.as  just'  now  breakin.t?  out  in  the  nei.yhboi'hood,  they  re- 
t'tlved  iiiiiny  petitions  to  come  and  tend  those  who  wciii 
nttackt'd  by  it.  Full  of  zeal  and  ])iety,  they  cheerfully  lent 
tlu'iiiseives  to  this  fjood  work,  and  gave  the  greatest  edili- 
cation  whei-ever  they  went. 

They  wei-e  very  poor,  circnmstnnres  not  y(M  iillowinu-  thon 
to  open  a  school ;  but  all  were  so  nnxious  to  devote  themstdves 
to  a  life  of  mortilicntion  that  ^fother  Seton  says,  "c;iri(«t 
rddco,  salt  pork,  and  buttermilk  seiMned  too  gootl  a  liviug."' 
TiitM'\-])enses  of  building  I'educed  them  to  a  still  more  (h'sii-  / 
tiitc  cniidition;  their  bread  was  of  the  coarsest  rye,  and  for 
many  months  they  "did  not  know  wher<?  the  next  meul 
uoiild  come  froui."  On  Christmas  Day  they  rejoiced  to 
liavo  ''some  smoked  herrings  for  dinner,  and  a  spoonful  of 
molasses  for  each."  Yet  the  most  perfect  cheerfidness  and 
liariiioiiy  ]irevailed  ;  they  were  literally  all  of  one  mind. 

About  the  end  of  September,  Miss  IT.  Seton  was  received 


I*:-  'J 


*  i  ■{ 


U:ti 


704 


MOTIIICn  ELTZAnETII  ANX  SRTON. 


into  tho  Cliun'li.  As  was  cxpcctod,  ;i  toirciit  of  icproaHios 
IVmii  homo  followed  fliis  aiinotiiicL'iiicrit ;  l)iit  notliin^^^'ouUi 
now  prevent  the  holy  fervor  of  this  yoiin^  converr ;  and  ivjoic 
in<^  to  snnV'r  the  h)ss  of  all  thing's,  even,  if  need  were,  tlic  lovo 
of  him  CO  wliom  her  hand  was  ])roniise(l,  she  still  ]ili'ii(|i.(l 
for  an  extension  of  Ikh'  stay  in  St.  Joseph's  Valley,  llnv, 
whih;  nursing  her  sick  sister,  she  was  lierself  seized  wiUi  a 
violent  fever;  and  within  three  months  of  her  ei/iivcrsiun, 
her  J'(Mnains  were  cari'ied  to  a  spot  she  had  once  I'liiyl'iilly 
chosen  as  a  last  resting-place  in  the  silent  woods,  and 
laid  l)eneath  the  tree  she  had  pointed  out.  Tlins.  allhoiiKi, 
the  last  called,  she  became  ''the  lii'st-fruits  of  those  whu 
sleep  in  St.  Joseph's  Valley." 

The  death-bed  of  this  i)ions  and  beaulifnl  yonnji'  Indy 
was  never  forgotten  by  those  who  had  tin?  happiness  to  as- 
sist !it  it.  Amitlst  tho  most  intense  snlTeriugs,  ilu-  naiiics 
of  (lod,  Heaven,  or  eternity  instantly  iixed  her  attention, 
itisensihle  to  every  other  address.  Her  devotion  to  tlio 
i>less(;d  Sacrament  had  bcM'n  remarkable,  and  even  in  dc- 
iiriiim  the  samt^  Divine  ol)ject  absorbed  all  her  mind;  her 
last  sign  of  life  was  an  effort  to  join  the;  hymn  at  iJeiieuic- 
tion.  Tt  was  impossible  for  her  best  friends  iKjt  to  rcjoico 
that  she  wasthns  spared  tho  snfTerings  and  temptations 
that  would  liavi'  assailed  her  had  she  lived  to  return  to  New 
York.  Far  dilferent,  however,  was  the  effect  of  her  dcatli 
npon  her  relations  there;  and  when  after  four  niontiis  nioi'e 
h'M-  sister  Cecilia  was  also  laid  in  that  same  little  enclosiuv, 
]iliinted  with  wild  flowers,  their  indignaticm  against  this 
"pi'st  of  society"  knew  no  Ixninds,  ev(>n  in  its  ])ubli('  cx- 
])i('ssion.  But  all  this,  as  ]\rother  Seton  herself  observoil. 
was  music  to  the  spirit  hoping  only  to  be  conformed  to  Him 
who  was  despised  and  rejected  by  men." 

Two  months  befoi'o  IMiss  C.  Seton's  death,  the  commnnity 
were  established  in  their  new  dwelling,  a  large  log  I'ouso 
two  stories  high,  with  a  sanetnary,  sacristy,  and  an  a]  ait- 
ment  where  strangers  conld  assist  at  iVfass,  facing  one  (MuI 
of  the  sanctuary.  The  (dioir  where  the  community  lifard 
Mass,  etc.,  was  in  fi'ont  of  tho  altar.     So  poor  was  the  altar, 


MOTIIF.Ii  KI.IZAliETlI  ANN  SKTOX. 


705 


.',at  its  cliief  oniimu'iits  wwo.  a  frnincd  portraif  fif  oiir 
deal- lJ<'tl''^'"i|i'''>  >vliicli  MotlKT  St'lon  had  l)i(»ii;4lil  with  Ikt 
iitim  Nfw  York,  licr  own  littlo  silvur  candlcst:  ks,  sunwj 
will!  liiiiivl,  \y<\\)L'V  llowors,  etc. 

After  jiliicini;  tiicrn^i'  Ivcs  .soh-miily  iindrr  tho  pntronnfroof 
<t.  Joseph,  tho  sisterhood  cotiinieneed  their  iaiior.s  on  a 
iiiucli  iiion^  exteiisivo  scale.  Tlicy  now  ojiciied  ;i  day  iind 
|i,):iiiliii^'-srhool,  iiiid  in  May,  JiSKt,  ^futlu'r  Scton  tlins 
iiHiules  to  tho  condition  of  tliu  lionse:  "Von  Ixnow  tlio 
(inMuy  of  all  ^^ood-will  of  conrse  makes  his  tiiil'Mvors  to 
(ifsrioy  it;  bat  it  seems  onr  Adored  is  determine  .!  on  it.s 
lull  success,  by  the  excellent  snbjecfs  He  hns  j.hcrd  in  it. 
\V.' are  now  twelve  and  as  many  a^ain  a'  »vait';i^'  for 
:i(liiii.ssion.  1  have  a  very,  very  lar^e  school  lu  snp(Minr'  iul 
cvi'iy  d-y,  -.nd  the  entire  clinruc  of  tln^  icli^^ioiis  insi!  uction 
of  all  the  conntiy  round.  All  apply  to  th«^  Sis(.  is  of  Cliar- 
,  .',  who  are  ni,u;'.t  and  day  devoted  to  the  sick  and  tlio 
iji'iiorant.  Our  blessed  I?ishop  intends  reinoviii>^-  a  dctacli- 
niiMit  of  us  to  lialtiniore,  to  i)erform  the  same  duties  there. 
Vu' have  a  very  good  house,  thou;;li  a  lo,u'  b,iiildii)<;' ;  and  it 
will  he  the  mothei'-house  and  reti'eat  in  all  cases,  as  a  i)or- 
lion  of  the  sisterhood  will  always  remain  if,  to  keep  the 
spiniiiiiLT,  wfaviniT.  knitting,  and  school  for  country  peojde, 
I'lriilarly  progressing." 

Tiie  income  dei'iv(>d  from  the  school  and  donations  from 
fiicmls  now  kept  the  house  free  from  (Mnbana^smrrst,  and 
ill  any  case  of  einergeney  tho  generosity  of  tlio  bi'uthor.s 
Fiiicchi  was  unfailing.  Th(>  following  extract  i'rcru  a  letter 
nf  .Mother  Seton's  on  an  occasion  of  thiskiml,  and  llie  an- 
swer sho  rec(>ived,  Avill  show  th(>  spirit  (d'  frankness  and 
('lin>tian  con!iden('(»  whicli  prevailed  between  them  :  "Does 
ir  liiut  you  that  I  press  so  hard  on  j'on,  and  make  no  fur- 
tIi'I' ap])lication  to  my  fri<Muls  in  New  A'ork  ;  Consider, 
lidw  can  I  apply  to  them  for  means  whirdi  would  go  to  tho 
siipportonly  (d'  a  religion  and  institution  they  abhor  ;  while 
wliat  is  taken  fi'om  you  is  jn'omoting  your  gi'(>atest  hapin- 
I't'^'s  in  this  world,  and  bringing  you  nearei- and  neaici'  to 
the  Adored  in  the  next.     ]5ut  again  let  me  repeat,  if  L  liave 


r 


m 


I 


706 


MOTiiKU  1:1.1/. Mu-yrif  Axx  sirro?i: 


gone  fO(i  f:ir,  sfojmic  slimr  roic\cr.  il'yr)ii  Jind  itntTf.ssar?' 
^vitlu)ll(:  fi'MV  of  tlio  least  wound  («■  tlui  soul  youlovc;  \k\iw\\ 
receives  all  I'lom  your  hands  as  IVoni  tliat  of  our  Lord,  ami 
Mlieuever  they  may  hv  clost^d,  Avill  know  that  it  is  Ih-  who 
fchuts  tluMM.  ivlio  US-OS  all  for  Ills  own  aloi'y  as  Tic  jilcnsos. 
"  1  do  not  write  to  Pldli])  now.  as  this  leller  -.vill  serve  ro 
say  all  to  l)oth.  excejjt  the  iervency  and  attaclanent  of  mr 
vcj'y  soul  to  you  both  in  Christ.  May  He  be  blt-ssed  anil 
praisi^d  foi'ever.  How  t^rcMt  tliat  attarlinsent  is.  and  with 
how  niu(di  I'eason,  cau  oidy  bo  known  by  one  who  on."i'  was 
■what  T  have  been,  and  can  conceive  what  the  conriasf  of 
past  and  pres<'nt  is.  Tiiis  .s  undei'stood  by  Him  above  who 
^•ave  you  to  me  and  us  to  yon,  lor  wjiieli,  I  ti'ust,  we  will 
love,  y)raise.  and  adore  through  eternity.''  '"I'liax-  your 
diilidence  away,"'  re]>lies  Mr.  -.v.  rilicchi;  "speak  to  your 
broiher  the  wants  of  a  sister,  and  trust  in  ITini  who  knows 
liow  to  clothe  and  feiMl  the  ])iids  of  the  air,  and  clothes  the 
grass  ol'  the  eunh  with  bri^luiicii*/' 


-i.    \' 


CHAPTER  V. 

TTIK  2ii:\\'   JJKLKilors   SOCIETY. 

jfi/l.^  rrrfopfctJ — Jlolltcr  b'l  fo/t'  -s  (l<iH.(jJd<  r  Anna-IIer  vinv)/ 
rirlKca —  ■  <lcaUi  —  X  JFoilirr'' ."<  frars — TIk'  r/roiriii<f 
iniiiiiinn'tfi — Motlur  tidoii  as  a.  iinvlur — ILcr  eldest ,s(Jii 
—Mr.  P.  Filitrhr  s  death. 

In  ISll,  iiicasuros  •were  takfii  Tor  ])r«!('iii'in^  from  Frmire 
n  cdpy  oL"  the  nvruhitioiis  ill  use  aiii()ii<i.st  tlu>  "J):in,u'litris 
( f  Cluiiity/'  fouuilcd  by  St.  A'iuccnt  oi  PmiiI,  ns  it  was  iu- 
tcudiil  that  Mother  Sett)u's  coiiimuuiry  slioiild  mochd  itself 
iil">ii  I  he  same  l)asis.  It  becanie  necessary,  liowever,  to  iii- 
tiixhici.'  some  nioiliiieatinii  of  tlie  rales,  as  it  Avas  tlKUi^idit 
expciliiMit  tliat,  at  li-'a.sl  fertile  jn'esent,  the  sisters  shoiihl 
)■{' (icciipied  ill  tlie  iiistnietioii  ol"  the  youiiii' ;  and  nioreovei-, 
it  was  feared  that  i\Iollier  Setons  peeiiliar  position  as  th«. 
sole  u-aaidian  of  live  youn.u,-  cliildreii,  luiuiit  ])rove  a  hiii- 
di':;!ii(e  to  li<r  ])ein!i' bound  i)erniaueiitly  as  iliesujiei'ior  of  a 
ivli':inii-;  eomniunity. 

S'lc  lii'i-self,  indeed,  considered  tliat  lier  duties  as  a 
iiiii!l!:'i'  were  paraiiioiint  to  (^very  oilier,  esijecially  .since  her 
ciiililivn's  ]-)'ot('stant  relations  v.i'renuniercais  and  \\oallliy. 
Vuiiinu;  to  a  fri<'iid  on  this  subject,  she  says,  "J'y  the  law 
cif  the  dmrch  I  so  much  ln\{>,  T  could  never  tiike  an  obli- 
i;'iUi;iii  which  iuttM'fered  \vitli  uiy  duties  to  the  childicn,  ex- 
ci'lit  T  liad  an  indejKMxlenir  ])rovisioii  and  aiuirdiaii  foi'  t  hem. 
Avhicli  ili{>  whole  world  cM'iId  n<it  sui)|ily  to  my  jud.u.inent 
(I'll  mother's  duty."  'lids  i'.ud  ( \-eiy  ciher  dilliculty  in 
ilir  I'd.i'lion  of  the  rules  Avas,  liowe\-er,  at  Icn.ulh  arran;ied 
liy  111!'  wisdoi.i  of  .\rchbishoi)Carroll  :, '  and  in  danuary.  l;d-\ 
ilic  coiistitutioiis  of  the  Comiuunitv  were  conliinicd  bv  ll.e 


'lie  lud  recently  been  elevated  to  tlie  arcUleiii-eopal  di^    .y. 


roT 


\m  :Bl 


M 


!  "A 


\M 


708 


MOTHER  ELIZABETH  AXX  SETOX. 


Archbishop  jind  t]io  superior  of  Sf.  ^Tni-y's  College,  in  Eal. 
tiinore,  and  sent  for  observance  to  the  Sisters. 

A  year  was  allowed  to  all  already  in  the  ^isieilKMul  totir 
their  vocation,  at  th(^  end  of  which  time  iliey  niiuht  eilher 
leave  the  institnfitjn  or  bind  themselves  by  vows.  Morhcr 
Seton  was  aulhori/ed,  even  after  she  had  t;ii\en  ilii>  vduv 
<)  watcli  over  Ikm"  children's  welfare  ;  and  a  .•onditiMiiiil  jn,,. 
visioii  was  made  for  securing  to  the  conHnunity  her  ]iiriiia- 
nent  superintendence. 

Tile  u'enoral  rales  and  object  of  the  Sisiers  of  riiaritv  are 
so  well  l\ii)wii  tliat  lirrle  nei'd  be  said  on  that  subject-.  The 
society  was  to  be  comj)(>sed  of  uiunairied  women  and  wid- 
ows, sound  of  mind  and  body,  and  l)etween  sixteen  and 
twenty-einht  years  of  a^-e  at  their  entrance.  If-  was  also 
e\'pi'cre(l  rliat  they  shouM  desire  to  devote  their  while  jivi's 
to  the  service^  of  (iod  in  His  poor,  and  in  the  i.'isfinctidii  df 
(diilih'ea  ;  thou^'h  the  vows  were  oidy  Laken  for  a  single  year, 
and  renewed  annually. 

"  Thouizdi  tliey  do  not  belong:  to  a  religious  order  (>ncii 
a  static  beint;'  incompatibh^vith  the  objects  of  their  Society', 
yet.  as  they  are  more  <'xp(>sed  to  the  woild  than  iuimiiIhts 
of  a  religions  oi'dei-,  liaviiig  in  most  circnm-^tances  no  dihrr 
nionnst(M'y  than  the  houses  of  the  si(dv  oi'  the  stdiooli-oeni, 
no  other  c(dl  than  a  rented  apartment,  no  other  (diapi'j  tlinn 
the  ]iarish  (diur(di,  no  (doister  but  the  ]>ublic  stiver  or  iies- 
pital,  no  emdosure  but  obedience,  no  gate  but  tin'  fca''  (d' 
(.lod,  no  veil  but  that  of  lioly  modesty — they  are  tanghr  t(» 
aim  at  the  higliest  virtue,  and  to  cnmi)ort  themsidves.  under 
all  (di'cumstances,  with  as  mu(di  edilication  as  if  they  weie 
li\iii'4  ill  a  convent.  The  salvation  of  tludr  souls  is  the 
l>:n':iniounl  c<)usi(leration  they  are  to  have  in  view.  The 
cultivation  of  liumility,  (diaidty,  and  sim|di(dty;  the  jicr- 
formnnce  of  their  acdions  in  union  witli  the  Son  of  (^od  ;  cnn- 
tempt  of  the  world  ;  disengagement  fjoin  createii  ihiims; 
lo\e  <d'  alsjection  ;  patient  and  even  (dieerfiil  endurance  of  all 
eai'thly  cros-es  and  trials,  and  a  great  coiilldence  in  i)ivii:e 
Providenc<%  are  ])r:i(dii'es  which  the  Sisters  consider  essen- 
tial to  their  profession." 


ge,  in  Bal. 

i(i(;(l  totrT« 

ight  cither 

s.    Miitlicr 

till'  vows, 

tioUill  ])M). 

ler  periiia- 

"^lini'lty  are 
tject.  "  TIkj 
11  and  wid- 
ixtemi  ami 
it  was  also 
wlii  !o  livi's 
;fi  iictitni  (if 
•.ingle  yt;ar, 

irilcf  i<\\f\\ 
[ir  SiicictV'. 
u  nirnilif'i'S 
no  (irlu'V 

nol-Vooni, 

i]»'l  tiuin 

■r  (If  hds- 

ic  I'ca''  ('[' 

taii,ulit  to 

cs,  nnder 

they  were 

lis  is  tlie 

>'v:.     TllH 

:  the  ]i(M'- 

(1(1  ;  citll- 

lin^irs; 

nice  (if  all 

in  Diviiio 

idel'  esseli- 


(mkI 


MOTHER  ELIZABETH  ANN  SETON. 


709 


P'lvinG:  the  year  oC  probation  ten  more  ladies  were  added 
(,,  the  coninnmiry,  wlii(di  now  eoiisifsted  of  tliiity  Sisters; 
and  Ity  Hie  adoption  of  a  settled  rule  of  life.  Motliei'  8etoii 
]]ad  the  happiness  of. seeing  them  make  daily  jnoii'i'css  luith 
ill  I'.'ivor  towards  Ood  and  iiscd'nlness  to  theii-  neighbors. 
There  was  one  anion.u'st  them  who  was  a  source  of  far  deejicr 
iov  and  gratitude  than  llie  rest.  'Jdiis  was  her  own  ehb  st; 
(];ui,i:hler,  Anna  or  Aimina.  From  e;irly  (diildhood  she  had 
hrtMU'cmarkable  for  her  virtue  and  piety;  and  now,  b<"ing 
bethgood,  clever,  and  beautiful,  slie  Avas  the  delight  of  all 
viio  kn(.'W  her.  When  only  iifteen,  her  hand  had  l)(>en 
s<iin:ht  ir.  mai'riage  by  a  young  gentleman  of  great  wealth 
and  talent ;  and,  with  the  api)iol)ation  of  all  his  fi'iends,  ho 
journeyed  to  his  distant  home  to  make  the  ncccssai'V  ]ir(  pa- 
latieii.  There,  however,  he  found  his  only  parent,  a  mother, 
H'.  stidiigly  oiiposed  to  it,  that  he  was  pi'ovailed  Uii(jn  to 
liivak  his  i'a-th  with  Mis.s  Seton. 

Happily,  with  the  true  spii'it  of  a  Christian,  the  young 
lady  icgai'ded  the  wdiole  nutttcr  as  ordered  by  <iod  for  her 
urtniter  good  ami  devoted  herself  moif  assiduously  than  be- 
fv.vtoall  the  ivligioiis  pra('tie<\s  of  the  ('»jmmunity  \\\  St. 
,h)<ei)irs  \'alley.  Although  still  only  amoug-st  the  ]M;pils.  >1ih( 
'•nictly  oh.>erved  the  rules  of  the  novitiate,  rising  ai  I'our 
iwili  in  winter  and  summer,  that  she  might  spend  an  hour  in 
ii:ay.T  ami  nn^ditation  l)efore  Mass  in  th(>  (diaji^-l.  Siic  pe;'- 
Ivaiel  in  secret  many  lun'oic  acts  of  mortilication.  and  had 
s)  little  taste  for  the  world  that,  when  visiting  a  very 
.■xivjlent  family  in  Baltimore,  she  implored  her  molliei'  to 
iH.all  h  ■!•  to  St.  Joseph's  Valley,  because  "her  soul  weaiit d 
nf  riie  disti'actions  of  a  secular  lie." 

H  'I'examph^  animated  the  pupils  to  an  extraordi  :ary  de- 
voiion.  ;ind  some  of  the  elder  girls  formed  themselves  into  a 
liiii'l  iind'i' her  direction,  governed  by  special  lules,  and  ha- 
Mtiially  sMrking  to  juortify  themselves  by  acts  of  penance. 
At  I h^' same  time  she  both  wat<dn'd  tenderly  ovin-  the  young(>r 
papils  especitdly  iho^e  ])repaiing  for  tlndr  lirst  ("omniiin- 
iia-and  also  m:iinfaine(l  a  corresp(tndence  with  those 
yi);ui-  ladi(.'s  who  had  left  the  school,  seeking  tu  keep  alive 


r 


•M  f 


710 


MoriiHR  elizabj-:tii  Axy  setox. 


riil  ■ 


li 


in  tlioir  honrts  the  <x<)oi\  princiijlps  (liey  lirid  learnrd 
anionii'st  tlio  Si.ster.s.  Anxious  to  (.'onsccrate  IiltscU'  iiune 
pci'fi^ctly  to  God,  slie  ni)plied,  as  soon  as  hvv  iiuv  jht. 
inith'(l.  for  admission  to  tlie  Sistci'liood,  aii<l  \v:!s  u-ladlv 
rcc'Mvcil ;  Imr  towards  the  e^sl  of  Sopti'ni!,>ur,  JSU,  tnlviiiga 
violent  cohl,  she  soon  l)ecani(>  so  ill,  that  all  hope  of  siriii" 
lior  rontinne  to  edify  the  Conunniuty  by  her  exeiuplarv 
pit'ty  was  sorrowfully  abandoned.  As  for  herself,  she  oiilv 
rejoiced  to  believe  that  she  Avas  n<'ar  her  (Mid;  and  slie  cdh. 
tinuiMl  to  the  last  l)otli  to  i)ractiee  perfect  liuniiliiy  and 
patience  in  hers<df,  and  to  encoura.u'e  ir  in  others, 

A  very  painful  remedy  havin.ic  heen  ]>](tiH)sed  and  then 
posri)oned,  shesaid,  "Oh,  no,  to-dayis  Fi'id;:y  ;  1(4  itluMlone 
to-day,  foi'  it  is  the  best  day,  my  dearest  herd."  To  lur 
companions  she  wrote,  "  I  am  now  siiireiinu,'  in  earnest,  not 
ns  we  ns(xl  to  do  on  f)nr  knees,  when  meditating  onthcppi^- 
sion  of  onr  dear  Lord.  AVe  used  to  wish  to  snlfei'  with 
llim;  but  when  called  to  prove  the  Avish.  how  diifeient  is 
t!i(^  reality  fimn  the  imagination!  Let  my  weakness  he  a 
lesson  to  you.'' 

When  Mother  Seton  half  reproached  her  for  her  litllo 
rare  of  her  health,  "rising  at  the  llrst  bidl.  and  (^eu  lieinir 
on  the  watch  to  I'ing  it  the  moment  thi' clock  struck  ;  wasli- 
ing  at  the  pumi)  in  lii(>  scn'erest  we;iihei'.  (^ften  (^ntirmdn  the 
rei'e*'tory  what  sii'kencMl  lu'r  stoejach.  etc.  —  'Ah.  (le;!r 
mother,'  she  r(>plied,  coloring  deejdy.  as  if  she  was  \A(iiuitl- 
ing  humility,  'if  our  dear  Lord  called  me  np  to  meditiitc, 
was  I  wronix  to  go  ?  Tf  I  washed  a.t  the  iMimit.  did  net  oth- 
er.; mere  delicate  do  it  (  Tf  I  atr  what  I  did  not  like.  Avnsit 
not  ])ro;)er,  since  it  is  but  a  common  Christian  act  to  con- 
trol my  ai')petit(^  ^  l^esid(^s.  a\  hat  Avould  my  exnnijilc  linvo 
been  to  my  class,  if  T  had  done  otherwise  in  any  ef  these 
cases?  Indee(l,  T  hav(\u'iveu  too  much  bad  example  Avi;h- 
out  tliis.     Dearest  Loi'd,  ]iardou  me."" 

XighJ  and  day  did  AFotlier  SetouAvatch  ov(  r  her  siifTerii;:; 
(diild  ;  and  it  is  said  that  "it  Avoidd  be  difTlcult  to  deciiii.' 
Avhifdi  A\as  the  nutre  Avorlhy  of  adniiraliou,  the  dniidittr 
pror^sing  forAA-ard  Avi 111  eagerness  to  lier  heav(>nly  hoine,  er 


MQTIIER  ELIZA  BETH  A^N  ^ETOX 


(11 


;])..  mother  generously  offering  the  sacrifice  of  her  first-born 

eliiiii-"' 
Oil  the  ;3<)th  of  Janiuii'}-,  she  r.-^reivecl  \vitli  pj-cat  fervor 

the  Inst  Sacrainenls  ;  bill;  her   (k-ath  was  yet  dehiyecl  for 

s;, line  weeks.     Her  mother  at  this  time  writes  to  ii  friend: 

••The  dear,  lovely,  and  exctdU'iit  chihl  of  my  heart  is  on 

the  peiiit  of  departure.     During-  the  whole  of  the  last  week 

si!'.'  liMS  ))oen  every  iiionient  on  the  watch,  expecting  every 

;(iiu:liiii;:-iit  would  be  the  last  ;  but  with  a  jieace,   resigna- 

timi,  ;iiid  coiitentment  of  soul  truly  consoling,  not  suffeiing 

ateaf  to  be  shed  around  her,  she  has  something  comforting 

to  say  to  all When  the  last  change  took  place,  and 

(■old  swell t,  ;jasping  breathing,  and  agoni/.ing  pain  indicated 

iiiimeiliate  dissolution — the  pain  oi'  her  eyes  so  great   she 

(o'iid  no  l(»ng<'r  lix  tiiem— she  said,  '1  can  no  longer  look 

lit  yon,  niy  dear  crucitix  ;  but  T  enter  my  agony  v.ith  my 

Savionr  :  [  drink  the  cap  with  Him.     Yes,  adorable  Lord, 

Your  will,  and  Youi's  alone,  be  done.    1  will  it,  too.     I  leave 

iiiv  dearest  mother,  because  Y(ni  will  it;  my  dearest,  desir- 

esr  mother.'     Poor  mother  I  you  will  say,  and  yet  hn]»py 

luorher.     You  can  well  undei'stand  this  for  me,  dear  friend 

—to  st'eher  rei'eive  the  last  Sacrnments  with  my  sentiments 

ofrliein,  her  precious  soul  stretching  (»nt  towards  heaven, 

tlii>  singnlar  purity  of  her  life,  of  which  I  conld  give  you 

till- mo>t  amiable  proofs,  my  calctdations  of  this  ^^■orld— all, 

il'Mr  friend,  combine  to  silence  poor  nature." 

Or  the  Sunday  before  her  death,  Annina  begg(Ml  that  the 

Vdinm'  ladies  from  the  school  might  comc^  in,  to  learn  a  les- 

Niii  id'  linnian  frailty  from  her  wasted  form.     I'.idng  iil'ly  in 

iimiiber.  they  were  admitted,  a  few  at  a  time,  and  she  ad- 

iliessed  them  in  her  dying  voic(>  with  the  nuist  impressive 

words.     Allowing  them  to  see  the  mortilication  Avhieh  had 

plivady  lv>gun  in  her  neck,  she  said,  "See  tin'  l)ody  \\lii(di 

1  ii-o,l  i()  dress  and  lace  n]i  so  well,  what  is  it  now  '.     Look 

•ii  these  Imnds  !  tlu' worms  will  have  jnior  banquets  here! 

What  is  beantv  i    what  is  lii'e^    Nothing,   nothing.     Oh, 

Ifivo  and  serve  Cod  faithfully,  and  pr(>]iare  for  eternity. 

liome  of  you,  dear  girls,  may  be  soon  as  I  am  now ;  be  good, 


\'S'l 


"!R  S"  »!? 


-r 


fl  \k 


iv  'il 


r 


71: 


MOTiii'u  E:jz.\Bi:rii  axx  setox. 


11' 


I 


nuil  pi';i3'  for  inc."  .Vnniiia  ]ii':i\-cil  very  earnestly  tdilieapro- 
I'essed  Sistt'r  of  Cliai'ity;  jiiul  tlioni^ii  fhe  t  iinc  liad  net  yet  tir- 
j'ived  I'.)!' any  l()l)in(l  tlieniselvcs  by  tlie  nsunl  vows,  slunvas 
jierniiiti'd  to  do  so  on  tli'-;  day  befoi'o  lier  death,  thus  lirCdm. 
iii.U'  tlie  Jii'.st  professed  nienilxn-  ol'  the  Sisterliood.  Tlic  f,,]. 
lowing  aet  of  consecration  wa.s  writtt-n  by  her  the  luninini; 
bi'foi'(!  her  d(.^ath,  ]s.neelin,t?  at  tlie  foot  of  a  crucifix  : 

"Amiable  and  adorabh?  Savionr  I  at  tlic  foot  of  Yniir 
cross  I  come  to  conseci'jtte  myself  to  yon  fo!ev(  r.  It  Jir.s 
pleas"(l  You,  in  Y'onr  inlinite  mercy  iind  ,i;'oodness.  to  unito 
and  fasten  m(>  to  it  with  Yon.  ()  dear  .b'siis,  1  od'cr  Vouall 
my  snlTeriii,!.vs,  little  as  they  !ir(\  iind  ^^  ill  accii)t  with  resiir- 
nation  (oh.  by  Y'onr  g-race,  ht  me  say,  love),  w!:  icvcrYmi 
will  ]Cease  to  .send  in  fiitnr<>.  1  oliVr,  in  niiion  with  Ydiir 
bli'ssed  merits,  all  the  MilTerinirs  J  ever  Iuk^  :  thos;' wliich  1 
endiiri'd  at  a  time  when  1  did  not  leain  >  unite  tlicni  to 
Yours.  Those  I  have  experienced  during'  this  last  sickness 
1  oli'.'i'  more  particularly  to  Your  jihu'v,  and  in  <  xpialion  ef 
the  oU'eases  and  grievous  sins  committed  during  my  life. 
Oh.  my  Jesus,  ]>ardon  the  impalience,  ill  humor,  and  niuii- 
])erless  other  faults  I  now  commit  ;  I  ])eseech  Tlce  to  fur- 
give.  I  oil'er  Thee  my  snfft'rihgs,  in  union  with  Yuiir 
mi'iits.  in  exiv.ation  of  mv  manv  and  dailv  olTeiises." 

(.)n  the  following  morning  fshe  icqut\sted  her  two  young 
sisters  to  kneel  by  her  b(Ml  and  sing : 

"  Thou-rh  nil  Iho  iiains  of  lull  surround, 
No  evil  will  I  IV;ir; 
Y\n-  while  my  .h'^U'^  is  my  Friruil, 
No  (lau'j;i'r  ciui  come  near." 


They  tried  to  comx)Ose  tlieir  voices,  broken  by  sol.s,  tluit 
they  might  please  their  dying  sister,  wJiom  their  luotlni. 
sitting  at  her  ])illow,  was  sn])porfing  in  her  amis.  \]\\\ 
their  voices  I'cf  used  to  sing  at  snch  a  inoment :  wvA  seiiu 
the  strugii'li:'s  of  the  de]iarting  soul  biH^anuvso  severe,  tlint 
]^^()tller  Seton  was  obliged  to  retire  from  her  now  insensible 
child  to  th(>  chapel,  where  she  remained  before  the  Blessed 
Sacrament  till  all  was  over. 


MOTHER  ELIZABErn  J.AIV  8ET0X. 


ri3 


On  till'  i'dllowin,^^  dny  tlio  liody  was  coTimiittcMl  to  the 
.^I'oiiud.  :ni(l  -Motlu'r  Seton,  more  like  a  stiitiie  than  a  living; 
lit'iiiir.  I'oUowed  her  sweet  chikl  to  the  grave,  lint  one  tear 
w:i.s  si'<'ii  H[)(>n  her  clicck  as  she  returned;  and  raising  her 
^.yi^s  to  heaven,  slie  uttered  shjwlj'-,  as  if  yiehlinu'to  tlu^  full 
jiiire  ef  the  sublime  sentiment:  "leather.  Thy  will  bo 
done!'"  Thus  died  Sister  Annina,  on  !Mareli  1)1\\\,  1812,  in 
the  seventeenth  year  of  her  ago. 

Slii>  was  cherished  warndy  in  the  memory  of  all  who  had 
ever  known  her;  and  the  village  cliildren,  whom  ,-<lie  had 
(.•sturially  chosen  I'or  her  jiupjls,  kept  Ik  r  iiave  always 
crivtMi  and  fragrant  with  moss  and  lilies  of  the  valley.  The 
lios  of  this  dear  child  was  very  acutely  filt  l)y  ^Mother 
Sciiiii.  iuid  she  writes  from  the  I'ullness  of  her  heart  ton 
fiieiul.  ••The  sejiaration  from  my  angel  has  left  so  new  and 
(It'i'P  an  inipi'ession  on  my  mind,  that  if  1  A.as  m.t  oljliged 
t.dive  in  these  th^ar  ones  (her  childjvn),  1  sltoidd  uncon- 
M'jniisly  die  in  her:  unconsciously,  foi-  never,  by  a  free  act 
,,!' i!h' mind,  would  I  now  reject  y//.5  vr/YA"  Who  can  tell 
ih'sihni  solitudeof  the  mother's  soul,  its  p>ice  and  I'est 
in  (foil.  '•ICtei'uity  was  Anna's  darling  wonl.  1  lind  it 
wriiten  in  (>verythi'ng  that  belonged  to  her  :  music,  books, 
(upics,  the  walls  of  her  little  cluuuber-  (everywhere  that 
Wiii'd." 

hiSe])lember,  :l81-2.  thel^n-.  Simon (T;;briel  Ih'Ute' was  ap- 
puiattMl  toassist  tlu^  llrn-.  Mr.  Dubois;  -'  and  his  friendship 
;ni(l  services  were  of  th(!  greatest  possible  \al!ie  to  .\b)lhei- 
>i'rnn  and  the  community,  for  whom  he  now  c(del)rate(l 
Mass  four  tinu's  a  week.  Fatlier  l>rute  was  a  man  of  rare 
iiifrs.  rare  learning,  and  great  ])hys!cal  activity,  singularly 
lilessod  with  energy  and  pow<>r  of  expression  :  and  from  the 
lirst  he  and  ^[othei'  Setou  lieartily  symiiathi/"d. 

In  ihi-  following  duly,  the  I'ommuniiy.  now  eighteen  in 
niniilier.  bdiiud  themselves  by  the  vows  of  povei'ty,  (diarity, 
ami  ()bedi(>nce,  ten  young  ladies  l)eing  at  tine  sam<!  time 
admitted  into  the  novitiate. 


m  <l 


uit: 


i!     ^M    J 


:   ; i£!  i 


Atlrnvanl-<  lirst  IJishoiiof  Viiic-Jimc^s,  Iiul. 


'  AftonvarJs  Ki-hi.p  of  New  York. 


•V' 


714 


MO'/ HER   ELIZABETH  AXX  SETOy. 


Tlu^  war  with  (Treat  Britain  at  tliis  tinu^  niadi'  manv 
tliin,!4s  so  expensive  that  a  more  li^-id  eooiioniy  was  ikh,..,'. 
sary.  to  whifli,  lio\v*"V(>r.  tlie  Sisters  checrl'iiHy  Init  thotn- 
selves.  Su.;Mr  w.is  ([is[),Mised  with,  and  coai'ser  elotliiiis;  ju. 
trodiu'i^l.  In  1811:,  a  (i(!ta(dini 'nb  of  Sisters  were  sent  to 
Pliila  It'Iphia,  to  tai\(!  (diai',u'<!  of  the  (diildrt'ii  wiios('  ]);iicius 
iiad  died  of  tlii>  y(dlow  fever;  ai\(l  in  ISIT  a  cdlniiv  \v;is 
estal)lishe<l  in  X.'W  York  City  from  tie'  morlu'i-  !iniisi>  m 
iMiiinittsliui'u'  'riio  instrnctions  and  alVeeiinnarc  cKiini'ta- 
ti(}ns,ii;ivt'n  !»y  >r.)ther  Seton  to  those  Sisters  wiio  wcrclpaviii!;' 
:i(^r  for  another  mission  were  beantifnJly  characteristic  df 
h<'r  idi'a  of  what  the  lifo  of  a  Christian,  and,  ahoNc  all.  a 
Sistei-  of  Charity,  shonld  be. 

She  li('i'S(df  most  strictly  observed  the  I'ulcs  of  the  lidiisf, 
tliongh  her  health  was  now  becoming  feeble;  '•was  incess- 
antly occnpied  in  tlie  duties  of  lier  situation,  yet  always 
calm,  sc;lf- possessed,  even-tempered,  and  her  soul  appar- 
ently ct)llect<>d  in  (fod.  Slie  was  remarkable  I'm  lici'  lov,^  (,f 
pi)V(^rty  and  m!)rri:h'<itioa  of  the  senses."'  At  lirst  she  liml 
taken  chaYij;e  oi'  the  highest  class  amongst  the  jtupils,  liiu 
now  tills  was  no  longer  necessary.  Yet  she  still  visited  the 
school-room  constantly,  encouraging,  counseling,  and  edi- 
fy ing  by  her  presence  no  less  than  by  h(>i'  words.  Slie  oon- 
sideriid  the  young  ladies  as  a  sacred  trust  from  (lod,  ami 
was  accustomed  to  say  to  the  Sisters  nnder  whose  pni'ticu- 
lar  care  they  were,  "Be  to  them  us  our  guardian  angels  are 
tons." 

d'wic'^  a.  w(>ek  she  gave  familiar  instrnctions  to  tlieeldor 
pui)ils,  in  whi(di  she  displayed  her  singular  a[)titude  for  edu- 
cation. Yet  her  manner  was  rather  that  of  the  intelligent 
and  affectionate  parent  tinin  of  the  ])edantic  teacdier;  and 
her  sweetness  won  so  readily  the  conlidence  of  her  (nipils. 
that  they  opened  their  hearts  to  her  as  their  deaivst  friend. 

"■  Your  little  mother,  my  darlings."  she  would  say, 
"does  not  come  to  teach  you  to  be  good  nuus  or  Sisters  ef 
Charily;  but  rather,  I  would  wish  to  lit  j^ou  for  that  world 
ill  whi(di  you  were  destined  to  live;  to  teach  you  how  to  be 
good  mistresses  and  mothers  of  families.     Yet.  if  the  dear 


soul    !ili]i;ir- 


MOTIIER  ELIZABETH  ANN  SETON. 


715 


'[istf'i*  s;'l('"ts  on»  :iiiv)nt?  yon  to  b:>  closer  to  TTiin,  lini"»py 
.;v  vi»u  :  He  will  ti.'Hch  yon  llims.'li"."' 

In  1^1  \  Mi"'^.  Seton's  oldtjst  son  ('::)inplot;v.l  his  ei^-jiteenth 
,,.ir,  111'  \\';is  nnxions  to  enter  the  niivy,  whilst  his 
iiMt!ii'i'  wished  him  to  v;o  into  some  mercantile  house; 
liiit  this  was  reu'l  Teil  somewhat  didiiMilt,  in  conse- 
su'iii'H  of  the  disturbed  state  of  conimerciid  nf^nii's  durini; 
ilu'war.  However,  the  Rev.  ^[r.  Brute  beiu^•  anxious  to 
\\^\\  lvii''i;):\  she  I'csolvtvl  to  si'ud  her  son  ntidiH-  his 
.unnlianshij)  to  tlie  Messrs.  Filicchi.  at  least  for  a  time.  Two 
wars  liiti  1"  her  second  son  was  i)laced  in  tlio  Ik  wise  of  a  mer- 
I'iiaiir  ;it  l>altiuioi'e.  and  went  aftei'wards  to  L:';j,'horn  when 
his  hmther  left  to  cany  out  his  own  purpose  of  enterin^j; 
llii'  iiiivy. 

Ahniit  this  time  ^\\\  Philip  Filicchi  died:  and  deeply 
was  iiis  loss  de|)loi'(Ml,  not  only  by  >roilifr  Setoii  and  his 
!U>sr  iininediate  friends,  but  hy  all.  His  death  was  sidd  t<i 
lieiihnost  a  public  cahimity,  sorrowed  Tver  by  "  hundreds  (jf 
p:!ir  fed  at  his  hands,  orphans  de[)endinjj  on  his  support, 
and  prisoners  relievetl  by  his  charity."' 


\  m 


r  t, 


m 


\f;.\ 


I  m 


I 


!    ' 


i) 


CnAPTKTl  TT. 


CliOSS   AX  J)    (■  i:o  \V  N. 


Death    of  ^riiflnr    Hcfnii' s  '  yoiin<j<'.'<t    (laur/ldir—P.ii], 


'/cr 


Brut; 


'LnUwr  is  Laf.hcr'' 


M>thcr  ^itini  .s  InaJth  k- 


comes  fet  hle~ITcr  paiieiice — Her  hint 


iifiia<  It's  -Her 


holij  dinth—IIer  cli'irin'ter — The  results  of  her  toil. 

Two  mondis  ul'rei*  this  tiino  Motlici-  St^ton  was  rallnl 
upon  to  render  back  to  LTod  nnolhor  of  her  children,  lur 
yonnii^est  drui'jchter,  whose  intolligiMit  and  a,niiable  disposi- 
tion had  rniie:nvii  ln-r  to  all  who  knew  her.  Slii>  liml  h,.,.ii 
ailing"  now  since  1812,  when  she  was  injareil  hya  fall  on  ilw 
ice;  and  tiiat  she  might  have  the  Ix'st  ]nedic:d  advice,  she 
was  I'enioved  for  some  time  to  I^altiniore.  Whilst  tli<Te,  lifi- 
mother  used  the  most  alTectionate  endeavors.  l)v  fjvuiii'iit 


liitl. 


noti 


1o  tni'ii  the  mind  of  her  sulferiiu 


cm; 


d  h 


11'^ 


end  for  whicli  she  was  aiiiictetl.     Tho   i'ollowian'  i 
th 


■s  one  (it 


em 


'']\[v  Sorr/s  LiTTLK  Daiilixo,— jJotlier's  ey(>s  fill  with 
tears  evr  wheii  slu*  thinks  of  you;  Imt  loving  tears  of  jin-, 
1  hat  uiy  ih'ar  one  may  suffer  and  bear  ]iain,  ;ind  ivsiun  ]ifr.s"lf 
to  the  will  of  our  Dearest,  and  b(»  the  child  of  llis  crosa. 
You  know,  mother  has  often  told  yon  that  the  one  who 
suffers  most  is  the  dearest  to  me  ;  and  so  our  Dearest  lii\ cs 
the  child  lie  alllicts  with  a  double  love.  Kemi'inbi'i',  my 
dearone,what  mother  told  you  about  love  and  ol)e(li,'!ire  to 
onr  so  kind  and  tender  friend;'  and  onr  Dearest,  not  to 
forget  Iliin  for  a  moment.  Yon  know  lie  never  foigets  yoii; 
and  do  not  mind  kneeling,  but  s^'ieak  your  heart  to  lliin 
anywhere.  ]\Iay  His  dear,  dearest  blessing  be  on  von.  .  .  . 
Jesus,  Mary,  and  Joseph,  bless  and  love  you  I" 


>  Tlio  lady  wiili  whom  slio  was  stuyiujj. 


710 


MOTIinn  ELTZAnETH  A XX  f^ETOy. 


Ill 


Bv  f1i<^  yiions  f'X.'Uin>l«>  of  fliis  :iini;i')le  rliild,  niniiy  ])r!i('- 
(;,..  ^  dl"  (Irvniii)u  wci'o  iiif I'l xliiccd  ain()n<j::st  tin*  bojinlcr.s ; 
■:.\\\  as  slit'  w:i-i  :i  <2:f'!i(>n»l  I'iivorite  ut  Sr,  .losfpli's.  licr  in- 
Ihi'iico  liad  tho  hiipi/Icst  ('ffi-cf.  'I'lu'  ()i'i)li:uis  <'(luc;itt'(l 
tlu'ii' IkuI  been  foniK'il  into  :i  I'hiss  distinct  from  tlii^  lioiwd- 
(•:•%  iiud  were  disjxxcd  to  resont  tii's  scpiinitioii  as  w  Liiniil- 
i;itl;i-J  |)<)';lriiiii ;  Miss  Il.d)e('ca  S'toi,  liowcvcr.  \(il;;iiiarily' 
1:111k '^l  lii'i'si'li  am  )iii:st  tlicin,  and  inunfMliatdy  al!  l-ittcr- 
ii'ssoi'  I'rt'liii-cwas  clian^'f'd  into  'rratfd'iil  aUVclidn.  TIkhiuIi 
diilv  fliii"fi'''n  years  of  ii.u'*',  slin  was  devout  and  r('i'\('nt.  in 
aji'iniachin.!,'  the  Sacraments;  and,  indeed,  she  lu'cdcd  all 
till'  siren  nth  :ind  consuhition  which  these  alone  ciii  lic^fnw  ; 
i',.;' (lining  tiio  liiMt  .six  montiis  of  hei-  lif(,*  she  was  scaicely 
i'wx  free  iVoni  tiie  most  excruciating'  pain.  Xe\ert1ieh'ss, 
slic  \v!is  always  ptitit-nt,  resi'viied,  and  (>ven  cheerfid  in  niari- 
iitr,  l'iiltiirm.!X  tlio  anxious  wish(>s  of  her  mother,  that  sho 
iiiiL'lit  loo'.v  on  her  sulVering's  only  as  a  transitory  means  to  a 
aidriiius  and  et(M'nal  end. 

'•Draih,  death,  my  niotluM',"''  sh»^  would  say  in  h.er  agon}' ; 
"it  si'cnis  so  strange  that  I  shall  be  no  more  here.  You 
will  come  buck  (from  tlio  graveyard),  dearest  mother, 
lilf^ne.  Xo  little  Kebecca  behind  the  curtiiin.  V>\\\  that  is 
(inlvone  sid(^;  when  I  look  at  the  other,  I  forget  all  ; — you 
\viii  he  comforte'l.  If  Di'.  C.  were  to  say  now,  lielx'cca,  you 
'.vill  get  well,  T  could  not  wish  it, — no,  my  dearest  Saviour  !  I 
am  convinced  of  tlu;  iKqipinoss  of  an  early  death.  And  lo 
sill  111)  more  : — th.'it  is  the  point,  my  mother;"  thrrtwing  her 
armsMi'ound  her,  and  repeating  "to  sin  no  more.'' 

A  few  extracts  from  the  joiirnal  of  her  dear  child's  last 
u;!ys,  made  by  ]\[other  Seton  for  Father  Brute,  who  was 
still  absent  in  Europe,  will  describe  more  touchingly  than 
any  words  ot  our  own  the  adnurable  fortitude  with  which 
the  little  suiTerer  "endured  to  the  end." 

'••Tt  seemed  to  me  this  morning,"  said  sh(>,  'that  I  could 
'  ut  one  look  at  our  Saviour  chauLied  it  all. 


li 


ar  It 


What  were  the  dislocations  of  his  bones,  my  mother  \  Oli, 
hiiwcan  T  mind  mine'.'  Not  a  cliange  now  from  continueil 
bittiiii:',  but  to  kneel  a  little  on  one  knee;  obliged  to  give 


m 


,    IS' 


1    f 


♦,   1 


'; 


718 


MOTiiim  rjJz.\m:Tii  anx  sktox 


m;>  liiT  l)i'(l  i-ntircly.  \Vn  tritvl  to-dny.  '1  know,' snidsho, 
'1  ••iiiiiii>r;  Itiit  wt'  must.  l!ik(>  ir  (iiiictly,  my  di'.-ir  motlici' 
uml  oll'i'i-  up  till'  piiiiLs,' — tryiu^^  to  <i;i't  in  and  out  (  f  lifd- 
";uid  let  it  t;iki' its  way,'  Findinif  it  impossible,  she  said 
'I  must  lit'  dokvii  no  inore  until — but  nt'vcr  mind,  niv 
motlicr,  ('o!n«>  sit  ])y  nio.'  Soltly  now  siic  siiii's  ih,.  lini,. 
words,  iiitei'  ivsting  on  om*  knot'  awhile,  for  our  evoniii" 
])ray(.'r : 

"Xow  iiiioHicr  liny  is  y-niu', 
So  iniicli  imiii  iinil  sorrow  o'er, 
^^|)  iiHirli  iicHrcr  our  dc  ;ir  home  : 

'I'liiir  We'll  pral-c  !Iim, 
There  we'll  hUss  llim  evermore." 

Tliim  leans  so  peaceably  lier  dear  head  oii  my  laji,  and  (ifl'i  rs 
up,  as  sh(?  says,  'the  poor  nias.s  of  corruption,  coven  d  wiili 
the  lilood  of  our  Jesus,' 

•'  The  little  beloved  now  sits  up  in  a  chaii'  niu'lit  and  d;iy, 
leaniii.u,'  oa  my  aiau,  the  )»ones  so  rulibed  she  caiuint  ivst  (Jii 
one    kiu'c^  as  before;    ])ut    sa\s    so   (du'crfullv,   "Uui'L(ji'd 


nialsi's  i!ie  ]iay  loi'  \ 


ast  iuisdeiiiejiiiov; 


•"  What  a  morninu'  uith  our  litllo  one  !  her  pers])('rtive! 
Sti'aiiilnu' forward,  with  rolliim\  raiiid  tears, ;  he  said,  puttiii!,' 
her  arms  around  me.  'Mother,  the  worst  is,  1  shall  have  to 


il'ive  an  aceoui 


d'  all  tlu^Mas.ses  I  ha\'(^  he;ird  so  caivleiolv: 


(>  mv  eari 


lessness 


I  lie   teiirs   redoubled.       '  M  \-   |i)>r 


cein- 


muniou  !  yet  sui'ely  I  tried  not  to  make  it  baelly;  and  if, 
-t  mother,  1  shall  have  the  blessin.^s  of  the  last  Sacrn- 
,  * — th(Mi  she  looked  so  earnestly  at  the  (aaiciiix.  and 


(|e;ire 
meiit.'- 


Wll)ed    \v  V    i-\\) 


.Vji'ain  spoke  of  Kxtremo  ructieii;  hut 
afti'iidl  ih"^  <'o;>>fort  another  burst  of  tears.  'Yet  the  hist 
stru!i',Ldes.  mother  I —  there  is  something!;  in  death— I  raniiiit 
tidl.     ll'.>\v  la/.v    I  am.    my  moiher;   and  how  swee 


t  wvA 


bri.iihr  is  Xiua's  carpet  I '  Oh,  how  I  willbeo:  our  Ijnid  !n 
let  me  come  to  you,  when  you  will  be  here  so  lonely  1  Vo;i 
know,  mother.  I  n'ever  enjoyed  any  little  I'deasure  ii)  this 
world,  unless  you  shared  it.  or  I  t(dd  you  of  it.  lle^v  I 
will  bei,"  of  Ilim  to  let  me  couio  and  comfort  a-ou  I     Yea 


'  Her  .-^i-ti'i-  Amiiiia  ;  ccirjh/,  IIil'  1)1ir'  sky,  sci.'H  frum  the  window. 


MOTI!i:n  KLIZAUKTH  ASS  KliTOX. 


710 


knnv .  ('»'>.  1  «'<>'il(l  ,t;ii('s.s  your  ]);iins,  ('vcii  \\\\v\\  yon  did  not 
MH'aU."  '''il^  <'''i  ^'i*-  tlionsMiid  littUi  cndi'Miiunits  of  licr 
ni!in!i<'!'.  wliil"'  siiyiii,:j;  tlicst'  words,  so  dr;ir  to  :i  iiidilicr's 
ht'iirtl  I'-\<'iy  \v:ikiii,ii;  tliroii<;,'h  tlio  iiiulit  spcakinu'  of  wluit 
thcv  w"'rt>  doinu:  in  Ikmvimi  I  Ili'r  ])oor  \vv:  Itiir^t  |i;Mn  in 
ill,,  sidf  cxccssivt! -bnt  the  litth^  (dit'crfnl  lanuli  and  pain 
;;ii|nu;i'tlii'i'.  •  llow  ^'ood  if  is,  oh,  liowgootl  I  sinci'lt  shows 
,,iii'  hold  will  not  let  it  last  hin.i;.' 

•••h;i'-i  ni^iir,'  said  she,  'in  tlio  midst  of  my  misery,  \ 
s..>iii('d  soni('\vlii'r(>  !j,'oti('  ont  of  my  body,  and  snmnioninij,'  all 
;|i,' sniiifs  and  an;^(ds  to  pray  forme;  l)nt  the  r.le>--ed  \'ir- 
L'iii.  St.  .los(>ph,  and  my  g'liardian  amiel,  St.  Aimnsiine,  and 
>t.  .\:i\ier.  whom  [  love  so  mncli  iSi.  Auuiistine's  hiiiiiint>; 
heart  for  our  Jjord,  yon  know,  moiiieri.  tin;sel  claimed  and 
jii>isf('(l  on  defetidinir  nie  in  judii'ineiil.  -  Oh,  my  niothi'i'I 
that  jiidu'ineiit ; "  then  au-ain  her  eyes  fasiene(l  on  thecrnci- 
lix  as  lonti' as  pain  would  jjermit.  'O  inotiiei'.  liow  I  sull'ei', 
.viy  hiiiie.  every  joint,  every  lind)  :  do  juoilur,  I'lay  for 
iiiyl'aifh.  Von  sec,  dearest,  (tvery  day  soinetliiiin'  of  warn- 
in;^' is  added  that  I  soon  must  no;  yet  1  reniend;er  oidy  twieo 
;.  Inve  tliouu'ht  my  sJilVeriniis  loo  hard  siiu-e  J  was  hurt; 
->i)nm'di'ar  Lord  ))ity  ine,  and  i;'ive  nie  a  short  [niriratoiy  ; 
••f  ill  this  ///.v  irill  ho  done;  at  h'ast,  then  1  shall  he  safe, 
;iiiil  sin  no  nu»re.' 

•"Always  wishing  to  he  em[)loyed.  she  cut  some  haves  ol" 
:iirili(ial  liowers,  and  seemed  very  earnestly  nni, joyed  in 
M'wiiiu.'  on  a  small  u'armeiit  for  a  poor  child,  with  iicinhlinij 
hands  and  ])antinii'  breath,  two  days  before  her  ap)iiy. 

••Tlii'Sii])erior  came,''  IJev.  Mr.  Dubois,  '"and  seeitiu' the 
liirifid  slate  of  the  ])oor  dailinu',  kindly  ollerc  d  t<  re  ii;aiii 
with  her.  Her  ,L;ratitnde  was  inex))i'essil>h'.  The  ]iresei;ce 
hlM  jiiii'st  sei'iiied  to  arm  her  ati'ainsf  every  jiower  (d'  Ihe 
iiu'iny.  lie  told  her,  about  nudniuht.  that  as  siie  had  not 
;|"jit  nor  aie  an\thing  for  the  last  t wenty-i'mir  iioiu's,  it 
Wdiild  he  w(dl  to  take  a  little  pareii'oric.  *  \V(dl,'  said  she 
very  .i^cnily  to  him,  '  if  1  ,u'o  to  sleep  I  shall  not  com"  bai  k  ; 
?ii  aood-liy  to  you  all.  Do  give  my  love  to  everybody  ; 
gooddiy,  dear  Kit."    (her  bister  Josepliine,  kissing-  her  most 


H 


I  ■  t' : 


•i;    '!'<s«;j' 


'   ! 


h-i'i 


\V 


720 


MOTTIEn  ELIZABETn  AXN  SETOy. 


I  I 


tenderly),  'nnd  yon,  my  clearest  mother.'  P.ut  lici'c  Iut  lit- 
tle heart  faih^l  her.  nnd  slie  hid  hfi's<'ir  in  my  Ihisoiu. 
A^i^ain,  ti'yiiii;'  to  coniixj.se  liersell",  she  said,  "I  will  "-ive 
yonr  lovc^  to  everybody  I  meet  with  on  the  way.'  Jhit  no 
sleep  or  rest  for  her.''  »>()  dawned  for  child  and  mother 
All  SjuIs'  i);iy.  "  It  ])assed  as  yesterday  ;  oidy  iiiciva.sed 
jiains.  Our  (ii'd,  our  (iod  I  to  wait  one  hour  (ny  an  dljifct 
every  nimucnt  expected  I  but  poor  Bee's  hours  and  ii.u'onies 
are  known  to  Vou  a  lone  I — her  meek,  subnussivcldoks,  art- 
less  ap])(>als  of    sorrow,   and  unutterable  distress. 

"Tin3  hundred  little  acts  of  piety  that  All  Soids'  Day,  so 
sad  and  soiaowful;  llie  fears  of  the  poor  niotlu'r's  heart*; 
herblcediui.^-  hearr  for  ])atienee  and  perseveranc"  in  sd  weak 
a  child,  thesilent  lonii'looks  ateach  other:  feai's  of  interfer- 
inii:in  any  way  with  the  designs  of  inlinite  love!  Oh,  lliatdav 
and  ni^-ht"  and  .'oUowinii'day  I  The  Kev.  Superior  told  her  lie 
would  not  w  ish  her  sndVrings  shortened.  She  quietly  uave 
np,  ff^lt  her  pulse  no  more,  intpdrcd  no  more  about  ;:  lug. 
or  what  tinii'  it  was  ;  but  with  her  heart  of  sori'ow  pi"Mu'ed 
on  her  countenance,  looking'  now  at  the  crvu'ilix.  aaain  at 
mother,  seesned  to  mind  nothing  else.  Once  she  said.  'My 
love  is  so  wcak-^so  imperfect- my  mothei' ;  1  ha\f  heen  S(» 
unfaithful.  1  have  proved  so  little  my  love'  llci'  pdnr  lit- 
tle heart  s-eiued  sinkinir,  yet  eyes  steadfastly  lixed  eii  the 
crucifix.  "My  mother;  kiss  that  Blessed  Side  forme.' 
Her  small  crucili.x  lound  her  neck  was  often  pressed  to 
her  lips — those  cold,  dyina,- lips  ;  and  then  she  would  i)ress 
it  to  her  heai't.  '1  land's  my  lielpless  soul  on 'I'liee.'  she 
would  say.  ^«'i,iiht  came  au'ain.  She  often  bowed  landirad. 
in  v.hi(di  all  her  pain  sc'intnl  centred,  to  the  holy  water  pre- 
sented by  the  JJev.  Superior.  AVe  said  some  short  praters, 
and  she  repeated,  '  In  the  hour  of  death  did'cnd  m*  :  call  iiic 
to  come  to  1'hee  ;  receive  me.'  Near  four  in  the  nieriiiiti:'. 
she  said,  '  Let  me  sit  onc(^  more  on  *he  bed  ;  it  will  he  llie 
last  sti'uu'ghv'  Cecilia's  arms  and  mother's  supjioiliiiu  her. 
she  sank  between  ns  ;  the  darling  liead  tVdl  on  the  well- 
kn(»vvn  heai't  it  loved  so  widl,  and  all  was  ovei'.  ]\ly(ind! 
my  God  !     That  morning  she  had  said,  '  Be  not  sorr^i  whil 


MOTUER  ELIZABETH  ANN  SETOX. 


721 


inv  mc'tlior !  I  sliall  not  go  far  from  you  ;  I  am  snro  our 
dear  Lord  will  let  mo  (,'onie  and  cousolo  you.'  Joseitliiuc's 
te.us  hurt  her.  '  1  do  nol,  look,'  she  said,  'to  being  left  in 
till'  uiave,  and  you  all  turning  home  without  me  ;  I  look 

hiuii  tip.'  " 
In  1818,  Father  Brute  again  came  to  reside  at  St.  Clary's 

('allt'ue,  and  l)eeame  eonfyssor  to  the  Community  of    St. 

Jiist-ph.     Tills  was  a  great  consolation  inr  Motlirr  Setdu, 

nlio  liad  the  highest  regard  for  this  excellent  ja-iest.     Her 

'liKiUii  was  now  vei'y  l'eel)le  ;  but  she  exerted  herself  to  I'ul- 

lill^vUh  diligence  the  onerous  duties  of  her  ]'es]i()nsible  of- 

ijcc,     "  I  cannot  die  one  way,"  she  writes  to  a  t'rier.d.  "so 

I  riv  til  die  the  oth(U',  an<l  keep  tlie  straighl  path  lo  (tod 
;ilone."  She  maintained  the  t«ndercst  A\atchfulne^s  (Vir 
\\\{m'  Sisters  absent  on  any  nnssion  ;  and  thus  writes  to 
(.iv,  wlu)  was  hunenting  her  Inability,  thr(»ugh  illness,  to 
fiillill  the  charge  she  had  undertaken:  ".My  owu  dear  sis- 
ter. 1  take  a  laugh  and  a  cry  at  your  Ihinnels  and  [dasters. 
Never  nnud  ;  (u)d  is  (Jod  in  it  all.  It'  you  are  to  do  Tlis 
wiirk.  the  strength  wiil  be  given  you;  it  not,  my  iirecious 
rliikl,  some  one  else  will  do  it,  and  you  C(  ni(>  back  to  your 
hiiitie.  No  great  ah'air  where  His  dear  atom  is,  it  only  ills 
Willis  done.     Peace,  dearest  soul,  from  our  .fesus.     1  took 

II  long  look  at  our  dear  crucilix  for  you.  All  are  here 
ii'aiiy  ;;s  you  left ;  our  faithful  Clod  the  same  1-- 1-^\ ej'  your 
litile  mother." 

During  the  years  we  have  so  rapidly  passed  ovei'.  many 
Sist('i-s  were  sunnnoned  from  the  little  Comniunit.\-  to  their 
eternal  home.  And  if  it  were  ]iossible  to  relate  of  their 
jnons  souls  the  dilTerent  acts  of  hunnlity,  charity.  x\v(\  de- 
votien  by  which  they  edilied  all  who  knew  tluMn,  and  em- 
l-ahned  their  names  in  the  nuMUory  of  the  Sisterhood,  some 
iili'i!  might  be  formed  of  the  holy,  happy  reti'(\>t  ovei'  which 
Mother  Seton  presided  in  St.  Joseph's  Valley  .Mniiy  www 
nmverts.  Amongst  others,  we  are  told  of  one  A\h;)  l;;;d 
I'o.n  a  Methodist,  but  was  ever  seeking  after  the  li;.:.! 
Chinch  until  slu)  fouml  it. 

"Lyther  is  Luther,"  she  used  to  say  to  those  on  whvin 


i'   ' 


*'   I 


Mlif  r:| 


722 


MOTHER  ELIZABETH  AXX  SETOJ. 


i  ,  I 


;! 


slie  nrGi:"(l  li'^r  anxii^ty  boforo  lier  fonvcrsiDii,  '•  Calvin  U 
C:i!vin,  \V(>s!('y  is  Wesley;  but  where  is  the  Climvli  (,f  [\^^, 
.V[iosiIes  <"  ]-?y  (iod's  good  grace  slie  was  guided  at  la>^t  to 
Sr.  Joseph's  A'alley,  where  she  hapijily  ioiiiul   what  slie 

BOllgllt. 

It  lias  lieen  already  mentioned  more  than  oiu-e.  tluit 
Mother  Teton's  heallli  had  become  very  l'eel)le;  and  in  ]s>i) 
liH'lnngs  were  so si-riously alt'ected.  tliat  her  iiKMlical  attviul- 
aiits  ga\e  no  ]i(>])e  of  her  ultimate  recovery.  I'or  lipi-  this 
w:)rld  had  l((ng  (•eas(>d  ro  be  anytlung  but  "a  dark  jiassniio 
leailiiig  to  eteriiiry.  I  see  nothing,"  shn  says.  "ImiI  the 
l)lue  sl\y  and  (ini- aUars  ;  all  fh"  r.";l  i^  so  jilainly  as  ii(,r  tu 
be  looked  at.  AVe  talk  nuw  all  da.y  of  my  death,  and  Imw 
it  will  ]i(>,  just  like  the  I'est  of  the  liousewoik.  What  is  ir 
else  ^  A\' hat  are  we  conn^  into  tin;  world  l\<i  i  Why  is  it 
so  long,  but  this  last,  great,  eternal  end  i  It  seems  tonie 
so  simple  w  hen  \  htolv  up  to  the  crucilix.''' 

The  ycai'  before  hei-  death  she  thus  writes  to  a  priest; 
"D  my  father,  friend,  could  1  hear  my  last  stage  of  coiiuh, 
and  fe(d  my  last  stage  of  ]):nn,  in  the  tearing  away  niy 
pi'i>on-walls.  how  could  I  l.cai'mv  jov  I  The  thoimht  ofuoiiiir 
lii>iiii\  and  called  liy  His  will!  What  a  trans})(iitl  15iit, 
t'n:'ysay,  d<'ii't  you  foartodie;;  Sutdi  a  sinner  must  [k\\\ 
but  I  fear  niiudi  more  to  live,  and  know  as  1  do  that  every 
morniim'  linds  my  account  but  h^ngtheufvl  and  enlarged.  I 
don't  fear  death  half  so  mn(  h  as  my  hateful,  vile  self." 

T\v(dve  years  she  ha-l  now  sp(>nt  in  Ikm'  reliicmeni.  ihu- 
iiu;:  the  hist  four  months  sh(»  was  conlined  to  her  room.  ;iii:l 
her  sn.n'erimi'sat  tim"s  were  v(n\v  great  ;  but  only  luider  ehc- 
dience  to  her  director  would  she  submit  to  any  (dl'nj't  lor 
their  alleviation.  X'.)t  a  coni]d!unt  Avas  to  be  lieaid:  and  if 
tl'-iough  exiieiue  pain  there esca])ed  her  an  involiiiitar)  sii;ii 
of  impatience,  she  was  uneasy  until  she  had  i'eceive(l  ahso- 
lutioii.  ijer  liundlity  was  asgreat  as  her  resignation.  One 
<:f  the  Sisters  saying  something  whi(di  implied  a  he]  i'  of 
going  to  heaven  immediat(>Iy  after  death.  Mother  Seteii  fx- 
clainu'd  fervently,  ''^fy  blessed  (Jod!  how  far  from  iii;it 
thought  am  I,  of  going  straiglit  to  heaven  I  suchanii.sciiiMt' 


MOTHER  ELIZAHETll  ASX  SETOy. 


7-::i 


orentnri'as  I  nm  !'•  Fafliorrirutr  was  ronstnntly  with  ]u'V, 
,ji;il  hi.s  niinistiy  was  a  source  <tf  the  most  abuudaut  g-races 
to  her  sou!. 

In  tlu'se  last  days  she  was  not  left  without  siniiiilar  con- 
snlatiuns.  She  said,  "It  seems  as  if  our  Lord  and  His 
Ifcsed  'NFotlu'r  stood  continually  hy  nu',  in  a  corjiorcal 
[iirni,  to  conifoi't,  cheer,  and  encoui'age  me  in  the  diU'ei'ent 
v.^niy  ;nid  tedious  hours  of  jiain."  JMore  than  ever  did 
;,l,,thi'r  Seton  now  appreciatii  the  grace  of  her  conversion. 
i!'in2'ask(Ml  l)y  h()v  dircH'tor  what  she  considei'cd  the  great- 
1.4  blessing  ever  bestowed  ui)on  In^r  by  (iod,  she  answered, 
"Tliat  of  being  l^ronght  into  the  Catholic  Clmrch."  And 
^vpaldiig  witli  holy  transport  of  the  liaji]>in(>ss  (,f  dying  in 
ti'.' aiiir^  of  this  temler  ^Mother,  she  added,  '•  Jlow  few  know 
til'  value  of  such  a  bhjssing  I  " 

Beiim'  about  to  receive  the  last  Sacraments.  sli<^  Ix-gged 
th'it  all  her  8])iritual  daught(M's  miglit  assemble  in  her  room, 
where  they  W(>re  addressed  in  lu>r  name  liy  the  IJev,  ]\h'. 
hii'inis  a>  i'ollows:  "Mofher  Set(jn  being  too  w(>al\,  charges 
;i:i'  to  ivcoinmen;-  to  you  at  tliis  sacred  nu)iii(Mit,  in  h<>i' 
i/uicc:  lii>l,  to  be  united  tou'etinu'  as  true  Sistt'rs  of  Cliaritv; 
■"'TOiidly,  to  stand  most  fathl'idly  by  your  liides;  thirdly, 
i:;;!t  I  aslv  i)nrdou  foe  all  the  scandals  she  may  have  given 
\>in.  that  is.  for  indirgvnces  prescribed  during  sickness  l)y 
!i;i'  el'  the  ]>hysicians."'  ]\r()ther  S'eton's  voice  added.  •'  [ 
;i:'i  thankful.  Sisters,  for  your  kindness  in  'oeiiiii'  ]U'est'iit  at 
I'lis  trial.  J3e  children  of  the  Church,  be  children  of  the 
rhnri'li." 

Wiii'ii  tlie  last  awful  moment  was  at  hand,  the  Sisters 
]i('ss('(l  ill  anguish  ai'ound  the  l)ed  of  their  cherished  ;ind 
NM'ntly  Aiother.  lie:-  only  daughter  was  fainting  l)eside  li<  r 
hum  intease  einolion:  but  on  Mother  Seton's  countenlince 
wa-i  no  sliadow  of  griid'.  or  ooulit.  or  disturbaticc  -  all  was 
pare  there.  She  rested  immovably  in  the  hands  of  (iod, 
!'"peatiiii:',  "  ]Vbiy  th(>  most  just,  the  most  high,  and  the 
most  holy  will  of  (fod  be  accoinitlished  forever  ! "' 

A  Si-<ter  whom  slie  requested  (o  re])oid  iii-r  l';i\oiiie 
prayer,  '"Soul  of  Jesus,  sanclify  me;  Blood  of  .lesus  ua'^li 


Ri        ' 


i     ( 


'li  ? 


I  i' 


!j 


■21 


MO  Tin:  II  ELI /.A  mm  I  axn  jsetox 


m\"  otc,  Ix'ina:  unnblo  tliro'a.ii'h  lun*  sobs  to  prorop;!.  t]j., 
dyia;:,'  huly  liiiisliod  it  iKTsi'li".  '".[08118.  Mary,  Josfi.';! :"' 
wero  liei"  last  words.  And  tlius  passed  away  from  liiis 
world,  ill  t'ailh  and  liope  and  lov(\  ]\Iorh(M'  l'ili>',;il)i.(li  ^^,,,j 
Seton.  on  the  4tli  of  .laiuiary,  18:31,  in  tiiu  i'"iiy-s<n-wuli 
year  of  licr  a.ii'o. 

Amidst  tilt'  tenrs  and  lamentations  of  the  wliolt^  ('ominii- 
niry.  hin-  rennins  were  carried  to  their  last  restin^^- -place  on 
till'  followiii';-  day.  A  cross  ;ind  a  rose-tree  were  plauiiMi  on 
her  grave,  and  from  innumerable  grateful  hearts  went  up  to 
lieaven  with  the  Adorable  Sacrilice  the  most  pure  and  fer- 
vent prayers  that  lier  sold  may  rest  in  peace.  Siiici'  that 
time  a  ni.ubie  monument  has  been  raised  over  her  iviuiiins, 
on  the  foui'  sidt's  of  which  are  inscribed:  '"To  llic  nicituiiv 
of  ]■].  A.  Seton,  Foundn^ss."'  "Precious  in  the  sight  of  tji,. 
L  )rd  is  the  death  of  His  saints."'  "The  just  shall  live  ui 
everlasting  remembrance^"'  "The  just  shall  shine  ;is  ihi) 
sun  in  the  kingdom  of  (heir  Father."'  And  on  the  wall  of 
lliu-  liumb'e  cliamber  in  which  she  l)r(\ith(';i  her  last  m;  ylie 
rial  the  following  inscription  :  "Here,  near  this  door,  hy 
this  lire-place,  on  a  jioor,  lowly  coiudi,  died  our  chcrislKMl 
and  saintly  ?d()ther  Seton,  on  the  4rh  of  January.  I^-.M.  JMio 
died  in  poverty,  but  rich  in  faith  and  good  works:  may  we, 
her  children,  walk  in  her  footsteps,  and  share  one  day  in  lici' 
hai)pin(-ss.     Amen."' 

But  lirilc  remains  to  ])e  said  of  the  cliaraider  of  ^fctli'^r 
S>'ton.  \\  \VA<  b,>st  expressed  by  lier  singular  and  sanctifyiii;,' 
inilneiice  ovei'  others.  Th(>  inipi'ession  she  produced  l>y  Inr 
look,  hci'  manner,  and  her  vv<irds.  was  extraoi'dinary :  and 
many  instances  are  recorded  which  ])rove  tlie  ellVct  In  have 
biv'u  as  lasting  as  it  was  powerful.  We  are  told  of  a  pMi- 
tlem'an  whose  two  danghtei-s  were  l)rought  n])  in  her  schiicl, 
but  who  froiu  his  early  (diildhood  had  neglec((Ml  all  ivlii;-- 
ions  duties.  The  (diildreii  had  naturally  followeil  his  ix- 
amjile;  but  were  not  long  inhabitants  of  8t.  Jose])li".s  Aal- 
lev,  before  tlieynot  only  learned  tluM'alue  of  religions  inivi- 
leges  themselves,  but  earnestly  desired  that  their  belovi'd 
father  might  share  the  same  blessings. 


X. 

to  procoeil,  llv-) 

[iiry,  .l()si.'i,;i'."' 

i\v;iy  frniu   ihis 

I'jlizabcth  Anu 

0  Inily-SL'Veiuli 

;  wllnlc;  Coir.mu- 

restin.^-plarc  on 
^v<•lv  plauti'il  iiu 
earts  went  up  to 
st  pure  ami  IVr- 
ace.  Since  tl;;it 
)V(>r  111'!'  I'ciuains, 
'•To  tilt'  lui-mory 

1  the  8i,Li'lit  <il'  till' 
just  shall  live  in 
liall  shine  as  iho 
id  on  the  wall  of 
I  lu'V  last  mi.yhe 
lear  this  door,  by 
ed  out'  <'h(nisliiHl 
luavy.  1^-21.    ^Mie 

works;  niaywi', 
areonedayiiili'T 

ivn(der  of  ^h>iH' 
u-aud  sa-ni'til'yinj; 
>  produced  ''V  lur 
ctraorilinary ;  aiul 
th(>  etVect  tolmve 
are  told  of  a  iS'-n- 
■  u])  in  her  srli-H'l, 
eo-lcct.Ml  all  niiu- 
:  followed  his  t'>:- 
St.  .Tos(^i)li's  V;il- 
,,f  reliu'ions  piivi- 
lliat  tUeir  beloved 


MOTHER  ELIZABETH  ANN  SETOX. 


!'■:.) 


Prpviuling  upon  liim  to  visit  Motlier  Seton,  tliey  liad  tlio 
pvat  consolation  of  rnuliiig  that  her  magical  inliiiencc^  won 
liis  heart  to  the  immediate  consitleration  of  his  soul's  salva- 
{hni.  lie  declared  that  lie  would  willingly  travel  mx  liun- 
th'ctl  miles  to  enjoy  a  view  of  Mother  Seton's  eyes,  even 
if  slie  did  not  open  her  lips  ;  and  returning  honi(\  he  in- 
stiuitly,  in  accordance  with  a  juonnse  he  had  made  her. 
prep'cii'ed  to  receive  the  Sacraments  of  the  Church,  and 
.some  tiMie>  after  died  a  happy  death. 

All  who  s:i\v  her  ackuijwdedged  the  same  chai'm.  ITer 
powei' of  language  was  remarkidily  fascinating;  and  wilha 
gifted  and  accomplished  mind,  and  singularly  relined  nian- 
luT,  she  was  lifted  to  adorn  any  circle.  Her  pui)ils  could 
scnirely  have  had  a  more  beautiful  model  before  them,  of  a 
laily.  a  niotluir,  or  a  Ciinstian..  CharitalHe  and  consider- 
ute  i'prall  ni'ound  her,  she  was  rigidly  stn-ere  with  herself. 
Iiuhess,  food,  and  observance  of  the  rides,  she  unsparingly 
luortilied  her  natural  hudination.  This  was  a  cross  she 
1 -it  ii  inipei'ative  to  hold  closely  to  her  heart;  for  it  was 
(h'U'U  a  severe  effort  to  bring  her  will  into  subnnssion  to  the 
directions  of  her  superiors,  and  she  was  tried  with  an  almost 
(v.nrimial  sense  of  dryness  in  her  Bpiritual  duties.  But  her 
ialili  liiamphed  over  all.  "In  the  hour  of  manifestation." 
hlicwrh.s  to  her  former  direcbu-,  "when  all  this  cross-work- 
in--  sIkiH  1)0  explained,  ■>  e  shall  iind  that  In  this  iteriod  of 
(iiU' jioor  life  we  are  most  rii)e  for  the  business  for  whlcli 
vre  were  sent.  AVhIle  the  i)loughers  go  over  u.- ,  I  hen  Avt;  are 
s.il'o.  2so  fears  oi  p.:easing  ourselves  ;  no  danger  of  mistak- 
inadJod's  will.  No  ;  ii  1  thought  that  by  investigation  and 
!iii  appeal  to  superior  authority,  I  should  b'  to-morrow  re- 
leased  from  this  (doud  of  darkness,  yet  1  woidd.  not  tals(^ 
one  ste[>.  And  you.  my  d<'ar  master  and  ca])tain  in  'he  wny 
el' tluMTOss,  you  kuow  th;!t  my  only  safe  way  il  speak  for 
silvation)  is  'to  remain  quite  still  wdtli  .Magdah'ii.  ^"ou 
v.vjl  know  that  Ue  who  works  my  fat.t>  has  no  need  of  any 
(itlKT  lu>Ip  fnmi  me  but  a  good  will  to  do  [lis  will,  and  an 
(■!itii'e  abandonment  to  Ills  good  providence,  l.et  them 
lilou-ii,  let  them  grind,  so  luuch  the  better— the  grain  will 


'f  1 


n 


M 


:li 


lit 


I?  f!i 


iil 


ariif 


726 


MOTHER  ELIZABETH  AXX  SETOX 


be  the  sooner  pi-epared  for  its  OMfner;  wliereas,  slioiild  \sUm 
forward  and  tal  e  my  own  canso  in  band,  tlie  Farht-r  of  fi,y 
Avidiiw  and  orplian  would  say  tliat  I  distrust  Jlim.  siuill 
we  iiiuke  sclhMucs  and  plans  oL"  iuiman  \\  iipiiicss,  \vlii(li 
must  l)e  so  uncertain  in  o1)taiiiiu-i'.  and  it  ubiiiiiRMi— trusj; 
death!  eternitj  I  Oil,  aiy  iatlu'r,  .saraaui  rurd'i ;  wekuow 
])clti'i-  tli.iii  to  l)e  clu'.itcd  bysiu'li  attractions.  Xo ;  \\>Mvill 
oH't'i'  tlie  liourly  sacriiice,  aud  drink  our  vxiv)  to  tlK  last  drop; 
an  I  w<\  wIk^ii  li'ast  expacting  it,  sliall  anter  into  our  rest "' 
She  had  the  highest  veneration  for  the  cliaracter  of  a  priest; 
aud  it  was  reinarked  by  a  saintly  preiate,  wliose  own  naiiM' 
is  honored  Ihroug'liout  the  Cliui-cii  in  AUKU'ica,  tliat  ii(((i:i. 
ever  iiupressed  liis  uiind  so  forcibly  as  M(jther  Setoa  di,i, 
Avirh  the  idi'a  of  what  a  ti'ue  priest  onglit  to  be. 

]Mu('h  ot  Mother  Si'toji's  tinu3  was  devorc^d  lo  wririnir; 
and  the  Rev.  Superua-  einph)yed  tier  aole  lun  in  prenariiii?" 
Iroiu  ihe  Fi'eucli  ascitic  literature,  iustructii)iis  and  in^dita- 
tious  for  her  ipiritasd  ciiihlren.  Correspond ?iu'e  wirh  the 
derLi'y,  laity,  and  the  parents  of  her  jaipils,  aho  orcupiid 
all  the  leisure  she  couul  spare  from  more  important  dutii's. 

'JMi(>  following  is  one  of  the  very  few  si^ecimens  of  hev  \m- 
etical  eniisious  that  yet  remain.  It  is  entitled  '-J  itisabm, 
my  h!ii)py  houi  •,'"  uu(t  hud  the  t^iited  and  cnintly  lady  leu 
no  olher  writing  of  this  description,  it  woidd  still  lie  siiffi- 
cieut  to  win  her  the  praise  of  considerable  merit  as  a  pout; 

Jfnisnlcm,  my  liMppy  home, 

How  do  I  sig'li  I'ur  iheo  ! 
"WliPii  s..iul  my  cxili'  Imvc  an  end, 

Thy  joys  when  shaU  I  see  ? 

"No  sun  or  moon  in  ]iorrnw(>(l  liirht, 
iicvolves  th.no  hours  away  ; 
Tlie  lamh  on  Calvary's  mountain  slaia 
Is  lliy  eternal  day. 

"From  every  eye  He  -wipes  the  tear; 

All  siirhs  and  sorrows  cease  ; 
Ko  Tuon;  ;i!ieriinte  liopo  aud  fear , 
But  evLrlasling  peace. 


neiit  a.^  :i  poet; 


MOTHER  ELIZABETH  AXX  SETOX 

"Tlio  tlioiidit  of  Tli('(!  to  lis  is  given, 
Our  soriows  to  bctiiiilc, 
T'  iinticipalc  the  bliss  of  Ilcavt'ii, 
In  liis  elcriiiil  siiiilc'  ' 


727 


I  The  wiirk  bcC'H'i  liy  ""'  illnstiioiis  JIoiIht  Si'luii  liiis  goiiu  uii  iiicrcabiii;,'  tooiirdwn  iliiy.  Tlio 
ciitiilili?liin''iit  ;it  E':iiiiitl.-biiri,'  i*  i>iir  of  tlu' iii)l)lf,-t.  iiuil  iiuisl  bcaiilil'iil  in  llif  I'liilccI  SlatL'S. 
jiouK'i'luiiJ-''''*.  lii'Mt'Vi'r,  Imvc  (Kciirri'd.  In  IsriO  ilic  iiinilicr  Ikmisc  ai  Kminill-'iiirr.  wilh  ull  it.s 
litamli  (.'fial>li>liiiK'iits,  asMiiiiiil  the  liabit  woiii  by  the  l-'rin<  h  fSisl(  i>  of  t'liaiily,  ami  Uic  iiu'ia- 
l„r>ivni'.viil  tbc'r  VdWK  accordiiv^  to  ihc  foinmin."  adciptc  d  in  lliu  f^ocicty  of  St.  Vinctiit  do  I'niil, 
Till'  Jvmi:iill'''"b'g  Co'iiiiumity  imsv  liinns  a  iU'Dviauc  of  thai  j,'rcat  Soiiiiy  ;  and,  al  |)ri-si>nl  i-oii- 
(im:l*  liK  'aii'.iscs,  1  academy.  ."0  kIiooIs,  3M  ai-ylinn^,  and  CO  lio.-piial.-.  Tlu-  .si.-tiTs  nnmbiT 
aiiiMil  l.'-'il't. 

Tlif  Ni'w  York  Si.-tcrs  of  C'h:irity  of  St.  Vincent  do  Piiul  foiin  a  scpaiatc,  iiii!'.|iindint  body, 
a'.id  III'"'  ivpiTscnt  tlic  Socirly  as  fi-iundrd  l)y  Mother  Scion.  Tlicy  direct  10  acaiiciiiics,  Ifcj 
v:!iiK)l.-i.  1-1  or|)'iiaii  asyhinis,  aiiil  -i  liospitals.  Standiu'j;  al  Uic  licail  of  their  in.-tilntions  of  educa- 
iiJii  i-  tlic  faaioiiH  academy  of  Jlomit  Saint  \'iiiceMt()n-llie-llnd^on.  Tlie  Sisters  mnnliur  tJtX) 
Btuwcit.— Sec  '•  J^opular  Uidory  of  Uin  (Jathoiiv  {Jhinvli  in  'M  UidtcU  HiMCd."  pp.  41)1-4. 


\ii 


s 


i 


il 


I  ,  -  !;. 


1 .  -jilb  tl 


I 


,  '  IPI! 


,   I  1 '  ■ ' 


<  1 


i  ! 


V  I  'f  I 


'    l 


IK 


n 


n 


m 


I  3? 


ft^  1  i ': 


■I; 


S^V^^^^^t/Ur-^^^KT 


CHARLES  CARROLL  OF  fARROLLTOX, 

"Tilli  LAST  OF  THE  SKLNLUS.'' 


CTIAPTEJl  I. 

A  OKKA'L'  man's  i:ai:i.y  yi:ai;'^. 

TlieCiin'oUfidniJtl — Jiirlh  and  tdiicd/ioii,  oj'  CIkdIis  Carr 
roll  of  ('ii rri)lllnii — llh  in'lirc  iiijposiHon  In  I'hiij/isk 
tili'(titii;l — M'/J'/'iOr,  —As'  (/  /)!),  iihi'r  (ti!ri)r(t/c  -His  /.-ciii, 
fori ^\  lit  III  rpfi'ird  to  the  Itfcolatlun—Jtipeal  <>/  the 
laws  (ifjaliHit  Catholics. 

Wlii^n  n  yoiitii,  Cliarlt'S  CmitoII  of  CiirrolUoii  cndf'nvored 
(otmce  his  ancestry  Ixick  to  tliat  n(il)le  Irisi>.  C.'anoll  "wiio 
w;i,s  chicL"  of  tilt  name,  and  was  defeated  at  llie  baltle  of 
KiiiH'k-ijee  by  CJerald.  Karl  of  Kildare.  in  tin'  yiir  L'lO. " 
Later  ill  life,  it  is  saiil,  ]u>  was  content  to  liei^in  at  Daniel 
I'ainill.  of  Littaniourna.  Kini/s  ci  iinty,  Ireland. 

His  grandfather,  (Jharh^s  (lavroll,  a  son  of  Daniel,  ranie 
to  America  in  KISi),  and  setth'il  at  Annapolis  in  .Mai'vland. 
HiMvns  nn  acconiplislu^'d  lawyer,  and  b(>c;ini(>  the  au'ent  of 
Lord  lialtiiMore  in  Jj80.  TI  \v;is  a  time  full  of  ixiliticnl  ;ind 
rfliLriinis  troubles.  Catholics  wer(^  criu'llv  iiei'secnteil,  and 
assiuiicd  to  hav(3  few  or  no  rights  which  the  Kniiiish  (iovern- 
mentwas  bound  to  r(>spect.  A\'(^  may  j'lstly  credit  C'harhvs 
Carroll  witli  personal  qualities  of  a  hiti'h  order,  sinc«.'  In?  held 
the  agency  for  the  absent  Pi'opi'ietai'y— a  Catholic  nob]ctn;in 


'  Chief  nutlinritio-!  used  •  Clarki-,  "  Mi'iiioir  of  Cliiirl('><  ( 'Hrnill  of  f 'arroiltoii ;  "  Lossiii".  "  f.ivo* 
f!tlu'Si,!;in'f<of  till'  Dorliirntion  of  Tmli'pcii'lcnoii  ;  "  I,o=siiiL',  "  I,ivc!<  of  Ci'lcliriitcd  Aracrirnn't : '' 
biriplie,  ''r.iD'miptiy  of  eii:irli->  Ciirrnll  of  Carrolltoii  ;■'  Mi'Slifrry,  "History  of  M  irylaU'l ;  •' 
''t ililjiUiM uf  AiiuiiMii  IlUtvry,  Vol.  U.;  '•Journal  of  Cliarlos  Carroll." 


::         ^4i 

.  ;    :'"*#! 

i 

i4 


III 


lli 


m 


■nmM 


7.:() 


CHAni.KS   VMinoTJ.  OF  CAimni  i.i\):^\ 


-for  o\('r  t '.lilt V  vciirs,  uith  hoiKstv,  liiriinc 


nil] 


fcail 


t'SSlll'SS. 


lailljr 


111  17.1)  !j  >:•  I  IVilliincii'o  granfril  to  tliis  Cliurlfs  V\\nu\\ 
lO,(i;)()  acivs  Di'  laa;l  in  Auik^  Afinidi!!  cauiily,  M:;iyl;iii<l,  tin 
patiir  iiiiinin,'^^  from  a  biaiicli  oC  tlic  Paii;x(iit  I'i 
'I'hoiiias  Ui'oua's  iilaiilatioii,  and  tliciiccto  laiidiuaiks whidi 

III!', 


Vl-T   to 


M-(tiild.  we  IVar,  ln'  I'oiiiid  ratluT  iiidcliiiiteat  tlic  ])i('seiit  i: 
l)('in,u:  "four  Itidiaii   cabhaiiis."'     'I'licsc  hroad  aci 
tiie  manor   liousi',  dcsccndcfl  through   jour  m-\ 


•'S   with 
it'iations  of 


only  sous,  t!ii^  tliirdof  whom  was  I  lie  I'aiuoiis  siiliicct  of  tl 


•;k('l('li,    Cliarlt'S   Carroll  of   ("ari'olli 


II.S 


on 


l-rilix   '•(' 


I'dllliin""   iiavin:;'  been  adoj^tcd  ]on<^^  Ik  fore  ihu  ivfVuUaiou 
a'roMi  a  tract  of  land  in  l-^'cdiirick  coimly. 

(Miarh's  Carroll  of  (Jarrollfon  was  bf)i'n  at  Anii!!]Ki]is, 
Maryland,  on  (he  i?;)lli  of  September,  17;}7.'  At  liiudatur.f 
llis  birth,  tlu;  Catholics  wel-e  severely  oppressed  by  tlnse 
olioiis  eiiaetnienis  kni/wn  as  penal  laws.  They  were  evcii 
i'ji'biddiMi  to  have  schools.  'J'he  .lesiiit  Fathers,  liewi'vcr, 
succeeded,  without  at  tiactlng  tlieattcMit  ion  of  theaiithnijtii.;, 
ill  (pii"ily  openin:^'  ;i.  ,e:raiiimar  school  at  l^olieiiiia,  on  tl;^ 
enstern  sli^iv  of  .Maryland.  Hero  "  the  Last(jf  the  Si^uni;r.s'' 
]eceived  the  (iisl  nidiiiu'iits  of  kiiowledue. 


AV 


len  a 


bout. 


veai's  of  auv,  Charles  was  sent,  wiih 


liislirsfc  cousin,  -lolui  (,'arroll.  afttM'wai'ds  Ai'chbi.shojMif  IJnl- 
tiniore.  to  the  Colleiro  of  the  I'^n,u-lish  Jesuits  at  St.  ()iiici.s, 
i'Vanco,  where  ho  pursued  the  study  of  the  classi(s  I'er  .six- 
years,     lie  then  spent  a  year  at  the  Colle^(Mif  the  Froiirh 


Jesuits.  iJlieinis. 


I  wo  A'ears  at  ilu^  Colh 


'■<-'  o 


f  1. 


ein.s 


ear  ill  \\w 


Grand,  i'aris.     At  JJoiU'U'es,  lie  passed  anothei'  y 

studv  of  civil  liv,.  and  in  "J  7.")7  proceeded  to  Loiidou  te  llio 

Inner  Temple,  and  (:'arn(^stly  jnii'siied  the  stmly  of  ceiimKiii 


law 
with 


ir 


about   seven  years.     An  accomplished  iSyw'A 


CIllMll, 


a  cultivated  and  mature  mind,  idiarles  Carroll  retiirind 


to  Maryland  in  17(!4.     I'lit,  in  the  very  land  of  his  birth,  1; 
l';)und  liimsel;:  almost  a  helot  on  account  of  his  faith. 
As  Lecanie  liim,  lie  was   most  earnest  aid  active  in  \\] 


' Kii/.ubi'tli  Uroukd  was  his  i:iutUcr'.<  maidou  name. 


,7V>.V. 

HOPS,  and  nniily 

Charli's  Ciirroll 
v,  M.;! yl.uii!,  th,,. 
ilnxi  i!i  liver  to 
laiidiuarkswhiih 
till'  ]-i'('sent  liiiic, 
I'oail  acres,  with 
ir  ,iiviiriaii(ins  i.f 
lis  subject  ol' this 
10  pi'cHx  "Cai. 
i  the  Ivfvolutiuu 

n  r.("  Aii!i:i]Milis, 
'  Al  lilt.'  (liit(.'(,i 
[)r(':;s('(l  by  tliise 
Tlicy  were  even 
'atiii'i's,  liowcvor, 
»!'  llicaiithoi-jtit's, 
I'nlu'iiiia.  on  tln) 
.r  of  till'  Si^^'iiers'' 

i?.s  was  sent,  wiili 
'clil)i>.liiili  (if  Tril- 
ls at  Si.  (.)iin'r.s, 
('  c]assi(  s  I'dV  !>ix 
<j:o  (tf  (lie  French 
llv'U'e  ()['   l.duis  ]■■ 
»t]ier  year  in  \\w 
to  Jidiidou  ti)  iho 
hidy  (iL  c(  mum  111 
slied   i.':e!lllelli!lli, 
Cari-(i:l  I'i'Inriii'd 
1  (.r  liis  lailh,h' 
i  Ills  faitli. 
ii:(l  acliv(>  in  :i]l 


CHARLES  CAltltOLL  OF  CMiU'lLI.TOX. 


Mil 


■nsiires  whieli  vvi're  tnl^en  in  (.ppnsitioii  to  tlio  onrvondi- 


;nt 


im^lits  n 


['Great  J'>riraiti.      W'riiin;;-  to  lii.s    i'riciKl  (Jra\<v;  i 


u 


.\[r.  Carroll  sav: 


Notliiiiij;  cJiii  overconio  the  av*;i'- 


V  laMl"  ilie  i)eo[)le  In  I  he  SlMUip  JU't,  and  t  heir  loveof  lil>erty, 
!i',t;iii  armed  Un''X.  'J'wenty  tlioiisaiid  nun  wouhl  lind  it, 
(iiilii'idt  to  eni'oi'i'(3  thohiw,  oi',  more  pi'o[),';'ly  spealdni;',  lai.i 
ii  ihr.vii  our  throats." 

.\i  .\iiiiai)olis  it  was  Cliarh's  ('arroll  wlio  b.ddly  ^'ave  lli<3 
;.;vl''c  to  tlie  treniblini;-  Stewart  to  burn  liis  Ncs.sel,  wiih  ii^ 
,iiL;ee|'  obnoxious  tt'ii ;  rind  tlu^  bri.u;  was  lowed  into  thy 
:,irl)(ir,  and,  in  broad  day,  burned  to  thiMvaler's  odire,  amid 
t; '  iipplaudiui?  shouts  of  tlie  s[)eetators  I 

In  IT'S,  Mr.  Carroll  married  ]Miss  ^farv   I)ariiall,  dau'ili- 


•r  "f  i 


b'lirv  Dartiall,  a  l\insinaii  of  Lord  Hallimon 


lU) 


voun.ii,"  i)Ooplo  liad  been  enii'aued  for  many  years  before. 
Th->  \ve(ldiii<j:-dress  had  b(>eti  or(U'ri'd  from  Loiuhtn,  l)ut  bo- 
f;ii(>  the  ceremony  tlie  Jady  died.  The  wcddi undress  thus 
■.■lUnver  raore  than  a  contnry  af;'o,  was  worn  in  I87(i.  at  0:10 
of  t!ii^  ^[  irtlia  Washini'tou  ]>artios,  then  ,so  popuiar— thu 
falii'icalniMsf  iintarnishecl  by  time. 

Two  yeai's  later  wo  lind  him  engaged  in  one  of  the  most 
iMfi'l  p  ilitical  contests  of  that  day.  I'ndei-  the  signature  of 
:!:"  "•  I'irst  CHtizon,"  '  ho  boldly  u[iliehl  the  I'ights  of  tlio 
[I'dple  in  opposition  to  theai'biti'ary  ai.'tionof  Covcruur  'ulen, 
( f  Mai'yland.  One  of  the  ablest  and  most  fiery  lawyers  \a 
till' rrovinco  b(>came  his  antagcmist.  The  result  was  an  ex- 
•  iiini;' newspaper  controversy,  Unnstuil  learning  and  ability 
■v'!i' displayed  on  botli  sides.  ButCaiToll,  liy  his  (dose  logic, 
his  keen,  bold,  and  fearless  views,  gained  a  triumi)hant  vic- 
;  'IT  for  the  popular  cause.  From  all  (juarters  lu;  received 
rinuratulations.  His  fidhnv-cili/.ens  of  Annapoli.s  turned 
■  'ir  ill  a  body  to  thank  liim.     ]>ut  if  his  opjionents  wero 


•The  ri'ason  nf  Mr.  Cairoirs  iijiFinniiiir  tlie  nnm  de  iiliiwe  of    '■  l'"ii>t  e!ii.:('M ''  wi-  lliif<: 

'."iMi:;  I'.K'  or.rli'~t    wrllcr-  who  pulilicly  difciisircd    llu'  i|iifKt;mi  .".t  i.-Mlc  bctworii    tlui  (iov- 

Miruiifl  Uif  pcoiil!!  ■.va.i  diic  who,  lakiiii.'  tlw  (Jovcrnoi-'s  side,  i)ii!>ll-lir(l  ii  diiilo^iu^  lictvc  'ii  'v.- » 

r^ii!b-,  HlyU'dtlio  "  First  Citlzi'ii,"  mid  l!u>  '-Second  eilizi'ii."  Tlio  "Sofniid  rili/cii"  rc'iiri'>'i.M''.  1 

■  lnvirnnr's  sido.  aiid,  of  coiir-r,  "  Firsl  Citizen"  w:is  liadly  tieaten-  cm  pnper.     Hut  wlioii  Mr. 

.::ii!I  tiidk  up  the  people's  ciinse,  and  ii-i^mned  the  leinie  of  Mie  vnnipd-luii.  lio  foo'i  ti:nie-l  iie 

•  ■  f  vict.iry.    lUs  iihle  opponent  wn.s  Uiaiid  Diiluiiy,  Esi].,  who  wrote  under  tliO  signut^iro  of 


% 


732 


CHARLES  CAllROLL  OF  CAUUOLLTiJX. 


unable  to  mret  liis  reasons,  they  coultl  clKiij.ly  insult  liim 
"  rni)ist,"  "Romanist,"  "Jesuit,"  and  ot  lier  equally  rt'll]ie(i 
epitliets  were  freely  thrown  at  the  advooale  of  the 'people's 
lights.  Catholieity  was  yet  in  confemiit.  Hi'nce,  r.(iil;,.f 
the  jiosition,  wealth,  nor  Kuperi<jr  edueath.n  of  C'luiilcs 
(JaiToil  of  CarroliUui  could  save  him  I'roni  the  vocalmlaiv  c;' 
religifius  fanatici8n:--a  voeabulary  as  old  as  Luther,  anil  a. 
vile  as  the  lowest  of  his  followers. 

The  happy  result  of  this  eoiiti'oversy  raised  ]\rr.  Cniii!!! 
in  the  (>yes  of  his  eounh-ynien.  He  had  gained  an  enviiiliic 
reputation  as  a  man  of  mueh  learning,  sound  ])rineii»l('s.  jil) 
ei-al  views,  and  fearless  integilty.  In  1773-4-;")  he  perfdiniril 
an  active  and  prominent  part  in  the  measures  of  ()[)p(i.sii;i.i; 
and  resistance  on  the  part  of  Maryland  to  the  aggressive  culo- 
nial  policy  of  i'higland  during  those  y^ars. 

A  Catholic  by  conviction  as  well  as  by  education,  Mr. 
Carndl,  in  romm(»a  with  the  Catholic  body  of  the  .ouiui y, 
had  been  taught  to  nn-ere  the  great  jirinciides  of  lihert}. 
They  were  familiar  v>itli  the  fact  that  Cai'dir.al  Langton  ami 
th(!  Catholic  Barons  had  forced  the  tyrant  John  to  recoi;-- 
nize  and  allirm  tiie  M'tnivi.  L'lturla.  They  liail  beiMi  taimlit 
to  respect  the  act  of  the  Sovereign  Pontilf,  Pope  Zachary, 
in  denouncing  the;  tyranny  of  (n.V'ifioii  wilJioiit  rej)r< sc/iht- 
f.ioii,  centuries  before  the  Declaration  of  Indei)endent'e  was 
penned.  They  cherisliod  the  sam(^  gr(>at  principle,  bccauso 
it  was  promulgated  in  tiial  glorious chai'ter  which  tlieCatii 
olic  Peer,  Lord  I'altimore,  had  prepared  for  the  infant  oni- 
ony of  Maryland.  The  estahlished  recognition  of  the  givat 
principles  of  the  American  Eevolution  by  the  highest  Catli- 
olic  authorities  for  ages  will  account  for  the  historical  faor, 
l.hat  the  Catholic  body  of  the  country  in  177G  rtrc/r ///'// and 
■)/  /.lanim  on  si//  i^i^]Mmse(i  the  cause  of  freedom  and  po]i!ilar 
rights.  Tn  the  day  of  trial,  the  Catholic  Faith  proved  tip' 
grandeur  of  its  principles,  ft  produced  no  Tories— no 
traitors — no  opjnv.ssors  of  the  J  country  ! 

From  the  V(M\v  beginning  "SU:  C'arrrdl  grasped  the  jirinci- 
pies  involved  in  tiie  contest,  and  advocated  coniplcie  liuh'- 
pondence.     AVe  are  told  that,  as  early  as  1771,  when  ceii- 


CUAULES  LMIROLL  OF  VARHOLLTOX 


733 


r.r<in,!r.  on  one  occnsinn,  with  ■^^r.  Chase, the  latter renuirked: 
■  Carroll,  we  have  tlie  better  ol'  our  opponents — we  liave 
r  ,;iitiletely  written  them  do-.vn.*'  "  Do  you  thinlc,''  returned 
;.[i'.  Ciirt'o!],  "'that  writing  will  settle  the  qu(\stion  hetweeu 
.,^;"  "'Polif^  sure."  I'eplied  the  other.  "  What  else  can  wo 
:  .-(lit  to  V  Th-  bayoiu't,"'  was  th(»  answer ;  "our  arguments 
v.jll  only  raise  tlie  I'eeiings  of  tlie  peojtleto  that  pitch,  \\lien 
(inen  war  Avill  be  looked  upon  as  the  arbit(;r  of  dispute."' 

Of  tlie  Kevolutionary  War,  his  brave  words  written  in  177;} 
pMr.  (irav<^s  wiM'e  ti'ii'y  prophetic,  and  showed  with  whafc 
lini'  I'ltriM-ast  he  judge  1  the  American  people.  "The  Bi'itisU 
;i'(iop>.  if  s(>nt  here,''  he  wrote,  "  will  be  masters  but  of  the 
■iM^  oil  which  th(\v  (nicamn.  They  will  lind  naught  but 
lU'iiiic-!  before  and  l)ehind  them.  If  we  are  beaten  in 
''ii'phiins.  we  will  ndire  to  our  mountains  and  defy  iIkmu. 
Xicessity  will  force  ns  to  exertion,  until  tired  of  cfunbating  in 
vain  against  a  s})irit  whicli  victory  after  victory  cannot  sub- 

iic,  ynur  armies  will  evacaiate  our  soil,  and  your  country  rc- 
iivaii  iinnK.'Use  l<»ser  from  the  contest." 

Mr.  Carfoll  took  an  active  partin  therepeal  of  the  odious 
ii'.v.s  against  Catholics.  Those  enactments  still  disgraced 
:!ii>  statute-book.  In  177."ii  he  was  apjiointed  a  member  of 
■:ii>  Maryland  ^''  Cmnmiffrc  to  prepare  a  dcchirnHo'i,  of 
,iilhf:^  awl  form  of  <,':)ririiin'mtfor  this  Sltatf.''^  The  resnlti 
"a;  that  tiie  great  i^rinciple  of  civil  and  r<'ligi(ius  lilierty, 
'-rililislie  I  l)y  L  )rd  IViltimore,  vraa  again  restored  '•intlie 
Laiul  of  the  Sanctuary." 


■i=  ^iii 


\.h>..!L 


CHAPTER  II. 


THE  VISIT  TO  CANADA. 


I 


Congress  appoints  three  comniissioncrs  to  visit  Canada- 
Instructions— The  conimissioncrs  leave  Keio  York  on 
their  'icaij  to  (Uinada — Exlraet^  from  (JarrotV s  ''■  Jour- 
nal''''—  Up  the  Hudson — At  Alhani/ —  Visifinr/  thQ  Falls 
on  the  Mohawk — Moore's  "  Li/ies^'—A t  Montreal — Kr- 
amiiiing  the  condition  of  aJI'uirs — 0/t,  the  wa//  home— 
Failure  of  the  mission. 

In  accordance  willi  a  resolution  of  Con,c:re.ss,  e:nly  in 
177G,  Benjainhi  Franklin,  Samuel  Chase,  and  Charles  Car- 
roll of  Cai'rollton  were  duly  conrniissioiKHl  to  repiiir  to  (.'aii- 
ada  in  order  ''to  promote  or  to  form  a  union  Ix-tween  the 
Colonies  and  the  people  of  Canada."  These  gentlemen  re- 
ceived their  ample  instructions  on  the  20th  of  ]\Iar(li,  ;nid 
were  accompanied  by  the  Rev.  John  Carroll,  iifterwnrds 
iirst  Bishop  and  An-hbishop  of  ]3altimoi'e. 

Among  other  things  the  connnissioners  were  told  to  rep- 
resent to  the  Canadians  that  tlie  arms  of  the  United  Colo- 
nies had  beeji  carried  into  that  ])rovince  for  the  i)Ui'i)()se  of 
frustrating  the  designs  of  the  English  Government  jigainst 
our  common  liberties  ;  and  that  we  expected  not  only  to 
defeat  the  hostile  machinations  of  (Jovernor  Carleton 
against  us,  but  tliat  we  should  ])Ut  it  in  the  power  of  our 
Canadian  brethren  to  jMirsne  such  measures  for  securing 
their  own  freiMlom  and  hap])iness  as  a  generous  hjve  of  lib- 
erty and  S(jund  ]ioli('y  should  dictate  to  them. 

They  were  directed  to  (.leclare  that  we  lield  sacred  tlio 
rights  of  conscience  ;  and  should  piomise  to  the  whole  peo- 
ple of  Canada,  solemnly,  in  tlu;  n;uii(>  of  Congress,  the  freo 
and  undisturbed  exercise  of  their  religion  ;  and  to  thedcigy 
734 


^  Canada— 


CHARLES  CARROLL  OF  CARROLLTOX. 


735 


the  full,  perfoict,  and  peaceable  possession  and  enjoymcnc  of 
all  rlieir  estates. 

Tiiey  were  also  desired  to  press  for  a  convention  of  tlio 
people  wiiich  would  hrini^'  about  a  union  with  the  AiutMi- 
can  colonies.  The  terms  of  the  tinion  should  be  similar  to 
those  of  the  other  colouies;  and,  if  our  ti-i'ms  were  acceded 
to,  they  were  to  X)romise  our  defense  of  the  Canadians 
ag'ainst  uU  enemies. 

Aruiv'd  with  their  com.uiission  and  instnictious  the  famous 
travel(>rs  left  New  York  City  on  the  '2{\  of  April,  but  were 
nearly  a  month  in  reaching  Montreal. 

Tile  following  brief  extracts  from  the  "Journal  of  Charles 
Carroll  of  Carrullton  during  his  visit  to  Caiuuhi  in  1770,  as 
ou(^  of  tlie  Couunissiont'rs  from  Congress,"  a  woi'k  now  out 
t)f  i)rint,  and  very  hard  to  lind,  may  be  of  interest  to  the 
reader  at  this  point: 

^'-2(1  April,  1770.  Ix^ft  New  York  at  5  o'clock  p.  :\r.; 
sailed  up  North  river,  or  Hudson's,  that  aflernoon  about 
tliirteen  milfs.  About  one  o'clo(,'l<.  in  the  night  were 
awaked  by  the  firing  of  cauiu)u;  heard  three  great  gunsdis- 
liadly  from  ihe  J.svV/,'  .scxm  saw  a  great  lii'c  wliich  \ve  pre- 
su!u;'d  to  be  a  house  on  ]}edloe's  Island,  set  on  lii'e  by  a 
detachment  of  our  troo])s.  Intelligence  had  ])i'eu  I'eceived 
that  the  (Mieniy  were  throwing  up  iufreuclinumts  on  that 
island,  and  it  had  been  determined  by  our  generals  to  drives 
them  olf.  Dr.  Franklin  went  upon  diM']<.  and  saw  waving 
Hashes  of  light  appearing  smldenly  and  disa.i)]H'aring.  which 
he  conjectured  to  be  the  lire  of  niusipu'try,  althougli  ho 
could  not  hear  tlie  repoit. 

'"1th.  WcigluMl  anciior  this  morning  about  six  o  .'loclc. 
Wind  fail-;  having  passcnl  over  the  overslaw.  hail  a  distinct 
view  of  Albany,  distant  about  two  miles,  lianded  at  Al- 
bany at  half-i)ast  seven  o'clock;  received  at  landing  by 
(Ichcriil  i<!-!i u ;/hi\'  who,  nnderstanding  we  wei'e  coming  up, 
came  fi'om  his  house,  about  a  mile  out  of  town,  to  receive 
U-i  and  invite  us  to  dine  with  him;  he  liehavedwith  gi'eat 


•  fl-icnl   I'lillip  Srliiiylcr  wiih  one  of  llio  moi-t  dlstiiigulsUud  soldie  8  of  tUo  Uovolutlon.    II* 

haa  Ijoru  iit  Allxiiiy  i"  1~H,  and  diud  in  IHU. 


I  I 


730 


CIIAHLES  CAIUIOLL  OF  CAliliOLLTOX 


,!■  3 


ri'liF 


civility;  lives  in  pretty  style,  has  two  (lan,ii:liters  (Betsy 
iiud  Pt'g'gy),  lively,  ng-reeiible,  black-eyed  g'ii'ls.  Albjiny 
is  situated  partly  on  a  level,  and  partly  <jn  the  ^\o\)e  of  a 
hill,  or  rising- ground,  on  the  west  sid(M)i'  x\w  liver.  Ves- 
sels drawing  eight  and  nine  feet  water  may  come  to  All)any, 
and  live  miles  even  beyond  it,  at  this  season  of  the  year, 
when  the  waters  are  out.  The  fort  is  in  a  ruinous  condi- 
tion, and  not  a  single  gun  mounted  on  it.  Thei'e  are  more 
houses  in  this  town  tiianin  Annapolis, 'and  I  believe  it  to  be 
mucli  more  populous.  Tlie  citizens  cliielly  s])eak  Dutch, 
being  mostly  the  do.jcendants  c :  Dutchmen  ;  but  the  English 
langtmge  and  numner:  a'.v  '(ettinr;  ground  ai):ice. 

•  O/Zt.  Left  Albany  early  this  inorning,  and  ti-aveled  in  a 
wngon  in  company  with  Mrs.  Schuyler,  her  two  daughters, 
ami  (fenerals  Schuyler  and  Thomas.  At  six  nules  fj'om  Al- 
bany I  quitted  the  wagon,  and  got  on  horseback  to  accom- 
pany the  Generals  to  view  the  falls  on  the  ^Mohawk  river, 
called  the  Cohooes.  The  perpendicular  f:dl  is  seventy-four 
feet,  and  the  breadth  of  the  river  at  this  place,  as  measured 
by  General  Schuyler,  is  one  thousand  feet.  The  fall  is  cf)n- 
sidt-rably  above  one  hundred  feet,  taken  from  tlu^  iirst  rip- 
ple or  still  water  above  tlie  perpendicular  fall.  The  river 
was  swollen  with  the  melting  snows  and  rains,  and  rolled 
over  the  frightful  precipice  an  impetuous  torrent.  The 
foam,  the  irreguhirities  in  the  fall,  brt)ken  by  projecting 
rocks,  and  the  deafening  nois(>,  i)resented  a  sublinu^  but  terri- 
fying spectacle.  At  lifty  yai'ds  from  the  place  the  water 
dropix'd  from  the  trees,  as  it  does  from  a  i)lentiful  shower, 
they  being  as  wet  with  tln^  ascending  vapor  as  they  com- 
monly are  after  a  smart  rain  of  souk^  continuance." 

The  great  ])oet  Aioore  also  visited  these  falls,  and  used 
Ills  charmed  i)en  to  immortalize  the  scen(\  Tlu^  following 
are  his  "Lines written  at  the  Cohos,  or  Falls  of  the  Mohawk 


river 


From  rise  of  morn  till  n't  of  siin 
I've  seen  tlii^  mi   lity  M')ln\vk  run  ; 
And  as  1  inarlv'd  tlii'  woods  i  f  iiine 


»  The  capital  of  Maryland. 


CIIAULES  ('AIUIOIJ.  01   CAUHOLLTON. 


737 


Along  his  mirror  (l;irkly  sliino, 

Like  tall  and  !;!<pf)niy  I'lirnis  that  pass 

Before  tin;  wizard's  midnight  glass  ; 

Ami  as  I  viuw'd  the  hiUTyiiig  pace 

"With  which  lie  ran  lii-^  tiiihid  race, 

Rushing  alilic.  untii'M  .'iinl  wild, 

Through  sliadcstliat  i'rown'd  and  flowers  that  smil'd, 

Flying  by  every  green  recess 

That  woo'd  him  t,n  its  calm  caress, 

Yet,  sonu^limes  turnii;g  w  ilh  the  wind, 

As  if  to  leave  one  look  hehiiid, — 

Oft  have  I  thought,  and  thinking  sigb'd. 

How  like  to  thee,  thou  restless  tide, 

May  be  the  lot,  the  lii'c  nf  him 

"Who  roams. along  the  water's  brim  ; 

Through  what  allcrnale  wiisles  of  woe 

And  llowers  of  joy  my  path  may  go  ; 

How  many  a  s!i(']irr'<l  calm  retreat 

]May  woo  the  while  my  weary  feet, 

AVhilcslill  |)iii->uinL:,  slill  uiiblest, 

I  wander  on,  nor  dare  to  rest  ; 

IJdt  urgent  as  the  doom  that  calls 

Thy  water  to  its  destind  falls, 

I  feel  I  lie  w(/rld's  l)ewildering  force 

Hurry  my  heart's  devoled  course, 

From  lapse  lo  lap-.',  till  life  he  done, 

And  thes[)eMt  curreni  cease  to  ruu. 

One  only  prayei'  I  dare  to  make, 
As  (jnward  thus  my  course  I  take  ; — 
O  1  be  my  fulls  as  bright  as  thine, 
]\Iay  Heaven's  relenting  rainbow  shine 
Upon  the  mist  that  crclrs  me, 
As  soft  as  now  it  hanus  o'er  thee  !' 


liHf 


y^\ 


"^17l  0  .  .  From  L;i  Prairie  A'ou  po  slnnliiio-flov/n  tlie 
■river  to  Montrf^til;  this  p!issn,iz;o  is  coinptitt'd.  six  miles, 
(liou<^li  the  river,  in  a  direct  line  across  from  the  eastern 
ishoro  to  the  town,  is  not  more  tiian  tiiree  miles.     Siiips  of 


1  TlUTc  i-<  a  ilrriiry  mid  F;ivrt;;o  cliMniotor  In  lli<'  coiaitry  iiiiinc'ili,ircly  tliout  llic-c  K.illt.  wliirli 
is  miu'ii  iMon"  in  liarniony  xvitli  the  wiMiics-:  of  siicli  a  scene  tli.m  (lio  fiiltiviiird  ijinils  in  tlie 
lu'i:^lili(iriioc)il  of  \i;ii.'ara.  Si'c  tin'  drawinu'  of  llicni  in  Mr.  Weld's  liook.  A'Tonlint;  ro  liim,  iliB 
piTprndli-aliir  lu-l:.'lit  of  tliu  Tolios  l''all  is  fifty  ft'ct ;  but  the  .M:ir(iuis  do  C'liiftrllux  makes  it 
»ovcnt;.--six. 

'Plu'  fine  rmnlinw,  which  i<  contiihiiilly  r()naiii<r  nnd  di-Jolvinj,  ;i«  t'l''  s)ir;iv  ri'^v's  bit')  the 
i'hl  of  till!  Bun,  is  perhaps  thu  moat  Uiteroatiu;;  boiuUy  which  thosf  uondirfi'  ViUiiracts  oxhit)it, 
—Moore'n  note. 


icV 


733 


CHARLPJS  CAlinOLL  OF  CAIUIOLLTOK 


'J  \ 


'':% 


tlirtM^  liuiidred  tons  ciin  cninc  up  to  ^rontri^iil;  but  tlioy  rnn 
not  i^'efc  up  above  tli<^  town,  or  even  ulu'oiist  (A  it.'  'J'ln  rivci 
where  we  crosseil  is  filled  with  roL'ks  and  shoals,  which  occa- 
Bion  a  very  rapid  (  iiri'(  lit  in  several  places.  "NVe  were  re- 
ceived by  (lenenil  Arnold,  on  )ur  lan<lin,<i\  in  the  most  po- 
lite and  friendly  manner;  condm  ted  to  headcpiarters,  where 
ageijteel  company  of  Jadies  and  g  Mitlemenhad  assembled  to 
welcome  our  arrival.  As  w;  went  from  tlie  landing-place  to 
the  (Jenerarn  house,  the  cannon  of  the  citadel  Ihed  in  coni- 
plinumt  to  us  as  the  '' )iuinissioners  of  Conp-ess.  AVo 
SUTii  1  at  the  Cfaaerai's,  and  after  supjier  were  conducted  by 
tl  ■;)  al  and  other  J^^'entlemen  to  our  lodgings — the  luaiso 
or  -ui'.  1  ;r  mas  \,  nlker — the  best  built,  and  perhai>s  the 
best  ruriii.diL'd  m  this  town. 

"!;.'•  (^L  .,  .  I  w(mt  *^o  St.  Jonu's  to  exnmin(>  into  the 
state  ci  t.'»i  gai'ison,  ami  oi  the  bntteaux.  There  I  met 
with  .  .eaeral '1  lioMipson  and  (!oh)nel  Sinclair,  Avith  part  oi 
Thompson's  brigade.  That  evening  I  went  willi  them  ^<}\\\\. 
the  Son!   to  Chumbhiy. 

'•2b* .  (J/,7V)-  This  day  )\v.  Cli.ise  set  oil'  with  me  for  the 
mouiu  of  fc.\e  Sorel  ,  wo  einixirked  from  ;\Iontreal  in  one  of 
our  oatteaux:,  and  went  n  it;  as  far  as  tne  point  of  land  (jii 
th,  north  shore  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  opposite  to  the  n(ijth- 
ei'n  extremity  of  the  Island  of  Mttntr^al  ;  here,  the  wind 
being  against  us,  we  took  jxtst  and  traveled  on  the  north 
side  of  the  St.  Lawrence  as  low  down  as  La  iNoi'e,  where  we 
got  into  a  canoe,  and  were  [)addlcd  down  aiuLn'ross  the  St. 
Lawrence  to  our  camp  at  the  moulh  of  lh(>  Sorel.  It  was  a 
perfect  calm.  The  distance  is  coinputea  ..t  nine  miles.  The 
country  on  each  side  of  the  St.  Lawrence  is  level,  rich,  and 
thickly  seated;  indeed,  so  thickly  sealed  that  the  houses 
form  almost  one  continual  row.  \\\  going  from  La  Xore  to 
the  mouth  of  tiie  Sorel,  we  passed  by  I5rown*s  battery  (  as  it 
is  called),  although  it  never  had  a  cannon  mounted  on  it. 


!  Thcri'  lui'*  lioi'ii  i|  ill'  n  clKUiLrc  since  l!u'  nlicivr  \v:is  wrilfi'n.  .iloiilri'nl  i"  now  llic  In'inl  nf  ^liip 
miviiralion  on  tlir  S(.  .'^awriMui!;  nnd  oci'-in  sU'Sni;  r.-i  not  only  of  "Ihico  hiinilroil  tonu"  lii.l  of 
thri'c  l!lou^•an^l  tono  lie  alonysidu  itt?  splendid  Kionu  whurrcs. 

"  Tlie  liiehclieii  rlvci 


ciiaiu.es  cMiiinLi  OF  cahuollton: 


ifi.  i 


To  this  l)atlei'y  wUliout  a  cannon,  and  to  a  s*n,Q;le  ,<jon- 
doUi,  ten  or  twelve  vessels,  under  the  eoinniiind  of  t'olonel 
Presco_tt,  snrrendered.  Major  Brown,  when  ihe  vessels 
came  near  to  his  battery,  sent  an  oflieer  on  boanl,  requesting 
Prescott  to  send  anoclier  on  shore  to  view  his  works.  Itisdif- 
fieult  to  determine  which  was  the  <;-reatest,  the  impudence 
of  ]3i<)wn  in  deinandin.i;'  a  surrendtM',  or  ihe  cowardice  (if 
the  ollicer,  who,  guin";  back  to  Pj'e.scott,  represented  the  dif- 
ficulty of  passing  tlie  battery  as  so  great  and  hazardous  that 
Prescott  and  all  his  ofli  lers  chose  to  capitulate.  Prown  re- 
quested the  officer  wlio  went  on  shore  to  wait  a  little  until 
lie  saw  the  two  thirty-two  pounders,  which  wcro' within  half 
a  mile,  coining  from  Cliamblay  ;  says  he:  "if  yen  shmild 
chance  to  escape  tins  batt<'ry,  ■\\hicli  is  my  small  battery, 
I  have  a  grand  battery  at  the  mouth  of  theSorel,  which  will 
infallibly  sink  all  your  vessels."  His  grand  battel  y  Avas  as 
badly  provided  with  cannon  as  his  little l;attery,  fornot  a 
single  gun  was  mounted  in  either.  This  Prescott  treated  our 
prisoner;;  with  great  insolence  and  brutiility.  His  behavior 
justijles  the  old  observation,  tliat  ((-wauls  aie  g(iiera]ly 
cruel.  AVe  found  the  discipline  of  our  camj)  very  remiss, 
and  ever.ytliing  in  confusion.  General  Tiiomas  had  but 
hdely  resigned  the  command  to  ThDUipson.  by  whose  activ- 
ity tliiugs  were  soon  put  on  a  better  footing. 

"20/7/  Ofay).  AVe  left  Montreal  thisday  at  three  o'clock, 
to  go  to  Chainbhiy,  to  be  present  at  a  council  of  war  of  I  Ik* 
general  and  lield-ollicars,  for  concerting  the  operations  of  tlie 
campaign. 

" ;}0//M'.l/ '//V  The  coMneil  of  war  v,-as  held  this  day, 
and  determined  to  maintain  ])ossessiou  of  Ihe  country  I'l'- 
tween  the  St.  Lawnuici-  and  SonO,  if  possible  ;  in  the  mean- 
time to  dispose  matters  so  as  to  make  an  orderly  retreat 
out  of  Canada. 

''June  1st.  Crossed  over  this  morning  to  St.  John's,  where 
General  Sullivan,  with  fourteen  hundred  nnui,  had  arrived 
in  the  night  of  the  Hist  past;  saw  them  all  umler  arms. 
It  began  to  rain  at  nine  o'clock,  and  continncl  raining 
very  hard  until  late  in  the  evening  ;  slept  at  Donaho'.^. 


■J.  fiili 

iiiiiifii 


U^ 


\:.\i 


.1    Ki' 


?r''ii 


[     t 


fi   I 


..'IBiffTOWT'"- 


; ) 


!, 


H  IV 


740 


CHARLES  CAIUiOLL  OF  CAUROLLTON. 


";VZ.  .  .  .  Got  to  Crown  Point  (X.Y.)  at  Inilf-pnst  si\ 
o'clock  I',  .^r.  Set  off  iit  ei,i;lit,  I'owcd  nil  iii[j,-ht,  and  an  ivcl 
at  one  o'clnck  in  the  nii;'lit  at  Ticoiideroi^a,  where  wc  i'oiiud 
General  Scliuylcu'. 

"  0//^  Parted  with  (JeiuM'al  Scluiyler  this  rnorninii:  ;  ho 
retnriKMlto  Fort  George,  on  Lake  George.  W'eiode  to  8aia- 
toga,  wlun'e  we  got  by  seven  o'clock,  bnt  did  not  lind  tli*; 
amiable  i'amily  at  home.  \\\\  were  constrained  lo  rciiKJn 
her.'  all  thio  day,  waiting  the  arrival  of  onr  servants  and 
ba  ggag(S 

"IJ/A.  Ariived  at  Kew  York  at  one  o'clock  p.  m. 
A\  aited  on  General  Washington  at  Motier's;  saw  Generala 
Gates  and  Pntnarn.  and  my  old  acqnaintunce  and  friend. 
Ml-.  Moylan." 

It  is  liardly  nt^ccssary  to  add  that  the  visit  of  Charh^s 
Carroll  of  Carroll  ton  and  his  fellow  commissioners  to  Can- 
ada failed  in  its  object  ;  but  the  failure  was  not  owing  to 
the  want  of  zeal,  :  'nlity,  or  any  other  qiuilitlcatiou  on  tke 
part  of  the  envoys. 


1 1 


CnVPTEPt  III. 

GLANCES   AT   AN   II.Ll  STIIIOUS   CAREER. 

Pcdriotio  labors  in  Mdri/land—Slgnhu/  ih<'  immortal  Dec- 
laralio)i--(rfimps(is  of  Mr.  C  irroJV s  piilMc  life — His 
('h<ir(t(ier  as  a  public  vimi—As  a  Catholic — '*  The  year 
of  J II  hi  lee"' — lleceioifKj  the  united  ]ioma(je  of  the  conn- 
tnj—IIis  death — A  picture  of  the  closing  scene — His 
fawritc  books — His  opinion  of  religion. 

Tlavin.t;  i-etiirned  home,  Mr.  Carroll  used  1  ho  whole  weight 
of  his  infliienne  to  induce  Maryland  to  join  the  other  colo- 
nics in  dfM'Iavinu;  for  coiuplcte  independence,  lie  was  en- 
tirely SUi-Ct'Ssflll. 

Til  17715  h'-  had  the  honor  of  beiiiii,^  chosen  to  r  present  his 
native  State  in  the  Continental  Congress.  As  he  -wrote 
('//fries  Carroll,  in  a  clear,  hold  hand,  at  the  foot  of  the 
document  containing  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  a 
colleague  remarked :  "There  go  millions/''"  '  Xo."  replied 
au:)thcn%  "tiierearo  st^viu'al  Charles  Carrolls,  and  he  cnn- 
not  beidentifii^l."  ^[r.  Carroll,  on  hearing  this,  immediately 
added  to  liis  si-i'aatui'e  '^  of  Car  roll  ton,'''  the   name  of  the 

'  Mr.  (■•irniU  was  u  wcaltliy  in  in  for  tliosn  iiayf.  and  ."Uipnod  Inrjcly,  and  iiniiortod  wliatovcr 
wa.<  rciinir.'d  for  llic 'supply  i)f  llio  manor  dirfct  from  Knirland.  cvon  down  lo  the  clolhiv  woru 
by  fill' family.  The  slavc.j  worr  lionit"<imn.  as  did  nimy  of  tho  poorer  rlas^fs,  and  a-^" did  >lr. 
CMrroll  also  at  ono  ix-rlod  of  his  life,  wlipn  it  was  rosolvod  by  tho  oolonli's  to  woar  nolhin'jr  and 
cmsniniMiotliinc;  comlnir  from  Great  Ifritain.  An  estimate  of  his  jiroperty,  maiie  in  1T6(..  i» 
wortli  Liivini;.    It  was  made  by  his  own  hand: 

40.000  .Acres  of  Land,  two  country  seats f  10,000 

~0  llimses  at   .Xmiapolis ■I.OOi) 

:;.H-|  Slaves,  .at  an  av.'rat;o  of  £:!()  each S..V,0 

Slock  on  TIaiil.ations t.OOO 

Hons<'liold    IMatn r.OO 

n;'litn  Oiilst.mdint; 3 LiW 

-r/d-  :irxta~.i!K  or  <-:ifri  "m  /r!-:fory.  Vol.  IT.  .trs.aso 

Tla;  i<  0  inal  to  abon;  lulf  a  -.nlUijii  JoUars  at  the  present  tiiijo. 

741 


■  1 1 


1  1 


'%X\ 


m. 


Mm 


712 


CHARLES  CARROLL  OF  CAUnOLLTOX. 


estat(^  f.;T  -.v!«i,'li  )ie  rc^sidcil,  remarking  as  he  did  so:  "  TJici) 


VI I 


III  i.sfal'c  iuc  NOW 


II  nol 

ITe  was  e!o»'t"('d  a  meiuber  of  the  Board  of  War.  TTo  also 
coiilinnod  :ri)  act'vo  and  inlluciitial  iiicnilicr  uf  flu!  (."(Uiii- 
iicntal  ('i)ii,nTes»  iiU  1778,  %vliLn  tliu  Irealy  with  Franco  (jui- 
etod  all  his  fears  Ivv  the  suecess  of  American  indeiicndencc; 
and  fcclino-  {]\;\\  Id^  duty  as  a  State  Scnatoi' siininioiied  liim 
to  Annapolis,  lie  rcsiiined  his  seat  in  Coiigresf..  and  resumed 
that  in  the  Maryland  Senate.  Jn  1788,  i\rr.  Cai'roll  was 
elecied  Tnited  ytaLes  StMiatorfrom  IMai'vland,  under  thencw 
Federal  Constitution.  He  was  a.uain  (dected  lo  (lie  ^laiy- 
Land  SiMiate  in  171)1,  remaininu-  a  iiiendiin"  till  ISol.  In  iliaC 
year,  v\h)\\  the  defeat  of  the  Federal  party,  to  which  he  he- 
]on;:j:ed,  Mr.  Carroll  retired  into  i)iivale  life,  heing  then  in 
his  sixiy- third  vear. 

During  thirty  years  passed  in  ])uMic  life,  emhraciiig  t];e 
most  eventfid  pei'iod  of  the  liistory  of  the  Iriitcd  h^iiMis, 
Mr.  Carroll,  ;\s  a  politician,  was  quick  to  decide  and  prompt 
to  execute.  ILis  nu^asures  Avere  opi'U  and  enei',Ui'e( ic.  He 
was  more  inclined  lo  exctMMl  than  fall  below  the  end  Vshicli 
lie  proposcid.  As  a  s])eaker  he  was  concise  and  aninmted; 
the  advantages  of  travel  and  society  made  him  graceful; 
books,  habits  of  study,  and  af'Uto  observation  made  him 
ini|)ressive  and  instructive.  As  a  writer  he  was  I'eniarkably 
dignilied  ;  his  arrangement  was  regular  ;  las  style  was  full 
without  being  diffuse,  and  though  liighly  argumentative, 
was  preventfHl  fi'om  b(.>ing  dull  by  the  vein  of  polite  leaiii- 
inc:  which  was  visible  thnuighout.' 


But  it  was  as  a  practical  and  uncompromising  Cathol 


ic 


that  we  would  speak  of  this  veneiable  man.  At  his  family 
r(?sidence  he  had  an  elegant  cha})cl  ei'ected.  Divine  sei-vice 
was  lield  re<;-idai'lv,  and  he  was  tilwavs  one  of  the  most  dc- 
vout  worshipers.  ib^  possessed  that  charming  faitli  and. 
simplicity  of  tlu^  little  (d)ild,  so  extolled  by  our  Blessed 
Lord.  Eyti'-witnesses  have  described  it  as  a  truly  tou(diiii'-; 
m'A\U  to  see  the  aged  form  of  Charles  Carroll  of  (!arr(/l!ton 


1  Latxobe. 


ciiAiiLp:s  cAuno!.!.  OF  cAnnnij.Toy. 


-n 


knpf'lin^  and  Ix'iit  in  i)i;iy('i' licfdi'"  fl;(>  i\\\:w  in  tlio  cliiiiul 
at  l)()U,u,li()n'g;iu  ^lanor ;  and  to  behold  tin;  illiisti'iou.s 
pntr'  )t  and  si-itt'snian,  at  the  advanced  a^i^'e  ot  ciii-Iity 
and  npwai'd.s,  serving  tlio  piU'.st  at  the  altar  during  tlio 
Holy  >ra.s.s. 

In  1S20,  tlie  assembled  P.ivliops  of  the  First  Council  oC 
Baltinu)re  went  to  pay  llieu'  respects  to  the  gi'and  old 
nian.  lb'  re.'eived  ilieiu  with  graceful  dignity,  and  was 
deejily  all'ecti'd  at  tlu^  coMiplinu'iit  ])aid  hiiu. 

It  has  been  beautifully  leuiarked  that  "like  the  l)ook.s 
ofthoSybil,  the  living  signei's  of  I  he  Oeclaratioii  of  liidepen- 
(lein-e  increased  in  \alu(^  as  tliey  decreased  in  nund)er."' 
]\Iany  were  the  testinu)nialsoC  ad'ection  uldch  ;i  grateful  na- 
tion laid  at  the  I'eet  ol"  Carroll.  AVe  cite  only  one  such 
tribute : 

T)]:i'Ain\Mi:xT  of  state.    ) 

AVAsiiiNciTox,    •l\i\\  June,   1824,  j' 

''To  Charles  Carroll  of  CarrolUon: 

"  SiiJ, — In  pursuance  of  a  joint  n^solution  of  tlio  two 
Houses  of  Congi'css,  acopyol'  which  is  hereto  annexed,  and 
bydii-ection  cd' the  Pi'esideut  of  the  I'nited  States,  I  have  the 
ho]ior  of  ti'ansinitting  to  you  two  fac-siniRe  cf)pies  of  the 
original  l)e(dararion  of  ludepend.'uce.  engrossed  on  parch- 
7nents,  conformable  to  a  secret  resolution  C)f  Congress  of 
19th  July,  1770,  to  be  signed  by  evei'y  ni'-mljer  of  Congress, 
and  accordingly  signeil  on  the  'id  day  of  August,  of  the  same 
year.  Of  this  document,  unparaileled  in  tiie  annals  ofman- 
Ivind,  the  original,  deposited  in  this  de])arrment,  exhibits 
your  nanu>  as  one  of  the  subscribers.  The  rolls  herewith 
transmitted  are  copies,  as  exact  as  tin*  art  f>f  eii::i:t'  ing 
can  i)resent,  of  the  instrunuMit  itself,  as  well  as  of  tae  feign- 
ers to  it. 

""While  perfornnng  the  duty  th.us  assigned  me,  permit  me 
to  felicitate  you,  and  the  country  which  is  reaping  the  re- 
ward of  vour  labors,  as  well  that  ^■onr  hand  was  affixed  to 

4  7  •■ 

this  record  of  gloiy,  as  that,  after  the  lapse  of  near  half  a 
century,  yon  survive  to  receive  this  tribute  of  reverence  and 


rn  J 


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CILMUJ'!^  ('AUUnr.L  OF  CAUItOLLTOX 


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!    ( 

I.    I 


gratitude  Troin  yoiii'  children,  the  pn'seiit  I'atliora  of   tbo 
liind, 

"  With  every  sentiment  of  vt'iioj-ntion,  T  luive  tlie  honor  nf 
siib.scribijig  myself  your  I'ellow-citi/en, 

".loiix  Quixc'v  Adams." 

"While  the  whole  nation  was  (•clcbratiiig  (lie  lifticth  anni- 
versary of  American  Inde])enden((\  ontlie  4thof  .lidy,  1!^2(>. 
"the  yeai' of  Jnhiiee,"'  lliei'e  H'liiaincd  hut  tliicc  surviving 
signers  of  tlu^  Declaratiou  of  Inili|H'udciu'e  -'i'hoiiuis  .leU'ei- 
Ron,  Jolm  Adams,  and  Cluirles  CnrroU  of  ('arrollton.  TIu'so 
tlu'ee  names  wei'e  nungl(Ml  Avirli  llie  songs  of  luilioiial  joy, 
ami  saluti'd  \\\\\\  jicals  of  artillery.  I'ut  two  of  tlu' illustri- 
ous trio  s;i\v  not  another  sun.  j\dani8  and  .Idl'i^rson  ])assed 
from  tliti  s<'(Mies  of  eai'tli  that  same  day.  Charles  (.'arroll 
alouo  remained— sole  survivor  of  the  jifty-six  i)atriots  of 
17^3 ! 

i'he  nndiviih'd  homage  of  the  I'nilcil  Stiitcs  Avas  ] 
reserved  for  the  last  of  that  gloiious  daiul.  in  the  word.i 
of  l.ossing.  '"tlK^  good  and  the  great  nuide  pilgrimages 
to  his  duelling  to  behold  with  timir  own  (\ves  the  vener- 
able political  })atriarch  of  America;  and  from  tlie  rich 
storeliousi*  of  his  intellect  he  freely  eonli'ibuted  jo  \\w 
delieienci<>s  of  others.'' '  Six  years  more  i'(»lled  by,  and 
the  gi-eat  and  good  Charles  Carroll  of  Carrollt(ni  went  to 
receive  tht^  j'eward  of  tlu^  faitliful  sei'vant.  "  Death  soft- 
ly touched  liim  and  he  passed  away/'  on  tlie  I4th  day 
of  Xovend)er,  lS;?-2. 

We  give  a  picture  of  the  closing  scene  of  his  lif(\  It  is 
from  an  eye-witness  of  it,  who  died  but  a  year  or  two  ago — 
Dr.  liichanl  Stewart.  It  was  towards  sundown  in  the 
month  of  Noveinber,  and  veiy  ((Id  weather.  In  a  large 
room  in  his  town-house  on  Lombard  street — his  bedroom — 
a  group  of  innmtes  of  his  liousidiold  was  gatheied  befoiea 


1  All  llu!  British  Minislcis  who  woro  wiit  to  the  National  cnpilul.  the  nftiichoi".  nmliicnrly  every 
proniiiu'iit  Eii!,'lislnniin  wlio  visileil  lliis  eninilry.  were  ^'iiesl.-<  of  Mr.  (':nTiill  at  I)iiiii;ii()rej;an  :  lunl 
Wa^^liinu'toii,  Lafayette,  Deo.itiir.  .larksnii.  Taney,  and  olher  dibliiigiiifhed  Americans  were  uei- 
cunied  \\\ijTS.—Ma(jaHn> of  Ameiicun  llistory,  Vul.  11. 


VHAUUuS  CAUnol.L  OF  CAUnolI.TOX.- 


Tl.-) 


large  open  fire  placo.  Tlic  voiieral'lo  ('liaik's  Carroll  was 
reclining'  in  a  sol't,  padded  arni-cliair.  In  tliu  cciitiT  of  tlio 
space  l)ef()r(!  liim  Avasa  talile,  with  ])l»'.ss('d  caiidlcs,  an  aii- 
ti(pie  silver  Ixiwl  of  holy  water,  and  a  criicilix.  15y  Ins 
si(lt;  stood  his  spirit  iial  Trieiid,  llie  Uev.  .lohii  M.  .1.  Chaaclic, 
afterwards  lirst  ]>ishop  nf  IS'atchez,  in  his  rich  ro'ies, 
prepared  to  administer  the  last  consolations  of  the  Catholic 
Chnrch. 

On  each  side  of  tlie  chair  knelt  children  and  /^'randcidl- 
dren,  with  some  friends,  and  jnst  in  the  lear,  three  or  hnir 
old  nei^'ro  servants  were  devontly  on  their  knees.  'J'he  veii- 
ci'able  Carroll  had,  for  a  lon^  time,  been  siiirerin<;with  weak 
eyesight,  and  could  not  eiidip.'e  the  pi'oxiniity  of  tlie  ii^lits. 
He  leaned  hack  with  half-closed  eyes.  The  solemn  cere- 
mony proceeded  and  ended  ;  the  illustrious  old  man  was 
lifted  back  to  his  bed,  but  he  had  fasted  to  receive  the  Holy 
Sacrament,  and  was  too  weak  to  rally.  His  last  words 
were,  "Thank  you,  Doctoi',"  on  l)ein,i?  lifted  into  an  easier 
pnsiticMi,  and  he  died  cjuicivly,  mindful  to  the  last  of  othei's 
— tranquilly — a  Christian  ^'entleman.  And  thus  died  the 
"Last  of  the  Si,gners"  and  one  of  the  Catholic  heroes  of  the 
American  J^evolution. 

Cliai'les  Cai'roll  of  Carn>]lton  had  a  well-selected  but  old- 
fasliioned  lil)rary.  lie  cared  little  for  modern  works. 
Amon.ui:  the  valued  books  referred  to  in  his  letters,  we 
notice  Bossnet's  famous  "History  of  the  A'ariations  of  the 
Protestant  Churclu's."  and  the  Abbe  ]V[cGeoii-lu\i>:an's  "His- 
tory of  Ireland."  Milner's  "  End  of  Controversy"  was  one 
of  his  I'avorites.  In  his  last  years  lie  also  passed  considerable 
time  with  Cicero's  "I)e  Senectute,"  which  he  ^xvw  to  love 
so  much  as  to  write  to  a  Iriend,  "After  the  Bible  read 
Cicero." 

K"ot  long  before  his  passage  to  a  better  world,  lie  uttered 
these  remarkable  words  :  "  I  have  lived  to  my  ninety-sixth 
year;  I  have  enjoyed  continued  health  ;  I  have  been  blessed 
with  great  wealth,  ]>rosperity,  and  most  of  the  good  things 
which  the  world  can  bestow — ])ublie  ap]M'obation,  esteem, 
applause.     But  what  I  now  look  back  on  with  the  greatest 


<  S :  i  1 


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I  ; 


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1 4 


1  1 


746 


CHARLES  CAimOLL  OF  CARROLLTOX 


satisfaction  to  myself  is,  that  /  Jiave  ijracikcd  the  duties 
of  my  religion.'''' ' 


'Dr.  R.  II.  riurke  statos  tliat  in  the  copy  of  Siindorsnn'R  "Live  .  of  the  Sis;iicra,"  Vol.  II..  in  the 
Biiltimoro  Lil)iiiry,  tlie  follow  iiii,'  mrinoiandiim  is  written  at  llii'  end  of  CaiTollV  Life  liy  tlic  au- 
thor, tliu  ncconiiilislii'd  Mr.  I.alrobc  :  "  'Y\w  I'lTcj^oiMi;  liioLrrapliical  kculi  was  writti'ii  by  ino  in 
]H5iO  from  memoranda  (aiil(i;;raiilii  fiiridsliod  i>y  Mr.  t'arroll.  and  immcrouK  coMvcrsations.  Wlicii 
finished  I  read  it  to  liim,  and  Ids  remark,  rcrlidtiin,  was  :  -Well,  Mr.  Latrobe,  you  have  eerl.ahily 
made  me  out  il  mueh  L'reater  man  than  ever  I  fonnd  my<e!f  to  be  ;  and,  yet,  really.  1  hardly  think 
thut  the  fiiets  yon  have  stated  arc  otherwise  than  strictly  Iriie.'  lie  was  then,  I  think,  in  his 
Jlinetieth  year;  cheerful,  vivacious  uvea,  and  carefully  attenlive  to  Lis  business  matters. 

*-JiaUi/iior<!,  April  -Hl/i,  HM.  J,  H.  B.  LATRoia." 


I  the  duties 


rs,"  Vol.  II.,  in  the 
:)ll"s  Mfc  liy  the  iiu- 
,s  wrilti'ii  hy  nic  in 
iiviT«ition.«.  Wlicn 
j-oii  have  certainly 
iilly,  I  hiirdly  iliink. 
ten,  I  think,  in  liia 
s.-i  iiiatlors. 

H.  B.  LATaoiia." 


I     't 


iS! 


iili 


RIGHT  REV  SIMON  GABRIEL  BRUTE. 


ili! 


RIGHT  REV.  SIMON  GABRIEL  BRUTIi. 


CIIAPTEllI. 

A   AVISK    YOrni   IM   AVILD   TIArES. 

Birth  and  famihj — Death  of  Mr.  Brute — A  good  mother 
— liecottei'tion.s  of  a  pioi.ts  Confessor — The  first  prayer- 
hook — First  Conininnion. —  Younr/  Brute  as  a  student — 
11/ s  wide  range  of  studies — IVie  studi/  ef  v/edieine — 
(rraduates  m'dhthe  hicfhest  honors— Enters  the  semin- 
ary—Is raised  to  the  priesthejod — Beconies  professor — 
(ioes  to  America. 

Just  one  hundretl  and  tliirty-fivo  years  after  the  illustri- 
ons  Father  Jognes,  S.  J.,  had  visited  ]{ennes,  bearingonhis 
person  cruel  marks  ot'^fohawk  barl)nrity,  there  was  born  in 
the  sanu!  city"  a  ehihl  wlio  was  dt^stined  one  daj'  to  make 
his  name  forever  famous  in  tlie  annals  of  the  Cn tholie, 
(.^liurch  in  (he  Ignite  I  States.  It  was  Simon  G:ibri<'l  Tjrnte. 
llis  l)irrhdny  was  the  -idfli  of  iMarch,  1779,  lie  belonged  to 
an  aneieiit  and  very  n-spf^ctabh;  family.  His  father.  Simon 
(fabriel  Brute,  was  Sni)erintendent  of  the  royal  domains  in 
Ih'ittany  ;  and  we  have  every  evidence  that  his  mother, 
.lane  Renee  le  Saulnier,  was  a  hidy  of  great  piety,  intelli- 
gence, and  force  of  character. 

'  Chief  aiitlmritk'yi  iii^cd :  rtiivlcy,  "  Mtmorr  of  lii-linp  Rriitr  :''  Clarke.  "  I.ivt's  of  the  do- 
I'c'Mscil  Hishops  of  the  Ciillmlic  eluiirli  in  llic  T'liili'd  St,ili'><;"  McCaffrey,  •■  Discfiuri'e  on  tho 
ItiL-lit  liov,  S.  fJ,  Unite  :"  White,  "  Life  nf  >rrs,  E.  A.  Setoii  :"  Ilnssurd.  "  Life  of  Archbishop 
Iluu'lies  ;■'  iiiid  "A  Popular  History  of  tile  Calliolic  Clmreh  in  the  T'liiled  States." 

"  I?eiim>s  was  the  capital  of  the  province  of  IJrittauy.  At  the  prcseut  time  it  has  a  population 
ofaliout-Jd.OOO. 

747 


,  ■  ^1  y 


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1 

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748 


EIGHT  REV.  ni.VOX  GALIUEL  BllVTE. 


Simon  Gabriel  was  bnt  seven  years  of  ag(^  when  his  father 
died,  leaving  his  business  aiTairs  in  an  ernl)arrassed  con- 
dition. It  was  a  great  misfortune.  The  family  prospects 
were  1)lasted,  and  a  hard,  weighty  responsibility  fell  on  Mrs,. 
Brute.  But  she  was  not  unequal  to  the  burden.  She  seems 
to  have  been  a  wise  woman,  whose  tact  and  cf)mmon  sense 
made  her  equal  to  the  duties  of  this  world,  without  ever 
leading  her  to  forget  the  things  of  Heaven.  Such  was  the  good 
educator  who  had  the  lirst  hand  in  moulding  the  tender, 
plastic  character  of  the  future  Bishop. 

Nor  was  he  less  fortunate  in  his  iirst  confessor.  "^ly 
first  confessor,"  he  wrote,  many  years  after,  ''was  Mr.  Carron, 
vicar  of  the  Parish  of  St.  Germain,  then  a  very  young 
priest,  but  already  so  remarkable  for  his  exemplary  life  and 
most  fervent  piety,  that  he  was  called  the  xihbb  Tirise  in  al- 
lusion to  St.  Teresa. 

"  This  was  soon  after  the  death  of  my  father,  when  I  was 
about  eight  years  old.  I  remember  well  tlmt  the  first 
time  I  went  to  confession  to  hiui,  he  gave  me — as  I  left 
his  confessional,  which  stood  in  the  cluqiel  of  the  Blessed 
A'irgin — a  liltle  book  in  French,  entitled  The  lUnih  of  Ahd. 
As  I  was  retiring  he  came  out  of  Ihe  confessional,  and  gave 
me  the  book.  I  remember  his  face  as  it  ajtpeared  at  that 
moni(>nt,  with  such  an  expression  of  amiability  and  piety 
upon  it. 

''I  was  his  penitent  for  several  j-ears,  until  1701.  the 
last  year  of  the  free  exercise  of  religion  in  France,  dur- 
ing which  year  I  had  the  happiness  of  making  my  First 
Commuiuon.  I  went  i-egular  to  confession,  but  up  to  that 
time,  thanks  be  to  God.  my  excellent  motlu  i-,  and  I  must 
add  excellent  teaclx-rs,  I  had  little  to  confess.  Although  I 
had  attended  the  public  schools  for  four  or  live  years.  I  was 
an  entire  strangM'  to  all  improjier  notions  ;  and  my  chitrf 
matter  of  reproach,  at  the  time  of  making  my  geneial  confes- 
sion for  First  Cimimunion,  was  the  having  taken  an  apple 
from  the  stand  of  an  t)ld  fruit-woman. 

"P'lring  the  same  interval,  I  learned  my  catechism  at 
school,  though  at  times  I  attended  the  public  catechism  at 


ItlGUT  REV.  SIMON  GABRJEL  BRUT£. 


M9 


the  parish  cliurch,  to  recite  portions  o£  the  Holy  Scripture, 
which  we  learned  by  heart.  I  remember  that  on  one  occa- 
sion, having  repeated  the  history  of  the  sacrilice  of  Abraham, 
I  obtained,  as  a  reward,  quite  a  hirge  print  of  tiie  Annunci- 
ation^ pasted  on  a  board  witli  a  margin  of  gilt  paper  around 
it.  It  hung  for  long  years  by.  the  side  of  my  bed,  and  I  can 
still  call  to  mind  the  strange,  vivid  associations  of  the  Blesseel 
Virgin,  and  good  Father  Carron,  in  my  childish  impressions 
of  piety  and  holiness  of  life. 

"My  first  prayer-book  also  made  a  great  ini]iression  on 
my  mind.  It  was  a  Parotf^sien,  bound  in  gn-cu  m',)i'o('co, 
with  gilt  edges,  and  wits  ^iven  to  m<'  on  the  very  day  of  my 
father's  funeral,  Febrmiiy  128th,  178'J.  I  had  Vnv^  desired 
to  have  one,  and  I  presume  there  was  not  a  littkVAauity 
mixed  up  with  the  devotion  with  which  I  followed  the  Mass 
and  oHice  in  my  beauliful  prayer-book,  :it  tlie  college  and 
the  parish  church.  I  had  it  in  my  possession  tut  nty  years 
afterwards,  with  its  broken  covers,  defaced  binding,  and 
some  torn  leaves  ;  but  I  lost  it  souiehow  or  oilier  in  my  many 
'ournevinsi's. 


3 


I  ni 


ide  mv  first  Communion,  as  I  have  sr.id.  in  1791. 


There  were  about  200  of  us  of  the  lirst  or  second  Commun- 
ion— for  it  was  the  excellent  custom  of  those  limes  to  make 
the  second  Communion  with  the  same   pr(>]iaratiou  as  the 

hank  TIh'c.  O  mv 


first,  after  a  shoj't  spiritual  retreat.     I 


God!  for  the  state  of  innoceiu'. 


m.l  [>; 


1  v>as  in  the  day 


I  performed  this  most  imi)ortai!t  act." 

Young  Brute  was  a^  hard,  earnest  student.  His  ways  were 
kind  and  winning.  An  astonishing  memory  and  a  liv(.'ly 
imagiiuition  made  him  appear  unusually  bright.  Tie  pursued 
his  studies  uiuler  private  teachers  when  the  troubles  and 


tei 


I'ors  o 


f  tl 


le  llevolutlou'  closed  tie  (Joileu'i 


i-i 


euue.s. 


lb 


ac( 


paired  in  boyliood  ;ind  youl  ii. 


wv 


he  venera 


bh 


I  i  :: 


Fr:iiK'i'  was  tlirti,  by  lirr  mvii  triiifl'"  cxnnip'e  tcncliin^  tli>'  ■.vorKI 


cut  innnl  aiirl  ri'Iiiiior.si 


111.     Hi'i'  rov(ilmi(in-iry  nili-i-.s  liii''  |)r:)s(Tilu'il  ('liri>liiiiiily.  Mii'lniivic  iniiilclily  ami  impiety  llio 
i|'  till!  land.    Ili^iiii-y  lias  lolil   lis  llic  liiirriirs  timl  I'lisiird.    Wliili'  tliis  iiiiliapiiy  coiinlry 


Ja 

was  ilcliiL'i'il  Willi  I'll'  liliioil  iif  hor  bc.-l  and  inililcst  snii 


ilN-  till'  Crci'^s  was  tnr.i  frnni  ilsclr 


vaiiiiii  and  tniiiiplid  in  llic  dii-t.  wliili'  cliiirclios  wcri'  pillatrnl  and  dcsccriicd.  and  ilic  falllifiil 
oliliyvd,  as  lUopiiiiiiliv,;  iual'l\rs,  to  n.ci'!  in  ,sili.i:cc  and  d.uLiifss,  al  Iml'  ri.-Uuf  lli.ir  ih  (.■.-,  I'or 


i  ' 


750 


lilGIIT  REV.  8LV0X  GADUIEL  BRUTE. 


Dr.  McCafTrey,  "liabits  of  study,  of  close  and  patient  men- 
tal application,  "svliicli  lie  retained  throu^uh  lil'e.  In  sjjite  of 
that  modesty  which  prevented  him  from  (;ver  s])eakiiii>-  in 
Ills  own  praise,  I  conid  learn  from  a  longand  intimate  acquaint- 
ance with  him,  and  from  the  testimony  ol'  others,  that,  in 
tlie  public  schools  of  his  native  city,  he  was  distinguished, 
and  eminently  successful. 

"llis  after  life  pi'oved  it.  Ilis  mind  was  too  rich  in  tivas- 
iires  of  classic  lore,  too  amply  furinshcd  from  the  armories 
of  science,  for  him  to  have  been  a  dull  or  careh^ss  stutU-nr. 
AVheLher  he  conversed  with  a  fritMid,  or  lectured  to  a  class, 
or  lieralded  the  message  of  salvation  Irom  a  i)ulpit,  the  evi- 
dences of  profound  knowledge,  as  well  as  of  remarkable 
genius,  incessantly  Hashed  before  you. 

"AV'hatei'er  he  once  read  or  studied  he  I'emembercd. 
Even  in  the  last  years  of  his  life,  whcnhisattentionseeuHnl  to 
be  absorbed  in  theology,  and  oilier  ))i'anches  of  ecclesiasti- 
cal learning,  he  recited  with  eas(>  all  the  Fc/j/cs  of  La  Fon- 
taine, entire  scenes  of  llacine,  Coru.eille.  and  the  linest  pas- 
sages of  the  other  French  writers,  or  of  tiie  Latin  ]>oets. 
Though  less  familiar  with  the  (Jivek  classics,  he  had  I'cad 
them  wit li  advantage  as  w(>ll  as  pleasni'e,  and  lui'ued  to  good 
account  his  knowledge  of  the  language,  in  the  study  oi  the 
Greek  Fathers  of  the  Church. 

"At  one  time  he  had  in  view  to  enter  the  Fi'ench  Poly- 
technic School,  and  for  this  reason  he  ]iursued  a  very  exten- 
sive course  of  mathematical  science.  iSubsequenjtly  he  had 
the  best  opportunities,  in  the  me(li<'al  schools  of  Paris,  of  pen- 
etrating deeply  into  the  mystei'ies  of  chemistry  and  natnial 

tlic  (■(•li'l)i-.ilioii  of  tlu'  (livim"  iiiVi'ti'riL's.  wliili'  {hf  priests  wlio  li.-ul  not  hciii  exile  1  or  u'liillDtimd 
were  limileil  a!<  wild  beasts,  sliiit  down  in  tlie  llelds.  liim;;  to  the  lamii-posls.  or  ieserve<l  for  tlio 
flow  lorlnres  and  solemn  nioclieries  of  jndieinl  mill  del- ;  the  prisons  were  e\ery  wliere  crowded  with 
tliose  w  lio  were  too  nolde-niinded  to  conceal  or  abjure  their  Kailli.  and  these  heroic  siiJTerers  n ere 
refused  I  he  consolations  of  reI'Lrion,  or  could  receive  I  hem  only  from  such  as  were  willing'  to  sialic 
their  lives  upon  the  charilable  mission.  Simon  (iabriel  Hrute,  then  but  a  hoy  of  tender  yeiirs, 
with  a* full  liuouled^'eof  the  risk  he  ran.  andw'dh  his  fond  mother's  hearty  consent.  \vnsein|iloye(l 
to  convey  llir  Blessed  Sacranieiif  to  Ih.e  jirisonors  in  his  native  town  of  liennes,  In  the  disL'ui-e 
of  a  baker's  boy,  i)rotei'ted  only  by  hisimiocenee  and  ))iennitnie  discretion,  m  ralher  by  his  flood 
liiit;el,who  fondly  bore  him  I'ompany  on  such  errands,  he  sii|ii)lied  tlic  victims  of  persecutiiai  not 
only  with  Ihe  bread  which  nourishes  the  body,  bat  with  the  Ilreiid  of  .XiiL'els,  the  food  wincli 
(jives  life  to  Ihe  soul.  — //<  r.  Hi:  McCaffvfil.—Vm  further  details  see  l!nitu'.s  Ueuolloctioiis  of  tin) 
Frcucli  KfvoluUun  in  Arclibithop  Uajley'i-  Muiivl:!!,  pp.  lOU— ^58. 


niGIIT  REV.  SIMON  GABRIEL  BRUTJi:. 


751 


pliilosopliy.     lie  iniprnved  them  witli  his  usual  diligence. 

"  While  he  devoted  liimself  to  severer  studies,  lie  gave 
some  share  o[  attention  to  music  and  drawing  ;  and  in  the 
latter  of  these  acconi[)lishmehts  he  attained  a  prolioiency 
Avhicli  in  after  years  was  a  source  of  pleasure  and  advantage 
to  himself  and  a  means  which  he  ol'ten  ha[)pily  employed  for 
thepurposeof  intei'esiing  and  instructing  others. 

"His  studies  were  interrupted  by  the  IJevolulionary 
troubles,  ilnd  he  spent  about  two  years  in  his  mother's 
printing  establisliment,  during  Avhich  he  learned  and  prac- 
tised the  business  of  a  compositor.  Ir  W(ni]d  appear  tliat 
he  was  led  to  this  much  less  by  inclination  tlian  by  the 
reverses  which  his  fanuly  had  sustained,  and  the  clangers 
of  the  times.'' 

In  the  spring  of  1T9G,  the  young  student,  at  tlie  age  of 
seventeen,  began  the  study  of  medicine  under  Duval,  an 
eminent  surgecm  of  Kennes.  Two  years  later  we  Hud  him 
at  Paris,  attending  the  schools  of  medicine,  and  listening  to 
tlie  lectures  of  Pine],  Pilchat,'  and  other  distinguished  pro- 
fessors. It  was,  however,  a  dangtu'ous  periotl.  Inlidelity 
ran  wild.  Religion  was  lield  in  scorn  and  cdntmipt;  but 
the  iirm,  jmous,  well-balanced  mind  of  ^\v.  Ijiiiie  ivceived 

•i(nis  '     ' 


ijiny 


T 


1> 


1' 


lie  even  di(l  his  best  to  stem  the  savaue  tide  of  infidelitv. 
In  1803  he  graduated  Doctor  in  Medicine  wiih  the  highest 
honors.    Eleven  hundred  students  were  following  the  course; 


an( 


1  of   thes(^  out?   hundi('(l   and 


i  went  \'  oi 


lie   best   were 


chosen  to  conipv^te  for  tli"  lirst  prize.     It  was  gained  by  Dr. 
Brute,  after  a  severe  examination. 

The  young  physician  was  offered  a  good  ]iosition  in  the 
capital  of  Fi'an(;e  ;  b-.it  the  times  had  c 


laii^i 


d,  and  he  de- 
cided to  dedicate  his  brilliant  tah  ills  to  ihc  Church.  It 
was  not,  liowever,  from  any  feelings  of  dislike  that  lie  aban- 
doned   the   prof(>ssion   of   medicine.       Xo.       ''lie   always 


'  Til  liT  llio  f1nt(!  of  Sept.  251)1.  IHni.Ttnitetliils  rhvoniclc'^  lli.'  'l-  111  if  lii-  vniinL.'  Iiiil  rolclirated 
feaclic'i' ;  "  Xiivii'r  Iticliat  died  tliin  moniiiiir  lit  foiii'  o'clock,  :il  vciUN  ol'  iiijc,  ciijoyini;  tliovcry 
IiiL'licst  repiitntioii  in  liiri  iirorc-^sion  ;iiul  tiiviiii;  the  LMciilPsr,  p-oiiii*i'  for  the  fiitiiri'.  All  lii» 
pupils  loved  lum.  11!?=  f.iMicr  iiiid  inotlicr  were  mo'-t  exiell.Mit  neoiile.  vcrv  pious  nnd  lirou|^'lit 
liim  up  ill  the  most  Clirisliuu  mimiier  ....  Let  iis  pniy  toUud  lor  tUe  repoiiw  of  lib  so.il." 


km 


'  xMSSSBBBSP  I 


752 


RIGHT  llEV.  SI. VOX  GABUIEL  nilUTf}. 


honored  it,"'  says  the  Rev.  Br.  McCafl'rey,  "as  one  of  tlio 
nt)blest  to  whicli  a  liii^lily  gifted  and  pliilanthrojac  man 
can  devote  liirnself.  l)eli;j;litfid  as  his  conversation 
Avas  to  all,  and  to  ni;Mi  of  science  in  ])aiticnlar,  it  was 
peculiarly  so  ro  the  student,  or  to  the  pracliticjiier  and  pro- 
fessor of  medicine. 

"They  often  expressed  tlieir  astonisliment,  lliat  afler  a 
lapse  (>t  twenty  oi'  tliirty  yeais,  ( ]i,i;i(i;-^(  <i  ly  jiusuils 
of  a  very  dilferent  order,  he  retained  so  perfect  inul  niiinite 
a  knowledge  of  all  that  lie  had  studied  in  Ills  youlh,  under 
the  great  masters  of  tlie  French  capital. '"' 

The  horrors  of  the  French  Revolution  had  now  passed,  and 
Christianity  once  more  took  possession  (if  liei'  profaned  and 
ruined  temples.  Zealous  laboi'ei's  wei'c  nee(h.'(l  for  the  di- 
vine work  of  reconstructidu.  TJiis  delerndned  yonngDr. 
Brute  to  enter  the  sennnary  of  Sf".  Suli>ice,  I'aris.  He 
began  his  new  lahors  in  ]8();j.  With  eag(>rness,  his  orderly, 
well-trained  mind  pursued  the  studv  of  theolouv,  canon 
hrw,  church  li'.story,  and  the  orher  sacred  sciences.  lie  was 
a  model  to  all  in  the  seminaiy.  It  need  hardly  be  said  that 
he  was  a  ripe  scholar  and  finished  theologian  win  n  he  Avas 
raised  to  the  sacred  dignity  of  the  i)jieslh()od,  at  the  aye 
twenty-nine,  in  the  year  JS()8. 

Father  Brute  was  oiVered  a  cnnonicat(^  in  the  calhedial  nl 
Rennes,  and  the  Bishop  of  Nantes  i)i{'sse(l  him  to  1  econie 
assistant  chaplain  to  the  l'an])eror  Napoleon.  I'm  he  re- 
fused both  positions,  and  became  a  member  of  the  Piiestsef 
St.  Snlpice.  He  was  a]ii'»ointed  professor  of  theology  in  the 
Seminary  of  his  native  city,  and  was  thus  devoting  his  time 
and  talents  when  the  venerable  Bisliop  Flaget  of  Kentucky 
visited  France.  This  suggested  a  fresh  train  cd"  rellections— 
the  New  World,  v.dth  its  vast  spiritual  wants  and  few  lal)er- 
ers.  Tin*  apostolic  Ih'Ute  decided  logo  to  Amei'ica.  lie  bade 
a  tender  adieu  to  his  good  mother,  liis  inany  friends,  and  his 
library,  and  sailed  frt)ni  lioidemix  in  the  siimnier  of  1SH>. 


>  The  only  occnsidii  on  wliicli  we  have  liciird  of  liis  iitii'Miplin^' tlie  iirncticc  wns  iil  Mt  St. 
Mnry's  Coliftrc  wli.'U  nni'  of  the  ptnil<'ntH  broU"  \\U  arm,  ami  the  rc!,'nlar  pliysU'ian  conlil  not 
he  liail  at  onco  ;  Failu'r  T!rnfu  Fct  tlio  urm  eo  skillfully  ix*  to  Icavo  notliing  for  llu'  doctor  to  do 
wlieu  Uu  cumc— 7>r.  Jl.  II.  t'lavkii. 


ne  of  tlio 
'opic  in  an 
ncrsation 
ir.  it  was 
'  and  pro- 

:it  aft(>r  a 
•  juisiiiis 
ul  iiiiiuife 
nil,  iimlfi' 

nssf'd,  and 
failed  and 
ir  flit?  (li- 
roiuig  Dr. 
'aris,  11(3 
isdi'dcily, 
!:y,  fa  lion 
.  Ifcwas 
I' said  iliat 
11  lie  Avas 


i 


lie  age 


iLcdial  of 
()  1  ecoiiie 
)iil  lie  IV- 
Prie.sts  of 
(),uy  in  fliH 
u'  his  time 
Kcidiicky 

(M'tioilS— 

ew  JalxM'- 

lle  hade 

Is,  and  his 

of  Ic^lO. 


M-llK  Hi    Mt    St, 

■l.'iii  coiilil  not 
1.1'  iloctur  to  do 


CHAPTER  II. 

A   GPtEAT   TEAClIKIl   IX  THE  NEW    WOnLD. 

Fcin>or  Brutl'  at  BnUimore—At  Emml((xh)irg—Kote  on 
Mt.  St.  Manfs  LhUer/c  —  Tri/inri  to  learn  Eiir/lish— 
J//fi  zeal  and  lahort^—MoiJicr  H(:toih--A  short  trip  to 
France — ///-v  t(il>nrs  and  example  in  the  h( niinnnj  at 
the  nioiuitalii  —  Joliti  Iluyhcs  and  Father  Brute  — 
Letters. 

Father  Brute,  in  rompany  with  Bishop  ria,!i;(>r,  hinded  at 
Baltinioi'e  on  the  IHtli  of  Aiiu'iist,  1810.  For  nearly  two 
years  after  his  arrival,  he  tilled  the  (diair  of  I'hilosophy  at 
the  Seminary  of  St.  Sulpice.  ]!<>  was  then  appointed  to  aid 
Father  Dubois  in  the  niana,Liviiient  of  Monnt  St.  .Mary's 
Colle,u;e,'  FnnnittsbniT;',  ^Maryland. 

It  was  diirint;'  the  vacation  of  1812,  wliile  spending  liis 
time  ill  hard  misssionary  labors,  that  ]<'atlier  Jiriiie  dropped 

'  In  lis  i-irly  yt'iuv,  md  oiIrt  iii^titiilion  I'xorcisi'd  siicli  Ji  |Knviii'iil  luiliicncc  on  ilio  destiny 
of  tliu  Oalliolic  Chiireli  in  tlio  l,:niti'il  States  tis  Mo:int  SI.  Mai-vV  (  olli';,'!'.  It  is  tlu'  Alma 
3litl,:r  of  souk;  of  oiir  trrciltt'st  in'chUi'S.  Tliis  sent  of  Icarnln!;.  siliialcd  at  the  foot  of  llio  liliio 
liid^'y  Mountains,  in  Frrdoi-idc  eonnty,  Maryland,  aljont  llfiy  miU's  from  liallijnof",  was  founded 
in  ISiW  l)y  Ucv.  Fattier  Dubois,  a  |ii-i"st  of  St,  Siilplee.  and  afterwards  Hi-liop  of  \e\v  York.  At 
Inst  it  was  un  ecclesiastical  .-eniinary,  hnl  it  ;.-radiially  assnnied  llio  seojie  of  a  L'l'neral  college. 
The  early  collei,'<;  was  siinjily  a  lo:;  haildini:.  All  it.s  beauty  wa*  williin  its  wooden  walls,  in  its 
I)resideiit,  l)iil)ois.its  "niiL'el  :,'inir(lian."  I>r;ite  and  its  pro'nisin'^stiidi'nts.  In  tin?  snninierof  IKiO, 
faculty  and  students  tool;  possession  of  tlienewedillce.  In  IK  ill,  diiriniithe  |)resideneyof  JJev.  llr, 
Piiteell— now  tile  veneral>le  arelibisliop  of  Ci.icinnati— the  eolle^'e  was  eliarlered.  and  empowered 
to  confer  di'^rees.  It  is  slrielly  a  rV/Mci/;;' coile'j".  Sinee  IR'il.  all  students  enlerinLT  its  halls  must 
be  willin;^  to  111' instructed  in  the  doctrines  aiul  pr.ieliees  of  the  Catbolic  Church.  Auioiii,'  tho 
praduales  of  MmiuU  St.  M.iry's  are  ten  or  twelve  bi-hops  and  arcliiiishops.  Arcliliishops  IIu;.'he* 
uiul  I'arcell.  ii'iil  bis  Euiineuee  Cardinal  MeC'losUev.  are  ainouL'  lh<^  iiiiinlier.  It  has  triven  tho 
country  such  iniMi  of  letters  as  the  late  deor^'i'  Henry  Miles,  and  such  men  of  professional  dislino- 
tiiui  as  Uobei'ls  i;ar..HUow,  .M.I).,  1...  V.  of  I'nilMdelphia,  The  prexMit  Tre-ideiit  of  this  ven- 
eraiile  seat  of  leurnlnu'ls  IJev.  .lo'ni  A.  Watter-^on,  V.U.—roimUir  Ulduiij  nf  thv  Valholk  Vkurch 
in  liiii  CniUil  iJtatu,  p.  IJi',  willi  a  I'm  cUaii-e.s. 

753 


|i  I': 


if 


:  .11 


•i.    ! 


rr  .    'J    P    ' 


'JktiMHkMBBBV  • 


i 


754  luniiT  HEY.  sniox  (iAnuii:n  B:ivTf:. 

a  note  to  Piishop  Flatlet.     Arclibi.sliop  I^aylcy  considered  it 
"one  of  his  lirst  :itteiiipts  to  write*  in  En.i^-Jish." 

"I  am  ri'vinu/'  lie  says,  "toleani  practically  niy  Englifsli. 
I  have  said  .Mass  and  preached — bad  ])reacliiiiii,'  as  it  may  be 
—in  six  diilereiir.  jjlaces.  This  must  I'orce  (iiis  di'-.-adlul 
English  into  my  backward  head,  or  I  must  renounce  Xorever 
to  know  ir."'     .... 

For  some  ycais  ^Monnt  St.  Mtiry's  now  became  the  chief 
theatre  of  his  zeal,  learnini^,  and  holy  inlliicuce.  lie  tanglit 
in  the  Colleue.  and  he  was  the  spiritual  director  of  tiie 
saintly  Mother  ISeton  and  her  sisters  of  Charity  at  St. 
Joseph's. 

Mother  Seton  derived  tlie  ,2:reatest  benelit  from  his  excel- 
lent counsels.  She  and  Father  Ih'ule  wei'e  such  con<ieiiial 
spirits  that  their  minds  would  seem  to-have  been  cast  in  tlie 
same  mould.  A  vivid  fancy  and  ardent  temperament,  with 
an  entire  yieldin,!!;  of  himself  to  the  impulses  of  Faiili, 
caused  this  apostolic  pi'iest  to  feel  most  ])owc]'fully  the 
truths  of  reliuiou,  and  with  a  corresiioiuling  fervor  to  an- 
nounce them  in  w(jrd  or  wiiliug. 

His  i(h'as  ilov.ed  so  rapidly  that  at  times  lu?  would  not 
stop  to  givt>  them  full  t^xpressit)n  in  hmguage;  but  lie 
poured  forth  his  subjects,  as  it  were,  in  Hashes  of  word 
and  sentiment,  leaving  much  to  be  supi)lied  and  felt  by 
those  to  whom  lie  addressed  himself. 

He  found  in  Mother  Seton  a  soul  who  could  follow  liim 
in  his  k)fty  and  beautiful  flights  on  the  wings  of  Faith,  who 
could  catch  tlie  tire  of  his  thoughts  and  commune  with  him 
in  the  enjoynuuit  of  that  elevating  power.  From  him,  in  !i 
great  measure,  did  this  gifted  lady  learn  the  secret  of  how 
to  preserve  her  soul  in  ])eace  amid  the  trials  of  her  position, 
and,  abandoning  herself  to  the  ■will  of  God  in  all  things,  to 
l(K)k  forward  in  ho[)e  and  joy  to  the  term  of  all  earthly 
sorrow  and  sufi'ering.' 

In  1818  Father  Brute  made  a  visit  to  Friince  for  the  i»ni'- 
pose  of  bringing  over  his  library'  and  iutei'csting  the  French 

'  While. 

'  It  \v:ii*  n  choKM'  anil  valnnhlu  collection  of  nearly  5,000  volumcb— ubout  tUo  only  property  the 
jpostolic  pricBt  ever  possessed. 


BIO UT  REV.  SLVOy  GABRIEL  BRUTS. 


7u5 


clergy  in  tlie  American  missions.  On  liis  :irriv!il  :it  Balti- 
more,  he  wiis  iippointed  President  of  t<f.  Miiry'.s  College, 
where  he  remained  until  1818,  when  he  ngain  returned  to 
Emmitts])urg. 

Mount  St.  ^fury's  College  was  now  placed  on  a  good  loot- 
ing. A  theological  school  was  opened,  und  Father  Ih'uto 
became  professor  of  theology  and  superior  o!  tlu^  school. 
Here,  for  many  yeai's,  he  moulded  the  future  ])riests,  bishoi)s, 
and  archl)islioi)s  of  the  country,  and  provetl  his  greatness  as 
a  learned  and  saintly  teaclu^'. 

"His  duties,"  says  Ilev.  Dr.  McCalTrey,  "wore  multiplied 
and  various,  an.l  required  to  dischai'ge  them  no  oi'dinaiy 
share  of  zeal,  imlusrry,  and  versatility  of  powers.  Ho  was 
confessor  to  the  Sisters  of  Charity,  and  for  many  years  pas- 
tor of  thecongregatiiMi  at  Emmittsbui'g,  while  he  frecjuently 
exercised  in  this  congregation  some  of  the  must  arduous 
functions  of  the  holy  ministry. 

"In  the  ecclesiastical  s<.Muinary  he  lectured  on  sacred 
snripture,  and  was  professor  of  theology  and  moral  philoso- 
phy. In  the  college  he  taught  at  diil'erent  times  natural 
jihilosophy  and  various  other  branches.  Trm;  greatness 
(lignilies  whatever  sphere  it  moves  in.  His  genius  and  learn- 
ing were  conspicuous,  when  they  expatiated  through  the 
palace-halls  of  the  queen  of  sciences.  Divinity  ;  they  were 
not  less  admirable  when  they  descended  to  the  humble  task 
of  teaching  youth  geography,  or  explaining  the  little  cate- 
chism to  children 

''His  cheei'ful  ])iety.  amiable  mann(M's,  and  lively  intei-est 
in  the  well'ar(M.)f  his  [)upils,  wovii  sure  to  win  their  hearts; 
and  his  eminent  holiness  of  life  seemed  jiot  only  ]'esi»e('t, 
but  veneration.  His  exhortalidus  to  viitue  and  piety  could 
scarcely  fail  of  ell'ect,  liecause  he  reconnnended  only  what, 
he  pi'actisod  him>elf.  Xo  standard  of  Christian  or  })riestly 
excelhuK^e  to  which  he  pointed  could  appt^'u-  too  high — since 
he  was  himself  a  living  instance  of  its  attainment.  If  for- 
getful of  this  earth,  he  always  pointed  and  allured  to  Heaven, 
he  also  led  tlu;  way 

'"His  hours  of  sleei)  were  few,  and  long  before  the  morn- 


^\ 


\\   I  't  { 


r-. 


'm 


'  :'-v : 


.•  r,  ; 


Pi 


III 


750 


BIGIIT  REV.  SIMON  GABRIEL  lUlim. 


ing's  tlawn  lio  arose  to  converse  witli  Clod,  and  to  p:ive  Ilim 
the  lirst  fruits  of  the  day.  l)iii'in<^  tliese  early  nicditiitions 
his  soiii,  alisorbed  in  heavenly  coiitt'niplation  and  iminiate 
union  witli  ils  Creator,  was  largely  visited  willi  the  lel'iesliiiio' 
d(nvs  ol"  divine  firace,  and  w  hen  lie  :ii)[)ro;i('hed  the  ;dlar  :trul 
olfercd  iiji  the  ll(»ly  Saeriiice,  his  lieait,  ali'eady  lull  to  over- 
thjwin.^,  \Vas  always  overpowered  by  mingled  einotiens  o^ 
revereiilial  awe  and  gratitude  and  love,  and  often  found  re- 
lief in  ecpious  tears. 

"1I(^  descended  to  the  discharge  oT  his  ordinary  duties; 
l)Ut,  like  ^[o.ses.  he  l)ore  the  marks  of  couNcrse  with  his  (lod, 
and,  as  words  ol'  heavenly  wis<U)ni  fell  from  Ins  lou.uue,  you 
could  readily  fancy  that  his  lips,  like  those  of  fsiiiiis.  IkkI 
been  touched  by  the  seitqih  with  living  coals  ol'  iiie  from 
the  altar. 

"  His  time  was  all  divided  between  prayer  and  labor.  He 
loved  so  well  the  beauty  of  the  house  of  the  Loid.  and  tlic 
l)lace  where  his  glory  dwells,  that  he  spent  whole  houis 
kneeling  before  the  Hlessed  Sacrament;  iind  eveutuallv  Ic 
made  it  a  rule  A-vhenever  it  was  pi'acticable,  to  recite  tlie 
divine  oflice  in  His  lioly  jn'esence.  Thither  he  would  vv\Yxa 
on  returning  from  a  long  journey  during  the  rigors  of 
winter,  and,  until  he  had  satisfud  his  devotions,  no  jier- 
suasions  could  induce  him  to  attend  to  his  personal  com- 
fort. 

"At  otlier  times,  unless  he  was  cngnged  in  adive  duties. 
you  would  lind  him  in  the  midst  of  his  splendid  libj'aiy,  sur- 
rounded by  fh(!  writings  of  the  Fatheis  and  Doctoj'sof  tiie 
Chuich,  and  whatever  besides  is  most  rare  and  valuable  in 
science  and  literature,  jnirsning  his  diMoted  studies  wiih  in- 
tense applicaticm  and  wonderful  activity  of  nu'nd. 
ing  to  paper,  for  the  benefit  of  others,  the  r<"  i 
found  investiiiations. 


ihi. 


his  1)1 


Hi 


s   recreation   w 


•as   but   Aarietv  of  1; 


1)10- 


Wlu'U  lii 


wearied  mind  d(>manded  its  turn  of  relaxatit)ii  the  uiostiu- 
duous  bodily  toil  succeedi^l,  and  this  round  of  exertions, 
mental  andcorpov(>al.  was  kept  u])  with  an  elasticity  of  spirils 
and  activiry  of  mind  truly  sur])rising.     After  a  journey  of 


jiiciiT  UEV.  :jmo\  GMiuii:;.  iu:nr:. 


757 


j}fl>/mih\<^,  porfornipd  on /W  in  n  single  day,'  book  in  liiiiid, 
praying  and  reading  hy  turns,  and  scarcely  st'.'vv'mg  to  take 
tliesiiiijile  rciV'ctioii  that  nature  I'equircd,  liewoujil  nie-t  liii* 
friends  in  tlie  evening  wiiliii  rie-slmess  oi"  spirilss  and  gaycty 
of  conversation  tluit  cotild  not  be  snri)assed. 

"As  proi'essor  of  tlieology  lie  chietly  excelled  in  two 
tilings — ii  vast  erudition,  vvlji(di  left  noiiiiiigunt'X])l(ired,  and 
u  singular  jiower  of  gvneiali/.iug,  wliidi  cnablt'd  liim  to 
grasp  liis  wliol"  subject  and  liaiulli^  it  with  ease,  by  biinging 
all  its  details  under  afewgenei'al  jirinciplcs.  In  exliibiiing 
aiul  supporting  these  prin('ii)les  lie  i)ut  forth  all  his  strengili, 
Aftei'  adducing  all  the  evidence  which  his  extensive  I'cading 
readily  furnished,  eliiei(hitii;g  it  by  his  luiiiiuoiis  exi»lana- 
tions,  and  applying  the  logical  tests  with  cautieus  jud.mneiit 
and  impartial  rigor,  his  excursive  mind  bidiight  in  a  rich 
and  almost  gorgeous  profusion  of  analogies  aiul  illustra- 
tions from  every  i>art  of  the  wide  domr.in  ef  huniaii  know- 
ledge,"' 

Among  Father  "Brute  s  students  at  tliis  time,  miuht  be  seen 
a  bright,  noble-hioking  young  fellow,  who  had  maiifidly 
brushed  a  host  of  difliculties  aside,  and  pushed  his  way  into 
the  class-rodUis  of  Mount  St.  Mary's  College.  Many  a  day 
he  listentjd  to  his  illustrious  teacher,  stoi'ing  iip  the 
treasures  of  knowledge  that  ilowed  from  his  lijis.  At 
length  he  was  raised  to  the  priesthood  in  18,^0.  •  And  w  lio  Avas 
this  student?  John  Hughes,  afterwards ArchbishoiiofXew 
York. 


'  Archtiislinp  Tliiylcy  sh'os  tlii'  fcillowir,','  mcindniiiilum  from  Fiill.ir  liriilr's  .hniriiiil.  It  is 
dated  M:ir<li.  IH'.'I  :  "On  tlio  ''vi'iiin;:  of  llic  lUli  of  ?.!mi1i.  Mr.  DiiiiiplKiux  i;iTi\icl  ii(  tluiiioim. 
tiiiiitnrci'Mll  Mr  liUkry  to  r,iiltiiii()i\'.  Tlii'  m>Nt  iiioiiiii;;  lifter  I  liiid  Celelir.ted  iumss  at  St 
Jn^eiiir-i,  I   st.-irre.l  on  font  for  r.iltrnnve.  witlioiit  s:>yiiiir  n  word  to  iiiiyliod.v.  to  f^pciik  lo  tlio 


IS  Ot    I.OllW    All.,   llllO   !•  l.li:ei?-   1.  ,    It|>:r..^-'.     .-.i...    .■•.    • -.,. ,    

.  'tnmenf,-  my  nni"e  :  rorited  the  etiiipM  tlireo  timo''.    On  my  jour;:ey  Vniek  (l:e 
tard  thttt  I  could  only  read  u  paniplilft  of  Sj  pages  aad  my  ofllcc." 


I     I. 


»      1 


758 


niQHT  HEY.  snioy  uAnniEL  nuurA 


Young  Father  ITuglios  b(\a':ni  liis  l:i])oi'.s  in  a  new  and  tliornr 
field  ;  but  (he  Idnd  master  did  not  foiget  liis  piomisuio- 
pupil.  "  My  dear  Bi'other,"  writes  llev.  Professor  JJnue, 
"may  God  bless  suidi  wise  and  jirudent  beginnings  of  your 
holy  ministry  aniidst  siieh  diflieult  and  iieri)]exing  ciiciiiii. 
stances  as  it  has  pleased  llini  to  ti'y  tlnMU  by.  May  lie  l)le.i3 
such  worthy  sentiments  as  expressed  in  your  letter.'' 

In  all  liis  per])lexities  the  future  ar('lil)islioj)  liad  I'ecrturse 
to  Father  Brute,  lie  asks  his  opinion,  now  upon  a  iKiinc 
of  theology,  again  upon  some  antiquarian  subject:  now  ]i(3 
applies  to  Inin  to  lind  a  passage  in  one;  of  the  Fatlu'rs;  now 
consults  him  upon  a  question  *of  philosopliy,  or  asks  from 
him  a  summary  of  the  priiu'ij)les  of  Canon  Law,  wiiicb 
bear  upon  the  existing  church  difficulties  tit  Philadeliiliia. 
Upon  all  i)oints  this  extraordinary  man  a\  as  ready  to  satisfy 
him.' 

When  Father  Hughes  erected  St.  John  s  Church  at  Phil- 
adelphia, and  was  about  to  have  it  dedicated  in  1iSo2,  ho 
wrote  to  his  dear  old  Professor  :  "Could  you  not  be  liere  on 
that  day?  It  would  add  to  the.  soleininty  of  the  occasieu 
and  be  a  subject  of  joy  to  all  your  friends — who  are  all  that 
know  or  ever  heard  of  you." 

"I  have  heard,"'  re])]ies  Father  Brute,  "  Irom  ail  (piarters 
of  the  gi'eat  sticcess  that  God  grants  to  your  nol)le  inidcr- 
taking.  The  details  you  give  me  are  of  the  most  pleasing 
nature.  The  invitation  you  add  for  the  day  of  consecration 
I  acknowledge  with  all  my  h;  \rt ;  but.  b(>  sure  that  my  gond 
obscure  corner  here  is  my  true  place,  and  a  co>.ple  of  mile.s 
of  radius,  just  to  St.  Josepirs,  the  true  space  of  my  useful- 
ness; for  the  rest,  '/icscirf  ct pro  nihilo  rcpiifdri.'' 

I  Itassanl. 

Ill  ii  copy  of  Uio  New  iirli  Truth  TiUer,  before  us.  ilnled  Oetcier  lOlli,  IWtl.  ue  liii('  .1  «"• 
tice  (if  llie  oiniiiii!,'  of  :Mi  SI.  Mary's  Collivi'  in  "  hieli  it  is  >tiite(|  tjiut  "  llie  h'ev.  Miv  llniti.-  uuff 
tiu-otUci  lut'iiiOtTs  of  tUo  iustitution  assist,  ususiiul,  in  their  ronpocUvu  (lepai'tinciit*." 


7  and  tlioniT 

3    plOlllisilig 

iiigs  ol'  your 
ing  cinMim- 
l;iy  lie  bless 
tier/' 

lad  recfuirse 
•on  a  jioiun 
I'ct :  now  lie 
ithers ;  now 
;  asks  I'ldin 
Law,  which 
liiladclpliia. 
ly  to  siiti.si'y 

rch  at  riiil- 
in  183:?,  ho 
t  be  liere  on 
lie  occasinu 
are  all  lliat 

iiil  (luni'tfi'.s 
ohle  iiiidcr- 
)st'  plciisiiii; 
'onsecralion 
i:it  lay  uvkkI 
lie  of  mill-'.-) 
m\  u.'ierul- 


«'0n.  \vi'  lini'  n  «"• 
I'rv.  Mr.  linilc  jl' 


CHAPTER  III. 

TOILIXO   IX  TIIE    V/i:STEKX   WILDERNESS. 

jyocvmonis  from  Home — A  retreat — Is  coiueerated  Rhliop 
of  Vlticenites — lircvptioii  hi  his  new  bce—Brerz/t/ii/tt/  to 
create — Glance  at  his  labors  and  virtues — His  death 
and  character. 

One  day  in  tlie  month  of  ^fay,  1834.  while  Fatlier  Brute 
was  giviii,i!:a  retreat  to  the  Sisters  ol  Chaiity,  he  was  handed 
some  documents  which  had  come  all  the  way  from  Home. 
He  went  into  the  chapel,  and  on  his  knees  opened  them — 
the  Bulls  appointing  him  Bisho[)  of  the  newly  erected  See  of 
Vinceiuies,  Indiana. 

Ills  humility  was  alarmed.  He  made  a  retreat  to  know  the 
will  of  Heaven,  and  oidy  after  long  and  carefid  reflection 
would  he  accept  (he  great  responsibility.  "  I  liave  l)een  rin- 
vsually  engagtul  since  I  received  the  news»of  your  elevation 
to  ihe  episcopacy,"  wrote  his  old  pupil,  Fath(»r  John  Hughes, 
in  August,  1834.  "  ]\Iy  congratulations  ai'e  on  this  account 
later,  but  not  less  sincere.  The  place  which  you  liavehitli- 
erto  occupied  seemed  to  me  so  important  for  the  Church, 
that  1  confess  it  is  with  regret  I  see  it  vacant,  l^ut  wIm  ii  I 
think  of  the  ways  by  which  Alnughty  God  acconii,iiish('S 
His  designs,  especially  in  rei"er»^iice  to  the  Church.  1  have  no 
doubt  but  it  will  be  found  according  to  His  will."  The  new 
prelate  was  consecrated  in  tli9  fall  of  the  same  year,  and  at 
oiicfi  set  out  forVincenmes.  He  arrived  there  in  company 
with  Bi.sliop  Flaget  and  Bishop  Purcell,  on  the  5th  ol' 
November. 

759 


■1  '  i^  ir 


h     ! 


ij: 


fii^  '  lilt 


760 


lUGlli'  REV.  SDION  GABRIEL  BltUTE. 


'"Somp  miles  before  reaching  tlie  city,''  Avrites  Bislinp 
I3rnt('',  '•  we  were  met  by  u  iituuber  of  citizejis,  Catholics 
and  Protestants,  on  liorsebaek,  who  liad  accompanied  the 
pasior,  Ker.  Mr.  Laliimiere,  a  native  of  the  State,  and  the 
first  priest  ordained  for  V'incennes.  He  was,  of  course,  tilled 
with  joy  in  seeing  a  Bishop  granted  to  liis  Indiana,  and  all 
the  iidiabitants  seemed  to  siiare  in  it. 

"The  ceremony  of  installation  took  place  tliesameevenin,i:. 
Bishop  Flaget,  who  forty-three  j^eai's  bel'ore  had  been  the 
missionary  pi-iesthere  wdien  it  was  a  simple  trading  and  mil. 
itary  post,  in  the  midst  of  the  surrounditig  wilderness,  jno- 
ceeded  to  address  the  people  with  hisnsual  fervor.'  A'eneiaicd 
and  beloved  by  all,  himself  in  ti\e  seventy-fourth  year  u[  his 
age,  he  introduced  to  tliem  their  new  Bishop,  no  longer  young. 
being  in  his  lifty-fourth  yeai'.  and  urged  them  to  nud^egded 
us(?  of  the  privileges  which  (lod  in  His  mercy  luul  bestowed 
upon  them.  Oriier  instructions  were  given  during  those 
days.  Ou  Sunday  I  officiated  [)ontilica]ly,  and  on  Monday 
mv  veneral)le  colleagues  took  their  leave,  annd  the  blessinus 
of  the  whole  population,  U)  return  to  their  resi)e('tive 
dioceses. 

"Thev  literally  left  me  alone.  Fatlier  Petit  was  obliged  soon 
to  return  to  his  college  in  Kentucky.  Mr.  Ijaluniieic  look 
(diarge  of  the  missions  in  the  vicinity  of  \'incennes,'  l)nt 
still  twenty-five  or  thirty  miles  distant,  and  in  the  whole 
diocese  there  were  but  two  other  ])riests.  one  ^\y.  Fernediiig, 
in  (diargv  (d'  tlu^  (Tei'nnin  missions  l,-)0  miles  distant,  and  j\lr. 
ISt.  Cyr,    whom    Bis!i(>[)    ]^)sati'     had   i»ermitted   to  assist 


'  The  vriiovihlr  FIm'.'i'I  «:w  llic  fliNt  l)Ulio|i  of  I,<iiii«vilU'.  Ui'  w:!-*  lioni  in  Kniiu'c  in  iri''l.  lie 
iniuli' Ills  stnilii"  :il  \\v  I'liiMTsity  of  elcniKini.  .•uul  lu'cinic  m  mcniluT  of  llic  Tric'-is  of  ,st.  Siil- 
Iiici'.  Ill'  Iniidi'd  lit  Itrillimorc  in  nil-,',  iiiid  \v:i-  iippoinli'il  l).v  r.i>lio|i  Cjnoll  to  tlic  l::r  nway  mis. 
Hioii  of  Viiicciinc-.  \\r  was  a  jri'dit  inlmiri'r  of  W;i^liin'.'toii.  Wlicii  lie  wiis  coiiM'ctiitcil  l!>l;ii|'. 
If!  ISlll.  liNdioii'X'  OMiiivlfiMl  Ihi'  Mii-si>-i|i|ii  VmIIov.  \V'  souk  tinii'^  tiiiido.iournc.vs  of -'.iMi  iii  I  3 
lit  ii  time.  Tlii-  ti-nly  lioioic  man  died  in  1S,",0,  ai  ilio  liiii'  !i,L;f  of  HT  years,  diiiiiij,'  "i  of  uiiitli  In; 
had  lalinrrd  in  Aim  rica. 

-  Vlncctiiio-  ■■  ii'ol;  its  name  from  a  Fn'iiOi  olllcer,  M.  De  VIreeime-.  "li  i  \va«  mMss,H-iv-]  nn 
aire.'iL'o  hy  llie  liidi:nis,  tO'j;etlier  wlili  a  .lisiiii  I'atlu'r.  wlioliad  nc<'oni|ianied  liiiii  In  an  e.vin'ililiiin 
to  proteet  tliv  fiieiiilly  tiilies  wlio  lived  upon  iIk'  Wabasli.  wliero  tl:e  Society  liad  estalilicliiil  'lie 
mission  of  St.  Viaiuis  Xavicr."— /W>7/o/)  Urn:, 

'  nislinp  I!osa'i,  a  native  of  Italy,  and  a  inianUer  of  tlie  Coti^jregation  of  llie  MUsion,  "as  sp' 
pointed  lirst  Di.-lmi)  of  St.  Louis  in  IM'Jr.    Ue  died  in  1S43. 


RIOIIT  IlEV.  yiMOX  GArmiEL  DRUTfl. 


roi 


tes  Bishop 
,  Cuth(jlios 
paiiied  til (3 
te,  and  tlie 
Diii'sc,  iilled 
na,  and  all 

nippvpiiirifr. 
;id  been  the 
ing  and  mil- 
i-THt'ss,  |iro- 
'  A'eneiated 
year  (d'  \m 
nuer  yoiiiiir, 
)  make  picd 
id  bestowed 
urin.u;  those 
on  Monday 
lie  blessiniis 
•    respective 


t 


li<:-(Hl  soon 
iiier<'  took 
lines,'  but 
the  uliole 
Fernedinji', 
It.  and  iMi'. 
to  assist 


raiH'cili  inn.  llo 
I'ric-'Ir'orst.  Mil- 

llir  I'lir  ilMiiy  lli>. 
,n-riMiiti'il  l!>l:iip. 

rvs  (if  •-\i««l  iirl  a 

IL'  'h  of   WilitUlH.' 


\v;i»  nins'<(H'n'rl  nn 
m  ill  nil  o.v|n'ilili»M 
i:iil  I'fitiil  IL~lii'il '1"2 


10  Mission,  was  sp- 


ine for  one  year,  and  who  was  stationed  at  Chicago — 225 
miles  off. 

"The  Cathedral  Church  is  a  plain  bricdc building,  115  feet 
long,  and  GO  feet  broad,  consisting  of  the  four  wails  and  the 
roof,  unplastered,  and  not  even  white-washed — no  sanctuary 
—not  even  a  place  for  i)reserving  the  vestments  and  sacred 
vessels.  It  has  only  a  simple  altar  of  wood,  with  a  neatly 
gilded  tabernacle,  and  a  cross  and  six  beautiful  candlesticks 
—a  gift  from  France — which  were  much  in  contrast  with 
the  poverty  and  utter  destitution  of  the  place.  Tiie  house  built 
for  the  missionary^ — and  now  the  episcoi>al  residence — con- 
sists of  a  small  comfortable  room  and  closet.  25  feet  by  12, 
without,  however,  a  cellar  under,  t)r  a  garret  al)ove  ;  a  small 
plot  in  a  garden  lies  between  it  and  the  (diiifch,  on  the  other 
side  of  which  is  the  Catholic  cemetery.  Some  years  since, 
[\w  town  had  a  common  biiryin;;'  ground  prepannl,  bi^yond 
ils  limits,  and  insisted  for  a  while  that  the  Catholics  should 
bury  their  dead  in  it  like  the  rest,  but  they  i'(\sisf(Ml  so  rt^so- 
lutely  that  they  were  at  last  permitted  to  bury  in  their  own 
cenietiM'y.  An  old  wooden  building,  a  slioi't  distance  from 
the  palace,  is  occupied  by  the  servant,  and  \\>\\v  it  is  a  stable 
i'ea<ly  for  the  Bishop's  horse — when  1h^  is  alih?  to  get  one. 

"The  people  are  mostly  of  Frencdi  descent,  poor,  illiterate, 
hiir  of  that  o{)eii,  lively  disposition  whi<di  besp(^aks  their 
origin.  They  retain  their  Faith,  love  their  j)iiest.  but  are 
negligiMitin  attending  to  their  ivligious  duties.  They  a r*'  vcu-y 
iviniss  al:;o  in  tea(diing  their  children  tlndr  f)rayers  and  the 
caierhism,  and  this  causes  ii.em  to  foiget  it  thems«dves. 
Maav  also  are  in  the  habit  of  usiim'  profane  hiiifruaue.  Tt  is 
true,  and  should  be  mentioned,  that  of  late  years  they  have 
h'iMi  much  neglected,  and  mmdi  of  tiudr  former  i)iety  seems 
iu>\v  to  be  re-kiuiUing  in  their  In^arts. 

''Thi>  kind  ivception  1  met  witli  on  myanival  was  fol- 
lowed up  by  generous  gifts  of  ])rovisions  and  oi  hei' necessary 
things.  Of  money  thev  hav<>  little,  and  c<ins<  (pn  nilv  can 
give  but  little.  A  subscription  list  which  was  handed  around 
some  months  after  l  came,  v.dth  the  int(Mition  of  ]iroviding 
ayearly  income  for  my  support,  did  noti'ea(di  two  hundred 


ni 

" 

" 

l| 

i   ,     1 

!:■; 

ii 

!  i 

;                      ' 

■  I 

!           f 
1 

i 

\  I 

i        i    : 

^tMi- 

'  I 

i    ■ 

' 

,,•  r 

1        't          ■ 

.  ■ 

H, 

i     : 

;  \ 

I    [  \    y  ■!■ 


IK 


i- 


!    f  ■  l^f' 


'  *>inn<fii>i-.j>> 


IF 


7G3 


EIGUT  REV.  SIMON  GABRIEL  BRUT£\ 


dollars,  and  most  of  this  was  to  be  paid  in  grain,  if  tliev  liad 
not  money  at  the  time." 

It  will  tlms  be  seen  that  when  IMshop  Brule  begun  his  la- 
bors at  A'in(;ennes,  nearly  everything  was  to  create— a  semi. 
nary,  schools,  churches,  iindall  these  with  an  income  of  less 
than  s20  a  month,  lie  was  both  Bishop  and  i>inisii  priesr 
and  his  round  of  toil  was  cea.seless.  Every  Sunday  he  I'uve 
two  insti'uctions— one  in  French,  anotiier  in  Knglisii.  He 
left  no  corner  of  his  wikl  and  widely  scattered  diocese  un- 
visited.  lie  wrote  continuaU^^  for  the  Catholic  press.  His 
food  and  clothing  were  of  the  very  plaiiK'st.  As  to  nioiii'v 
if  he  had  any,  he  knew  only  how  to  give  it  away.  "  If  lie 
had  live  dollars,"  said  one  of  his  priests,  "itAvent  to  the  lirst 
person  that  asked  him  for  money."  lie  often  gave  a\v;iy  liis 
garments,  and  he  was  known  to  bestow  his  linen  and  nndei'- 
clothes  to  poor  negroes  whom  he  visited  and  solaced. 

Th(^  lirst  (Miurcli  he  blessed  was  placed  under  the  patron- 
age of  the  Blessed  \'ii'gin,  and  called  St.  ]\Iary"s.  an  event 
which,  he  says,  gave  him  '-great  happiness."  Of  liis  iirst 
visit  to  Chicago,  he  writes  :  "  Igave only  a  few  conliiniations, 
and  three  instructions,  one  on  Satui'day,  and  two  on  Sun- 
day, to  encouriiii'e  the  rising  Catholic  conu'i'ei:ation  of  ili;it 
most  important  point.  It  is  now  comiiosed  of  ahoiil  4(0 
souls  of  all  cour.tries,  Fr(Micli,  Canadians,  Americans,  \m\\, 
and  a  good  nundier  of  Ceinians." 

"When  he  visited  the  Indians  and  theii' good  missiennry, 
Fathei'  De  Seille,  he  was  received  with  delight.  One  of  the 
chiefs  made  the  Bishop  a  present  of  B'iO  acres  of  land,  say- 
ing that  "(xod,  when  lie  would  return  IVom  Heaven  to  visit 
our  earth,  wouhl  see  that  gi'ound  which  the  Indians  gave,  and 
that  it  would  jirove  to  llim  their  siiu'eie  devotion  to  Ills 
liolv  religion  and  the  niessenuMM's  lie  had  sent  to  seenre 
its  blessings  to  them."  lie  coidiinuMl  si.xttcu  Indians  on 
this  occasion.  "  One  was  an  old  chief,"  writes  the  Bishop, 
"who  since  his  Pjaptisni  had  led  such  an  innocent  lilf  that 
he  had  not  been  observed  to  connnit  any  fault,  or  give 
way  to  inipati^MU-e,  or  any  other  iinpei'f(^ction." 

As  he  passed  by  the  pretty,  peaceful  site  now  adorned 


I,  ir  tliey  liad 

^ogiin  ]iis  l;i- 
I'iile— a  stMui- 
iK'onie  ol'U'ss 
)ari,sh  priest, 
lulay  lie  guve 
K  11,^1  isli.  He 
.  diocese  iin- 
c  press.  His 
As  to  money, 
\-iiy.  ''11'  ho 
nU  to  tlie  lirst 
4,'ave  away  Ills 
I'll  and  uiider- 
lolaced. 
er  the  patron- 
■y"s.  an  event 
or  histirst 
•onliiiualiiuis, 
t\\o  on  Siiii- 
ation  111'  tliiit 
of  alioiit  -Ji  0 
ericans,  Irisli, 

\  missionary. 
One  oi'  the 
ol'  land,  8iiy- 
ea\(Mi  to  visit 
aiisuave,  and 
otion  ffi  His 
en!  lO  secure 
n  Indians  on 
s  the  Tiisliop, 
cent  life  tliat 
'an It,  or  give 

now  adorned 


EIGHT  REV.  SnrOX  GABIUEL  BRUrl^. 


703 


by  the  University  of  Notre  Banie,'  tlio  ke(>n  eye  of  the 
apostolic  man  noted  its  advantages,  and  lie  remarked  llat  it 
was  "a  most  desirable  spot,  and  one  soon  I  hope  to  be  oc- 
cupied by  some  prosperous  institution." 

13ut  we  have  not  room  to  follow  Dr.  Brute  in  his  tireless 
labois  as  a  missionary  Bishop.  Several  times  lie  crossed  the 
ocean  at  the  call  of  diity  ;  and  it  was  while  on  his  way  to  at- 
tend the  (Council  of  Baltimore,  in  18:57,  that  he  caught  a 
severe  cold,  wlii(di  linally  g-rew  into  consunii)tion.  His  health 
dp(diuod,  but  not  his  activity.  To  the  last  he  was  up  and 
doing.  On  one  occasioir  he  began  a  journey  of  four  hun- 
dred miles  in  a  state  of  such  bodily  suffering  that  he  could 
not  sit  upright  on  his  horse,  but  he  manfully  pushed  along. 
Oaly  six  hours  before  his-death  he  wrote  with  his  own  hand, 
;ind  not  without  much  pain  and  difhculty,  seveial  moving 
letters  to  p)ersous  who  had  nnfortunately^  abandoned  the 
practice  of  their  Faith,  and  to  whom  he  wished  to  make 
this  dying  appeal  in  behalf  of  their  sf)uls,  while  the  portals 
of  etei'uily  were  closing  u[)on  him.  "I  am  going  home," 
said  this  simple,  saintly,  and  heioic  num,  this  varied  and 
pr(d'ound  scliolar,  as  he  calmly  and  sweetly  surrendered  his 
soul  to  (lod  on  the  2(5tli  of  June,  \S'.y,).^ 


'  Tlii'^  fiinions  sciit  of  Icarnin;;  was  foiiiidi'd  by  llic  Very  Rev.  Edwiirii  Soriii,  C.S.C.  In  \BVi. 
lls^Toutli  anil  the  i^plUTi' of  its  n-i  fulness  liii\c  kepi  p.ico  with  the  i)m!.'ri-s  of  vimis.  In  ilm 
f;)ri!:i.' i)f  isriulic  ni:iin  hnihlMms  of  the  Ijiivcrsity  wire  l)iirnc(l  down;  but  tlni.iiLib  llii'  I'niTK'y 
of  till' venerable  founder  and  his  Convrreijation,  it  has  arisen  frnni  lis  aslies  brighter  and  mure 
kautifid  i:ian  ever.  Very  1{"V,  W.Corby,  C.S.C,  lon^'  idenlilied  with  the  institution,  is  the 
lircM'iit  ['resilient  of  Noire  Dame. 

».\ttlie  end  of  his  live  short  years  of  adtnini'^lriition,  Ii:slio|)  Rrufe  left  to  "the  Clunrli  of 
Indiana,  ^1  prie'^ts,  ^:i  eh:ireh"s,  besides  li  cliuieh  buildinLTs  and  -JS  slalioiis  oee.'isionally  vi>ilecl; 
'.'roiiiiiiHis  eouiinnnilies,  1  IhenloL'icftl  seminary,  1  colleL'e  for  younir  nieii.  1  feniiile  academy,  and 
:fre,'  mIioiiIs.  Willi  sueli  acbleveinenis  the  ri'.'iderwill  lie  siirpri-eil  to  learn  thai  be  wa.s  opposed 
lagoiiiK  iu  debt,  and  would  uu\er  bigu  a  luuityuo'o  ou  eUurcU  t/.operty."— iV/-.  C'iarka. 


'if^' 


II 


' :  ii  « 


Mj'  ' 


i 

'\*im 

Ml     I' 
X  .Ml  Infill  i. 


I 


Bh 


I 

177 

fit 

llll: 

ilhi 
Iirii 

I'iii- 

He 
rni 
llm 


aril  !• 
(if  till' 


Father  DI'Metrtus  Augustine  Gallitzin, 

APOSTLE   OF  WESTERN  PEA"NSYLVANIA.« 


CHAPTER  I. 
A  phtxck's  youth. 

BlrlJi  and  Parent  a — Elucation — Mother  and  Son — Young 
Gallitzin  bef'ometi  a  (Jatholic — \  pen-picture — Demet- 
rius  jireparcy  to  trarcl  in  America— Incidents  before 
departing— On  the  bright,  blue  aca. 

Demetrius  Giillit/.in  wns  born  on  the  22(1  of  Dereniher, 
1770,  at  the  llii^nu^,  his  J'atlicr,  Prince  Ciallit/.in,  being, 
at  the  time,  ambassador  to  Holland  from  the  Conrt  of 
lliissia.  In  the  history  of  Russia  there  are  few  names  more 
illustrious  than  that  of  Gallitzin.  The  giffed  mother  of  tlie 
jji'lnce-priest  belonged  to  a  nol)le  German  family.  She 
-vas  the  daughter  of  Field-^farshal  Count  de  Schmettau, 
one  of  the  favorite  generals  of  Frederick  the  Great. 

By  his  worldly  and  ambitions  father,  the  young  Demet- 
rius was  destined  for  the  profession  of  aims.  His  whoht 
ciliii'ation  was  th<M'efi)r(>  of  the  most  complete  military  cast. 
Ill'  scarcely  ever  heai'd  of  religion.  In  liis  boyhood,  he  wa3,  in 
rriirli,  more  familiar  with  the  tianies  of  Voltaire  and  Diderot 
liiun  with  the  sacred  names  of  Jesus  and  Mary.  His  father 
was  an  rinbili(>ver ;  nnd  an  iiilidel  education  had  darkened, 


'  f'liicf  niitlioritios  iisi-d  ;  S.  M.  Itrcnvnson, 
and  I'riiMt;"  Clni-kr,  "  Mrm.iir  of  (;  iKiiv.in  ;  ' 
of  llicC'iilinlic  (.'huith  lu  tlio  VuilyU  atuU's| 
liuili'O  Stales." 


"  r.ifo  of  ncmotrins  Aiicriis-flno  Oallitzln,   Tniioe 

■/Vo   r.i'/f>'k  Wort'l.  Vol.  T!.:  "  Popiilur  m.-tor./ 
'  Wliito,  ••  Sketch  of  Ihe  Cutbulic  cliiiroli  in  tUo 

765 


1     ' 

I: 

■i  « 

.1!;       ' 

K  ■ 


i'^ 


■i'ir'^^f 


:^,jj^!3- 


766        -P-^i  Timn  DEMinriuuin  ug  usTiys  gallitzix. 

if  not  destroyed,  the  faith  that  lighted  up  liis  mothoi'*s  c;iily 
years. 

The  Princess  Gallitzin  was,  in  the  hiijhest  sense,  a  Indvof 
rare  gifts,  one  whose  personal  attractions  were  onlv  si;r. 
jDassed  ]>y  her  beauties  of  niiiul  and  licart  ;  and  \\w  .\]- 
niiglity  in  His  own  good  time  mercifully  led  lier  l>;i('k  to  his 
Holy  Church.  In  1786,  after  a  severe  sickness,  and  years  of 
study  and  examination,  a  liglit  broke  in  upon  her  tioiilded 
soul — slie  again  became  a  Catholic. 

As  this  good  and  noble  mother  became  moreroligidus,  hep 
deep  anxiety  for  the  welfare  of  her  only  son  increased.  \\\^ 
lot  was  cast  in  wild  times.  ^hn\  laughed  at  reiiginn.  Inli- 
delity  was  daily  growing  in  boldness,  and  the  rund)le  of  ilie 
French  IJevolution  began  to  l)e  heard  over  Europe.  i)ii  the 
fourteenth  birthday  of  iJemetrius,  December  'i'i,  178-1,  she 
wrote  to  her  child: 

"lam  tilled  with  alternate  joy  and  terror  on  this  dnv. 
My  lirst  thought  on  awaking  thibi  morning  was  one  of  jov 
and  thanksgiving  that  Cod  had  given  you  to  me  ;  given  to 
me,  perhaps,  to  have  brought  into  the  woild  a  great,  pdod 
nian.  r)Ut  that  pkuiiaps  !  Here  a  second  thought  comes  to 
frighten  me.  'To-day,'  I  said  to  myself,  '  fourteen  years  li;ive 
passed  for  him,  and  O  Cod  I  he  is  still  entirely  without  will  or 
energy,  creeping  about  under  tlu^  iniluence  of  others  !' 

"This  painfid  thought  brought  on  anotliei'  —  still  more 
terribh^ — the  doubt  if  this  being  whoni  I  had  (•ani"(l  under 
my  heart,  v.ould  finally  be  accejttable  to  Cod.  and  eternally 
blessed,  or  wln^ther  he  would  continue  to  run  to  i)eixlifion, 
in  spite  of  the  excellent  gifts  which  the  Almighty  had  given 
that  he  might  become  the  best  ami  hapjiiest  of  men,  in 
spite  of  all  my  prayers,  warnings,  and  eiilrealics. 

"At  times  during  the  last  months  I  have  been  iillcd  widi 
better  liopes,  and  these.  1  f^Mly  admit,  have  not  now  alto- 
gether deserted  me,  only  they  are  dc^pressed  and  clouded 
by  the  worse  times  of  late,  and  bv  the  ever-recurjiiui' siciis 
of  the  slavish  submission,  wilh  which  you  again  give  your- 
self up  to  your  frightful  laziness  and  inactivity. 

"Beloved  Mitri,  oh!  would  to  God  that  to-day,  bein;^ yonr 


FATHER  DEjIETIUUS  AUOUSTLYE  GALLITZIX. 


7G7 


birtlulnj'',  reading  lliis  letter  yon  would  begin  anew  wiili  this 
— tluit,  i'eellng  for  your  slavish,  effeminate,  and  indolent  in- 
ertness, the  disgust  which  It  merits,  because  ol'  its  ruin  of  your 
happiness,  you  might  bo  lilled  with  dread  in  reviewing  the 
past,  and  fall  on  your  knees  to  invoke  him  for  the  conung 
time,  with  the  consciousness  that  you  have  now  at  least  re- 
solved with  your  whole  soul  to  act  in  future  as  a  freel)eing, 
who  know«  that  though  no  niiin  sees  him,  God  sees  him,  and 
calls  him  to  an  eternal  destiny. 

"O  my  ]\[itri,  in  this  expectation,  denrest  child,  T  throw 
myself  with  you  at  the  feet  of  otir  Father — kncH'ling  I  wiite 
it— and  cry  from  the  depths  of  my  heart :  Have  mercy  on 
liini  and  me  1" 

The  grace  of  God  and  the  labors  of  an  able,  pious,  and. 
earnest  mother  soon  })rought  about  the  desired  lesult.  Three 
years  after  the  foregoing  letter  was  iX'nned,  young  Demet- 
rius (xallitzin  entered  the  Church  of  ages.  The  Princess  was 
more  than  happy.  He  took  the  name  of  Augustine  in  con- 
finnntion,  to  i)lease  his  mother,  wlio  was  especially  devoted 
to  tliat  Great  Doctor  of  the  (Jiiurch,  because  of  the  similar- 
ity of  thti  maternal  love  with  Avhich  sln^  wept  and  lunyed 
for  iicr  son  to  that  of  St.  Monica,  of  wirich  lirr  friends  de- 
lighted to  remind  lier. 

deferring  to  his  own  conversion.  Father  Callitzin  after- 
wards wrote:   '"I  lived  during  lifteen  years  in  a  Catholic 

roiuitfy,  under  a  Catholic  government During  a 

great  i^art  of  this  tiun'  I  was  not  a  member  oi  the  Cath- 
olir  Chnrch.  An  intimacy  which  existed  between  our 
family  and  a  certain  celeln-ated  Fivnch  ])iiilosopliei'.  had 
produced  a  contempt  for  j-eligion.  IJai-ed  in  luvjudice 
acaiiist  IJevelation,  I  felt  every  disjiosition  to.  ridicule 
tlie->  very  principles  and  practices  which  I  have  since 
aclo]ited. 

''Dining  these  unfortiinato  years  of  my  infidelity,  par- 
ticidar  cai'e  was  tidveii  not  to  permii  any  clergymen  to  come 
lu-arine.  Thanks  to  the  God  of  iniiiiile  nieicy.  the  clouds 
of  inlidelity  were  dispersed,  and  r(>vel;!t!on  a(hdited  in  our 
familv.     I  soon  felt  convinced  of  the  necessity  of   investi- 


'Xt\ 


t        !■ 


".ir^il 


r.  r 


\  ;>;. 


Jtt... 


7G8 


FATIIKR  DEMETRIUS  AVGUSTIXI-:  GALLITZm. 


gating  fho  din'('r(Mit  religious  systems,  in  oi'dcr  to  find  the 
true  one.  AltlioMgh  1  was  boiii  a  nieniher  of  tlie  (ireck 
Churc-li,  and  altliougii  ail  my  male  relativ(is,  witlKjut  any 
exception,  were  eitiier  Greeks  or  Protestants,  yet  did  I  re- 
solve to  enil)ra('e  that  religion  only  wliicli  upon  impartial 
inquiry  should  appear  to  me  to  be  the  pure  religion  of 
Jesus  (Jhrist.  j\Jy  choice  fell  upon  the  ('allioli(;  Churcli 
and  at  the  age  of  about  seventeen  I  became  a  member  of 
that  Chuirh."' 

This  con\ei'sion  did  not  divert  tlie  young  T)(nnetrius  from 
the  niilitaiy  (-.ireer  whicli  iiis  father  wished  him  to  emlii'ace. 
Througli  tlie  inlluence  of  his  uncle.  Gen.  ^'on  Schmettau.  he 
received  an  appointment  in  the  early  part  of  ITiW  as  airJe. 
de-camp  to  tlie  Austi'ian  General  \'oii  Lillicii.  w]|m  coni- 
nianded  an  ainiy  in  Hrabant.  'J'his  was  at  tlj(;  opeiiiiic-  of 
the  first  campaign  against  the  Fren<;h. 

The  prince  was  tlum  in  his  twenty-second  year.  In  stat- 
ure he  was  tall  -about  live  feet  ten.  His  frame  was  slender 
but  vigorous,  [lis  Iriir  was  bhudi,  his  eyes  very  dark  and 
brillianr.  and  an  air  of  reserve  anddignity  seemed  to  throw 
a  chaini  over  his  handsome  person.  He  was  skilled  in 
handling  the  sword,  and  other  warlike  weapons  ;  and  as 
for  mnnaging  a  chaigi-r,  he  conld  ride  with  AlexandiT  the 
Great  himself.  iSuch  wiis  Demetrius  as  a  vouu'j'  niilitaiv 
officer. 

ThesuddtMi  divi'hof  the  Emperor  Leopold,  and  theassassi- 
nation  of  tin?  King  of  Sweden— acts  considf>red  as  the  in- 
famous worlvof  til"  Jacobins — induced  Austri  land  PiU'-siafo 
dismiss  all  the  foreigners  from  their  armies.  The  young  Piince 
Gallitzin  was  thus  suddenly  deprived  of  liis  niilirary 
position;  and  his  father  and  mother  advised  him  to 
travel  in  order  to  finish  his  education.  Il  was  decided  that 
he  shouhl  visit;  America,  study  its  institutions,  and  make, 
the  pei'sonal  acquaintance  of  Washington,  Jefferson,  and 
other  famous  men  of  that  day. 

A  giude  for  the  noble  young  traveller  was  found  in  the 
person  of  Eev.  Felix  Brosins,  a  young  pi-iesfc  and  i)rofes.sor 
of  mathematics, who  had  fm'med  the  resolution  of  M'oinw'  to 


lind  the 

lioui  any 
did  I  rc- 
iiiipaitiid 
rli.iiion  (if 
'  Cliiircli, 
leinber  of 

rins  rrom 
cMibnice. 
iiettau.  lie 
I  as  aif/e- 
ivlio  com- 
peiiiug  of 

In  stat- 

as  shMuler 

dark  and 

to  til  row 

skilled  in 

s  ;  and  as 

iiidci'  the 

military 

icassassi- 
is  tlif^  in- 
'rn^sia  to 
nu'  Piiiice 
military 
liiiti  to 
•idcd  that 
I  lid  iiiake 
I  SDH,  and 

lid  in  the 
iu'dft'ssor 
going  to 


FATHER  DEMETRIUS  AVGUSTIXE  Q\LLITZIN. 


761) 


the  rnited  States,  for  Avhirli  pnrposo  lie  had  spent  two  years 
gtudying  En^'lish.  He  was  to  act  tlie  part  of  a  I'lieiidly 
tutor.  It  was  the  wish  of  the  Piince.ss  that  Doiiietrius 
should  continue  his  study  of  the  scimces,  and  make  use  of 
them  in  his  observations  in  the  JS'ew  Workl. 

Letters  of  introduction  to  \Vas]iini!,ton  and  Bishop  Carroll 
were  at  once  procured.  It  was  decided  that  the  Prince 
should  travel  as  a  simple  gentleman — in  fact,  nnder  the  name 
of  Mr.  Augustine  Hvhind.  Before  sailing  a  grand  ball  was 
given,  and  the  young  traveller  it  is  told  "danced  from  dark 
till  daylight."'  It  was  his  htsf  dance.  The  hour  came  io 
say  adieu,  and  his  boyish  heart  fluttered.  As  he  stood  on 
the  edge  of  the  pier,  a  misstep  sent  him  plunging  into  the 
briny  deep,  in  his  mother's  pi-esence.  But  he  was  a  good 
swimmer  and  v*as  soon  pi(d\ed  up  by  the  boat  which  carried 
him  to  the  vessel — a  sailing-vessel.  Old  ocean  began  to  de- 
velop unknown  powers  in  the  soul  (>f  Demetrius  Augustine 
Gallitzin,  even  as  he  gazed  on  the  fading  wave-beaten  shores 
of  Europe,  in  August,  1792. 


H, 


!lM': 


CHAPTER  II. 

TniO   YOUXO    I'UIXCK-PrjEST. 

First  f?rff/.<;  hi  Amcrim—lVew  and  hUjlier  tJioiuihfm—Tn  tU 
seminur;!— Ordained  to  Ihe.jyrieHlhood—Falhir  (lullH. 
zin  /.v  sent  on  a  .sini/iiJar  ttiission.  ta  yir;/inia — "^/raia/e 
rirnts — Adam  Liring.ston  and  //is  lro>d>JcH—Wh,if  f,J. 
lowed— Father  Cahill—iJaptain  MvGuirc  —  (jlaU'Uziii 
founds  a  Vatholic  colony. 


Two  iiiontlis  find  n  linlf  iiftor  bidding  ndien  to  Lis  moth 


pr 


in 


%m 


on  tlie  i)iers  of  liottcidimi,  young  Piince  (''iillitziu  \\\ 
Bnltimoiv.  In  company  with  the  Eev.  Mr.  Bro.siiis.  ]h 
jn'esentcd  liis  letter  of  inti'oduction  to  Ijislioj)  Cano]].  The 
jii'clatH  rcceivfd  liiin  witli  t'very  mark  of  ]\indn('.ss,  and  pro- 
(Mircd  liim  cordial  welcome  in  numy  of  the  most  chaniiiii'' 
Ealtimore  lionies. 

Tlie  Iviiid-hearted  Bishop  also  otrered  the  yonn.ir  traveller 
lettei's  to  families  in  Philadi'][)lii;i  and  other  cities.  Deme- 
Irius  remained  a  little  while  loojdnu-abonr  P>altiiiiore,  '-Jiav- 
ing."  as  he  said  himself,  "nothing  in  view  but  to  ])iusiie 
hisjonrupy  tlirough  the  States,  and  to  qualify  himsHlf  for  liis 
original  voc;irion."  Tie  met  with  notliiug  but  kindness.  Me  ^H 
saw  an  active,  energetic  people  full  of  Irankness,  Nor  did 
lie  fail  to  appi'eciate  the  Aiuerican  chai'acter,  and  llie  cir- 
cumstam.'i's  ol'  the  new  counli'y.  He  beheld  a  land  of  jience 
and  plenty— with  ti  vast  spii'itnal  lield,  and  few  laborers, 
A  new  light  shed  its  rays  on  his  mind.  It  was  f nnn  He;! ven. 
He  no  longer  tlionght  of  his  travelling  tour.  The  work  of 
his  life  took  form  in  his  manly  soul,  and  he  offered  his  ser- 
vices to  Bishop  Carroll. 


V/i 


FATiiKii  DKMKTinis  Acai'sT/xr:  (lAr.Lrr/jy. 


Ill 


Witliouf  dcliij-.  llio  yoiiim'  Piiiicc  T'cirini  liis  tlicolduicnl 
stiulics  in  llic  l)iit  icccnily  i'oimdt'cl  Ja'cminarf/o/  >S/.  i^uljiice,' 
at  Biilfiinorc  ;  iuid  iifh  r  iiciirly  ilircH  ycajs  of  dilin'ciif  study 
and  tilt'  iiiosr  ('xciiipiMiT  ('(iiiducf,  tlic  utcjiI  day  ciiiiic  around. 
It  was  tliH  IStiiot'  Marcii,  171).").  Tlic  raiidi(lat(' was  in  his 
twenty-til'tli  year.  IJishop  ('anoll.  with  innxpi-nssiblo  emo- 
tion, i-aist'd  inni  to  tliat  holy  dignity  in  wiiicli  lie  was  to  be 
aprit'st  i'oi't'vpr  and  rornvcr.' 

The  youii^'  priest  (h'sii'cd  to  remain  in  t]ie<]uict,  liajipy  se- 
clusion of  the  Sen)inary,  and,  at  his  own  earnest  reqnest,  ob- 
tained admission  as  a  nieiiil)er  cpf  tlie  I'riests  of  St.  Snl])iee.' 
Bisiiop  ('arroll,  however,  coidd  not  di^peiist.'  wii  li  his  services. 
After  laiioriiig  in  lialtimore  and  various  countiy  jilaces  in 
Maryland,  Kai  her  (Jail  it/in,  in  t  lie  summer  of  1707,  was  sent  on 
a sins'idar  mission  to  \  irgiuia.  iiepoifsof  mystei  ions  events 
occurriiig  theic.  had  sprt^ad  over  the  ((.untry.  and  lie  v.as  de- 
puted to  hold  an  investigation  as  to  their  truth,  lie  sjx'iit 
from  September  to  (Jhristnias  in  mailing  a  rigid  examina- 
tion. ">'o  lawyer  in  a  court  of  justice,"'  he  wrote  to  a 
friend,  "did  ever  examine  and  cross-evan;ine  uiinesses 
more  than  1  <lid."  Al'  lirst,  the  young  [u-ince-iuiest  |i]aeed 
no  faith  in  the  I'eports  ;  but  the  nunc  he  investigated,  the 
more  he  soon  (ume  to  a  full  belief  in  the  tiulh  (jf  what  he 
saw  and  heard. 

These  singular  events^  are  full  of  interest  and  instrnclion, 
and  servt>  to  illustrate  the  fanious  saying  of  St.  Thomas 
Aquinas,  that,  "if  necessary,  (lod  would  stud  an  angel  to 
instruct  thosi^  who  sinceiely  seek  llu^  tine  Faith."'  'IT.ey 
occurivd   at  ('lipton,  neai'   r^lartiusburg,   A'irginia.     ]/iving 


iTho  So'Tirmrv  of  St.  S"lntri'  is  llio  (il<li'st  Ciithnlic  iiisliliil'oii  of  tlic  kind  in  ilio  I'nitoil 
Statoi.  li  \v;is  fonrdid  'n  i;!1l  liy  l!ir  I!i'V.  rriituis  Cliiiilcs  Xnirot,  S.S..  imd  throo  prirsts  of  llie 
Swiftynf  St.  Siiliiicc.  I'l  lSj-.>  111!'  Holy  S<>c  vm'mmI  it  to  Hi"  rnnU  of  "  CallioMf  Tlilvorsity,  wilh 
IMwcrtn  -r-nnt  di-jioc-:  in  tlirolocy  nml  \\v  HiiriHi--.  Tlii-  \rini;il'lo  seniinnry  Ofiiinii'8  a  con- 
tnl  po-ltlon  in  Halllrnorc.  nnd  is  onr  of  ilic  iittiiU-tion«  of  llio  "  .Moiiur.ii/utiil  C'ily."  It  liim  a 
finelilimry  cont.iliiiii;:  n'lioiit  -rsiW  volnincs.    Tin-  Mi[iorior  is  Vory  \1r\-.  A.  M,i;.'iiiiii.  S.S..  D  D. 

'Fiitliir  St('|ilvn  Itidin  wns  llir  llr-t  jiri.-t  ord.iin-d  in  llio  t'nitcd  St:'tcs,  Imi  he  wiis  a  -Icncou 
l)pfnreli'!i\iii^-  liis  niitivc  I'miicc.  iNilluTtiiiHitzin.  liow  ever,  was  the  «(■(>/«•' oi'dium.'d,  but  the >■«< 
who  WHS  all  ouis— •■  oni->  from  tlio  tir.-t  imfru  of  liis  tln'oioi:y."' 

'  Many  yonrs  after  lie  qiiii-tly  withdrew  from  tlic  Society  of  St.  Snipice. 

Torn  full  ncconnt  of  tlicni.  soo  tlic  "  Life  of  T'rince  G;illil;'in,"  liy  y-.m]-.  M.  Biwvnson.  It  is 
Ik'autifiil  Hork,  and  liy  iiir  ilie  bcft  bio-iaphi  'f  Hic  I'nnce  ever  \.ii(teii. 


fr 


■1] 

1 

773 


FATHER  BEMETIiJCS  AUGUSTL\E  GALLTTZIX. 


there  was  Adam  Livinirston,  a  Protestant-,  and  an  linnpsf 
industrious  favnier.  All  at  onee.  lie  felt  the  IVowiis  ot'  mis- 
fortune.  In  some  mysterious  way,  evei-ytliin;;'  s(M'nied  to  n-o 
agfrinst  him.  His  barns  were  burned  down,  jiis  calth-  (li(>(| 
the  clothing  of  the  family  w.1.5  destroyed  by  fijo  ())•  ,.u(-  „p 
into  little  pieces,  dishes  and  crockery  weie  Inokcn,  tlin 
furniture  often  moved  nbont  the  rooms — in  slioit.  Satan  iuv 
peared  to  lie  playing  the  most  malicious  tricks  aiuiind  tlio 
premises  of  Mr.   Livi'.igston. 

Ministers  of  all  p-^r.<uasions  were  sent  for,  but  tli(>  o\ilone 
laughed  at  their  etVorts.  At  lengtli,  in  order  to  free  the  Ikhiso 
from  its  annoyances,  several  men  came  ficim  "Winclicstcr. 
They  were  well  armed.  No  sotiner,  liowevei',  had  I  hey  en- 
tered the  residence  than  a  huge  stone  was  seen  to  issue  iVnm 
the  iire-])lace,  and  whirl  round  uiiou  the  lloor  for  nioie  than 
fifteen  ininutes,  when  the  gentlemen  gladly  sneaked  awav. 
ITaving  also  applied  to  three  conjurei's,  tliey  gave  Jiini  some 
herbs,  a  book  ("(-onimon  Prayer"),  and  a  ri(hll<>.  l>y  way 
of  catching  the  devil.  The  very  tii'st  uiglit,  the  hool^  and 
herbs  were  found  in  a  very  ignominous  ])i<'ce  (  f  chnniher- 
furnitiue,  which  was  covei'cd  with  tli'e  riddh^I 

In  the  midst  of  this  misery,  ^Iv.  Livingston  had  a  veryre- 
nuirkabie  dream.  He  seemed  to  toil  uj)  a  steep  riiouiiiain. 
At  the  top  was  a  clnireh,  in  which  he  lieheltl  a  jiiaii  ciiii- 
ousl;,  dressetk  "This  is  the  man,"  said  a  voice,  "wliowill 
brini:  you  relief."  He  relattnl  his  dream,  and  was  told  tliiit 
Catholic  pi'iesrs  wore  adi'ess  similar  to  wliat  he  had  seen  in 
dream  land.  Hewishevl  to  see  a  priest.  Along,  weaiy  jeur- 
ney  lirought  him  to  an  humble  cliui'ch.  Ib^  entei'oil.  loolscd 
at  the  clergyman,  and  exclaimed  ahuid  :  '"'Hie  vny  niiMi 
I  saw  in  mv  dreaml"'  Tt  was  Fathei'  Denis  Cahill.  a  hardv, 
zealous  Irish  nnssionary. 

Father  Cahill— not.  however,  without  a  gfxid  deal  ( f  [ht- 
suasion — went  with  Ijivingstou,  and  beJKdil  clear  evliiinccs 
of  the  ti'utli  of  the  farmer's  stoi'y.  ile  sprinkled  tlie  liousn 
with  holy  water,  and  tluMi  went  his  way. 

Itwas  soon  after  this  that  the  disturbances  recojninenccd, 
and  that  Father  Gallitzin  was  sent  to  investigate,    lie  tleter- 


• 


ini  linnopt,  • 
^'iis  (if  iiiis- 
i'TihmI  to  go 
•at tie  diocl, 
^  or  cut  up 
rol'if  n.  tlifi 
'.  Satnn  ap- 
iiuiiiid  the 

tlu'  f'vil  ono 
'<'  till'  Imuse 
\'iiiclifster. 
1(1  Ilii'V  cn- 
Hssuc  from 
r  iiiniv  than 
il\i'(l  away, 
o  liini  some 
die,  I'v  way 
e  book  and 
d'  (duiniber- 

id  a  vf^ryre- 

)  ;iiouiit;nii. 

utau  <'i'.i'i- 

■'  \',  1,0  will 

iis  tdl'i  tliiit 

liad  si'ciiin 

ucai  y  jniir- 

•fd.  liiokt'd 

very   UKMl 

11.  a  liardy, 
d(\'il  (  f  V'y- 

W    cviiifUCC-^ 
lin'   llOllS:) 

•OlTllllI'llCPlI, 

1I(>  deter- 


FATHER  DEMETRIUS  AUGUSTINE  GALLITZIN. 


in 


mined,  once  for  all,  to  exorcise  the  evil  spirits ;  but  no 
soonei' luid  lie  b(\L,nin  to  recite  the  prayers,  than  the  noise 
that  issued  froni  every  side  nuide  him  ikmvous.  lie  stopped, 
went  for  Father  CaluU,  and  the  Irish  priest  finished  the  af- 
fair, lie  said  !Mass  in  llu^  house,  and  the  annoyance  ceased. 
The  Li  vine's  tons  became  jiious  Catholics,  and  fourteen  per- 
sons were  converted  by  thes(^  sn]>evn!itural  occurrences. 

Having  con'duded  his  Vii'iiinia  investiuations,  the  yontli- 
ful  Father  Gailit/in  once  nn)re  beuan  his  /oalous  ]:d)ors  in 
the  nussions  of  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania.  Full  cd'  zeal, 
ftiid  intensely  Catholic  in  heart  and  soul.  th<'  prince-priest, 
was  slnxdved  at  the  nn-Catholic  sjdi'itthat  reiuiied  among' his 
congregations.  If  these  people  believed  in  the  docti'ines  of 
theChnr(di.  they  would  gladly  hav(^  her  authority  I'educed 
tozei'o— if  not  further!  A  vulgar  arrogance,  based  on  ignor- 
ance, had  possession  (d"  not  a  few  minds.  Almost  too  i)re- 
snnip'uous  to  receive  instruciion.  and  too  ignorant  to  be 
hund)le,  they  had  lost  that  gi'and  and  simple  F.iitli  w  liiidi  en- 
al)les  man  to  yi(dd  a  noble  obedience  to  (''od  :nil  le'igion. 
What  tliev  lacked  in  solid knowledi^e.  howmcr,  was  abund- 
antly supplied  by  loose  fancies  and  religious  whims,  de- 
rived from  their  lieretical  neighbors.  For  Hum  libeity 
meant  license,  ami  all  law  was  oppi'ession.  The  coniinual 
interference  of  smdi  men,  and  theii'  dictaii<.n  in  Church 
matreiN,  were  an  abiunination  to  the  apostolic  (Jj^llitzin. 

Bui  not  one  of  these  nu^ntal  curiosities  and  nioial  dwarfs 
was  the  brave  Caidain  ]\Ic(iuire,  a  good  Irish  Catholic,  and 
adistinguisiied  (dlicer  of  the  IJevolution.  After  the  War  of 
Iiidejiendence,  he  I'esided  in  Maryland  ;  and  ludrig  a  great 
liiintcr.  he  often  piMietrared  into  the  "jjrimeval  foicsts  of 
western  Pennsylvania.  The  sound  of  his  riile  was  frequently 
echoed  by  the  most  distant  of  the  Alleiihimies.  Cn  tin'  veiy 
Mimndl  of  this  lofty  ramie,  inwhatis  now  Candiria  county, 
lie  bought  a  large  tract  of  country,  and  went  there  with  his 
family  to  reside,  in  1788.  The  pious  (.'aplain  lost  no  tiniein 
providing  for  tlu!  (Church— for  which  his  wonderful  faith 
alone  could  have  given  him  liopes— and  generously  made 
over  four  hundred  acres  of  land  to  Ijishop  Carroll,  who  hud 


i.; 


,%, 


i"i 


1               i  ' 

J 

774  ■f'-l TIIER  DEMETEIUS  A  UG  USTIXE  GA I.Ll  T/JX. 

just  tlion  returned  to  tlie  United  Stiites.  til'tei'  liis  cin^cc  ration 
Here  a  (..'atliolic  setllenieni  soou))e,i;!ni  ro  ferin.  \n\<{  its  mem, 
bers  hecamn  urgent  in  tlieii*  requests  for  a  lesiili-nt  j.ijest. 

Marvellous  are  file  ways  of  Alniiiiliiy  (iod  :  l''iitli(i' (ial- 
litziu  liad  long  clierislied  the  idea  of  J'ouiidiii;';  a  coiiuinjiiiiv 
of  Catholic  settlers  insonie  i-eniote  sjtoi.  far  I'riii.ivid  fromtlie 
busy  haunts  of  ukmt  and  tlu>  coutagiou  of  wan  dm'  scofs  • 
whore  they  could  live  in  r.i'iniitive  })eace  ami  siiii|iiicirv; 
where?  (lie  stream  of  Ivnowle-lgM  woiihl  nor  be  inrcrird  l)vti/ 
putrid  waters  oi'  vice  ;  and  where  lieligion  coiihl  jt  io-n  „^ 
queen  ! 

He  liad  once  visited  ^McrTuii'c's  setth'-aenl  oji  ;i  nussion 
of  charity.  The  thoughr  slrncf;  him  tiiat  (Id-,  v,(,uld  he  the 
place  to  carry  out  his  admirahh^  (h'si^'n  ;  and  w  h'-a  Mienudd 
peo[)le  petitioned  ]5ishop  C-'ari'oU  for  a  pi'icst,  Mi-y  ncih  tli(i 
letter  (iii-oiigh  Fathei"  Gallitzin.  begging  loi-  him  to  use  liis 
iniluence  in  getting  tlinmone— if  jH)ssil)](\  to  ,•(  aie  hiiiisel*" 
among  them.  He  made  tin  ir  |ietit'o!i  his  ov,n.  "  Wun' re 
quest/' writes  ]lisho]>  Carr-oil  io  him.  "is  iiiar.i'-d.  1  ivadilv 
conseiH  to  your  ]>!'op  isal  to  takecharu'e  of  th<' ci  ngieuatioiis 
detailed  in  your  letter  ;  and  hope  that  yon  will  l:a\i'  a  house 
built  on  the  land  granred  by  Mr.  .McCJuiic.  ;iiid  alirndyset- 
tled  ;  or  if  more  convenient,  on  youi'  own,  if  you  iniciid  to 
keep  it." 

In  the  wishes  of  these  d(Woted  ]v>()pli»,  and  thesnncdencil' 
liis  veuei'able  jjisliop,  Fathei-  llallit/.in  riM'ogin/.cd  i  he  call  of 
God.  He  resolved,  in  the  midst  of  this  Catholic  nncleiis.  to 
estaldisli  a,  p.eimann'nt  colony,  which,  he  di  stiiied  in  his 
;..ind  as  the  ceidr<'  ui  his  missions.  S(ncral  y^y<v  .Mai'/laiid 
familii'^:,  whf)se  alVections  lie  had  won.  dcteiiii'tn  d  tn  loHow 
him  :  an  1.  in  the  summer  of  1700.  he  took  up  his  litie  of 
martdi.  h'rom  Maryland  they  ti'avidhwl  wiih  tlitirhict^s 
turned  to  the  ranges  of  die  Alhghaiiy  Momitaitis.  it  was  a 
rough  and  ti'yiiig  journey.  The  jiatient  iiavijh  r-  hewed 
their  way  tli rough  the  pi-imitive  foicst^s.  burdened  .-ii  ihesaitic 
time  with  all  their  worldly  goods.  As  so*  n  as  the  mhiiII 
caravan  had  reacdied  its  new  liome.  (»allil/'a  loo!';  )>(».sses- 
eiou  of  this,  as  it   were,  conquered  land.     \\'iil;our  los^  (»f 


-^^.ih: 


'i  '  \'\ 


TATIIER  D!-:][ET!UUS  AUar.<TIM-:  CALLITZIX. 


775 


\m\ 


time  fill  tlie  spfHers  nddrfssed  tln'iusclvcs  to  tlip  work  be- 
fore tliem,  and  toiled  so  /ealoiisly  that  before  the  end  of 
tlie  year  they  had  a  little  church  erected. 

Oiif:  of  the  clearings  of  these  untrodden  forests  rose  np 
tAvu  buildings,  constructed  out  of  tlie  trunks  f>f  rongliiy- 
liewn  trees;  of  these  one  -was  intended  for  a  cliurcli— the 
otlu'i' a  presbytery  for  their  i)astor.  On  Christmas  eve  of 
the  year  of  1790,  there  was  nt)t  a  winking  eye  in  tl.'e  little 
colony.  And  well  there  niigiit  not  be  !  The  new  clnirch, 
deckt'fl  with  pine,  and  laurel,  and  ivy  leaves,  and  blazing 
ivitli  such  lights!  as  the  scant  nu'ans  of  the  failld'iil  could  af- 
fonl,  was  awaiting  its  consecr:itioh  to  the  woisliip  of  God! 

There  (Tallitziii  offered  \\\)  the  first  IMass.  to  the  grent  edi- 
'Ication  of  his  Hock,  that,  altliout;h  nia(i(>  up  of  l.'atholics, 
had  never  witnessed  such  a,  solemnity;  and  to  the  gi'eac 
astonishment  of  a  few  Indians,  who  had  nevei-  in  iheii'  lives 
dreamed  of  such  a  wondei-ful  Cf^i'emony.  'riiusit:sas.  that 
on  a  spot  in  which,  scarcely  a  year  i)i'(>vi(iMs,  silence  had 
reigned  over  vast  sol  it  ud(^s,  a  Priiu-e.  thcncetorwaid  cutoff 
from  e'  ery  other  counti-y,  \v\i\  ojx'ued  a  new  one  to  ])ilgrinis 
from  all  nations,  and  that  from  ihe  wastes  wlii<"li  eclioed  no 
Sduiidsbut  the  bowlings  of  the  wild  beasts,  thcrf  went  uj)tho 
divine  snog,  (llor'ni  hi  Exeolsis  Deo.  Thus  beuau  that 
eloriousCatholic  settlement  in  West(un  renns\lvaiua.  which 
was  destined  to  grow  and  llourish  like  abeautifal  aiountaiU' 
flower  iu  the  midst  of  the  wildernusa! 


!     iL     I 


It  lliesiuiit! 


ii   *» 


^^ i!'.. 


CHAPTER  III. 

AN   APOSTLE   A'l    MOllK. 

State  of  Fatlier  Gcdiitziiis  colony— The  Pastofs  toils— 
Loretlo — Tlie  Prince  ami  his  sister — Laboring  late  and 
earlij  in  the  vinei/ard  of  the  Lord — A  priest  (f  order 
and  discipline — ^1*'  a  preacher — ^'■PJoeri/oite  kneels  here'' 
— Father  Oallitzin  and.  his  relndic  to  a.  Protectant  lachj 
in  charch  —  Her  concersion,  after icards  —  Many  con- 
versions— P\dher  (ilallilzin  as  a  writer — Ills  /iospilal- 
ity — ^1  forest  scene— Beath  of  the  yreat  ■niissionary— 
Anecdotes — Demtion  to  the  Blessed  Virgin. 

In  the  spring  of  1800,  Fatlier  (J nllitzin's  congregation  con- 
sisted of  about  forty  families,  and  the  number  was  rapidly  in- 
creasing. "I  have  now,  thanks  be  to  God,'"  he  said,  "a 
little  home  of  my  own,  for  the  first  time  since  I  came  to  this 
country,  and  God  grant  that  I  may  be  able  to  keep  it." 

The  whole  cost  of  his  colonization— s})iritual  and  material- 
was  borne  by  the  princely  pastor.  He  lived  on  the  farm  whidi 
the  generous  Gaptain  McGuire  had  given  for  the  sei'vice  df 
theCliurch.  J3ut  in  order  to  attract  immigration  around  him 
he  bought  vast  tracts  of  land,  which  he  sold  in  farms  at  :i 
low  rate,  or  even  gav(»  to  the  ])oor.  lelying  on  his  patrimony 
to  meet  his  engagements.  The  wilderness  soon  put  on  anew 
aspect.  The  settlers  followc^l  the  im])ulses  of  the  great  mis- 
sionary, who  kept  steadfastly  in  view  the  im])rovement  of 
his  work.  Ilis  lirst  care  was  to  get  up  a  grist-mill;  then 
arose  numerous  out  buildings;  additional  property  wtis  pur 
chased,  and  in  a  short  time  i  lie  colony  grew  in  extent  nnd  pros- 

776 


1, 


ri 


tofs  toils— 
ing  late  and 
ie.st  of  order 
kiiw.lshere' 
testant  lad;/ 
-21a II y  con- 
n.s  ho,spi(al- 
ilasloiiary— 

re,e;ati()n  oon- 

us  rapidly  in- 

he  said,  "a 

came  to  tins 

eoj)  it." 

id  material— 

p  I'arra  which 

le  service  (it 

around  him 

II  farms  at  a 

s  patrim  )ay 

pu^  on  a  new 

i(>  great  mis- 

■ovenient  o[ 

t mill;  then 

It y  was  pur 

'Ut  and  pros- 


)r( 


776 


FATHER  JJEMinTdU:s  AUGUSTINE  GALUTZiy. 


II 


perlty.  Alari^opart  of  liisowti  land  lie  laid  out  for  a  town, 
;iiid  named  it  Loi'vtto;  the  remainder  lie  cleared  I'oi-  tin."  use 
(if  till'  Cliureh,  tile  priests  who  siiould  succeed  him,  and 
^uch  institutions  as  should  in  time  arise. 

In  carryin.'j,"  out  his  wdi'k,  the  jiiince-priest  received  mate- 
rial assistance  from  Kiirope.  At  lirst,  sums  of  money  were 
ifiiiilarly  remitted  to  him  by  hi.->  mother.  AVilh  lu'r  he 
l\ei>r  up  a  foiul  c()rresp()n(h-'nce,  which  his  ,i;-reat  love  For  her 
Midered  one  of  the  consolations  of  his  life.  But  he  lost 
this  udixl  and  tender  parent  in  ]8(iO. 

The  Knipei'or  of  Russia  could  not  pardfm  the  son  of  a 
TJussiau  I'l'iiu-e  for  l)ecoinin,2:  a  (Catholic  priest,  and  in  1808 
the  nol)le  missionary  received  from  a  friend  in  Eui'ope  a 
letter  saying: 

"The  question  of  youi- ri,ii'hts.  and  those  of  the  Pi'inct^ss, 
vour  sister,  as  to  your  father's  iiroi)erty  in  Russia,  has  bet  n 
examined  by  th^  Senate  of  St.  PetHrsburu',  and  it  lias  dr 
cidcd  rliat  by  reason  of  your  C'atholic  failli.  and  your  ecide- 
siastical  ju'ob^ssion,  you  cannot  lie  admitted  to  a  sliari-  of 
vdur  late  father's  ]troj)c!iy.  Vour  sister  is  conse(]iifnlly 
s'lle  heiress  of  the  property,  and  is  soon  to  be  jiut  in  jtosses- 
sinii  (,f  it.  The  Coiiiieil  of  State  has  conllrmed  (he  decision 
ni'  the  S«'nat(v  and  thy  Emperor  by  his  sanction  has  given  it; 
till'  force  of  1;  u'." 

^Vliting  to  lii'r  brother,  fin'  Princess  l^fnria  said:  "  Ymi 
may  be  j)erfectly  easy.  1  shall  divide  with  you  faithfully, 
iis  I  am  certain  you  would  with  me.  Siudi  was  the  will  of 
oiir  <leceased  father,  and  of  our  dearest  niothei';  and  smdi 
iilso  will  be  the  desire  of  my  alTectioiiate  love  and  devoted- 
iii'ss  towards  you,  my  dfai'est  brother.'' 

When  the  Princess  maiaied  the  inscdvfmt  Prince  of  S;dm, 
sliM  said  no  more  about  remittances.  He  cared  not  for 
wealth,  save  to  aid  tlu^  ])oor.  the  unfoi'tunate.  <u'  iherhui'cdi. 
••If  he  had  possesscnl  ;i  heart  <d'  gold,"  said  oiit^  who  kinw^ 
liini  w(dl,  '' In^  would  have  giviMi  it  to  the  iinfori tinate."' 
lie  was  up  before  the  sun.  Fasting,  he  rode  along  the 
wild  ]iathways  of  the  forest,  that  were  ofleiier  jtressed  by 
the  wolf  and  the  bear  than  bv  the   steps   of  any  human 


it^'. 


778 


FATTIER  DEMETRIUS  AUGUSTINE  GALLITZIX. 


Wl 


being.     The  wrafh  of  the  storm  orten  brf)ke  ov^^' his  devoted 
head.     Then,  wlien  ln'  reached  someoiit-orrlie-way  clnucn 
cinie    tlie    same   roniitl   of    duties    as   befoce— coni'i'ssinn 
Mass,  baptisms,  mari-iages,  f  uuerals,  exhortations,  and,  lu.st 
of  all,  another  h)ng  journey. 

In  his  cliurch  at  Loretto  everything  moved  witli  \]\pt 
nicest  exactness.  He  was  a  lover  of  oi'der.  At  his  Sundiiy 
Mass  he  i)reac]ied  two  seruions — one  in  English,'  anotlipriu 
German.  French,  liowever,  was  liis  mother-tongue,  lie  was  a 
master  of  English,  but  he  did  not  speak  Gernnin  very  well. 
His  sermons  were  simplicity  itself,  ever  suited  to  the  times 
circumstances,  and  needs  of  his  people. 

He  was  very  severe  on  anything  that  savored  of  inever- 
ence  in  church.  It  was  the  house  of  (xod,  and  it:  mud  by 
respected.  Once  a  Protestant  srood  in  the  crowded  edifice, 
gazed  ai'ound,  and  seemingly  viewed  the  prayerful  coiiiiTo. 
gation  with  disgust.  A  hand  gently  toueiied  his  shoulder 
and  he  heard  the  words:  ''Every  one  kneels  here."  He 
knelt  instantly,  for  it  was  tlie  [):istor  of  Loretto  ihat  spoke. 

On  one  occasion,  however,  he  did  not  meet  with  .^iich 
ready  oI)edieuce.  A  member  of  his  congregation  had  iiisu- 
ried  a  Protestant  lady.  She  accompanied  her  hushaiul  to 
church,  but  did  not  kneel.  She  stood,  ami  her  hu'ge  ti<rnre 
Avas  conspicuous.  Mass  we?it  on.  IVfany  good  people 
trend}led,  for  tliey  felt  that  a  ivbuke,  swift  and  terrible,  wns 
coming.  Father  Gallitzin  was  silent  until  he  tui'nedinoinid 
to  give  Holy  Cou'miinion.  ''  Kneel  down,  woinitn-kiiiMl 
down  !"  he  said,  in  a  low  voice.  But  she  did  not  kne(d.  An 
instant  passed  ;  the  prince's  black  eyes  seemed  tolliislitin', 
and  in  a  voice  of  thunder  he  exclaiuKMl :  "  Woman, /wf^? 
(loicn  .'■'  The  words  shook  the  very  (diurtdi,  and  it  need 
liardly  be  rMlded  that  the  lady  dro^^ped  on  her  knees. 

Six  UKuitlis  r()lled  by.  One  day  a  lady  appeared  at  tlio 
door  of  Father  Gallitzins  house.  He  received  hev kindly, 
and  she  told  him  she  was  the  person  he  had  onc*^  coin- 
manded  to  kneel.     He  smiled.      They  conversed  for  awhile. 

'  1m  11  liUcrdaU'C   lti06,  FulJu-r  UaUiUuj  suites  that,  "tUu  ;,r9ftlo.-l  |uirt  uf  Un.' cuii^iw-atiw," 
WMlrutb. 


TZIX. 

-\\;iy  cliuirn, 
— <'<)nrt'.ssi()i^ 
oils,  ami,  lu.st 

('(1  Willi  file 
-this  Sunday 
1,'  anotlipriu 
lie.  Up  was  a 
III  very  well, 
to  the  times, 

cl  of  ii'i'ever- 

I  it  must  he 

Wiled  edifice, 

nfid  coiio'i'e, 

his  sliouldep 

here."     He 

that  spoke. 

't  with  ^\\y\\ 

on  had  iiiar- 

hns])and  to 

]aj',u'e  ti.irnre 

a;ood   peo]ile 

terrible,  was 

ii-nedaioimd 

miaii— kneel 

^t  kneel.  An 

t(i  tlaslilire, 

oman,  lincel 

and  it  need 

vHe'es. 

ejired  at  the 

licr  kindly, 

once  coia- 

i  for  awhile. 

till.'  toii-roi,'ati%" 


r 


FATIIEn  DEMETRIl'S  AUGU.STIXE  dATJATZIX. 


(7!) 


"Thavecome  to  be  received  into  the  (Mnirch,"'  she  observed, 
after  a  pause.  "I  liave  told  nolxxly.  I  believed  fho 
('arli(dic  religion  to  be  the  true  reli.uion,  from  the  uionieTit 
you  toM  lue  to  kneel  that  day  in  chureli."  She  became  a, 
c'ood  Catholic. 

A';  an  author  Father  Cfallitzin  stands  hi,uh  even  to-daj-. 
\\\  this  century  he  was  the  pioneer  champion  of  the  Ciiurch 
ill  the  United  States  ;  the  first  to  use  Jii.s  intellectual  slpd,u;e- 
haaimer  on  the  cast-iron  skull  of  bi>i-otry.  His  chief  woiks 
aie  ••  Defence  of  Catholic  principles,"  and  "  Letters  on  the 
Holy  Scriptures."  Again  and  again  have  these  vcdumes 
been  issued,  and  it  is  litei-ally  correct  to  say  that  they 
have  instructed  three  generations.  They  have  been  trans- 
lated into  French  and  German,  and  widely  ciiculated  in 
France.  Germany,  f^ngland,  Irehind.  and  all  over  our  own 
Republic.  As  a  writer  the  prince-priest  was  remarkably  clear, 
forcible,  witty,  pointed,  and,  above  all,  logical.  He  wielded 
a  siuH'p  and  powerful  pen. 

We  have  a  graphic  pictiire  of  the  venerable  inissinnnry's 
npiM'arance  on  one  of  his  forest  journeys,  Avhen  he  had 
readied  his  sixty-fourtli  year.  For  it  we  are  indebted  to  the 
]m\  of  ]iev.  Fatlier  Lenicke,  O.S.B.,  afterwards  his  siic- 
le^sor.  In  the  summer  of  18IJ4,  the  good  Father  was  sent 
from  Philadelphia  to  tlie  assistance  of  the  aged  prince- 
priest.  After  several  days  of  rough  travel  he  reached  ]\[nn- 
srer.  a  village  some  miles  from  Loretto.  Here  Fatlier  Lemcke 
procured  an  Irish  lad  to  pilot  him  on  his  way. 

"As  w^e  had  gone,"  he  says,  *'  a  couple  of  nules  thrcnigh 
rill'  woods,  I  caught  sight  of  a  sled  drawn  by  a  pair  of  vig- 
oidiis  horses,  and  in  the  sled  a  halfrecumbeiit  ti'aveller,  in 
•very  lineament  of  wdiose  face  could  be  read  a  chaiticter  of 
;!i-tinction.  He  was  outwardly  dressed  in  a  thread-bar<! 
overcoat,  and  on  his  head  a  peasant's  hat,  so  woi'n  and  di- 
lapidated tliat  no  one  wouhl  have  resciu^<l  it  from  tiie  garbage 
of  the  streets.  It  occurred  to  me  that  seme  accident  had, 
happened  to  the  old  gentleman,  and  that  he  was  comjKdled 
\'\  resort  to  this  singular  mode  of  conveyance.  While  1  w^is 
taxiwg  my  brain  lor  a  satisfactory  solution  of  this  x)iobleni. 


I     I 


I  M'    1 


i-y 


i  i' 


■  !!:  f 
ill  i- 


H    :  :  1^ 


1    ;: .  f 

:        1  i  : 

i„A' 


rso 


FATIIF.n  DKMF.TPjrs  AU<! ISTLM-:  OALL/TZIX. 


Tdiii,  my  gtiidf,  wlio  was  Irottiiiij;  aln^vd,  tiinicd  idimd  r^^A 
poiiitiu^i^  to  tli(i  old  ni.'in,  said:   '•'Here  vonn.s  (lie piicsiy' 

1  iiniiu'diattdy  coaxod  up  my  nag  to  llu,'  slfd.  '-Aic  von 
really  tlii^  paslor  of  LordroT'  said  1.  "I  niii,  sir"' 
"  I'rinct'  (Tallitziu  i"'  '"  At  your  service,  .sir,'"  Ik^  said,  ^vidi 
a  hearty  laiiuh.  "  Yoii  ai'e  prol)al>ly  a.sl(»iii,slied,"'  lie  c,,]!, 
tiiiiiei],  after  1  handed  Idiu  a  \<'\\i-v  IVoiii  ihc  I'isjidpdf  ]>],]]. 
adclphia,  "  at  tlie  .strangeness  oi'  niy  eqinpa.^e.  P,iir  tlici,."-^ 
no  help  I'oi'  it.  You  have  no  dou))t  already  found  out  ihac 
ill  these  countries  you  need  not  dream  of  a  carriaucMdiul. 
You  could  not  drive  ten  yards  without  dang'er  of  an  over- 
turn, [am  prevented,  sin-'e  a  fail  which  1  hav(;  inul,  Ikhh 
ridina,"  on  liorschrick,  and  it  woidd  l)e  impossibh;  for  ww  ii(,u- 
to  travel  on  foot.  Besides,  I  ('any- ah)im'everytliinu;rcqnii('(l 
for  the  ce]el)ration  of  II(,]y  >fass.  1  am  now  i^'oinii'  to  a  spoi; 
where  I  have  a,  mission,  and  v.here  th(»  Holy  i>aci'ilic(^  Ims 
heen  announced  for  to-day.  Gott)  Loivtto,  and  in;ike  voiu'- 
R(df  at  home  until  my  return  to-nidit;  uide.ss,  indccdl  voii 
Klioiild  prefer  to  accompany  nie."  Fatiiej-  Lemcke  was  (inly 
too  hajipy  to  l)ear  him  couiiiany. 

Foi'  forty-one  yeaivs  this  luunble  man.  this  ti'uly  cTejif  nnd 
g-ood  priest,  led  upon'the  mountains  of  Pennsylvania  :i  most 
perf(H't  Christian  life.  AVlieu  waiiied  to  'take  more  cure  of 
liimsclf,  he  would  answt^i',  in  his  own  ene);a'etic  style:  "A.s 
the  days  have  ,aone  by  wIkmi  liy  marlyidroin  it  was  jHts.sihle 
for  us  to  testify  to  (Jod's  fth)ry  u])on  eailli,  it  becomes  onr 
duty,  like  the  toil-worn  ox,  U)  remain  Intched  to  the  plow 
in  the  field  of  the  Lord."  On  Easter  Sunday,  1840,  Fatlier 
Uallit/in,  being  seventy  years  of  age,  had,  early  in  the  morn- 
ing, taken  his  seat  in  the  confessional.  Aft<n'  disclinririnu' 
these  duties,  lie  bravely  braced  ui)his  remainino'strwmth  to 
ascend  th<>  altar  for  the  celebration  of  i\rass.  "When  U  wns 
over  he  took  to  his  bed— the  bed  from  which  hewasch^stincd 
never  to  rise.  On  tlu^  nth  of  :Vbiy,  his  pure  and  jMincoly 
spirit  passed  to  the  bosom  of  God. 

Th<^  revered  Father  Gallit:',in\s  besr  erdogy  is  his  wmk. 
ITe  ei'ected  the  ///-.v/  rJtftp,-]  \n  what  now  comprises  the  tli. 
dioceses  of  IMttsbui'g,  Alleghany  City,  and  Erie.     His  clier 


eo 


VAN. 


<'  pn'r.sl," 

'•Alt'  yiin 

I  liiii,   sir,-' 
le  said,  wiili 

ed,"  lie  coll- 
sliopdf  I'lii]. 
I5iir  iliciv's 
md  oiil  iliac 
aniiiu'u  road. 
'  of  iin  ovcr- 
'e  liad,  I'ldiii 

!   for  nil'  IKiW 

iinj^requiic(l 
>iii,u'  to  a  spdt 
^^ari'ilicH  has 
L  iiiak(^  yoiii'- 
iiiilci'd.  vdu 
cko  \\as(ii;ly 

dy  v:\vvA  nnd 

vania  a  most 

Hi  ore  care  (if 

style:  "As 

was  i)()ssilile 

)('(•( )mes  our 

tf)  the  plov; 

S-!0,  Fallier 

in  tlie  nun'ii- 

dischareitiu' 

r  str<*M,<illi  to 

U'liPTi  it  wns 

\\'nsd(^'<titie!l 

lid  ])rin('ely 

is  Ids  work. 
H-'s  the  tliri^e 
Ills  cher- 


I    1 


-m,. 


! 


m 


^ 


V 

1 

1 

is 

as 

III 

■ 

III 

■ 

j" 

r 

]" 

' 

]]1 

Z 

in 

5 

(li 

3 

01 

^ 

Q  ' 

res 

1 

vil 

Ui 

1 

g 

J 
1 ,_ 

s 

lar 

J 

li;i 

ir 

fii 

UJ 

I 

( 

1- 

2 

tra 

(■in 
do! 
I 
frre 
tlie 
tile 
iiiii' 
ena 

I'Oll 

say 

C 

his 

Bp( 

'It 

h;in, 
tnili? 


'«l«»i«-.*U 


W  V 


,«g 


^m 


li«V 


f.*! 

^ 


»'AM»IJ 


Z 


113 


^ 


^^ 


^i!» 


'V'!«l   ^?^ 


^ 


)t 


»     .  FATHini  Dn'.n.TIilUS  Arar^TIXK  (LMJ.IT/.IX.  71,^1 

islicd  Jiorctto  is  tli.'  liiosf^  (';i(]i(.lic  vilhij-vc  in  t!;c  Tiiite  I 
States.  Nof  till  Ilic  lr;i\('ll('r  liiis  pi't'ssed  tlicsdil  oi'  Ciiiii- 
liri;l  ciiiiiil  y  (lues  lie  fci'l  t  |i;it  lie  is  ill  ;i  Irnf;/  ( 'liiisl  :;iii  hiiid, 
as  lie  <'!if('ll«'S  si.u'lit  (if  llic  111)  Ciitliolic  cliiiiclics  ;iii(l  lliitn 
iiiiiiiastt'rics — all  of  which  (loiipcd  out  of  Ldrctlo.  hikIci'  ilio 
cicaliveMiul  fostcriiii:,'  iinuds  dl'  t  his  !i))i)st<»li<'  and  woiidci'l'iil 
mail.  W'liiit  shai*'  lie  had  in  its  material  pinsiicrily  may  lu; 
jiiiip'd  I'loni  the  I'aci  that  lie  s]  i  nt  over  ^  l."(i,(  (  ()  in  its  ini- 
piovi'iuent.  'riuiii.uh  foi'  many  years  \i(ar-(i(iit'ial  ol'tlio 
jjislnip  (>r  Pliiladel]/hia.  he  lii'tnly  rel'nsed  all  (illeis  of  ho- 
iimM'aised  t(t  t  lu.M'piscoital  diuiiity.  Having  renonnced  I  lib 
(liu'iiiiie.s  of  the  world,  he  did  not  as2iii(^  to  those  of  ilio 
Cliilirli. 

Lows,  before  his  d(>ath,  howevei-.  he  was  held  in  univcisal 
respect.  The  name  (JailUzlu  has  since  been  gi\en  to  a  lino 
villauv. 

His  Iov(M)f  1)ooks  was  rcMuarlsable.     1le  li;i(l   collected 
lari:.' mnnber.  and   tiaiiiifujiy  iiiscribc(l  on  these  deiir  com- 
paiiioiis   of  his   hioliliide   the    words:      *•  (iallil/.in   and    liis 
friends.'' 

On  one  occasion  li(>  had  u'i\"en  a  liberal  alms  t(^  a  poor 
traveller,  who  afterwards  soji;iiid('r''d  t  hi' nioiu'v  at  a  tav- 
ern. When  infoi'nied  (if  the  dec(>ptioii.  the  i^ood  imkI  noble 
donor  replied.  ''  1  irave  it  not  to  him,  lint  to  (iod." 

hi  an  a<j:(wf  iirid{>  and  r)ietensi(»n.  the  humilitvof  this 
frreat  man  is  ti'uly  toiichinu'.  For  many  years  he  snppi'essc-l 
tile  illustrious  natne  of  (iallilx.in.  iind  was  known  dimply  ;,s 
{W'  llci\  Mr.  Si/u'f//.'  V.'lien  told  of  the  fame  of  his  ,\rii- 
inns.  lu?  said  tliat  "he  was  i:l;rd  that  the  sauie(''od  \\h  "hail 
niabliMl  an  ass  to  speak — who  had  (Miabled  the  nnlett<'r<'d  to 
('onv(^rt  the  universe,  had  ab^o  enabled,  his  i^iioi'ance  to 
bay  soinethinii:  in  favor  (»r  the  ratholii'  Clnn'ch.'' 

Over  thirteen  years  aft(M'  the  death  of  Father  Callitzin, 
Ills  lored  Loretto  was  visited  l>y  the  Ai)osrolic  Nnncio,  Mur. 
ISi'dini.      Tie   was    delighted.       "This    villap\''  he   wiiles, 


'  It  uilMic  rcmcnibcrcil  tli:it  tic  set    out  (i-i  lii.-^   tnr.c 


•N  ii'J  Aii'i'i':tiiiii  Srhnirf,  or  i:\   Kui'V»-\\ 


fmlfi.  At  the  Mmiiinvy,  wlu'ii  |mr~iiiii,L'  lii^  ctiiflk-;.  In'  wus  Uriiwii  liy  t!i:it  iiiinic.  Hi'  v,r,s..ai 
cniUzofl  MS  AnL'ii^^tiiu  Sir.itli,  und  it  wii;s  uiily  uuiiiy  years  iifier  that,  for  t'O"*' ■"ca^aus,  In  w 
wmcii  his  family  iiaiiie. 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

Wk.dSTER,N  Y.  M580 

(716)  872-4503 


.V, 


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FATHER  DEJIETIilUS  AUGUSTINE  GALL1T7AX. 


"sHnolified  by  the  apostleship  of  Prince  Demotiins  Gallit 
zin,  is  situated  upon  the  highest  mountains  ofPennsylvanin, 
and  is  inliabited  by  Germans — all  Catholics  witliout  excfi)- 
tion.  My  carriage  was  preceded  by  about  live  hundred  p.  r- 
sons  on  horseback — men  and  wonuMi— and  followed  by  liliv 
vehicles.  This  peaceful  cort«'ge,  defiling  joyously  around 
the  vast  mountains,  under  a  must  brilliant  sun,  was  to  us  as 
solemn  as  it  was  touching." 

"  .^3  he  had  talven  for  liis  models,"  says  Very  Pm-. 
Thopias  Iteyden,  the  dear  fi'iend  and  biographer  who  jc 
ceived  the  prince-i)riest"s  last  breath,  "the  lives  of  the 
saints,  tliy  Francis  of  Saleses,  the  Chai'les  .Poin  nioos,  the 
Vincen;;  of  F*aul,  so,  likiithem,  he  was  distinguished  for lii.s 
tender  and  lively  devotion  to  the  Blessed  Virgin.  lie  lost 
no  opportunitj'  of  extolling  the  virtues  of  ]Mary.  He  en- 
deavored to  be  an  imitator  of  her.  as  she  was  of  Christ.  He 
recited  the  ]vosary  every  evening  among  his  housejidld; 
and  inculcated  constantly  on  his  po()i)le  this  adunrahle  de- 
votion, and  all  the  other  pious  exercises  in  honor  of  yi\\v\. 

"The  church  in  wiiich  he  said  daily  Mass,  hehad  d(>di('iir(d 
under  the  invocation  of  this  ever-glorious  A'irgin,  whom  nil 
nations  wiM-e  to  call  JMessed.  It  was  in  honor  of  Mary,  and 
to  place  his  people  nnder  her  peculiar  pati'onage,  tlnit  lie 
pave  the  name  of  Loretto  to  the  town  he  founded  here,  nftiT 
the  far-famed  Loretto,  Avhich.  towering  ahove  the  blue  wave 
of  the  Adriatic,  on  the  Italian  coast,  exhiliits  to  the  Clnis- 
tian  ])ilgrini  the  hallowed  and  magnificent  t(Miiple  wliich 
c(»ntains  the  sainted  shrine  of  Clary's  hiuuble  house  in  wliidi 
she  at  Nazareth  lieard  announced  the  mystery  of  tlie  Inciii- 
nation,  and  whicdi  the  mariners,  as  they  pass  to  encour.tiT 
the  perils  of  the  deep,  or  return  in  safety  fi'oni  tln'm, 
salute,  (dianting  the  joyous  hymn.  Are  Murl^  SIdJa.  For. 
like  St.  John,  he  recogni/.ed  in  her  a  mother  reconinieiulcd 
to  him  by  the  words  of  the  dying  Jesus:  'lie  said  to  tlio 
Disciple,  liehold  thy  !MotherI'  And  so,  when  his  frnnio 
was  v.'orn  out  in  her  service,  and  her  Son's,  he  went  up  to  sea 
her  face  on  high." 


''  If 


RT.  RFV.  JOHN  ENGLAND,  D,  D. 


BISHOP   OP   CHARLESTON. 


THE  RIGHT  REV.  JOHN  ENGLAND,  D.D., 

FIRST  BISHOP  OF  CIIAULESTOX,  S.  C 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  SCHOOL- noV  BECOMES  A  BISHOP,. 

Earh/  yeari^—^'' The  Tilth-  PnphV  —Leaves  law  for  thc> 
vJiKjy — A  2>(iti'lul.  jiricst — Js  appointed  to  the])aris?i  of 
J)(t)i(/o/i — J//S  i/iJlicutties—Api)<)iiitiiie)it  to  the  see  of 
CkarleHtoii — Items  from  the  li/'shoj/s  diary. 

Bi'^liop  En.irland  lins  hcfii  cnllcil  "tlie  ]i<i'lit  of  tlio  Ameri- 
can hit'iitrrhv."  lliul  lie  livt^d  in  tiie  enrlv  days  of  Chiis- 
tiaiiity,  or  in  the  ages  of  Faith,  or  in  tlie  times  of  the  so- 
called  Reformation,  the  world  would  have  ranked  liini 
anionii:  tlie  foremost  men  and  heroes  of  lieroic  times. 

Jdlin  Kn.uland  was  born  at  Cork,  Ii-eland,  on  S('])tHmher 
23d,  1780.  His  boyhood  was  in  tlie  days  of  his  eoiiutry's 
trial  and  perseention.  The  wrongs  liy  saw  and  siilVfred 
made  a  lasting  impression  on  his  gifted  nund  and  character. 
hi(l('(Ml,  the  enthusiastic  love  of  his  Faith  and  his  native  isle 
WfTc  ever  th<'  <'herish('d  affections  which  dwelt  down  deejiest 
in  Ills  great  heart.  His  lii'st  insri'iiction  was  received  in  a 
1^'iitestant  school,  as  there  was  no  otlier  to  which  he  could 
p>.  Here  the  soul  of  the  brav'  boy  was  daily  pained  by  in- 
sulr.    Oftt'n  to  expose  him  t<»  tlie  conttmipt  of  the  class,  the 


'  .'tiiif  niillKirillc"  ii«oil ;    Clnrkc.  "  Liven  of  tlic  DiTuased  Rifihops  of  the  OiUliolic  Church  If 

the  I  niii'd  Slates;'"  MaL'iiin'.    "'I'lic  Irir<li   in   Aim  rica;"  " Thu  work*  of  Bii^Uop  England;" 
Tki  LiiiltU  aialta  t'uUUolic  Mayiuiut ;  The  Melivi/vliltm. 

783 


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I;  i 


y    \iU 


i:W 


li 


784 


TUE  RIGHT  llEV.  JOIIX  EyGLAXD,  D.D. 


bigofod  teacher  would  sneeringly  call  him  ^'the  lltm 
rapintr 

Youn,!^  England  began  his  career  in  life  by  the  stiuly  of 
law.  Two  years  sjjent  in  the  olfict-  of  an  eminent  lnuiiv 
ter  had,  no  d(»nl)t,  a  ))ent!li('ial  clfcct  in  din-eloping  his  \m^. 
cise  and  practical  mind,  ilis  own  i)ious  inclinations,  niid 
the  dt^signs  of  Frovidi-nce,  however,  led  him  to  enter  iImj 
Church — to  give  hims.'lf  to  (rod.  His  exci'ilent  pan-iits  en- 
coiiragf'd  his  noblp  rcsohition.  and  he  began  his  theologic;, 
studies  in  Carlow  College.  Ut-re  his  splendid  talents  were 
brought  out  in  all  their  shining  greatness,  l^i-l'oi-t^  Ik.  w.,.^ 
ordained,  Dr.  Moylaii.  tlu'  venerable  IVishop  of  Cmk,  re- 
called him  to  his  own  diocese,  and  ai)i)ointed  the  stuileiit  (if 
theology  President  of  the  Diocesan  Seminary  at  Cork.  \U 
was  ordained  in  October,  1S0S,  Di-.  NLoylan  having  oiiiained 
a  dispensation,  as  Nfr.  England  had  not  reached  the  caiunii- 
cal  age  of  twenty- live. 

His  career  as  a  fearless  pi'iest  and  patriot  now  mnde  him  a 
man  of  mark — revereil  and  loved  by  the  Irish  iieople^lVaml 
and  hated  l)y  tlu^  goveriunetit.  As  the  editor  and  jnoprieter 
of  the  Cork  Chri>iiirh\  Ik^  hurh^d  forth  articles  that  fell  jik.' 
thunderbolts  among  his  political  and  religious  eiieinies. 
On  one  occasi(m  he  was  even  lined  the  round  sum  ef  Hvh 
hundred  pounds  for  his  freedom  of  sjieech.  I'ut  llMMiuh 
rich  in  IrntJi,  he  was  poor  in  riumcn  ;  and  while  he  ( ontiinied 
to  give  out  the  former  with  a  lavish  hand,  he  took  goed  care 
not  to  j)ay  cash  that  he  did  not  owe.  Father  Eng'iind  was 
on  intimate  terms  with  the  illustrious  O'Connell  ;  and  )'\  his 
powerfid  pen  he  did  nuu  h  to  hasten  Catholic  emanci[)ati(,a 
in  Trelaml. 

In  1817,  l?ev.  Mr.  I-ngland  was  ap]ioint<Ml  ])arish  jtriest  o[ 
r)andon,  a  jdace  of  .sueh  bitter  bigotry  that  over  the  enfi'ance 
was  placed  the  famous  inscri]ition  which  Avarmly  welidiiieil 
•'tlie  Tui'k,  tli(^  Atheist,  and  the  Jew,"  Imt  severely  wanieil 
"the  Papist"  to  keej)  away.  The  ft>arless  ])i'iest.  hnwevci', 
entered  on  his  duties,  undetei-red  (>ven  by  this  ins<'ii|iiion. 
On  several  occasions  his  hair-l)i'eadth  escajies  from  minder 
are  thrilling  enough  to  have  occurred  in  border  Indian  life. 


THE  RIGHT  REV.  JOlIX  KSCf.AM),  D.D. 


r85 


But  even  in  these  daii^^erons  adventures,  God  luid  llisdesi.uns 
„ii  the  i'utiire  Auierictin  prelate.  Such  trainin,^  ad'uiral)! y 
titU'd  liiiu  for  tlio  toil.sonie  and  thorny  road  which  lie  was  to 
tiavi'l  in  our  own  Kt'[)ul)li( . 

During  tiie  iirst  tliree  year.s  of  liis  (>pisco|)at(>,  ]'ish(ii»  I-".i!-- 
laiullvept  a  diary;  and  frcini  it  we  nialie  some  selettitius. 
It  iijM'Hs  tlius: 

-jn  Monday,  tho  lOth  of  July,  1S!>0,  T  received  in  l?an- 
(lou  a  letter  from  the  Rev.  Henry  lluglies,  dated  .[Mn(^ 
17tli,  1H:?(),  at  Rome,  infornnn^  me  tliat  (»n  the  precedini^ 
Monday  Ihadl)eenapi)ointetl  l)isli()[)of  ('liarleston,'  in  Sontli 
(.'aiDJina,  and  re(piestim;-  (^f  me,  for  various  reasons  therein 
iillcp'd,  to  accept  of  tliis  ajjiiointnient. 

'•  Sritlcmher  )i\,'it. — 1  rt^'eived  llie  gi'ac<M»f  e](isco])al  Cdii'-c- 
cratioii  in  the  (Jatliolic  church  of  St.  Finl)ai-,  in  tlie  city  of 
Cork,  from  tlie  Rt.  l?ev.  .Dr.  Murphy,  liishop  of  (he  dio- 
(vse.  assisted  by  the  Rt.  R'  v.  Dr.  Maram.  Bishop  of  Ossory, 
and  Kelly,  ilrst  l)islio[)  of  liichmond  (\'a.).  whose  appoim- 
iiK'iit  was  suhsetpient  to  mine,  l>ut  whose  consecia lion  look 
place  at  Kilk(>nny.  on  tlie  '•2Hh  of  Auirust.  Tliei-e  were 
inesent,  th(;  Most  Rev.»Dr.  1>.  erard,  Archbishoj)  of  ^fyte- 
lenc,  coadjutor  of  tlie  >rosl  iJev.  Dr.  Hi'ay,  Archbishop  of 
Casliel,  ami  tlie  Rt.  Rev.  Di\s.  ('oi)[iim;er,  of  C'loyiie  ami 
Koss.  Suu'hrue,  of  Ardfertand  Aghadoc  (.Kerry),  and  Tuoliy, 
of  Limerick.* 

^'■Octohcr  11/7/. — ITaving  many  applications  from  jiriesfs 
and  candidati^s  for  ])laces  on  the  American  mission,  I  ap- 
p(iiiitedmybrother,theRev.  'Ph(»nias  i{,  Kngland,  and  the  Rev. 
Tlioaias  O'Keefe,  my  Vi('ais-({eneral,  for  the  i»uri)ose  jtriu- 
cinally  of  selecting  such  of  those  as  T  may  afterwards  want, 
and  if  necessary,  having  them  ordained. 


'  Wliirh  l\n<l  iwt  hccn  rroftfoil  nn  rplccnpnl  9cp. 

'  Dr.  Kii'j-lMndV  mime  liiid  nlrrndv  ,)i  I'li  incntiimril  liy  some  of  (lie  Iri-li  Hi-licii"'  in  rdnin'rlinn 
nih  lln'  ■■pi-i'iipal  iliL'iiilv.  Wliili'  In'  iliil  imt  -liriiiU  rmni  :i  |M>«iliMii  «(i  lii-npiiiliii;  In  \ii>  liiliuts 
d'ul  ■i^i'fiiliM'ss,  he  <li'cliiri'cl  tliMt  lie  Wdiild  never  we'iv  u  liiilrc  in  iiny  coMntry  rliat  was  Mihjeel  id 
III!  tirili-'ti  (lae.  .  .  .  The  ii^nnl  nalli  of  allcjiaiiee  a(linii,i'<|erc(l  at  their  coM-eeralieii  to 
li.-lin|i<  wild  were  Mritiih  siilijeels,  wa"  JMisilively  il'^eliiieil  liy  liini.  lie  intend 'd  .|i  an  Aineri- 
aiii'rrlate  to  lieeonie  an  American  eiti/i-n  an  scicin  ii~  llie  ia«  ■^  «.iuld  i>i  niiil.  and  ref;  nied  (lio 
M'li  II- repiiL'liant  to  tlie  nev.  alle'.'i':iiee  of  lil-<  elioiee.  Tin' eon-iecratliu:  Hi-hop  al  tir-l  hi'si- 
htt'i\  :ihoiit  omiltlnir  tlii'<  ciistoniai-v  eeriiiiony.  liiil  UmiII!!-,:  Ilie  Hi-liop  .■!,  it  dePrniined  to  feck 
Mibi'cralioii  cUfW hi-TO,  before  hu  would  jiiUi  lliis  iioiiil,  coiitciilcd  to  the  oiiii.-?ioii.— c/i(/ie. 


II!    5'i: 


li 


7SG 


TUB  BIGHT  llEV.  JOny  ENGLAND,  D.D. 


"This  (lay  was  the  anniversary — twelve  years— nf  my  ordi- 
nation  to  the  i)riesthoo(l.  On  this  day  I  pai'ted  from  my  fatn- 
ily,  to  go  whither  I  tliouglit  God  had  called  me,  but  wliiihci. 
I  had  no  other  desire  to  go.  Should  this  be  read  by  a 
stranger,  let  him  pardon  that  weakness  of  onr  coniinou 
natnr*;  wliicli  then  alfected  me,  and  does  now,  after  the  liii).se 
of  three  months. 

'•'■December  2i}f7i. — Fonnd  soundings  in  tliirtj'-five  fatlionig 
water,  and  on  the  next  day  saw  the  Hunting  Islands,  on  the 
coast  of  South  Carolina,  after  a  very  tedious  and  unpleasant 
passage.  On  the  evening  of  the  27th,  came  to  niiciidr  oif 
Charleston,  and  on  the  2{Srh  crossed  it,  and  worked  up  the 
channel,  and  canu^  to  anchor  in  the  evening.' 

'■'•  December  '60th. — Came  on  shore  in  Charleston;  saw 
the  Kev.  Benedi<'t  Fenwick,  S.  J.,'  who  was  Yicar-Cieneial 
of  tlie  Archbishoi)  oC  Baltimore,  who  exhil)ited  to  nic  \m 
papers.  I  gave  him  my  bulls  and  certillcates,  recMMvcd  the 
resignation  of  his  authority,  and  renewed  his  faculties  of 
yi(;ar- General  for  my  diocese,  as  Bishop  of  Charleston, 
which  he  ac('(^])te(l. 

"December  ;U.s7.— Being  Sunday-,  I  liad  the  happiness  of 
celebrating  ^fass,  tf)ok  possession  of  the  church,  had  my 
bulls  published,  and  preached." 

»  nisliop  En^'laml  was  ncoini|)iinir(l  l)y  his  yoiiM.'ost  si.-tcr,  wlio  had  risolvcd  to  phiirc  hiiJilif- 
flciiltii'S,  and  ho  near  her  j;rcat  hrolhcir. 

»  KaihiT  Fiiiwick  afiorwards  bcrnnu"  HWiop  of  Boston.  See  BUctch  of  him  iu  J'oinilnr  //i* 
t»ryoJ'lhe  Cut/tulic  C/iiin/i  in  ike  L'inud  fiUites,  p.  i.T4 


CHAPTER  II. 


iW}\ 


II, 


AN   IllISII   APOSTLE  IX  AMKHICA. 

Stale  of  ilie  new  diocese— An,  apostolic  toiler— The  Bisliop 
-'harofootecV — Dr.  Entjlaiurs  visit  to  Samnnah~At 
All (/nsta— Visits  Tocust  Grone—Jlrs.  Thompson — His 
first  open-air  sermon— At  Warrinyton—Colurnhia—A 
Cdiirse  of  lectures  at  Charleston — A  new  catecJiisvi — 
The  "Book  i^oeidij"' — A  siupjestice  quotation  in  rela- 
tion to  Wilinin<jton. 

It  iiKiy  be  said  that  Bisliop  Enq:land  began  his  labors  in 
Aiii.iica  on  New  Years'  Day,  18-il.  His  newly-ereeted  dio- 
ct'st^  embraced  three  States— Xortli  Carolina,  South  Carolina. 
nnil  (icor^^ia.  The  Catholic  Church  had  barely  an  existence 
ill  this  re<i'ion.  The  people  were  extremely  bi<;ote(l.  The 
ilililcaltif^s  of  Dr.  England  therefore,  can  beimai;ined,  raiher 
than  portrayed ;  but  his  master-spirit  pointed  out  the  line 
(if  duty,  and  the  success  of  his  toils  was  one  of  the  noblest 
tiiaiujilis  of  the  Faith  in  this  Republic. 

(In  making  a  rapid  survey  of  the  situation,  he  f(nind  but 
two  cliurclies  o]>en  in  his  Large  diocese  ;  and  his  <'lergy  were 
as  niiincrous  as  the  houses  of  worship !  The  anointed  herald 
of  the  Cross,  liowever,  came  bravely  np  to  his  work.  Around 
liiiii  chui'ches  began  to  rise.  TI*^  travelled,  preached,  taught, 
and  confirmed.  Wherever  ho  found  a  few  scattered  Cath- 
olic families  in  liandet,  (own,  or  city,  he  assembled  them, 
fiirnied  an  organization,  and  encouraged  them  to  hold  to- 
pt^thcr  until  he  could  send  them  a  pastor.  As  for  himself, 
he  jtnrformed  all  the  labors  and  endured  all  the  hardships 
of  !i  missionary  priest.  He  travelU'd  hundreds  of  miles.  Ilia 
noble  spirit  of  poverty  and  self-sacritice  rtMuinds  us  of  the 
illustrious  De  Brebeuf.    Such,  indeed,  was  this  great  Bishop's 


to 


87 


i- 


'(III 


788 


Tiiic  11  nil  IT  RKv.  JOHN  Kxar.Asi),  d.d. 


l»('r.s(m;il  poverty  tlint  Iw  ofh'ti  wall^cd  tlic  Ihii'iuhl!:  kwvU 
niul  p:iv<'iii«'iits(»r  Cliarlcstoii  with  his  harcl'i-ct  on  tiic  i;r()iiii.l. 
Till!  soles  of  his  sliocs  hii<l  been  vvoMi  away,  and  the  iipiicr 
k'athcr  only  leniaincil  (lect-nl  ! 

Till!  lirst  thin:;-  Dr.  Ijiulaml  did  after  his  arrival,  was  tn 
niaki' himself  thoi'ouixhly  arvjuaiuted  with  the  (•oiKiitiiin  (,f 
liis  [loor  l)nl  widely-siiread  diocese,  llefonnd.  ii]iiiniu(iiiiry, 
that  there  was  a  coiii^re.u'ation  at  Savannah,  luil  that  it  had 

]>een    deserted.      1 1(»   tlieivfori'   determined,     willioiit     di'lay, 

to  visit;  Savannah,  Aiiii'usta.  (-olnml>ia,  and  otiier  towns 
within  liisjnrisdiction.  A  i)iioiniin,<;- leather  P>enediri  ,1.  j'tu- 
wick,  S.  J.,  his  \'icar-(Jeneral,  with  i'ldl  powers,  until  hjs 
return  to  (Jhai'leston,  and  reipiestinLi,-  him  to  i)urrliasi' uiniiinl 
for  a  s(!cond  church  in  that  city,  and  if  possiljjc  Mi'o'ui'.' a 
good  site  for  a  cathedral,  the  Apostolic  P)isho|)  hoarded  tli,' 
sloop  DcIiijJit,  and  saih.'d  for  Savtmnah  on  tho  l."jlh  of  .huiii- 


arv. 


IS-Jl. 


ni('(3 


He  found  that  there  liad  been  no  priest  in  that  city  s 
Wvv  previotis  October  ;  and  to  repair  the  evil  caused  hy  tli(3 
want  of  a  cleru-ymaii  for  so  l(jn,u:  a  time,  lie  coiunieiiccil  a 
vin'orous  course  of  instrnction,  followed  by  the  adniinistia- 
tlon  of  tlu>  Holy  Sacraments.  'I'he  followinii:  entry  in  his 
diary  all'ords  an  iilea  of  l)r.  MimlaiKTs  ('tieru'y.  and  of  ilii> 
attention  which,  in  a  few  days,  he  had  excited  ainoni,^  nou- 
Cat  holies. 

'■''  Januar;/  '2\sf. — Heard  confessions,  celebrated  the  TT'ily 
Mass,   and  administered  the  Holy  Connuiniion  to  twciity- 

At 

nil 


ns. 


se\en  ])trsons.  (iave  Coidii-mation  to  fifteen  ]-)ersfi 
half-past  ten  o'clock,  I  spokt»  on  the  erection  of  the 
mv  own  authority,  and  pnbliclv  comnntted  the  Ijock  (if 
Savannah  to  the  careof  i  \u^  Rev.  IJobert  T'rowne  until  1  .slmulil 
think  itroper  to  remove  him  :  and  aftin'^fassT  ]ireacli(Ml  to 
a  larLC*'  conua-etration.  amon'j.'st"  wliom  w(M'e  the  ])rinciiial  law- 
yers of  Savannah,  and  n.anv  other  stranu'ers.  In  rlie  evi'ii- 
in^c  T  had  vespers,  and  trave  an  exhortation  and  benedictieii 
— chundi  crowded  and  surrounded."' 

THie  n«?xf:  entry  records  tlni  same  round  of  duty  with  this 
added :   "  Way  asked  b}'  the  Mayor  and  others  to  preach  in 


THE  maiiT  i:i:\'.  joiis  i:.\t;i..\M),  i>.n. 


789 


the  Protestant  Episcopul  {•luircli,  uhidi  I  ilcclinca  for  tlio 
ju'esciit." 

Appuinting  "Joliii  Dillon  fo  iviid  jtniyrrs  for  .M:iss  on 
Siinihiy,"  until  the  return  of  J{<'v.  FiUlifi  jJiduiic,  whotii 
he  took  with  liim  on  his  visitntion,  Dr.  JOn.uhind  itioccnlra 
to  Aii.n-ustii,  Avliich 'i(.'  rraclifd  only  after  two  days  of  liard 
tnivlliiig.  After  some  luicf  l)ut  eiicr<;'eti('  woik  in  this  city, 
wliiTc  he  adniinisttn-ed  (JonlirniaLion  "  to  -lolin  McCorniack, 
Es(|.,  and  forty-eight  others,"  lie  set  out  for  Locust  (irove, 
whose  Catholic  congregation  had  not  seen  a  priest  for  several 
yi'iii's. 

••Arrived  tliere  at  nightfall,"  oontiiiiies  tlie  diary,  ''and 
was  niost  kindly  received  by  old  and  young  Mis.  Tlionipson, 
to  the  former  of  whom  great  merit  is  due  liefore(o.d,  for 
preserving  the  Faith  in  tJns  counti'y.  This  was  the  lirst 
Catholic  congregation  in  (u-orgla;  it  was  formed  in  IT'Jlor 
1T!).-|,  l)y  the  s(^ttlem<Mit  of  ]\rrs.  'Pliomjjson's  family  and  a 
fow  othei^s  from  !^[aryland.  JJislioi)  Carroll,  of  Haltimore, 
si'iit  the  l?ev.  ^Iw  Le  MercifM^  to  attend  them.  Afti-r  eigh- 
tiM'ii  months  h(^  Avent  to  Savannah  ;  and  Hev.  Mr.  Sajet  then 
ivniaiiied  seventeen  months,  and  returned  to  France.  There 
was  no  clergyman  there?  until  >.'ovendier.  ISld,  when  the 
IJi'v.  Robert  I>rowtie  came  to  tak<*  charge  of  .viigusta  and 
its  vicinity,  and  remained  until  1810.  'I'liis  jilace  was  occa- 
siniiallv  visited   bv  llev.   ■Vfr.  I''ii'an  and    Hev.  .Mr.  Coopoi'.'' 

It  was  at  Locust  (Jrove  that  I'ishop  l-jighind  preached  his 
first  o|)en-air  sermon.  "TIk^  church  being  too  small,"  he 
writes,  "andsevei'al  persons  liaving  collected  from  various 
parts  of  the  neighborluiod,  T  pr<»aclied  from  an  elevation 
oiit>i(le  to  about  four  liundred  persons." 

Of  Warrington  he  says  :  "  I  met  three  Cherokee  Indians, 
vi/..  Colonel  Dick,  who  speaks  a  little  Iviglish,  JohnThoinp- 
>"ii.  and  Samjison,  to  whom  I  gave  their  bi'(jakfast.  I  showed 
till' Colon*'!  my  ring  andcross,  of  which  he  took  particular 
I  I  told  him  I  int(>uded  visiting  his  nation  ;  he  said 


liotic 


in( 


1:1'  woidd  know  me." 

On  reaching  Columbia,  Dr.  England  fotind  a  tiock  consist- 
ing "of  about  two  hundred  and  I'.fty  persons,  principally 


:(■■.! 


M 


!    il- 


\\' 


I    fl'' 


I  .   ! 


^Il 


790 


THE  JUGIIT  UFA'.  JOHN  ESGLAND,  D.T). 


Irish  liiborcrs  eniplovfd  in  mrikiiii:  tli(>  riinnl."  Tliciv  wmm 
no  cliiirch,  Jiiid  tlie  Bishop  "  (lieict'oiv  prcaclicd  in  the  ('nut. 
lioiisc  flint  ni<:;ht  to  :i  very  niiiiit*roiis  iiiul  ifspfctablc  (•(•ii'mc- 
pition,"  inoHlly  Protestants.  He  made  strenuous  elToits  to 
be,i;in  a  clinrcli ;  and  o\\  liis  committee  of  collcriion  wi.  sca 
Pitch  <j:en nine  Irish  Catholic  names  as  Peter  Mcliniic  uni 
John  lielTernan. 

Jiisliop  I'higland  now  retnrned  to  Charleston,  and  addivsMMl 
himself  to  the  ^reat  labor  of  his-life.  He  began  a  cdius..  of 
lectures,  which  laid  the  foundation  of  a  fame  tliat  cic  hmfr 
spread  throuu'h  every  State  in  the  Union.  Duiiiii;  tiic  ht-iit 
iie  discussed  the  piincipal  truths  of  ielin;ion  in  a  way  wliidi 
did  not  failtoatti'act  theatl(niti(mof  the  most  thoti.ulnfiil  mikI 
intellectual.  Nor  was  this  labor  without  its  reward.  In  \\\^ 
diary  wk  lind  the  names  of  sevei'al  converts  recorded,  in- 
dudinu;  that  of  "a  lawyer  of  eminence." 

In  the  last  week  of  Lent,  we  hnd  this  sleepless  toiler  in 
God's  vineyard  issuing?  his  lirst  book.  It  was  a  catechism, 
which,  he  says,  *'I  had  much  labor  in  compiling  from  v;u'- 
ions  others,  and  adding  seveial  i)arls  which  I  coiisidficd 
necessary  to  be  explicitly  dwelt  ujion  under  the  iicculjar 
circumstances  of  my  dio(;ese." 

In  the  Spring  of  1821  he  established  the  "  Book  Society,"* 
and  had  the  necessary  measures  taken  to  form  a  gmciiil 
committee,  and  to  have  the  society  extended  throughuut 
the  whole  diocese. 

The  following  quotation  from  Dr.  Eiigland's  diary  is  sadly 
suggestive  in  relation  to  the  state  of  the  Catholics  at  the 
South.  It  was  written  of  Wilmington,  but  might  be  truth- 
fully applied  to  many  other  placs: 

"J/a.y  HMh  (1H:.M~). — Celebrated  ^[ass  at  my  lodgings,  and 
gave  an  exhoi-tatitm  to  those  who  attended.  Affer  break- 
fast met  the  Cathfdics,  about  twenty  men — not  a  woman  er 
child  of  the  Catholic  Faith.  No  priest  had  ever  b(>en  tixed 
here,  nor  in  the  neighborhood.  A  Ilev.  Mr.  P)inke  luid 
spent  a  fortnight  here,  abotit  twenty-live  rears  before,  and  a 
Jesuit,  going  to  some  Spanish  settlement,  spent  two  or  throe 
days  ill  the  town,  about  the  year  1815,  and  baptized  the 


rilli  lilGIIT  HEY.  JOIIX  KSULAyU.  IJ.D 


7i)l 


cliildron  o*  ^fr. ;  but  tlu'ir  niotli*'!-  beiii^'  a  Mt'tlu)tli«t, 

(licy  wi'i'c  nut  ('(liirntt'il  in  tin;  Faith. 

••TliH  Catholics  who  live  linrc,  and  tliey  who  occasioniilly 
(oiiii'  here,  were  in  tin;  liahit  of  fjoimj  to  other  ptdi'ts  of 
icoishii) — Eiihcopal  rroliHtavt,  Mil/iodifit,  aud  Prt'sli/j- 
teriaii  —  and  had  nearlij  tost  all  Idia  of  CathoJiciti/.  I 
s[)ok(^  on  the  necessity  of  tlieir  assembling  toi^ether  on  Snn- 
(l.iys  for  prayer  and  instrnction.  and  of  their  foriuin.i;  a 
hiuiich  of  tin;  Hook  Society,  to  both  of  whicdi  they  readily 
ai^reed,  and  then  reconunendfd  their  entering  into  d  ~id)- 
scription  to  ])rocnre  a  lot  for  a  chnrch,  and  to  coninieuce 
liiiiMing,  as  T  wonld  take  care  they  shonid  be* occasionally- 
visited  by  a  priest.  I  also  exhorted  them  to  prep'  •  ;  for  the 
Sacraments. 

"  I  receiveii  an  invitation  from  the  pastf)r  and  trustt'e*  of 
the  Pr'^sbyterian  chnrch  to  nse  their  bnilding  (th'>  best  in 
the  town),  whldi,  u|>on  consi<leration,  I  accepted.  I  was 
waited  npon  by  the  Protestant  minister,  who  olfered  me  his 
church  also,  which,  of  coarse,  I  declined,  as  having  accepted 
of  the  other.  In  the  evening  T  preached  to  a  very  large 
cungrejation,  on  the  nature  of  thy  Catholic  religion." 


CIIAPTEKIII. 

GT.AXCKS   AT   AX    IlKItOIC   LIFE. 

Fatlier  EiifilnnfTs  fjreat  fame  and  woiih— Ills'  /om  for 
tlie  Uiiil('<f  Siad'.'i — 7\'ie  J\>nn<lir  of  Ihe  Cd.lholic  pn  ,.v< 
of  ihh  JiipuhlU: — Horn  lie  tranelled — The  poicer  of 
Father  W Ari/i'.f  Jhi/r — PicacWnirj  o\i  a  hIkiiii)  bij  ///^ 
icaij-^UIe — A  ■pen-pU'tuiu —How  ilie  (jrtat  Bishop  inui. 
ishcd  a  concelled,  ill-bred  Preacher. 

As  yt^ars  Wi'.'Xt  ou,  s'>  di'l  tlic  f,uu  >  oi  BislKip  Eii'j;lan<l  in- 
rieas!\  nnfi!  tlu'  tf!ii>' catiK!  when,  Jtdiu  one  end  oL'  the  ]ie- 
pu1)]ic  ti)  tlii^  orh.M',  liis  l)ri'4hr  iiamn  biM'anii!  a  liouscliokl 
word  wirli  Catholics  of  cw^'y  nationality,  who  recon-nizcd  in 
liiiii  an  lieroif  chaniijion,  i'iilly  eqnii)[ii'(l,  and  (npial  Id  llio 
<i-ood  ]i,i;lit.  Tlio  feeling's  of  lii.s  own  conntrynien  towards 
liini  cannot  be  described,  so  intense  was  their  ])i'i(le  in  lii^ 
<i'reat  ([naliti<\s — his  matchless  jfowei-  of  ton;^'iie  and  ])tii.  his 
I'esistless  force  as  a  controversialist,'  his  wonderful  cajiiH'ity 
for  publii'  alfaii's— t^he  nobl(>ness  and  .urandenr  of  hisnnturf-, 
v/hich  all  ini>n  respi-cted,  and  wliich  niadt*  for  liitn  the  fast- 
est friends,  even  among  those  who  were  not  of  the  Caihulio 
(Jhiirch. 

There  were,  it  is  trne,  otiier  ,2:r(Vit  and  Jj;ood  bislinps.  who. 
by  their  holy  lives  and  lofty  chai'a<'ters,  commanded  a  re- 
spectfnl  toleration  for  their  Faith  ;  but  Dr.  England  extorted 


'  Till-  cliir'hiM^  ford'  of  tlic  Hixliop'amov.n  r  of  rraenniii'^  iniiy  be  illiKtrili'il  liy  tlic  follnwiii!; 
ri'ply.  s;ivi'ii  Ijy  an  IrNliiii  in,  wlio  w.w  duo  of  ih  ■  wariiu'-it  inlniii'iTs  of  lii<  (lisiini.'iii.lK'(l  cnuntry- 
111:111  : 

'•  W'vV,  I'at,"'  Willi  a  l.'uly  to  IIic  'irMininii,  "  wliMt  do  yon  tliink  of  your  Hisliop  ?" 

'•'I'liiiik  .)f  him,  niii'ani  I  F:u;h.  nia'iiin.  I  ;!iiiik  n  deal  of  liim,  and  why  not?  I«n't  ho 
fjr  111  I,  III  I'a'n,  whivi  lio  i'ri)-<-'.'-<  hi'*  t  .Vii  ar:u-  o-i  hw  lir"  ist.  and  lo'ik-i  aro-.ind  at  thorn  all,  aftiT 
oil"  of  liw  ri'i;n1ar  smashers,  as  much  as  to  cay—'  .Aiiswor  ino  that,  and  he  d  — d  tn  you  !'" 

••()!i  Pat,!''  remonstrated  the  lady,  who.  wliatever  phe  thonu'lit  of  tho  orilirisin.  was  some" 
What  startled  al  the  iiuhor  forcllilu  iiuiiiner  In  whlcdi  it  was  oxpresKcd.— .l/aywirs. 

702 


THE  niaiiT  ni:v.  joil\  j-:s(;i.am),  d.d. 


ro;} 


respect  for  his  rdi.uiou  by  tlie  inii^ixi,'  power  witliuliicli  Ik? 
uul'oltled  its  jMiiiciplcs  to  thosn  \v!io  crowded  around  liiui 
wht-'i't'vtT  lie  wenr,  and  rel'irct'd  the  caliimuie.s  and  iiiisre|ii'e- 
:;eiit:iti<)iis  that  had  l)eeii  th..'.  stock-in-trade  of  tlie  enemies  of 
ilic  ancii^nt  Faitli  for  ceiitui5es.  Likeall  C'titliolic  Irishiufii 
,,1'rlinr  day,  as  also  of  the  i^resejit,  th(^  gi'i-at  luvlate  became 
an  AiiiiM'icaii  citizen  as  sook  Jis  thelauwdnld  jjermit;  nor 
(lid  lie  ever  Cc;a..'e  to  identify, himself  thoi'ou,iihly  ^\irh  his 
adop!'."!  country,  proud  of  hes-i^reatness.  jralous  of  her  honor, 
loviiiu'  her  be^'ond  all  others,  siive  rhal  dear  old  hind  whose 
ivinllccrions  lay  fondly  cherished  vIomh  d(M,>p  in  his  heart. 

Till'  great  aim  of  liishop  ]'ln,u-l;';ui'.<  life  in  this  country 
seems  to  have  bi'eii  to  present  tlu;  Cafjoli"  Church,  her  doc- 
ti'iiies  and  practices,  in  all  their  Iruth  ;:nl  beauty  and  gian- 
deiir  before  the  American  people.  In  his  vdVo;fs  to  do  this, 
his  lalini's.  ]ierhaps,  have  ivver  biM^n  e(jui'.lied  by  .-my  other 
mail,  it  was  witli  thi^  ol)ject  \v^.  established  the  i'nili'd  t^ddt  x 
Call/nl/c  MiscrJIdiiu,  in  18;2'}.  On  his  arrival  in  .Vmerica  he 
iiunil  the  Catholic  Church  coni])a]'ativ<'ly  defenceless  ;  ))ut  he 
s.,;.n  reiidere(l  it  a  dangerous  task  to  at  tack  or  vilify  tie- Falfh 
111' MU'es.  Many  who  veetiiivil  on  tins  mode  of  warfare  werr 
dad  to  retreat  from  th(>,  Uehl  i)efore  tlie  cnishinu' weapons  o| 
loii'ic.  <'rndition,  and  idoqueoci^  with  whiidi  he  battled  for  hit 
Church,  his  creed,  and  his  peojde. 

lie  was  till'  real  found  m*  of  Catholic  jounialisni  in  llii* 
Ri'liiiblic.'  Jb'  saw  that  <-ui'  re'.iiiinii  was  le^arded  with 
conreiiipt ;  and  to  him  bdl  the  sideaoid  \voidc  of  (diaiiLibii^ 
rht' current  of  public  opinion,  of  jxivin.i;'  tlie  Catholi<-  <'hiir(di 
an'i'tain  rt^spM'tability  — a  stitus  in  this  IJepulilic.  A  pre- 
lattMMiilowed  with  siudi  u'rasp  ')f  mind  at  'Mve  pei'cidved  the 
value  of  the  prc^ss.  I'\ir  twenty  years  the  ]ii;i(iaci  (d'  !)i'. 
Ena'land's  nia.uic  penaiijieared  in  the  column-  of  the  f^aUniJii'. 
^[•fireUnn//.  iiis  ai'coniplish<Ml  youn.ir  sister  was  U,v  r.  time 
his  second  self  in  the  maniiirement  of  the  ])aper ;  nnd  it  is 
S'lid  slie  often  toned  down  til"  llei'ce  Id^ic  (d'  his  ludd  and. 
[loiiiled  articles,  while  by  he;' own  contributions  Ih-^  pa^es 


!■     I: 


•  Tl'c  Fiiiffft  flMUn  CiiUmUr  .^nurfflntni  c:\n  he  slylml  llio  llrst  Catholu'  ncWKpupcr  publlbliod  I* 

t:ii  I'lilkvl  Sl:itoa.     il  I'oasi'cl  iiilblUatiuii  in  1801. 


794 


THE  RIGHT  REV.  JOHN  ENQLAyn.  D.D. 


of  the  journal  were  fror[n(>ntly  ^-rared  an  1  enriclicd.  p,,|j 
(lod  calleil  away  tliis  gifted  and  heaiilifiil  gii'l.  uiid  the  illus 
triiMis  Bisliop  shed  many  a  tear  on  her  nnthnely  irnive. 
Under  such  noble  auspices  began  our  lirst  American  Cailioli) 
newspaper. 

Bisiiop  Enghmd's  diocese,  as  we  have  alr'^ady  renin vkci] 
embraced  tlwee  hu'ge  States,  witli  a  poor  and  scattt'ivfl 
Catholic  population.  It  was  a  vast  territory,  juid  cvcrv. 
thing  was  to  create.  But  tiie  energy  and  zeal  ol"  this  extra- 
ordinary  man  were  etpial  to  the  dilliculties  of  his  lui.ssioii. 
He  toiled  and  travidled  in  this  mannei-. 

lie  possessed  a  little  carriiigp  and  two  strongponii  s,  M-hidi 
he  managetl  to  pui'clnisc,  wiili  the  aid  (»f  a  fmv  hi,,in'ycil 
friends,  and,  accompanied  by  a  negro  boy  as  (''livci'.  Id 
would  pusii  on  from  [»],ict>  lo  ])hice,  preaching,  insinicnim-, 
and  adniiiiisfpring  the  Sacramcnls;  and  on  his  return— it 
niight  be  In  three,  six,  or  even  nine  months — he  would  rfad- 
ily  and  even  ])rotitai)ly  dispose  of  liis  cattle,  tlii'ii  nime 
valmdde  than  at  the  beginning  of  the  journey,  owing  to  tho 
ti'ainiug  to  whicdi  they  had  been  subjected. 

^lany  a  strange  incident,  and  even  stni'tlinir  adventure, 
occurred  to  lht>  apostolic  travellci'  daring  his  long  journeys, 
at  a  time  when  tlie  roads  were  little  better  tlian  nieiv  ti'acks. 
The  population  was  thinly  scattered,  and  even  the  rmlevt 
sort  ot  accommodation  was  not  always  to  be  had.  ( M'leii  tl;;' 
shelter  v/l 'die  forest  was  all  that  could  be  obtained  lor  the 
traveller. 

Once  in  a  town  or  city,  he  was  sure  of  lieing  w(dl  received. 
Prejudice,  it  is  ti'ue,  kept  some  aloof  from  the  '"Popish 
])ishoi>.""  but  American  curiosity,  and  1  he  iri'cpressibledesiiv  1 0 
listen  to  siM'iuons,  <liscourses.  :ind  lectures  of  any  desciiiiliuii, 
imjitdled  numbei's  to  henraman  who  was  famous  for  liisele- 
(pience.  Halls,  courtdiouses,  concert-rr)onis,  (diui'clKN  aiid 
chap(ds,  W(»uld  l)e  freidy  [)laced  at  his  disi)osal :  and.  ii 
the  probiibility  is  that  he  rarely  suil'ered  from  hudv  (i 
tality  under  su(di  circumstances. 

Tiiere  wei'e  occasions,  liowf^'ei",  when  the  Bishop  fomid  it 
dillicult  enough  to  make  out  a  dinner,  or  secure  the  siieltor 


I'lee 


lies  II 


THE  BIGHT  FilCV.  JOHN  EXGLAXl),  D.D. 


ro5 


of  a  I'oof  ac^ainst  tlie  ni.a'lit.  P^ven  in  the  Sontliern  Spates, 
wliirli  are  pi'ovtM-bial  for  tlie  up.aUVctcd  hospitality  of  their 
jKopIf.  cluirls  were  to  be  met  with— at  least,  in  \)i.  Eng- 
hiiid's  time. 

One  evening,  as  the  Bisiiop  f)f  Cliai'leston  Avas  travellinj^ 
aloiiL;,  accompanied  by  Father  O'Xeill,  one  of  his  i'uw 
[iiit'sts,  lie  drew  np  at  a  house  of  rather  moderate  diinen- 
sions.  The  master  proved  to  be  a  mixture  of  siirh'm  5-s  and 
bad  iiatiii'e.  Dinnei'  was  called,  and  idven.  ami  an  exorbi- 
mm  itrice  chai'ged.  ]3iit  thei'e  was  to  be  no  fiiither  ac- 
(niiiiiKi'lation.  "  You  cannot  stop  to-night,  no  how,"  (>x- 
(laiaied  the  agreeable  owner  of  the  mansion  ;  and  his  ngly 
iVatures  seemed  to  be  as  emphatic  as  his  lan.iiiiage. 

.\t'i"r  (linnei-,  J)r.  England  look  a  chairiju  the  pia/.za,  and 
i\i(l  hi.s  offic(\  Fafh(M'  O'Xeill,  having  no  desir(;  to  enjoy 
tlic  cnm]Kiny  of  his  nnwillimr  entertainei',  sauntered  towards 
the  cai'iiage,  a  little  distance  off,  wiieic^  the  boy  was  feeding 
I  he  horses ;  and  taking  his  Hiite  from  (he  portmanteau,  he 
sat  (!n  a  log,  and  began  his  favoiite  air,  "The  last  i^ise  of 
Siniiiiiei'.''  The  toil-worn  Irish  priest  ceomed  tf)  breatlie  the 
viTv  soul  of  tenderness  into  this  exqnisite  melody.  Fiom  one 
lit'autifiil  air  the  jilayei' wandered  to  another,  while  the  neuro 
l)(i_v  grinned  with  delight,  and  even  tlie  liors(\s  seemed  to  enjoy 
flii'ir  food  with  a  keener  relish.  Here,  indeed,  was  exem- 
plilied  the  saying  that — 

"  Music  liiitli  charms  to  sooilic  ilic  savage  breast." 

As  the  sweet  notes  sto1(>  along  on  the  soft  air  of  a  South- 
prti  iiiglit,  and  reached  ihe  iidiospitabh;  resi(lenc(\  a  ln^id 
was  eagerly  thrust  forth,  and  the  ])rojecting  ears  (hereof 
ap]ieared  eagerly  to  di-ink  in  the  1lood  of  melody.  It  ccMned 
(■(■Ie>^tial.  AnotlKM"  lovely  air  begni— one  (.f  those  uhich 
Wwvs  pearly  teai'-drops  to  the  eye.  iiiiil  mi  the  iieart  with  (l;e 
lialiii  of  liap[)iMess  -and  was  playing  villi  lingering  sweet- 
iK'ss,  wiiena  voice,  husky  with  suppressed eniolion,  washeai'd 
iiltering  these  words:  "Strangers!  don't  go  I  —  stay  all 
iii.ixht.     "We'll  lix  you  somehow."' 

J I  was  thtt  voice  of  the  surly  but   now  charmed  host! 


i/ 


|m;I| 


700 


THE  RKiiiT  ni:v.  .joiix  i:m;i.a.\j),  d.d. 


Tluit  ev(Miinp:  tlie  two  ii:n(>.sl,s  eiijoyod  tlio  licst  stents  nroiuul 
llip  lieartli,  Father  O'Neill  playing  till  a  late  hour  for  the 
family. 

Next  nioniinp:  lli(»  iiiasfor  of  llie  house  would  imt  nccciit 
of  Ihe  least  ('()ni[)oiisal ion.  "  Xo,  no,  Ijishoj,;  Xo,  ,„, 
ilr.  O'Neill  I — not'  a  cent  1  you're  heartily  wflcom,*  (,,  ,. 
('onic  as  often  as  you  i»h'ase,  and  stay  as  lojig  as  you  v,i-!. ; 
we'll  he  always  glad  to  se(>  you  ;  hut — "  and  he  dirccirl 
his  words  to  Father  O'Neill — '^l>c  .sure  and  (lou'l  yW/v/,/ 
i/irjhiler' 

The  eager  desire  to  \\n\Y  Piishop  England  was  not  cnuriiicil 
to  any  iiarticulai"  class.  It  was  coniinon  to  all.  A  soinewhiit 
curious  iiistance,  illustrative  of  his  jiopularity  as  a  preacluM' 
occui'ved  during  one  of  his  joiu'ueys.  ,\iTi\  ing  at  :i  kind  of 
Avayside  inn.  or  wh.at  may  he  do-^crilied  as  a  cainiaii's  sfn!:f', 
Dr.  I'iUgland  found  himself  in  iIk^  midst  of  a  large  couvovof 
cotton-wagons,  drawn  liy  mules  and  liorses,  with  a  muul'rr 
ttf  flrivei's  and  attendants,  l)oth  white  and  colored. 

The  i)i'elate*s  ponies  had  been  fed,  and  he  was  just  al'eiir 
to  resume  his  jnuriiey,  wheu  a  gi'av(>,  elderly  num.  \v]o 
kSeemed  to  he  in  command,  approached  him,  with  eveiy  luailv 
of  respcf't,  and  said  :   *'  Stranger,  are  }ou  Tlishop  England  :'' 

The  Ijisho])  answiM'ed,   '"Yes." 

"  AVeih  Mr.  I'ishop."'  coiiliuuc;!  the  grave  persoii!tp'\ 
"we've  heard  tell  of  you  much.  Tile  folks  around  say  yell 
ai'e  the  most  all-lire(l  [jowtuful  i)reaclier  in  this  couiitry.  I 
had  to  leave  AVashington  liefor<'  you  got  lh;'r(> :  ami  1  cini't 
get  to  Miliedgeville  till  you'i'egone.  Would  you,  Mr.  Uishop, 
mind  giving  us  a  hif  of  a  sei'iuou  right  here  ^  It'll  ohleoge 
me  and  my  friends  much — do,  ]\Ii\  Ijishop." 

"Do,  Mr.  IJisho])  I"  was  taken  u[),  in  full  chormi,  by  tlit} 
rest. 

The  appeal  so  urg(>d  was  irresistible,  and  the  zealous  mis- 
sionary yi<>lded  a  ready  assent. 

The  Ijishop  took  his  stand  on  the  stump  of  a  ti'ee  wliiHi 
liad  been  cut  down  to  widen  the  road.  The  brandies  of  a 
liuge  elm  Hung  their  welcome  shadow  over  tin;  preai'iier  nii'l 
the  attentive  group  that  clustered  around  in  nuiteexDcclatioii. 


THE  niGllT  UKV.  JolIX  /■L\OLA-\»f>.  1)  JJ 


<97 


It  was  a  sceno  forn  piiiiilci-  iln'ilctisc.  o\>»rlianA'in.!^ forest, 
(lie  iiult',  we;itli<'i--s(;iinf(I  J(pu-li(iii-t'.  tlie  open  ('l<>iiriii,u\  lit  up 
liviv  ^;l()\viiig  Southei'ii  siki.  ;Ii(-  1;ii\uv,  roiigli  wii<;(iiis,  v,iili 
ihcir  liorses  and  mules,  tlic  lianly.  Iii'(»ii/.t'(l  countfiuuiccs  of 
th '  wliites,  and  t\u^  gn-ai  rolling-  eyes  and  :;l('aniing  teetli  of 
]i,.^r(M's  of  every  hue  and  tint.  \\'\t  tlie  cliicl'  li,i:iii't^  of  all 
■as  not  unwoi'tliy  of  its  proininenci' — a  man  in  the  })rir,ie  of 
life,  of  wcil-knit  and  ])o\viM'fid  frani:'.  His  face  Avas  sti-oni,'. 
massive,  dark,  and  full  of  jiower  and  [lassion.  His  rye 
_|,';!iiH'(l  Avitli  the  lire  that  ulowed  ■within,  and  liis  look 
MvnitMl  to  search  the  vei'v  (Ifjtllis  of  tlu'  sonl.  This  was 
Dr.  Enirland,  as  lu^  stood   upnn  lliat  stamp  hy  tliewayside. 

Soon  tlui  willinLi;  andi-'iu'e  was  I'onml  ))y  the  sited  of  his 
fiii.jUi'nce,  as  he  unfolded  hi'foi'-'  thcni  liio  solemn  tinllis  nf 
idi-iiin.  i'.nd  t'\i)lained  to  thcin  tlicij' duiics  to  (iod  and  !'> 
their  fellow-nu'U.  lie  had  het-u  ahoul  t\v<'nty  uiinnles  ad- 
dressing the  crowd,  v.hen  the  leader  stepped  forward,  and, 
iai>iiig  his  liand,  said:  "''i'hat  will  do.  Mr.  I'isho]).  that  will 
do.  AVe're  much  ohleege;!  to  you.  Mr.  ]*/ishop.  its  all  jnst, 
as  the  folks  say — you'i'e  an  all-'ired  ]io\vei'fnl  preacher 
WVd  like  to  hear  you  always,  hut  we  niusirt  stop  you  now. 
Tlmnk  you,  ]\[r.  Bishop  -thank  you.  Mr.  I'ishop."' 

"Thank  you,  Mr.  I'lsho])."'  ciiod  the  rest  in  chorus.  And. 
amid  a  wild  cheer  that  would  havi'  tried  the  ncrNcs  of  hoiscs 
l^'ss  trained  tliau  his,  I'ishnp  England  continued  his 
joiu'iiey. 

The  illustrious  I'ishoo''^  tact  and  fund  of  wit  were  equal 
t'l  his  'd(H[ueiu'e,  and  unax  rlnni  once  he  had  occasion  \r, 
Miiiiuion  them  into  service.  AVe  have  liut  room  foranin- 
st;ii!ce.  He  was  liavellinu'.  on  one  occasion,  in  tlu>  same 
sr:ii;v  Vtith  a  conceit. 'd  young  jireaidaa'.  The  young  nuin 
li'iiif/'/  break  :,  huici'  with  the  '^-reat  "  Poitish  l^islio]) :  '  and, 
li('rh;!]>s,  thehajipy  result  miirht  b  ■■•nme  known  even  in  the 
liiills  of  th(>  N'atican.  l>r.  Eimhind  was  engaged  in  eaineKt 
convei'sation  with  some  ffjlow-pas^engei's  :  hut  rhat  did  not 
prevent  th'^  iireachei'  from  a'^kino;  cpu'stions  ahout  the 
"A'lirJcf  'lVo///"»r  ''  A/ifi-('/n-/s-f,'  the  ^- Pn/,,-."  etc. 
Paul  was   continually   ijm^ted.      It  was  notlnng  hut  Paid 


i  i' 


H 


m 


798 


THE  liiailT  REV.  JOIiy  ENGLAND,  D.B. 


here,   and  Paul  there,   and    how  could  the  "llonianists" 
answer  Paul  ? 

At  first,  the  Bishop  jiaid  no  attention.  But  as  the  ill  1  r,.,l 
preacher  stU(!k  to  his  points  with  the  i)ertinaoity  ol'  u  ua'I- 
tly,  the  nuisance  Ix-canie  intolerable.  Confrontiuii,'  [he  im- 
courteous  vender  of  texts,  Dr.  England  du'ected  the  hliizeof 
his  great  eyes,  which  gleamed  wiili  fun  and  lire,  upon  luni. 
and  gave  utterance  to  this  strange  rebuke:  "Y(jung  nmn  ! 
if  you  have  not  faith  and  piety  suflicient  to  induce  yoii  to 
call  the  Apostle,  '  S'a/Nf,  Paul,'  at  least  have  the  gooil  num- 
nei's  to  call  him  'J//.vA7' Paid  ;'  ,uid  do  not  b(^  ix'rpt'tually 
calling  him  'Paul,'  'Paul,'  as  if  you  considered  him  no 
better  than  a  negro." 

The  words,  assisted  by  the  comical  gravity  with  which 
they  wei'e  uttered,  and  enforced  by  th(>  roar  of  la^glitfr 
"with  which  they  were  receiv(>d  by  the  delighted  pass*  igcrs, 
extinguished  the  poor  preacher,  who  rapidly  hid  hinist'lf  in 
the  town  at  which  the  stage  arrived.  Nor  did  tlie  alTair  end 
hei-e.  The  story  got  abroad,  and  the  next  Sundiiy,  wliiln 
the  preacher  was  enlightening  an  audience,  some  irnn-ercm, 
wag  intejTUjited  him  l»y  repeating,  "]\rister  Paul— ^'ist(>r 
Paul."  The  absurdity  of  the  all'air  even  obliged  him  to 
leave  for  parts  unknown ! 


CHAPTER  IV. 


•if'; 


LAST  TEAKS  OF  "TIIH  XOIil.KST  llOMAX  OF  TTfEM  ALL." 

Bhliop  Enrjland  and  his  classical  scJiool — Bigotry — ///* 
cports  (I (/(I i list  duelling — prcneliing  in  the  hall  of  the 
Jloiise  of  the  ]}( /jr<s( nlalins — Ills  iwtcnsire  injlucnce 
—  IJis  solicitude J'or  (dl — llis  houndless  zeal~l)r.  Eng- 
hnid  and,  the  ininistcr — '^Bogs,  the  Bishop  stripped 
to  his  shirt!"' — His  care  of  the  negroes — His  hero!s)ii 
during  I  lie  plague— Ifis  last  dags — ><cencs  at  his  death- 
/nd— Glances  at  his  ch<iracler. 

liislu)])  Enuiand  avhs  tlie  levivor  ol'  clnssioal  Icnrning  in 
HoiUh  (Jaioliiia.  With  the  ohjt-ict  of  providing"  a.  cleiiiv  oi 
llis  own  for  I  he  diocese,  sevei'al  candidates  havin,*;  applied 
to  him,  lie  opened  at  Charleston  a  classical  school,  in  w  iiicli 
tlieseaspirantslo  the  holy  ministry  were  made  teachers,  while 
they  ]inrsued  their  theolog'ical  stndies  nnder  Dr.  J"]ii,u]and 
liiiuself.  This  school  received  nnnieidus  scholars  from  the 
best  I'aniilies  of  the  city,  and  yielded  a,  sullicient  income  to 
support  the  theological  students  while  pre2)aring  for  the 
l)ri('sthood. 

The  exei'cises  of  the  school,  and  its  puhlic  (vvliilntions, 
gave  boundless  satisfaction  to  its  pati'ons  and  fiiends.  The 
sf'liolars  increased  to  about  one  hundi'ed  and  thiity.  and  the 
IMshop,  encouraged  by  the  bright  i)ros])ects  befori'  him,  in- 
cuired  a  heavy  liabiliry  in  securing  the  services  of  additional 
teachers  of  the  highest  capacity.  ]>ut,  nidiap])ily,  at  this 
Juncture  the  ])ent-n])  bigotry  of  the  oiTposing  sects  bni'st 
forth  into  a  storm  of  opposition  against  the  school,  and,  in 
general,  against  "the  eri'ors  and  deformities  of  Popery." 

The  ])ress  and  tln^  pul]nt  lang  loudly  with  the  denuncia- 
tions of  fanaticism.     Bigotry  grew  loud-mouthed.     Piotes- 

799 


X% 


'■i 


>tm: 


wmJF^ 


800 


THE  RiniiT  heV.  jonx  KxaiAxn,  n.n. 


Tunfs  were  told  tliat  tlioy  woro  tiixiii.u;  tlifuisclvcs  to  sot  up 
tli(!  "•  Honiish"  (Jlnircli,  and  to  ('<luc;itt'  a  "  Honiisli"  driixy. 
TliepiiMio  jissunincfs  of  Dr.  JMigliUid,  that  Ins  scIkhiI  wns 
exclusivtdy  das.sical,  and  thai  no  religious  exorcises  of  in. 
sti'iu'tious  were  used,  had  no  elTect. 

Protestantisui  was  alaiuied.  Tlie  Protestant  sclio'.ls  woe 
re-opened.  'I'lie  Colle<!;e  oC  Cliarli'stou— wliich  hail  l^vn 
suspended  I'or  soini^  time—was  revived,  and  a  iww  ini]»('tii3 
given  to  sectarianism. 

Tile  Bis]ioi>"s  school  and  seminary,  thougii  eiirccMcii.  was 
not  aiiuihihited.  It  continund  to  i)estow  a.  tlioiough  cliis'^j- 
cal  and  nuitUematical  education  n])on  the  stuih-nis  wIkmc- 
sorted  to  it,  and  supported  the  ecclesiastical  Seiuiuaiy.  Tiiis 
Seminaiy,  nnder  Dr.  Enghmd" scare,  trained  up  an  alije,  chi- 
cated  clergy  i'or  tlie  dio(>ese  ol' Cliarleston.  and  pjvpar.'d  I'or 
tlie  nunistry  soaie  oi"  the  most  honored  clergymen  ol:  other 
dioceses.' 

Thns  this  great  Catholic  I^ishop  found  timenniidst  jiis 
jiressing  avociitions  to  promote  the  spread  ol'  liteiaiy  and 
scientitic  knowledge  in  tlie  city  of  Charleston  ;  and  as  a 
minister  of  j^eaoe,  ha  ful Idled  his  vocation  by  the  I'i.rinatiou 
of  an  Ami- Duelling  Association,  of  whicdi  (icnera!  Piiuk- 
ney,  of  IJevolntionary  fami\  was  the  pi'esident.  Dr.  Eii;;-- 
land's  address  l)(d'(ji'e  this  association,  against  the  wildly 
stupid  ])ractice  called  duelling,  is  one  of  the  most  forcible 
and  masterly  productions  ever  penned  in  any  language. 

At  the  suggestion  of  some  of  the  Southern  niendH'is  ef 
Congress,  the  Bishop-was  invited  to  i)iea(di  in  the  li;dl  df 
the  House  of  l{(^presentatives,  at  Washington,  lie  ac- 
cepted tlie  invitation,  and  v/as  the  first  Catholic  clergynuui 
ever  occuiiying  that  place.  His  discou)'s(»  was  a  nohlcjiro- 
duction,  full  of  charity,  kindness,  siiid  winning  grandcui'. 

Tlun'e  was  no  portion  of  the  Annn-ican  Chnrch  in  wliicli 
Dr.  England's  fntlucMice  was  not  fdt.  Tie  was  constantly 
crrsnl  'd  l)y 'mshops,  priests,  and  laymen  fioni  evei'v  ]iai'I; 
of  the  country.     At  Tlome  liis  influence  in  Chnndi  niattci's 


'  lii^^lioj)  KimlMiiil  iiitrocliiccil  iIr'  rrMiliiics'  ami  Ihu  Si.-^tcTH  of  Mciry  iiilo  liis  iliocf.-f  as  ri-lij- 
(•us  fcniiilo  touclicrs. 


THE  manr  rev.  joijx  exolaxd,  d.d. 


801 


in  lUis  countiy -was  very  great.      The  caitlinals  called  liim 
the  "Steam  JJisho})"'  ol'  America. 

Wherever  theC'hurch  wasattUeted  or  wounded,  lie  left  no 
icini'cly  riiKipplied.  His  glTted  mind  and  sound  judgment 
brought  all  their  forces  to  bear  on  such  tixiuMes.  IliseH'oi'ts 
t(i Ileal  the  schism  in  the  Church  at  Philadelphia  were  un- 
tiring and  generous;  and  aUhough  his  endeavors,  like  so 
jiiiuiy  othei's,iM\)ved unavailing,  no  one  could  have  struggled 
iiKHv  than  h>;  did  to  achieve  success. 

Thus  we  see  that  his  zeal  Avas  not  coidined  to  his  own 
(liooese.  In  compliance  with  the  invitations  of  the  bishops 
unci  i)riests  of  other  States,  this  extraordinar\-  man  often 
wfut  to  herald  the  ti'utlis  of  ih(^  Catliolic  Church,  or  to  ap- 
peal in  behalf  of  the])o(>rand  alilicted.  in  his  own  nuitchless 
slyle.  AVe  learn  that  in  thi'  summer  of  [S'M)  he  lectured  in 
Cincinnati;  and,  as  a  writer  of  tlK.i  time  says,  "a  new  im- 
pulse was  given  to  the  enquiry  for  religious  iruth  by  a  course 
of  lectures  preached  in  the  Cincinnati  Cathedi'al  by  tlie  il- 
hi.^trious  John  England,  l^ishop  of  Charleston." 

During  one  of  his  visitations.  \)y.  England  iiad  been 
obliged  with  the  loan  of  a  Pioiestant  church  for  the  ])ur- 
lK)se()f  delivering  a  course  of  lectures  on  the  Catholic  relig- 
ion. On  Saturday  evening  the  regular  pastor  came  to  him 
to  "ask  a  favor." 

"I  am  sure,"  said  the  Bishop,  "you  would  not-ask  what 
I  would  not  readily  grant." 

"Occupy  my  ]julpit,  then,  to-morrow  I"  continued  the 
minister.  "1  have  b(>en  so  much  engritssed  by  your  lectin ea 
through  the  week  tliat  1  have  utterly  forgotten  my  own  pas- 
toral chai'ge,  and  T  am  unprepared  with  a  sermon." 

'•I  should  b(^  mn^t  hapjiy  to  oblig(>  you."  returned  the 
jH'elate  ;  "but  are  you  aware  that  we  can  have  no  partuer- 
sliipsf 

'•  1  have  thought  of  all  that,"  i-e[»lied  the  nunister  "  liegu- 
late  everything  as  you  think  p]-o]Kn-." 

■"At  least,  lean  ])romise  you.*"  said  Dr.  England,  "that 
iK.tliing  shall  be  said  or  done  which  you  or  any  of  your 
congregation  will  disapprove." 


S 


ii  > 


\     ii. 


-nM 


mi 


802 


THE  niai/T  UFA'.  JOITX  KX(!LAX!>,  D.D. 


Oil  tlio  morrow  lli(»  nov(>l  siicclaclc  w:is  seen  of  a  riitlmli,. 
Inshop,  arrayed  in  his  ordinary  t'i)is('()i)al  vcsturo,  adviincin.f 
to  the  pulpit  of  this  I'rotestant  ('(jii^iv^atioii.  Ih'  iavift'i] 
them  to  slug  some  hymns  he  had  previously  selocled  fnmi 
those  they  were  accustomed  to  use.  He  tlien  read  to 
Ihem  IVoiii  the  Douay  translation  of  the  liil)l(',  i-ccitcd  jiii. 
l)ropi'iatti  prayers, — such  as  all  could  freely  join  in,--fr(iiii  a 
C'adiolic  prayer  book,  preached  them  a  sound,  sensible  dis- 
course, a!id  dismissed  them  with  a  1)l<'ssint;-.  And  tlmt  cim- 
grei^atiou  AV(Mit  away,  wondering,'  if  su(di  could  be  the  dof. 
triiK^  and  the  worship  \vlii(di  they  had  so  often  liciiid 
denounced  as  "the  doctrine  of  devils." 

It  was  till'  custom  of  l^ishop  Enghand  to  weai'  liis  oidliunv 
e]iiscopal  robes— soutane,  rotehet.  and  short  piu'ple  <',iii(>_ 
whenev(>r  he  was  [)rea(diin!j:,  whether  in  a  piddic  conrl  Ikkisc 
or  in  a  I'rotestant  churidi.  Many  of  thes(>  latter  bnildiims 
being  in  his  time  rather  pi-imitive  structures,  and  nflVn'dinii; 
little  aceonimodation  for  I'obing,  lu^  was  fre(] inMitly  coni- 
pell(Ml  to  i»ei'form  his  ec(desiastical  toilet  Ixdiind  tlie  ]iul- 
pit.  f'iiis  happened  on  one  occasion,  when  his  fame  wns 
at  its  height,  and  ]>eo]ile  of  every  creed,  as  w(dl  as  cliiss 
and  condition,  rushed  to  hear  the  famous  ])re;ii"]i('i'. 
One  of  the  robes  wcu'U  by  a  bishoi*.  {\\q  rot(diet,  is  a  kind 
of  surplice,  usually  made  of  muslin  or  iine  linen,  nml 
trimmed  Avith  lace.  Dr.  England  i-emained  some  time 
hidden  fi'om  the  view  of  the  audience,  probably  engaued  in 
prayer  ;  an<l  the  expectation  was  somewhat  increased  in 
consequence. 

At  length,  one,  more  impnlient  or  more  curious  than  tlie 
rest,  ventur(Ml  on  a  peep,  and  saw  the  Ihshop  in  his  rotchot, 
and  before  he  had  time  to  put  on  his  cape  ;  and,  rather  for- 
getting the  (diaraeter  of  the  ]dac(s  and  rhe  nature  of  tin' 
occasion,  he  cried  out,  in  a  voice  that  rang  throngliout  the 
building — "  l)oys  I  the  JMsho^j's  sti'ipjx'd  to  his  shirt !— lie's 
in  eai'uest,  T  t(dl  yon  ;  and  darn  m(\  if  he  ain't  goiiig  to  aive 
us  hell  this  time."  Tlu^  ]^)ishop,  who,  Trishmandike,  dearly 
loved  a  jcdve,  and  avIio  frequcmtly  told  the  story,  ever  with 
unabated  relish,    mounted   the  steps  of    the  pulpit,   and 


THE  rdGIIT  BEV.  JOIIS   hSULAXD.  D.J). 


803 


litoUcd  uiioii  liis  jnitlit'iico  jis  cnliiily  nud  with  as  ji:i';ivi'  a 
loiiiilt'iiiiiu'o  as  ii'  these  strange  woiils  liucl  never  reached  Jiis 
ears. 

J)r.  England's  generous  li(>art  found  in  tlie colored  jiopula- 
tioii  ol"  ills  diocesL'  objects  of  Ids  nio.st  ])ateriial  caic  and.  tcn- 
(Icivst  solicitude.  To  instruct  Ihcin.  (diidly  in  jclation  to 
tli!-ir  inoi'al  and  ivligious  duties  iind  olilu-alionis,  Avas  a 
favorite  work  of  liis  /eal  and  charity.  !li--  own  Mass  on 
Siiinlays  at  the  Catliedi'al  was  oifi-reil  up  (';»r  tiieni.  and  tlie 
liMHsi!  of  God,  on  such  occasions,  was  reserved  for  llieir 
exchisive  accoininodation. 

He  iustriicted  theni  liiniself  at  ^fass  fioni  tlie  same  jtulpit 
which  was  made  famous  hy  his  eki(]uence.  lie  also  had  a 
ves]ier  service  for  their  Icnelit.  ^^o  wondei'ful,  in  trutli, 
Avcre  tlie  good  effects  of  liis  nniustry  amongst  tliein,  es- 
jM'cially  in  promoting  their  conscieiUious  regard  foi-  duly  and 
liilelity  in  their  p<M'uliar  ]i(»siti(ins.  that  many  Protestant 
]ilanters  declared  their  willingness  to  give  him  every  facility 
ill  ministering  in  person,  or  liy  his  clergy,  on  their  planta- 
tieiis,  to  the  exclusion  of  all  other  nnnisters. 

It  was,  however,  when  Charleston  was  scourged  by  disease 
tJKit  llie  cluirity  and  heroisiu  of  the  jjisho})  wen^  ]iiit  to  liie 
test.  "When  that  friiilit fill  scourge,"  writes  \V.  (i.  Head, 
"the  yellow  f«ver,  desolated  Ciiarleston.  lie  was  ever  at  his 
pnsi.  This  is  nothing  new  or  sti'aiige  to  those  who  know  tin; 
(.'atholie  ]n'iesthood.  But  when  the  Protestants  of  Charles- 
ten  saw  this  apostolic  7nan  hurrying  under  the  liery  noons 
of  August  and  September,  or  tlie  deadly  midnight  dew,  to 
assist  and  console  the  victim  of  llit^  ])lague.  usually  of  the 
humblest  anf\  the  poorest,  th(\v  could  not  but  exclaim,  in 
the  sincerity  of  their  wonder  and  ndmiratiou:  IVtis  is 
('hr'h'<U(Ui  charili, 

"A  near  relative  of  mine,  s]ieaking  of  him  tome,  said: 
'T  met  him  one  forenoon,  while  the  fever  was  at  the  higlu'sr, 
brushing  along  through,  perhaps,  fhe  hottest  street  in  the 
city.  When  I  tell  yon  he  was  lila/iug,  T  do  not  exaggei-ate 
—he was  literally  blazing !  The  lire  s]i>ii'kled  from  his  cheeks, 
iuul  flashed  from  his  eyes  !     I  shook  hands  with  hiiu,  and  aii 


It 


ir 


wim! 


80-1 


27//;  luuiiT  ni:v.  .loiix  i:m;i.am).  d.d. 


w«  ])artf(l,  T   tlioimlit    to  niysflf,   my  dear  fellow,  yon  \\\]\ 
boon  liMVc  <'iioiii;li  of  tliis  !' 

"  Uiit  liis  work  w:iM  not  yet  dono.  No  I  S-'msou  ;ift,.j. 
fjeiisoii,  iiniid  vi('(>,  .s(|iiM]idity,  iiiid  wivtclicdju'ss  wIkk.  ji,. 
1ciii|)('iim<'t',  i)('i'liai)s,  Ivijit  iiiaiidliii  watch  l)y  the  dyinj.-  jiiid 
tlu'  ilcad  ;  wliilo  llif  soI>  of  sorrow  was  broken  l)y  the  siniek 
of  (h'sl  it  at  ion  and  (h'spai''— there  si  ill  stood  I'isho])  I-'-iilImikI. 
till?  ))i'iest,  th»^  i'alher,  and  the  IViend  to  :.ssur<'  the  peniteiir 
— to  alarm  thesinncr — to  [)ity  and  to  succor— /w/Vov/^/^^/Z/j 
a/i'l  (ti/dlii — uido  liis  holy  function,  //,■  (hul J'riijlilf)!}  hUtrk 
Toinil — the  direct  svmiitom  of  themahidvl"' 

'i'oo  soon,  alas  !  was  (he  lifoof  the  u'l'eat  hei'oic  Bishop  to 
come  to  a  close.  Ili^turnin.sj,'  iVom  Miirope  in  a  ship  aimiiin'st 
Avhose  isteei'a,i;'(;  piissen,u'ers  maliunaiit  dysentei'y  broke  eiit, 
(his  noble  (Christian  niiiusler  Jalioivd  iiu'cssanlly  in  the  ser- 
vice of  the  sick,  lie  was  at  once  priest,  doctor,  ami  nui'sc, 
and  durin<;' the  voya<;e  lie  scarcely  eve^'  slept  in  his  cahin; 
an  occasional  doze  on  n  sofa  was  all  that  liis  zeal  and  humari- 
itv  would  allow  him  to  ('iijov. 

Exhausted  in  mind  and  body,  and  with  the  seeds  of  tlio 
fatal  diseas(i  in  his  constiliitio!..  Dr.  Kn^nland  landed  in 
I'hihuhdphia ;  but  instead  (d"  betakiu.i;'  himsidf  to  his  hcd, 
and  placing  himself  under  tluM-aivoTa  ])hysician,lieiirea(li((l. 
and  lectured, and  ti'ansacted  an  amount  (d"  business  sailed  only 
to  the  most  I'obust  health. 

In  Baltimore  he  stayed  four  days,  and  preached  five 
tim(>s. 

"  When  he  arrived  liere,"  savsMr.  Read,  "  his  thront  was 
raw  Avitli  continued  exertion.  I  discovered  the  insidiiuis 
disease  that  was  sap[)inghis  sti'eriu'th.  I  saw  his  constitntidii 
breaking'  np.  lie  was  wai'ued,  with  the  soli(dfude  of  the 
tenderest  ail'ection,  against  continuing  tliese  di'sl!iictiv(> 
efforts.  The  weathiT  was  dreadful.  But  he  felt  it  his  dmy 
to  go  on.  ITe  said  onl\'',  *!  hojie  T  shall  not  drop  at  the  alrac 
— if  I  do,  bring  me  home.'  ITe  wished  to  do  the  woi'k  he  was 
sent  to  perform. 

"l"]xhausted  l)y  fatigue,  overwhelmed  Avith  visitors,  lio 
was  yet  ready  at  the  last  moment  to  give  an  audience  to  ;i 


Tur:  nil  HIT  nr.v.  .loiis  kmhasd,  d.ik 


805 


fitnin,i::or  who  licjiLTcd  ndiiiissim)  for  tlio  .scjliition  of  n  .siii<ile 
(lniil»t ;  iiiid  iicviT  did  1  listen  to  so  precise,  so  clear,  so  con- 
viii<'iii.^  iin  exjiosilioii  o!  the  Ir-iiisnlistiiiitinted  itresciice  ol* 
our  JJcdcemer  in  th(!  Holy  Eucharlsf.  lli.s  iiiidifor  was  a 
person  of  int('lli,ii('iice  aud  caiidoi-,  and  tht>  IMshop  exhausted, 
fur  his  instruction,  (lie  lesonrces  ol"  iihilosophical  ohjeciion 
tu  the  sacred  tenet, ;  to  show  how  I'lilih'are  tii<i  cavils  oi"  man 
in  ()))i)()sition  to  th(3  cxpUcit  declaration  of  (Jod." 

His  death  wa.s  worthy  of  his  g-iand  life.  Notliin^'  could 
lie  more  in  ]vee|)in,L?  with  the  character  of  the  Christian 
I'isJiop.  The  dyini!;  woi'ds  of  this  ^reat  prelate  of  the  Anier- 
icim  Church,  addressed  to  liis  ch-ruy,  wlio  were  Uiieelini; 
jdiiiid  his  bed,  were  nohhi  and  iniinessive.  full  of  iiaternal 
solicitude  for  liis  Hock,  aud  the  most  c<inii>lete  resiuiialiou  to 
the  will  of  liis  Divine  Master.  lie  humbly  solicited  th« 
foi'iiiveness  of  his  clei'uy,  foi'  whatever  mi.ulit  at  the  tinifi 
)i;ive  seemeil  liai'sli  or  o})pressive  in  liis  conduct  ;  but  he 
truly  declared,  th:\t  he  had  acted  froiu  a  sense  of  duly,  aud 
in  the  manner  best  adapted  to  the  end  he  had  in  \  iew — their 
fcood. 

*' I conft^.'S,"  said  the  dyiuu,-  prelat(s  "it  has  likewise 
happened,  ov.iiig  ])artly  to  the  perplexities  of  my  ]iosition, 
and  chiejlv  to  7UV  own  i!npetuosit\',  that  iu\- demean(»r  luis 
!iol  always  been  as  meelc  aud  courteous  as  it  ever  should 
have  been;  and  tluit  you  have  exjierieliced  lebuH's,  when 
y(!U  miii'ht  have  autici])ated  kindness.  Forgive  me  I  Tell 
my  peoph^  tlait  I  loV(>  them — tell  them  Iioav  much  I  i'e<>'ret 
that  cii'cumstances  have  kept  us  af  a  distance  fidiu  each 
other.  "Nfy  duties  and  my  difhciilties  have  prevented  me 
frnm  cultivatinu'  and  sti-en.u-thenin,i^  those  private  ties  wliich 
ouiz'ht  to  ])ind  us  totrether;  your  fui^ctioiis  require  a  closer 
and  more  constant  intercourse  with  them.  Ee  with  them — 
he  of  them— will  them  to  (iod.  (luide,  (i;overii,  and  instruct 
tliciu.  that  you  may  do  it  with  joy,  and  not  with  ,mrief." 

In  this,  his  last  address,  he  did  not  forp't  his  infant  insti- 
tutions, wliich  were  never  sodear  to  his  iiaternal  heart  as  at 
that  moment,  when  lienppeah'd  to  his  weeping-  clergy  in  their 
hf'lialf :  and  to  the  Sisters,  who  afterwards  knelt  bv  his  bed- 


It 


I   . 


I  ■    ! 


|l'    I 


\      \ 


800 


THE  IIIGIIT  ]IEV.  JOHN  hWGLAXI),  D.D. 


si(l(\  lie  bequeathed  lessons  of  wisdom  and  con ro, ere,  Aliiu.s*; 
Lis  ];ist  words  wci't? ;  "  I  IkhI  lio[)e(l  to  rise— bur  1  how  to  tho 
will  of  (iod,  and  aecej)!  what  lit-  appoints."  lie  caliidy  ex- 
piivd  on  the  1  Uli  of  April,  ASA2. 

Jiisliop  PiHgland  was  a  fearless  ninn.  Tie  quailed  neirher 
before  deadly  pestilence,  the  bloody  liaiid  of  liic  iis.sassin 
or  th(^ blind  passions  of  the  rabble.  "When  the  anti-(  atliulio 
siiirit  seized  on  the  mob  of  Charleston,  and  tln'v  tliicatfiud 
to  burn  the  coiivent,  a  gallant  biind  of  Irishmen  rallicu  to 
its  deftnrse ;  and  Dr.  l-'ngland  himself  cooly  and  carcriiliy 
examined  the  flints  of  their  rilles,  to  be  satishcd  that  rliero 
would  be  no  nnssing  lire— no  failure  of  swift  andMiiuniirry 
■justice.  I'nt  the  preparation  was  enough.  It  was  a  lessee- 
the  ruffians  never  foigot. 

He  has  been  justly  styled  "the  author  of  our  Provincinl 
Couneils.'-  His  far-reaching  inf(41ect  saw  tin?  inipeilVci; 
orgainzation  of  the  AniericaJi  Church — its  bishops  far  apart, 
and  liattling  with  poverty  and  countless  difliculries.  IIq 
Avrot'-^  to  his  brother  prelat(>s,  urging  upon  Ihem  the  ncccs- 
eiity  of  asseml>ling  and  taking  counsel  for  united  action.  lie 
lived  to  s(>e  this  cherished  desire  of  his  heait  accoinijlislicd, 
and  his  solid  anil  In'illiant  nnnd  she<l  its  rays  of  ligiir  and 
wisdom  on  the  iirst  Councils  of  Baltimore. 

As  a.  bishop  of  vast  mental  capacity,  as  a  profound  srhiilar, 
eloquent  pr(>acher,  and  pov,erful  writei-,  the  Catholic  Ciiinrh 
of  America  has  not  seen  the  sui)erior  of  Dr.  Knglanil.  His 
influence,  when  he  could  gain  a  candid  healing,  was  simply 
irresistible,  and  many  who  lu-ard  the  surpassing  thiillof  \m 
eloquence  came  at  once  to  profess  th(>  ancient  Faith.  His 
controversial  writings  and  sermons  ai-e  masterj>ieces.  Their 
style  has  b(>en  likeiKMl,  by  one  who  often  heard  them, "to  a 
straight  bar  of  polished  stei'l,  connecting  his  conclusions 
with  his  premises,  with  the  light  of  Heaven  blazing  and 
Hashing  about  it." 


^',3 


U.D. 


ii'o,<re.  Alnif,sf; 
It  I  b(»\v  to  the 
lie  calmly  ex- 

nniled  luitju.r 

f    the  a^s;!^^il^ 

'aiUi-CiiiJjulio 
"T  (liicatMiea 
inieii  lallicu  to 

and  caicftilly 
iit'd  dial-  liiciB 

imd.snnniiniy 
t  Aviis  a  1(  sso.. 

)nv  Pi'ovii'.ciiil 
Lhe  iiiipHtVct 
lops  far  aparr, 
(licnlrics.  IIo 
t-m  tlu'  nccos- 
<.'(l  action,  lie 
ne('()nii)li,sli(Ml, 
s  oi'  li^ulir  and 

foimd  scliiil.ir, 
itholk'Ciiiucli 
MViilani].  Ifis 
fi',  was  simply 

!,£?  tllliliof  lli:^ 

■  Faith.  His 
:)ie('(\s.  Thi'ir 
t1  tli('iii,"toa 
is  ooiicjnsions 
1  blazing  and 


,::;'   I 


I       1 


\ 


I    ! 


.!'" 


^ii>" 


ZM 


THE  MOST  REV.  JOIIX  HUGHES,  D.D., 

FIKST  AiailBISlIOl'  (»r   NEW  YOKK.' 


CIIArTEIl  I. 


A   Y':)T'X(1   CATHOLIC    IIKIIO. 


Bhih — Parpnis—Ediicalinn — Kneflhip  hcln'nd  m  7/ay- 
rick — Fjini<jr((l<  s  to  [lie  Vnlhd  i<i(des — The  fiihire 
Arvhbish.oj)  toilhtrj  r/.s-  a  (laij-hihorcr—Hif^  collcf/e  career 
— Is  ordained — His  labors  in  the  rineyardy  of  the  Lord 
— His  patriotism — The  Ifuf/hes  and.  Brecl-enridge  con- 
trorersy — An  anecdote  about  the  appointment  to  the  see 
of  Cincinnati. 

''The  mj'sterious  liantl  Avliicli  governs  the  universe,"  snys 
t]i<M)rofound  ]?ahnes,  '"soenis  to  liold  an  extraordinaiyninu 
in  ri'"-('rve.  i'or  every  g"eat  ci-isis  of  society."  It  is  in  tlii.s 
]i,u!it  tJiat  we  view  Archbislioj)  lliiglies  and  his  illustrious 
career, 

John  Ilng'hes  was  born  at  Annaloghan,  near  the  market- 
town  ()L  Anti'her,  Counry  Tyrone,  Tivland,  on  tlie  !24t]i  of 
June.  1707.  His  partMits,  I'atiick  Huiiiies  and  'JNTarpirpfc 
iMcIvcMina,  wore  in  conirortable  eircunistances,  but  esiiecially 
ivs]i('('ted  for  their  viriuc  and  intellificnc*^.  His  fatlier  \\as 
Iti'iicr  e(bK'ated  tlian  most  men  of  ins  class  ;  Avhile  liis  niotlier 
\v;is  remarkable  for  a  relinement  of  cliaracter  far  beyond 


I  iliicf  iiiitliorilii's  11T(!  :  II:i>Minl.  "I.if.'of  Arclibi-lio))  Ilinilio"  ;"  f!:iik('.  "  Live-' cf  lli',' 1")!'- 
fiM«i'(l  Hi^luiijs  (if  llic  Ciilliiilio  Clmrcll  in  tlic  T'liilnl  Slates  ;"  Itiiylrv,  "Hi'-'ory  (if  llic  Ciiiliolic 
I'linvili  on  tlic  Isliiiid  of  Now  Yor]^  ;"  Miiirnirc,  "Tlic  Iri'-li  in  Anviica;"  Sn;i',(linir.  "  A'ifccl- 
ImiMii  ;■■  "Worlis"  of  Aalibislioi)  Uugln.'.-:  ;  "  A  foimlar  Uihtory  of  tliCCatuolic  CInircli  i;;  th« 
I'liitoil  Stat«l." 

607 


!  i    !i  I 


It'll  ji'l'  Si 


1. 

■ 

t 

1 
i 

1 

;■)■ 

:i  ; : 

II 

111 

:|j1 

1  H 

i 

III 

m 

iJf 

808 


77//;  Mi'ST  UKV.  ./0//.V  Jin.I/KS,  D.D. 


licr  position  niid  oppoi'tnnitios.  .lolm  w:is  eaily  sent  tn 
st'hou].  iic;ir  his  iiarivc  i)l:i(V',  wili>  n  vifw  to  his  I'lUeviim'  ih,. 
-^M'ieuliood.  lIi.Te  lie  was  well  groiiinh'd  in  thi"  I'luulidi 
.vi'aiK  lies,  I)nr  had  not  the  advantage  ol'  the  aiicifiit  rliissics. 

.V  revei'so  of  fortune  compelled  his  fatln^r.  reliictavitly,  lo 
Aviihdraw  the  youth  from  school,  and  set  him  to  \v(ii'k  witli 
his  hi'otliei's  on  oiu^  of  the  farms,  of  which  lie  c(iiiili!cr(.,[ 
two.  in  (he  midst  (d'  his  labors,  John  fondly  jiiul  cariivsdv 
thought  of  his  true  vocation.  ''.Many  a  time,""  he  wlwy. 
wards  fold  ti  fiiend,  "have  T  ihrown  down  niy  rake  in  the 
}iieadow,  ami  kneeling  behind  a  hayrick,  begged  of  (iod  and 
the  Blessed  A'irgin  to  let  me  beconu?  a  priest.'' 

He  increased  his  oiiportunities  for  study  by  revi(nviiio' nt 
night  all  that  he  had  leai'ueil  at  school.  The  perseciitiDiis 
whicli  Catholics  then  sidfered  in  Ireland  were  ke<'n!y  Celt  iiy 
]\ii'.  lluglies  and  his  hiniily,  and  by  none  more  than  hy  the 
ardent  .bdin.  who  was  open  in  his  expressions  of  disaiist 
and  indignation.  He  warudy  seconded  his  father's  iiicliiui- 
tion  to  emigrate  to  America. 

In  1810.  Mr.  Hughes,  s(>nior.  hmded  in  America,  and  set- 
tled at  Chambei'sbuj'g.  Pa.,  and  (In-re  John,  tlien  in  his 
twentieth  year,  soon  joined  him,  and  the  rest  of  the  family' 
fi>llo^V(■d  tlie  year  after. 

The  future  archbishop  fii'st  found  cmploynienl"  with  a 
G'ai'dener  ami  nui'servman  on  the  eastern  shore  of  ^hirvlaiid, 
and  afterwards  worked  successively  at  riiambersbiiig  mid 
]-hnniittsburg.  turning  his  hand  to  any  honest  labor  thiit 
jircsenled  itself.  .Vt  one  time,  he  toiled  as  a  daydahiiivr  on 
a  little  stone  bridge  over  a  small  stream  on  tin-  load  lli;ir 
leads  from  Emniitl  slung  to  Taney  town. 

]?ut  he  n(n'er  lost  sight  of  his  vocatiori  for  the  priesllieen. 
and  his  object  in  going  to  Kmmittsbiii'g  was  to  be  on  tliewntcii 
for  an  op])ortunity  to  enter  the  College  of  Mount  St.  Mary, 
then  little  mmv  than  a  rude  acad'-my.  under  tiie  cliaige  ei 
R(n'.  Fathers  Dubois  and  I>rute,  aftt'rwnrds  Bisho[>s  of  ]S'ew 
York  and  A'incennes.     Several  refusals  and  disappointnients 


■' 


'  TIk'  Uuj;ln.'ti  family  l.■(ln^istl_■(l  uf  Hm)  ^un^?  ami  Iwo  daiiglitcrs. 


early  sent  to 
s  cntHrhiM'  111,, 

cit'iit  c'liissics. 
eluctiiiitly.  i(, 
to  Wdi-k  \vit!i 

lie   (•(iinliii-tcl 

iiiiil  (■;ir!i"sil\- 
iie,"  he  after- 
y  rake  in  tlie 
'd  di"  God  and 

'  vcvicwiiiu-  at 
;  lieist'ciiiioiis 
keenly  IVlt  iiy 
('  than  liy  tlio 
lis  (if  disii'ust 
tli('i'"s  iiicliiia- 

n'ica.  and  sct- 
,  tlKMi  ill  ins 
ol  the  family' 

ynipnt  with  a 
'  of  >farylaiid, 
ibcrsbiir,!;  nnd 
?s't  labor  thill 
hiy-hihnivr  on 
the   load  that 

lie  prieslhood, 
M' on  the  watch 
unt  St.  Mary. 
the  (diaip"  of 
ishops  of  ]N\'\v 
.sqipointnicnta 


THE  MO'^r  PiKV.  JOIIX  lircIIE.^,  JKD. 


800 


but  strengtliened  the  young  man' sndniira1)lere.soliition.  At 
lenu'th,  in  the  I'all  oi"  181!),  he  was  tak<Mi  into  the  college,  on 
condition  of  superintending  tlit»  garden  in  return  I'or  his 
lioani,  lodging,  and  ])rivate  inslructioii.  While  his  garden 
duties  were  J'aitlifidly  disidiaiged,  he  employed  hi.s  liours  oi' 
stndy  to  the  best  advantage. 

lu  1820,  being  in  his  twenty-tliird  year,  ^Iv.  ITughes  was 
received  as  a  I'egular  student  of  the  college,  lie  was  nntir- 
ini;'  in  his  a[)plication.'  ^Vith  great  success  he  ]iassed 
tliroMuh  the  I'oiitine  of  teaidiei',  at  the  same  time  that  he 
iv.pidly  acquir«Hl  jjatin,  (jieek,  and  mathematics.  Though 
he  became  prolicient  in  these,  they  were  never  his  favorite 
studies — lit;  viewed  them  simjily  as  the  means  to  an  (md.  It 
was  in  the  congenial  realms  of  theology.  ])hilosopliy,  logic, 
and  history,  that  his  soul  se.  .  ..'d  to  ex])aiid.  He  also  oc- 
casionally i)reached,  and  wrote  poetry.  It  is  said,  however, 
tliat  his  lirst  sermon  gave  much  brighter  ]iromise  of  a  future 
divine,  than  his  maiden  verses  gave  of  a  future  poet.  Tender 
the  learned  and  saintly  Brute,  who  continued  his  alVection- 
ate  counsellor  throughout  life,  Mr.  Hughes  made  rapid  pro- 
press  in  learning  and  solid  virtue. 

Ill  the  fall  of  1820,  he  was  elevat(^d  to  the  priesthood  by 
Bishop  Conwell,  in  St.  Joseph's  Chundi,  riiiladelphin.  For 
several-  years  he  labored  zealously  on  various  missions, 
rliietly  in  the  country.  His  gre-;  jjiudence  enabled  him  to 
avoid  trotting  mixed  uj)  with  ilie  lamentabh^  difliculties  of 
the  times.  He  soon  learned  the  evil  elfecis  of  lay  trusteeism, 
and  the  lessons  thus  early  impressed  on  his  mind,  uave  him 
that  knowledge  and  (>xperieijce  wdiicdi  afterwards  led  him  to 
pni'ge  the  syst(;m  in  the  diocese  of  ]S'ew  York. 

Father  Hughes  soon  became  eminent  as  a  ])ulpit  orator. 
There  was  a  something— a  magnetism  al)out  the  uoldedo(»king 


'  The  clo-c  iipiilicntinn  to  study  wtilrli  \\<)w  clinractcri/.c  1  him.  ami  which  he  iirMctixcil  in  onlop 
tonpiir  thni  lliui'  Inst  lit  nnt-ihxir  l.'ihnr.  wmil  I  hnvf  iniimircd  n  less  rntiiist  fniiiu'  ;  Init  tli.i-o 
liihiir^  in  thi'  lli'lil  nnd  (|iuiiri.s  had  urll-tlllcd  the  fninic  to  sustain  tho  stiidicu  and  ciidiiri'  llie 
inli'lliTlnai  cxci-tioiis  tlint  wcro  to  fullow.  nnrinu'  this  |'(  riod  Ms  fiilnrr  rhiirat'tci'  lii'L-nn  to  de- 
velop; his  lifcscncc  „f  mindiindrooliussonscv.ril  trvii'.'.' ocrasions,  nnd  hi-  lirst  rontrovcr'.y, 
in  iiiwvcrinu'  n  roiirlh  of  .Tnly  onilion,  in  which  the  fiilliolic  Church  wiis  iillcct^d  \\V'\^,  wuu 
li.diCiitions  of  his  future  yrcatness  and  ca;)aciiy.— CAi^'A-c. 


I 


Zff' 


>f 


yi'j 


THE  MOST  REV.  JOHN  IIUGIIES,  D.D. 


y(Mini;- priest,  and  liis  sojil-stirriii*^' (ILscourscs.  t];;;t  lifh'npfcil 
crowds  to  hoar  liim.'  JMsliop  C(Mi\v<4r  u:is  (it'lii;hU'(M\itii 
liim.  The  ag-^l  ju'ehite  woukl  frequently  say:  "We'll 
nuilie  liini  a  bishop  someday."  lie  was  also  noted  asiiccu. 
li()\'ersialist.  In  1829,  he  founded  Si.  .John's  Oiphaii  Asy- 
lum, and  about  tliis  time  he  seems  to  have  beeii  niujtlichiriv 
l)roposedat  Rome  as  Bisho])of  Philadephia  ;  but  the  clKjic,* 
fell  on  Dr.  Kenrick.  Tiie  emancipation  of  tlie  ('atln-lics  of 
Ireland,  in  18:2'.), was  hailed  with  joy  l)y  thousands  in  An. eiica, 
iMit  by  none  more  than  by  tlie  Uev.  ]\Ir.  llui:-hes.  TludimU 
life  he  was  devotedly  ana<'hed  lo  las  native  isle,  whum 
wrongs  he  saw  anil  ib'eply  felt  in  his  youth.  He  was  lui 
enthusiastic  admirer  of  Daniel  O'Connell. 

The  following  extract  from  a  private  letter  gives  ns  an  in- 
sight into  one  of  the  secrets  of  that  success  whicli  a]»p('aivi 
to  follow  tlie  future  Archbishop  of  New  York,  like  Lis 
shadow.  It  was  addressed  to  the  newly-appoiuleil  liisliep 
Kenrick,  by  his  i)upil.  young  M.  J  Sjialding,'  then  on  his 
Avay  to  the  Propaganda,  and  is  dated  May.  I80O:  '"Iluivo 
had  the  good  fortune  ti)  meet  with  Rev.  Mr.  Hughes.  1 
liaiuled  him  your  letter,  to  which  I  a.m  indebted  for  thckind 
manner  in  wdiich  he  receiveil  me.  He  is  a  genilrnian  of  the 
most  polite  and  engaging  nuinners,  1  (lending  the  aniiahle 
modesty  and  reserve  of  the  ])riest  with  the  easy  dc^portnient 
of  the  man  of  the  world.  lie  has,  I  think,  a  briglu  fiiiiu'e 
before  him." 

In  1833,  the  celebrated  Ifz/r/J/es  and  Tiri'cl'oirhhjo.  cnntro. 
versy  occurred.  The  Uev.  John  Breckenridge  was  a  Pivs- 
byteriaii  n!inist(>7',  and  the  ablest  cliani])!  n\  of  his  sect  in 
this  country.  Through  tlie  columns  of  Tin'  Chridian  An- 
tocale,  he  made  a  series  of  boM  attacks  cm  the  Catholic 
Church,  and  ev(>n  challenged  jiriests  or  bishops  to  iiiei't  him 
"on  tlie  wliole  held  of  controversy  between  Roman  Callin- 
lics  and  Protestants."     For  a  time  no  attention  was  [aid 

'  Tlio  puliiif<  of  till'  clntiniMit  oritor".  T)f.  IIiirli>y  ami  FaUiPf  IIiiMlil,  were  dcsiTlid  Ijy  liiin- 
drt'ils  wlio  went  to  licnr  -Mr.  UiigUvs.— r;W/',',t. 

•J  Of  Pliiladflphia. 

•  AtJiTwanN  Archiii-lmii  r,f  n:',Uimorc  ;  ■joc  his  "  Lifo,"'jKy  h:.s  ominciit  nop'juw,  W'vM  \Xn\  J. 
L.  SiiaUliiig,  UisUop  of  iV'oria.  * 


Tilt:  M0S2-  iu:v.  johx  iiUiiiiijs.  d.d. 


811 


TC    (ll'SlTll'll    IjV  llllD- 


i'pUi'W,  Kigiil  Ki'v,  J. 


to  ^fr.  Breoken ridge's  tnuntiim'  challi'iiLri' :  Init.  oi;  a  cfi'faiu 
],rrssiiiCi'OC'C'aaion,  one  of  Father  Iluiiiics'  own  liu(^k  ]il('(ln((l 
liiiti-'fir  that  Ills  pastor  woiikl  wwvx  ilio  great  ('!ia?ni)ii'ii 
iif  tlie  Reformation. 

TIk;  gentleman  informed  tlie  zenlons  yonng  priest  ol'  liin 
promise.  "  ASY/iCC  you  rclij  npon,  me,"  wws  ihf  reply.  ••/ 
«•(?/  not  fail  you.''''  And  he  did  not  fail.  Miiii«it(^r  P)reeken- 
ridge,  we  believe,  never  challenged  aiiotliu'  Catholic  [wriest. 
The  event  gave  Father  Hughes  an  enviable  fame.  It  at 
diice  Diaced  him  in  the  front  raid\.  as'  a  ina.n  of  bold,  sharp, 
and  powerful  intellect,  and  rnisurpassed  skill  in  debate 

In  every  sid)S(>quent  elfort  oL"  his  lil'e,  he  sustained  his  ]^r(^- 
wiiiient  reputation.  But  in  this — as,  intleed,  in  all  his  oi  her 
controversies— he  was  acting  on  the  defensive,  and  avjis  dl;|^\ll 
into  tiiese  contests,  by  the  unprovoked  a* tacks  which  it  was 
too  much  the  custom  of  the  anti-Catholie  l)igots  of  that  day 
to  nvdvR  against  the  C!iur(di.  AVheu  once  embarked  in  tln^ 
discussion,  however,  he  did  not  I'emain  on  the  defensive  ; 
but,  like  an  able  general,  he  availed  himstr-lf  of  eveiy  [loiur, 
:f  weakness  in  his  adversaries,  and  of  eery  advantage  whi(  ii 
jit>  gained  over  them,  to  cari'V  war  into  the  eneni\ 's  countr\'. 
That  these  malignant  and  nnchristian  a.ssaults  npon  the 
Ctitl'olic  religion  liave,  in  a  gi'eat  measiue,  ceased  in  our 
(lay.  is  chiefly  owing  to  tliel)old  resistance,  aiid  Lhetriumpii-- 
!Uit  logic,  learnijig,  andeloquenceof  those  two  heroic  men  and 
ill  istrious  defenders  of  the  Faith— John  England,  and  .lo!:u 
l!;i-hes. 

It  was  likewise  at  th.i;">  period  that  Fatln'r  ITnghes  estiib- 
lislu'il,  and  for  a  time  edited  the  Ca f /to/ ir  Jicrahh  aCiil  built, 
St.  ':hn's  Church,  then  the  favorite,  and  by  f;ir  the  nio>t 
ehgaut  Catholic  place  of  worship  in  the  city  of  Philadel- 
uliia. 

Father  ITnghes  was  suggested  for  the  vacant  bisho]i;ic  of 
Cincinnati,  in  18)53,  and  it  was  oiiiy  by  a  curious  misunder- 
standing at  Rome  that  he  was  not  ai/jK minted. 

As  suitnble  candidates  for  tlds  s-e.  the  Ren-.  Messrs. 
Hnglies  and  Purcell  were  nominated  (Ui  the  same  list.  So 
eipial  were  their  claims,  that  the  autlioi  itie.s  at  Rome  v.  ere  at 


Ii  t 


■..jmMnsf'' 


813 


THE  MOST  REV.  JOllX  IIViniES,  I). I). 


a  loss  to  (lecicle  as  to  -vvliicli  slioiild  be  appointed.  T]i(>  pfip. 
brnted  liisliop  Engbind  ^vas  tliciv  then.  Tlie  Cardiiuil  Vw. 
ject  of  tlie  rropM<j;:nida,  nieering  liiin  one  day.  asked  liim  jf 
lie  could  mention  some  particular,  liowever  trilling,  lo  turn 
the  scales  in  favor  of  one  or  the  other  nominee.  After  a 
moment's  thouu'ht,  Dr.  England  I'eplied :  "Tliere's  one 
point,  your  Eminence.  jNlr.  Hughes  is  enijihaticaily  a  self- 
made  man,  and,  peilia]>s,  on  tliat  account,  more  acce])table  to 
the  people  of  a  AVestei'ii  dio<'es(>  than  INfr.  Piircell.'" 
"Ah  ! "  said  the  Cardinal,  ''  I  think  tliar  avIII  do." 

IMeeting  Dr.    England   the  next  day,  he  said :  "  "Well 
Bishop,  the  (piestion  is  settled.     As  soon  as  I  told  the  Car- 
dinals what  you  said  about  Mr.  Pnrccll '' s  being  a  .sdfmndo 
man,  they  unanimously  agi'eed  upon  him,  and  the  nomina- 
tion will  at  once  be  presented  to  His  Holiness  for  approval." 

"  I  was  about  to  explain  the  mistake,"  said  Bishop  En"- 
jand  afterwards  to  a  friend,  "  Imt  T  n^ih^cte.d  that  it  was  no 
doubt  the  work  of  the  s]>irit  of  (tod,  and  was  silent."  An- 
other field  was  thus  reserved  for  -Father  Hughes— a  liekUn 
every  way  more  suited  to  his  ability  and  character. 


v< 


■  Tlio  fcip.  I 
:ii'ilin:il  Piv.  | 
i^lvcd  liim  if 
'"o-  lo  iiini  <| 

'lliTc's    (.110      I 

i'"iily  a  sflf. 

(•''t'lital)!!'  to 

riiiceli;' 

(1:  "Well, 
old  tlio  (.'nr- 

a  ,S(,ll'niiu1o 
llie  iKtiiiimi. 
'  ajiiirova].'' 
I'ishop  Eng. 
It  it  was  no 
lent."  All- 
's—a  field  in 
er. 


CHAPTER  IL 

THE  Yor.N*;  liisiiin' ci'  :ni;w  vouk. 

Dr.  IJiKjlKft  Ix'cunx-s  BlssJiop  <>/  JVeio  Yuri — Scene  at  7ih 
coiisccralioii — f^tonni/  ^'■'''^ '-'•*'' — La>f-trusicelsvi — Jiish op 
IfiKjhcs  salla  for  Eiirope^EsldhJishvicnt  of  JSl.  John's 
Culler/e,  (ft  Fordhain—Skili-Ji  of  the  cotler/e  (note) — Tho 
j)i(/jti(;  school  si/sti')!! — Ilidlli'.  of  Btshoj)  Jiuy/tcs—lliti 
(jreat  lujluencc  occr  hlsjloctc. 

AVitli  Ions  experience,  vast  zeal,  and  m  tlie  full  vi<i;f)r  of 
niaiilinod,  Father  Iliiuhes  was  well  ])ie])a]'ed  for  the  woj'k  of 
his  lil'(\  and  a  Avide  lield  was  ready  Jor  tin-  dauntless  toiler. 
In  Jannary,  1S:]S,  he  was  consecrated  (oadjutor  to  his  old 
master,  Bishop  Dubois,  of  Xew  York.  The  ceremony  took 
place  in  St.  Patrick's  Cathedral  New  York  city;  and  the  im- 
pressive scene  is  thus  desciilx'd  by  illustiious  lii-s:  — 

'*  I  rememl)er,'''  said  Cardinal  ]\[cCloskey,  '"how  all  eyes 
were  fixed,  how  all  eyes  were  sti'ained  to  j^et  a  ,i;lim]»se  at 
till' newly-consecrated  Bishop;  and  as  tlu'V  saw  that  di.uni- 
tii'd  and  maidy  counrenauce,  as  they  jjeheld  those  features 
heamin,!;' with  the  liuht  of  intellect,  bearing  upon  them  llie 
iin[)ress  of  that  forc(^  of  clKii'acrer.  which  peculiai'ly  marked 
liiiu  throuu'hont  his  lil'.',  that  fiiinness  of  resolution,  tiuit 
unalterable  and  unbeiviinL;'  A\ill,  and  yet  )»lendin;j;  at  the 
same  time  that  .u'reat  beniuiiity  and  suavity  of  expression — 
when  theynnirki'd  thequiet  composnreand  self-jxissession  of 
every  hsok  and  every  .iiestuie  of'liis  whole  li'aitand  demeanor 
-  all  hearts  were  draAvn  and  warmed  towards  him.  Every 
pulse  within  tliat  vast  assembly,  bothof  cler;i,'y  and  laity,  was 
quickened  with  a  hi.ulier  sense  of  courage  and  of  hope. 
Every  breast  was  filled  with  joy,  and,  as  it  were,  with  a  new 
ami  vounger  might." 

813 


;i  ■! 


i  14  \ 


8-14 


riiK  MO.<T  iiKV.  j<,!ix  i[V(:iri:s,  d.d. 


Al)oTit  t\v()  wtM'ks  nflcr  tlic  coiisi'diitioii  of  Dr.  ]Iii;:li,.s. 
the  g'Dud  old  l)i.sli(.>i)  ])iil)()i.s  was  stricken  with  liai'aly>is.  aiu| 
tlioiig'h  he  partially  rei'overed.  he  never  afterwards  took  a 
V(M'y  active  part  in  the  alTairs  of  the  diocese.  The  buidiii 
tiius  ftdl  iii)(jn  y()uii,Li,'er  sh(tuhlers.' 

'J'he  times  were  sloruiy,  Cathorics  were  sorely  in  ww]  df  ;; 
]eadiji,i;'  mind — a  man  to  batth;  for  their  ri^rlits.  VA\v\i 
a  man  was  Bisliop  llni^lies.  lie  was  doubth,'Ss  an  instniiueiit 
pf  Heaven,  raised  u')  for  the  go(jd  of  tlie  Clmrcli  in  Anieriea. 
JTe  £j,'i'appled  at  once  wilh  the  evils  whicli  beset  liis  djocesi^ 
'\Vitha,;j;iant,u'rasp  he  modi  lied  the  lay-trnstee  system  ;'  otluT 
obstacles  and  abuses  faded  away  at  his  touch,  or  withcivd  at 
Ills  frown.  To  his  people  he  was  a  t'-wer  of  strenuik  ;  iukI 
for  the  iirst  time,  the  Catholic  Church  in  ]N'ew  Yoii;  soou 
assumed  an  im]iosi!in-  aspect. 

AVe  can  merely  i;lauce  at  his  hercuh^an  labors.  AVe  liavp 
little  space  for  detail.  And  y(4,  we  cannot  pass  wilhoin  a 
■word  in  r(\a;ard  to  lay-trusteeism  in  its  le,Li;al  aspecl.  Tie 
iHM'iiicious  system  had  grown  up  under  the  law  of  IHIH,' 
which  authorized  the  nsale  members  of  full  a:;e,  in  ariv  con- 
grecation,  other  than  Kpiscopal  and  Ivefurmed  Protestant 
Dutch  congregations,  to  elect  from  three  to  nine  trustees,  tn 
hold  the  title,  and  manage  the  church  ])rope)'ty.  Tiiis  law 
dill  not  proliibit  ecclesiasths  owning,  as  individuals,  pro- 
perty used  for  Divine  sei'vice. 

During  tliiMvild  ascendency,  however,  of  Knownothingism. 
a  law  Avas  passed  thi'ough  the  Legislature  of  Xew  Yoik,  by 
wliich  it  was  provided  that  all  i)i'0])(>rty  lield  by  any  per.^ou 
in  any  eccl(<(siastical  olhce  or  oi-ders  should,  on  his  deatli. 
become  vested  in  the  occu])ants  or  congregation  using  it.  if 


<  The  saintly  llii-linp  p-ihois  I'.ird  in  IHl-J. 

"The  fDllnwIiii;  mu'cdotv'  illn-i.ratcs  tlio  amlacinus  U'n'.:!li<  to  wliicli  laj'-tnislcoisni  roiil.! 
carry  its  ini'olpni'c.  A  conimitti'C  of  tnistci'sonccwaitfil  iii)iin  I'i^liop  Dal)()ii*,  iiiiil  In  unii*  ot 
rc'spcrt,  curinnsly  incon-'i>'ttHt,  with  tlie  olijocr  of  tlicir  million,  tlicy  infonncd  liini  tli.it  ih-y 
could  not  constiuiitioiisiy  voto  iiim  Ids  salary,  unless  he  complicil  wilh  their  wislies.  iimi.  on  thu 
Protestant  principle,  {rave  them  such  cler;;ynieu  as  were  aceiplable  Ai  them .'  Knt  lliey  lilik'  Un-.v 
tlie  spirit  of  the  ntjed  prelate,  wlioAvas  not  tin;  least  dismayed  hy  such  eool  imiierlinence. 

•■(Untlemen,"  ho  replied,  "you  may  vote  nie  a  salary  or  not.  I  need  little,  I  can  live  in  a 
basement  or  a  (garret:  but  whether  I  cuuil' uj)  from  my  basemeut,  or  down  from  my  garri.!,  I 
Siiall  still  be  your  Tii>hup'." 

■■'  Kcvised  L  .atp  Les  if  >'ow  York,  COfl. 


i.v-triisltoi-<iii  roiilii 
lis,  iinil  ill  ttriiis  lit 
'nncd  him  (Ii.it  ih.^y 
Wislios.  lllul,  (Ml  tlio 

But  llicy  liulo  ki:r,v 

ipiTliill'llCC. 

0.    I  0:111  livi'  in  a 
frum  luy  ganvi,  I 


THE  MonT  III:]',  jojfx  /iri;iih:s^  d.d. 


81, J 


til  ■;;  wtMv  incorporiitf'd,  oiMvoiild  iiicni-poriitc,  nnd  in  dcfiiiil!, 
i\i  ll(f  iiioplc.  0/  Ihe  t^Utlc  •  iiiid  no  dcrd  of  itiopciiy  (o 
I),'  used  for  Divine  worsliij)  was  allow.-d  t(.  liave  any  Icgid 
fiiici'  or  validity,  unless  made  to  a  coriioratioii. 

Tlie  Catholics  of  >i'h\v  Voik  an?  cliicllv  indebted  to  Di'. 
Ifiiu-lies,  and  fo  his  Kiniiienci.'  Canlinal  McCloslcey— -tln'ii 
j'.JNliop  of  Albany — for  the  more  just  and  reasonable  jiro- 
vi>ions  of  the  i)resent;  law,  whicli,  in  ]>rovidint;'  for  the  in- 
cmiioration  of  Catholie  Churches,  constitutes  the  Jiisliop. 
vicai'-.ii'enenU,  pastor,  (iinl  hro  liuiinrii  sdcdcd  by  thciii^  as 
llie  trustees  of  the  church  property.' 

In  the  fall  of  ISIj;),  Dr.  Uuuhes  sailed  to  Europe  for  the 
])ii,[U)se  of  olitainin^  tlie  nec<'ssai'y  means  to  eiiabii'  him  -to 
■,;ury  (»iit.  his  plans  for  the  ;;'ood  of  i'elip,ion  and  e(lncatii)n. 
s  tii'st  visit  to  the  Old  NN'oild.     lie  was  I'eceived  liv 


It  was 

jHiiH',  and  kin,!"',  and  jxHiple,  in  tiie  various  countries  tlii'ou^ii 
wliicli  he  passed,  with  every  mark  of  I'cspect  and  kindness, 
lie  was  deli^-hted  with  Konie,  w^iere  he  spent  threes 
months,  and  I'eceivt^d  valuable  ])roents  from  the  Sovei'eiuii 
PontilV.  At  \'ieinia  lie  ol)i;dned  a  lil)iM'al  donation  from  the 
Li'opoldine  Society  in  aid  of  his  proixised  college  and 
seniinni'v.  AVhile  at  Paris  he  securi'il  the  services  of  u 
]unul)er  oi"  Ladies  of  the  Sacred  Heart,  to  found  a  sc]u)ol 
iii  New  York  city,  lie  also  visited  Ireland,  made  the 
personal  acquaintance  of  Daniel  O'Connell,  aiid  witii 
wnrni,  sympatheti(^  heart,  he  beheld  the  stru.u'ule  of  his 
countrymen  for  their  riii'hts  and  lilierties.  Aftei'  an  ab- 
sence of  n.int'  months,  he  reached  his  episcopal  city  in  the 


summer  oi 


1S4(). 


f 


As  the  udod,  nntirin.t;  fric^nd  o[  Catholic  edncaiion,  one  o 
liishop  lluu'hes'  first  ste])s.  aft*'!'  his  return  from  i-airope, 
was  the  estal)lisliinent  of  St.  .lolin's  (Jolleue,  at  l<'oi'dham.  for 
which  object  he  purchased   the  beautiful  Jlos(>  Hill   estate 

le  estate  cost  S;30.(i()i),  and  the  expense  of  iittin.i!,"  up  ihe 
lini^s  for  the  reception  of  stndeiils  v^as  .s|o.(i(H».       The 
Institntion,  thus  founded  by  an  illnsii'ious  hand,  •'•rew  and 


Tl 
1 


111 


»  Clarke. 


!■    I 


!       I 
I       i( 


I,      I 

I       I, 


810 


Tiir:  .yrosT  ubv.  joiix  iiraiiEs,  />  />. 


lloiii'islicd,  and  Ims  .siiu'c   bi'coiiu'  tin-  liinion-d  AJiun  Muter 
of  Jmadi;L'ds  of  Catholics,  liiy  uiid  clerical.' 


St.  .Iiiliir"  f'dllcL'i',  Knnlliiim,  Ni'W  Vnrk  city,  In  the  oldi'st,  iind.  In  iimti>»ri'«|ic(t«,  Hi,.  „„„, 
faiMDiis  ( 'nllmlic  miit  of  Icnriilii;;  ill  lln'  Midilli'  Siiilcr<.  It  wi\*  fouinlcil  liy  A^■|lhi^lll).,  ||„  ,|,,,., 
In  IHll  ,  mill  wiiH  o|ii'Iiim1  in  ilic  •'inniiiiT  uf  that  yciir.  iiikUt  tlic  ilirrclimi  cif  ihf  H'l'iil.ir  i|iT"y 
Al  llr.il  It  WMK  riiinii'il  "  !!cl^<l■  UilH'olli').'!',"  after   tln' In  luilifiil  i-ilalc  on  wliicli  it  |»  Imin 

Thin  In.«iiliitiiin  wim  ciimniltird  to  tlu'  cliar;;!'  of  the  .li'Kiiil  i'lillRT^  in  1m|,"i  ;  im,!  ji,  ||,„ 
r^lirlii;;  of  till'  followliii:  vciir  it  wan  ral'iril  In  tlir  l.i  ;.'l.-l.'itiiiv  to  tli«!  riiiik  of  a  iiiiivcr-iiy,  li  ii,,, 
wlllilii  im  L'ifl  rarli  iiiid  cviT,  uiiivcT-lty  iliu'i'i'i'.  Ahioiil;  the  liri'sliU'nt«  of  St.  .Iiilin-..  were  tlio 
fiiliowiiii;  ili-tliiL'ii|j'lic(l  nii'ii  :  lll^•  lOniini'iicc  CariliiiMl  .Mci'lof'ki'y,  tlu'  llr<t  I'roiiliMit  ;  Anilinnc 
Manali.iu,  D.I).,  iiiitlior  of  tln'  " 'I'l-iuiiiiili  of  ( ■atlioliilty  ;"  tlir  late  ArililiMiop  liiyliv.  cf 
Hultliiiori' ;  anil  llio  iloi|iirnt  l'"atlirr  loliii  LarUiii,  S.  J.,  a  fellinv-fliuk'i.' of  \Vlr<iiiiiiii  aiid  I.in. 
^raril,  ami  llir  prrri'iilor  of  ihr  |iri-riit  lionorcil  I'lolilfiit.  Tlic  Icarni'il  and  vnuralik'  l-'mlui- a. 
J.  Tlii'liaiiil,  S,  .r..  anilior  of  "  'I'lir  liisli  l.'arr,"'  "  (iriitllisni,"  ami  ••  'I'lii'  CIiiiitIi  ami  ilu'  (miiiIIu 
\Vorlil,"\vart  llif  ll■■.^t  I'l'i'i-idi'iit  of  lliu  (■(liic;,'!,'  aflrf  it  |la^^^•d  into  tlic  liaiuU  of  tin.'  Ji-uit 
KatlaTH. 

Tlio  L'ollo^'r  ])n.>^•^l'1^<(•s  II  valimlili'  lilirary  of  iO.niVl  volumes,  liwliidiiii;  a  lariri'  niimliorof  mm 
works  on  Oriental  iileralure  ;  a  very  inieresiin^  niiiseiiiii,  wliieli,  aiuom,'  other  eolieetinns, lui. 
Iiraeof  a  mlni'ralo_'ieal  caliiiiet  of  a!ioiit  'J.iKK)  ^iieeiineiis  ;  a  \vell-arr.in,','^d  i;eoii);,'lc:il  eiillectlniii/f 
fi.iliK)  sl)eL•inlell^  ;  and  a  ;,'arden  and  i,'reeii-hoii-e,  vvliieli  atTord  matiy  ad'  intiis;e.-<  to  the  h.itniilcul 
Hlinlent. 

The  total  niinilier  of  i.'railiiates  up  to  IST.'i,  wa.n  .•Wl-.'!l."i  in  conr^e.  and  .'id  honnniry.  Of  t'ie:M-j 
KradiKiteH  in  eiiiirHe,  'iV.i  follow  iirofo^^sionai  eareeri,  and  !W  eililinieed  the  elerieal  --tnte.  Ili-hiii) 
Iio.-^eeranf,  of  ('oliiiiil)ftH,  (Jliio,  isa  uradiiale  of  1.SI7.  Ainoiij,' tliose  who  received  the  iiMiKiniry 
dfu'ive  of  M,.l).  fioni  St.  .lohn'ti  Coliei;!' are  O.  .\.  I)rovvn.«oii,  the  dUtiiii.'ni.-iieii  Cilholic  wriii  r 
and  piiilo.'Jopher ;  V,  H.  0'('iill:i;,'han.  M.  P..  (lie  eminent  historian:  (ien.  Tlioiaa«  Kiaiicis 
^leatrhe.- ;  ((en.  Martin  T.  .Me.Mahon  ;  Hon.  Kl<  lianl  O'Connan  ;  lion.  .lohii  .M< Kecjn  :  .'^I'lintor 
I'laiicii  Keriinn  ;  .John  Sua.re,  the  poet;  and  J.  (1.  Shita.  tlie  hi-torian. 

'I'iie  nia.iorily  of  the  old  cleriiy  of  the  .\ielidiorese  of  New  York  were  eiliira'id  at  Si.  .)ii|iii'.i 
tiy  till' Jesuit  ImiIIuts.  Anion;,'  Ihe  prot"es«ors  at  that  time  were  men  of  more  tlian  niaikeil  cxcil. 
li'iiee,  who  raiiirhl  tlieolo;;y  from  their  own  maiiii«rripts.  Koremost  anioiiu' tlieiii  wa-lheiaiiieiilnl 
I'lltlier  Maldoiiado.  S.J..  ex-l!eetor  of  Ihe  riiiver.-ity  of  Salamaiioa.  This  )irofoniul  seiiolur  dii'ii 
Honie  years  ai,'o  at  \Vooii.~lo(k,  when  on  the  eve  of  retiriiiL'  from  his  olllee  of  iMofessor,  in  nrilcr 
to  devote  tlie  rein.aiiider  i.'f  liis  days  to  tlie  work  of  iirepariii;;  his  inagiiitlteiit  coiirsi'  of  llicnlo/y 
Tor  the  nress. 

There  are  many  intercstiii!;;  items  eoniieeted  willi  the  licantifiil  frroiinds  of  tl  is  ii.-liliilinn. 
The  liroiiK  Itiver  is  historle.  'I'he  ColleL'u  iiiilrmary  was  for  one  iiinlit  llie  heailiiaaners  ii( 
Washini;loii.  The  i,'rui  I  old  irnarled  \.illow-ti'ee  heforetli.'  coileire  entrance  is  famous.  Iradilien 
iiiseriini;  that  the  I'atlierof  his  Coiiiitry,  diirinr  tlie  I, evolutionary  war.  tied  his  liorse  to  it.  In 
fact,  it  is  verilaliie  "  (.'eiileiinial  '  ^'roiiiid.  Tlie  stately  elms  inaler  which  tlie  animal  cniMiiii'iic- 
nieiits  take  place  are  more  ihan  a  century  i.,d,  'J'liey  aru  olTshoots  from  llic  estate  of  liolyrooil, 
beiou^xiiiL;  to  ihe  Scollisli  family  of  the  Sti  i-liiij;- . 

Ainoiiu'  the  distini.'iiislieil  professors  i.i.  .  .  ./  ihu's,  not  already  liami'd,  wercTiev.  T..  Jniiiii,  s..I., 
(.11  iiniiieiii  iiiiLiiiist  and  ."ci 'iitist.  and  ai,-'/ior(i'  a  "Mental  and  .M'>ral  Pliilos  ■  iliy"  ii,  l.mia ; 
Itev.  J.  .Moylan,  S.J.,  conirover-ial  Ic/nirer  .•.!,  the  Gesii,  Montreal  ;  l{ev.  Joseph  Shea.  S. J.,  Pro- 
fessor of  I'liilosophy  at  the  St.  Francis  Xivier  Coile.'e,  Xew  York  ;  Kiijht  IJev.  I-'.  P.  Mc  [•'iirlaiid. 
lato  Jiishop  of  Hartford  ;  and  KiLrlit  I{cv.  Dr.  C'onroy,  liisliop  of  Albany.  The  last  two  wcro 
incfos.sors  ill  the  early  days  of  the  (.'oilet;e. 

SVhcii  thu  late  civil  war  iirokc  out,  four  priests,  at  the  call  of  Arrhhislinp  IliiLdir'S.  left  St. 
John's  College  to  servo  as  rei;iment.al  chapl.iiiis.  They  were  Uev.  Fathers  O'Keilly.  Tis-nt, 
Ouiilet.and  Nash,  and  thonsandsof  brave  oIlK'ers  and  soldiers,  veterans  of  llicarniy.  will  ncall 
ihe  dcvotediicss  and  heroism  of  these  Jesuit  Fathers. 

The  President  of  the  Coileire,  Very  li'v,  Frederic  k  William  Cockidn.  R.J.,  a  venenihlc  m:i--i, 
nn  accoriipiislied  scholar,  and  an  eminent  educator,  was  horn  in  Citliolic  Weslplnlii.  i'fiis>in. 
lie  entered  the  Society  of  Jesns  in  Ids  twenlielli  year,  and  made  his  studies  chiclly  i"  I'lnicli 
and  France.    Ordained  in  liic  latter  couiury,  lie  returned  to  the  United  States,  and  i'..;  lu.uiy 


im 


m 


THE  MOST  IlEV.  JOflN  IIULUIES,  D.V. 


sn 


Tlio  yo;ir  1S41  wjis  miuh-  finiioiis  in  tli.'  liislory  of  tlin 
Ciiiliolic  Clmrcli  in  Mrw  York  hy  the  ;i,uit:ili()ii  of  llm 
"School  Question,"  as  it  W!i«  ('ailed.  The  anittitioii  ^Tf'W 
licire,  and  uttnicted  the  atteiiti.iu  of  the  eoiiiitry  nt  hir^e. 

The  system  of  ediicutioii  a;;'ai!ist  which  the  Catholics  pro- 
tested was  iiiofe  than  ln^i<lionsly  da  up  Tons-  it  was  actively 
•ijrn'ivssivu  ;'  ami  not  merely  were  the  books  re[)!ete  withsiiecr 
•ukI  libel  aii'ainst  that  Church  which  iiU  sects  iisuady  delight 
ill  assailini?,  but  the  teachers,  by  th('ire\i)lanatioiis,  iui[)ariiil 
iii'w  force  to  the  lie,  and  additional  authority  to  th"caluinny. 
]{es])('ctful  remonstrances  were  met  either  with  calm  disre- 
gard or  insolent  rebnlf. 

I'dliticians  were  so  confident  of  having!,' the  Tri'<h  voti',  no  mat- 
ter how  they  themselves  acttnl,  that  tiiey  sniniosed  they  mi^dit 
coiuiuue  with  impninty  to  u'o  in  the  vei-y  teeth  of  their  sup- 
iHirters,  and  systematically  resist  their  just  claim:-;  tor  re(li'e.ss- 
]]iit  l)isho|)  Ilnuhesread  tlu'in  asalut;ii'y  li'ss(  n,  the  moi'a!  :,* 
which  it  was  dillicult  to  i'oi'u'et.  W'itli  matchless  ability  he 
f()ii<:ht  the  Catholic  side  in  the  Common  Council''  a.i^ainst  all 
comers,  re  present  in, y;  every  lio>fliIe  interest;  and  when  jus- 
tice was  deuiedt  tlicio  and  in  the  Jjcuislalure.  he  resorted  toa 
course  of  policy  which  .ttreally  disturbed  the  luiuds  of  the 
timid,  and  the  sticklers  for  jn-ace  at  any  juice,  but  whicli 
was  followed  by  instantaneous  su<'cess, 

Holdinti;  his  flock  well  in  hand,  addressiuLCfhem  constantly 
hi  laii,i4-ua<;-e  that,  while  it  couvinc(!d  tlieir  judgment,  roused 


Jcir^  fill'il  tlio  ri'spoii^ihli'  cliar;;cs  of  |iri)f.''i.()r,  pri'f.'ct  nf  stuilic^i,  ami  vo  '-;ir(  iklciit  in  varimii 
-  ■'     '■''-■     '■ ,,^-,^    Tliiiii,i;li  1ml  iiaiiul  iif 


je.ir^  nii'd  mo  ri's|i()ii.iii)i>'  oiiiir;;i's  or  iinii..-.-i)r,  i)ri'i.'ci  iii  sniiiu'^i,  aim  v  c  '-;in  .^.aciii  in  varii.:!' 
lo!li'L'c>  i)f  llic  Sricii'ty.  lie  \v:ih  I'lct-lcd  to  hi.*  |iri'.<iiit  p.^ilioii  in  1S71.  Tliiin,i,'li  1ml  aaiiiil  ii 
ifcniuiT  ill  i'.\isU'iui',  St.  .Iiilm's  CoIIcl'c  iilr.'ady  wi.'ur.s  Uiu  lionois  of  ii,sv,    Ji'i^tu jurinl'iii.- 

JIL</ti)'i  ttf'  fhf  t'ltthiilh-  f*}nirrh  hi  fitr  I'l,Ufil  S/tlf,.\\ 


♦.4;il.|i»linu'nt  of  tlic  |irc'>i'nl  cniinnoii  scliool  system. »-/.'i/'/.'.  y. 
A  trrcat  uvil  was  thus  iviIiicimI  to  oiio  of  l.sscr  ilinicnsions, 

'.\'.Mi!ist  siicli  men  Ai  Rov.  Drs.  13ou:l,  Spring,  aiul  lauiy  otli'.T.-,  fi;ll  of  olo(iiic'nco and  refmL'a' 
flalyiiity. 


'l        )    '■ 


SIS  Till:   }r<>ST  UFA'.  JOILX  JIUGIIES.  D.D. 

tlieir  religions  enthusiiisin,  lie  advised  tlieni  to  disregard  nl] 
political  tie's,  and  vote  only- for  those  wlio  were  tlie  fiiends 
oT  the  new  school  system, — v.'hich,  it  may  be  remariced.  was 
X)agan  at  b?st,— and  tlie  opponents  of  tlieold  system,  wliich 
as  \vf,  have  said,  was  actively  aggressive.  Tlie  Eisliop  tlius 
put  the  case  to  his  11<)ck  : 

"Tlie  question  tobi-  decided  is  not  the  strength  of  jiartv 
or  the  emoliuiKMit  and  patronage   of   ollice.  but  a  qut-stinu 
between  the  helpless  an<l  ill-used  children,  and  the  Piihlic 

School  Society Anissne  is  made  iqtlx'tweeii 

you  and  a  large  portion  of  the  community  on  the  one  side, 
and  tlie  nioMopoly  which  instils  the  dangerous  •!n'inci])l('s  to 
wliich  1  have  before  alluded,  on  tlx^  other.  The  (pip.stinn 
lies  between  the  two  parties,  and  y(.Mi  are  the  judges  ;  if  you 
desert  the  canst',  ^vllat  can  you  expect  from  sti'ange's ;  . 
I  hav(i  been  <jiven  to  understand  that  three  out  of  four  can- 
didates iiresented  to  your  snlfrages  are  ])ledged  to  ojipuse 
your  (daiuis.  They  may,  i)erhai)s,  ti'iumi)h;  but  alll  asl\  i-;, 
that  they  shall  not  triumph  by  the  sinful  aid  of  any  individ- 
ual who  cherishes  a  fe(ding  in  common  with  those  (diild.icn. 
I  wish  you,  therefore,  to  hxdv  well  tf)  your  candidarcs ;  and 
if  they  are  dis[)osed  to  makt^  Infidels  or  Trotesrants  of  yoiu' 
children,  let  Oiem  receive  no  vote  of  yours.'" 

The  advice  thus  given  to  them  by  their  I'ishop  was  as  con- 
sistent with  common  sense  as  with  decent  iiride.  I'lit  suint'- 
thing  moi-e  "^'as  requii'ed  to  be  done,  and  that  was  doiii'. 
\\  itli  a  few  exce]itions,  the  candi<lates  of  all  ])arties  in  ilii> 
field  were  pledged  to  o])]iose  the  claims  (d'  the  Catliolics, 
An  independent  ticket  for  niemi)ei's  of  tht^  Senate  and 
Assembly  w^.s  thei-efoi'e  suggested  and  ])ropos(>d,  and  tliis 
was  adojUed  at  a  imvMing  in  Carrcdl  Hall,  with  an  en- 
thusiasm whifdi  was  owing  even  more  to  the  pluck  than  to 
the  appeals  of  the  I5i^hop 

Ibping.  bv  a  s]'tH'(di  of  singular  pow(M',  ])i\\  llie  -wlioli' 
cas(»  before  his  imnu'ii'^e  midieiv  lie  worked  them  up  loa 
state  of  extraordinarv  excitement,  with  the  true  Demosiheiiii" 
art,  putting  to  them  a  series  ot  stinging  qu(>ries,  voucliiii,::'. 
as  it  were,  the  very  life  of  their  honor.     "Will  you  stand 


I 


THE  JrOST  imV.  JOIIX  JIUGIIES,  D.J). 


619 


bv  the  riii'lils  of  your  o.TspriiiQ:,  avIio  liuve  so  loner  siiflVivd 
miilpr  the  oporation  of  this  in jiii-ioiis  system  'T  "  Will  you 
iidlicre  to  the  nominations  made  C  "  Will  you  bo  united  C 
'■^\'ill  n(me  of  you  shrink  i"' 

And  lie  concluded  :  "I  asl-:,  t!ien,  once  for  all,  -will  this 
iiirt'tint:;  pledge  its  honor,  as  the  represenrative  of  that  op- 
pivssed  portion  of  the  community  for  whom  1  have  so  often 
jilwided,  here  as  elsewhere — Avill  it  i)l<Mlg'e  its  honor,  that 
it  will  stand  by  these  candidates,  whose  names  have  been 
read,  and  that  no  man  coni])osing  this  vast  audience  will 
ever  vote  for  any  one  pledged  to  oppose  our  just  claims,  and 
incontrovertible  rights  C 

The  promise,  made  with  a  dis})lay  of  feeling  almost 
nirniiintiug  to  frenzy,  was  fidly  redeeuied  ;  and  2.2(M)  votes 
recorded  for  the  candidates  nominated  only  four  days  lie- 
fore,  conviiu'ed  the  polilicans,  whose  prcmdses  hitherto  had 
lieeii.  as  the  -Bishop  said,  as  large  "as  their  performances 
l;:iil  l)een  lean,"  that  there  was  danger  iu  the  Catholics — 
tl.;ii.  in  fact,  they  were  Jio  louger  to  be  play(Hl  with  or  des- 
jii-'il.  Xotwithstanding  the  pledges  to  the  conti'aiy,  the 
new  system — -that  of  the  connnon  schocyls — Avas  carried  m 
th.'  Assendily  l)y  a  majoi'ily  of  sixty-live^  to  sixtecMi  ;  and 
rill' Senate,  a}>preiionding  that  a  similar  attempt  Avould  ])e 
made  at  an  ap)pi'oacliing  election  for  the  mayoi'aliy,  as  (hat 
vdiieh  had  been  made  in  the  (d( ctions  of  candidates  for  the 
r-^eiiate  aufl  tlit^  AsseiuMy,  pa^*sed  tluMueasui'e. 

iMi'H'i'ly  assailed  liy  his  oi)j>onei!ls,  biilei'ly  denounced  l>y 
aliii'ineit  and  indignant  ])!iliticans.  reviled  in  every  imagiu- 
aliir  manner  by  controvei'sialists  of  the  pu!))il  and  the]n'ess, 
even  turned  nj)on  by  th(>  faint-ln^arted  of  his  own  commun- 
ion— that  decoi'ons  and  crir^ging  class,  to  whom  anything 
liisi'  vigoi".  or  a,  departure  from  rigid  ruh\  is  sure  to  cause 
a  sliuddiT  of  the  nerves— the  I'dshop  of  Ncv,'  Vorl-i  i>ecanie. 
ai  once,  one  of  the  licst-abused.  as  well  as  one  of  the  most 
l)opular  men  of  the  day. 

His  inlliu'nce  over  the  Irish  portion  of  liis  lloch  was  un- 
l"i!iiiilei|.  This  ilock  was  rajiidly  iifivasing  l!:ro!igli  immi- 
gration, which  was  setting  strongly  in  from  the  old  countiy. 


I! 


:><, 


S20 


THE  MOST  EEV.  JGUN  HUGHES,  D.D. 


then,  for  its  size,  one  of  tlie  most  populous  conntries  of 
Europe.  Bisliop  Hughes  was  just  the  man  to  a('([uire  intlu 
ence  over  an  Irish  congregation.  That  lie  hiniscll'  was  an 
Irisliman,  was,  of  course,  no  little  in  his  favor.  Ihu  he  wa:^ 
eminently  qualilied  to  gratify  the  pride  of  a  peopli'  who 
•found  in  him  Ji  fearless,  a  powerful,  and  a  succe.ssfiil  tluuu- 
l)ion — one  who  was  afraid  of  no  man,  and  who  was  read  v.  at 
any  moment,  not  only  to  grapple  with  and  overthrow  tli"i;i()s|- 
formidable  opponent,  but  to  encounter  any  odds,  and  Jlnlit 
under  every  disadvantage.  In  his  speeches  and  Ictteis' 
the  reader  will  behold  abundant  evidence  of  his  boldness 
in  attack,  hid  skill  in  did'ence,  and  his  severity  in  draliiio- 
Avith  an  enemy,  especially  one  to  whom  no  quarter  shoiilcl  be 
given. 

When  the  heroic  Bishop  struck,  it  was  with  no  gentle  or 
faltering  hand,  norwas  his  weapona  lath  or  a  blunted  sword. 
lie  struck  with  the  strength  of  ;i  giant,  and  the  weai)on  h] 
wielded  was  bright  and  trenchant,  and  nevon*  failed  to  pipree 
the  armour  of  his  closest-mailed  foe.  With  the  ablest  and 
most  practised  \a'iters  of  the  public  press,  the  most  accom- 
plished advocates  of  the  bar,  the  subtlest  controversialists 
Bishop  Hughes  had  nijiuy  a  fair  tilt  in  the  face  of  an  aii])re- 
ciativH  pubUc  ;  and  none  of  those  Avith  whom  he  was  com- 
pelled to  come  into  conflict,  whether  with  tongue  or  ])fi\, 
speech  or  letter,  that  did  not  acdiuowledge,  or  was  not 
oldiged  to  admit,  the  power  of  his  mind,  the  force  of  Id^ 
reasoning,  his  haj)piness  of  illustration,  and  his  thoronuli 
mastery  of  the  English  language. 


»  See  hiB  "Works,"  3  vols.,  cilitcd  by  LawiT'iicc  Kiliou. 


countries  of 
''I'lii'e  iiitlu 
'■•^•'ir  Avas  1111 
I5ut  he  was 
iHH.pl,.  who 
-^■^ful  oliam- 
ivas  ivi](\\\  at 

row  till' luost 
l^,  and  lio-lit 

and  letters' 

lis    IxildlK's.S 

y  in  dealiii-^ 
tLTsliuidd  bo 

no  gentle  or 

r.n  ted  sword. 

Ht'  weapdii  lie 

ili'd  to  pierce 

lie  ablest  and 

most  aocum- 

troversialist.s, 

■of  an  appre- 

lie  Avas  roni- 

iigiie  or  pen, 

or  was  not 

force    dl'    ];[.< 

his  thoronuh 


CHAPTER    III. 

EATTLIXG  WITH   KXOAVNOTIIIXOIS^r. 

Friends  in  Philadelphia — Si/mpathi/  in  JVew  Yorli—Tlie 
Catholics — Dr.  Jiiiijhcs  and.  tlie  Maijor — TJie  Bishop  s 
memorahle  Idler  to  Mai/or  Harper — Immense  deht  of 
the  churehes — Consecration  of  Dr.  McCloshey — Divis- 
ion of  the  diocese — Catholic  chaplains  in  the  army — • 
The  >^isters  of  Charity — Preachiny  before  Congress — 
Progress  of  Catholic  Education— Pair iotisvi. 

The  anti-Catholio  sjnrit  wliirh  n.aitated  the  roiintry  from 
lS;3-i  to  1844,  culminated  in  making  riiihidelphia  the  dis- 
graeeful  scene  of  riot,  inoh-rule,  and  clmrcli-burnin.t!;. 
Hounded  on  by  the  pulpit  yidlings  of  fanatical  ministers,  an 
army  of  rufnans  did  the  work  of  destruction,  wliile  the  city 
iiutliorities  looked  on,  and,  like  Pontius  Pilate,  quic^tly 
washed  their  hands  of  tlie  whole  affair  !  At  2,  o'cdock  v.  ^r. 
on  the  8th  of  May,  1844,  St.  Arichael's  Chundi  was  in  ilames ! 
At  4  o'clock  the  house  of  the  Sisters  of  Charity  was  con- 
sumed I  At  six  the  same  evening,  St.  Augustine's  Churcdi 
was  lilted,  and,  along  with  the  rectoi'y,  burned !  The  pre- 
cious lilirary  of  the  Augustinians  was  plundered,  the  books 
piled  up,  and  committed  to  the  flames  I  All  this  in  one 
afternoon ! 

^'Xatii'ism,'"  writes  the  Pev.  ^fr.  Goodman,  an  Fd)iscopnl 
minister;  "has  not  existed  five  months,  and  in  that  time 
what  has  been  seen?  Two  Catholic  churches  burned,  one 
twice  fired  and  desecrated,  a  Catholic  seminary  and  retreat 
consumed  by  the  t(U'(di  of  an  incendiary  mob,  two  rectoi'ies 
and  a  most  valuable  library  d(s. roved,  forty  dwellings  in 
ruins,  about  forty  human  livens  sacriiiced,  and  sixty  of  our 
fellow  citizens   wounded  ;    riot,  and  rebellion,   and  treason 

8->l 


!  I 


Sir    I 


!  I'  •• 


823 


THE  MOST  llEV.  JOUX  IIUGIIE.^,  I).D. 


rainp;rnt  on  two  occasions  in  our  midst  ;  the  Irnvs  Ixldlv 
S!'t  at  (leli;ince,  and  peiice  ar.d  order  pr(.;jtiut(\i  l)y  riiiirtq 
violence  I" 

Flnslied  witli  tlieir  unliolj'  triuniplis  of  cliurcli-bnrTiiTu: 
convent-wreckin^i;,  and  house-pillairing,  u  cIioshu  haw^X  uf 
the  Pliiladelpliia  rioters  Aveiv  to  be  Avtdconied  \y\{\\  a  jmblid 
procession  by  tlieir  sympathizers  of  New  Yoric ;  but  tJie 
stern  attitude  of  tlie  Catholics,  obedient  to  the  voice  ;tni| 
ameual)le  to  the  authority  of  their  great  Bishop,  dismayed 
the  cowardly  portion  of  their  enenues,  and  taught  evt-ii  tlie 
boldest  that  discretion  was  the  lietter  ])nrt  of  valor. 

It  was  not  the  tirst  time  that  the  Catholics  of  Xew  York 
had  taken  a  firm  stand  against  the  frenzy  of  the  ''Xo- 
Pojiery"  faction.  Shortly  after  the  ])urning  of  the  conviMit 
at  Boston,  there  w;is  an  attempt  made  to  deslioy  St. 
Patricl-i's  Catliedral,  But  the  church  was  put  in  a  state  of 
defence;  the  streets  leading  to  it  A/ere  torn  up.  and  every 
window  was  to  be  a  point  whence  missih:'S  cotdd  be  iluvjwn 
on  the  advancing  horde  of  sacrilegious  wi'etches  :  while  the 
(vall  of  the  churchyard,  rudely  constructed,  bristled  with 
tlie  muskets  of  those  ready  for  the  last  struggle  for  the  altar 
of  their  Clod  and  the  graves  of  those  they  loved.  So  fearful 
a  preparation,  unknown  to  the  enemies  of  religion,  canie 
upon  them  liki^  a  thunder-cla]),  wIum;  lluir  van  hmi  nearly 
reached  the  street  leading  to  t!ie  Cathedral ;  they  ileil  in  all 
directions  in  dismay. 

A  met'ting  of  the  "Native  Americans"'  of  Xew  Ymk  was 
called  in  the  City  Hall  Park,  to  give  a  suitable  icceiition  to 
their  brethern  from  Phiiath'lphin.  Tlie  time  for  adion  lu-iil 
thus  arrived.  Bishop  Hughes  hid  made  it  known  throngh 
the  columns  of  the  Frrc-niaii  s  Journal,  tlnui  under  his  en- 
tire contnd,  tliat  the  s.' -'.lies  of  Plii!adeli>hia  should  not  li(3 
ronewed  with  impunity  in  New  York:  iind  he  was  known  to 
have  said— in  reply  to  a  ju'l'-'st  who,  having  escaped  from 
Philadelphia,  advised  him  to  ])ublish  an  address,  urgin!;-  the 
Catholics  to  kei^p  the  peace — "  If  a  single  Catholic  chuivh 
w(>re  burned  in  New  York,  the  city  would  become  a  second 
Moscow." 


>. 


e.i  I 


'it It  :i  l)Ub]ir. 
■'•■  ;  'lilt  tlio 
1''  voice  ana 

M  «'Vcii  tlie 
I  lor. 

'  ^"cw  Yoi'L: 
f   the  "Xo- 

the  cDnviMit 
deslrov  St 
in  a  .state  of 
>,  and  everv 
1  be  t]u(j\vii 
\\iiile  rlie 
I'lstied  with 
I'or  tlie  altar 
'"^o  feavi'ul 
ligioii,  came 

liad  nearly 
y  lied  in  all 

w  Yolk  was 
'ecejition  to 
'  adion  had 
vn  thronah 
ider  his  en- 
)iild  not  be 
3  known  to 
caped  fi'oni 
nr,i!:inu-  the 
die  cliun'li 
le  a  second 


v4v 


TJIE  MOST  llEV.  JOHN  HUGHES,  D.D.  go;? 

Tlioro  wa.s  no  mistaking  Ids  spirit,  and  that  of  liis  flock— 
excepting,  ofcour.se,  the  "good,  cautiou.s  souLs wdio,"  a.stha 
Bishop  wrote, ''believe  iu  stealing  throngli  tlio  world  nioi'c 
suijini.ssively  than  suits  a  freeman/'  The  churches  Avcio 
guarded  ])y  a  sullicient  force  of  men,  resolved  to  die  in  lh(  ir 
defence,  but  also  resolved  to  make  their  assailants  fetd  the 
weight  of  their  vengeance.  By  an  extra  issue  of  th(»  Fne- 
ma/ts  Journal  the  Bishop  warned  the  Irish  to  keepaway  from 
all  public  meetings,  especially  that  to  be  held  in  the  Park 
He  then  called  upon  the  Mayor,'  and  advised  him  to  prevent 
tile  proposed  denuuistration. 

"Are  you  afraid,"  asked  the  Mayor,  "that  some  of  your 
churches  will  be  burned  i" 

"Xo,  sir;  but  I  am  afraid  tluit  some  of  ^/ours  will  be 
InumHl.  AVe  can  protect  our  own.  I  come  to  A\arn  you 
fur  your  own  good.'' 

"Do  you  think,  Bishop,  that  your  people  would  attack 
tlie  jmx'ession  f 

••I  do  not,  but  the  native  Americans  want  to  provoke  a 
Catholic  riot,  and  if  they  can  do  it  in  no  other  way,  I  l)e- 
lieve  they  would  not  scruple  to  attack  the  procession  then;- 
.selves,  for  the  sake  of  making  it  appear  that  the  Catholics 
had  assailed  them." 

"What,  then,  would  you  have  me  do?" 

"I  did  not  come  to  tell  you  what  to  do.  I  am  a  churcli- 
nian,  not  the  Mavor  of  Xew  Yoi'k;  l)ut  if  I  were  the  Mayor, 
I  would  exannne  the  laws  of  the  ^tate,  and  see  if  there  wero 
not  attached  to  the  police  force  a  batteiy  of  artillery,  and  jn 
i'(»!n])any  or  so  of  infantry,  and  a  squndi'on  of  horse;  and  1 
iliiiik  T  .should  find  that  there  were;  and  if  so,  I  should  can' 
iih'iii  out.  ]\roreover,  I  should  send  to  ^fr.  Harper,  the 
Mayor-elect,  who  1ms  been  chosen  by  the  votes  of  this  party. 
1  should  remind  him,  that  these  UK-n  are  his  sujiporters;  I 
should  warn  him,  that  if  they  carry  out  their  design,  theie 
will  U'  a  I'iot;  and  T  should  urge  him  to  use  liis  intiueuce  iu 
preventing  this  jmblic  reception  of  tiie  delegates." 

There  was  no  demou.stration.     And  every  right-minded 

'  Robert  II,  Morris. 


IN 


JMMJIB 


S'24: 


THE  MOST  }U:V.  .lOllX  HVCIIIJS,  D.D. 


Tiinn,  t>voi'y  lovor  of  ]ioare  in  the  cih',  must  liavc  n]M)l;iii(l(.(| 
/^lic  c'our.se  taken  by  Dr.  IIiii;lies,  to  ^v hose  ])i'U(lt'iit  liiiiint>>i 
Avas  mainly  attiibutable  tlie  fact  tluit  New  York  was  siuc(l 
fi'oni  riot,  bloodslied,  murder,  and  sacrilege,  and,  alxnc  all 
from  that  dreadful  feeling  of  unchi'istian  hate  between  uiau 
and  man.  citizen  and  citizen,  neighbor  and  neigliboi-,  whidi 
such  collisions  are  certain  iov  years  after  to  leave  rank"'n" 
in  the  breast  of  a  community. 

We  cannot  pass  farther,  however,  without  saying  a  word 
in  relation  to  the  manly  and  noble,  yet  temperate  and  digui 
lied  letter  of  Dr.  IIugl'"s  to  Mayor  Harper.  Seldom  Im^ 
tbp.  appeared  in  the  Ke]inblic  a,  document  more  iiiiiJv, 
i.i  V  pient,  more  triumphant,  or  more  happy  in  its  ellects 
(.'U  the  public  mind.  It  was  wiitten  under  a  threat  of  assas- 
p'nntion,  immediately  after  the  fearful  May  riots  of  Pliila- 
del})!.''  ar  .  t  a  moment  when  there  was  every  rea.son  to 
ap]U'eliend  siniilai  or  worse  outbreaks  in   New  York  city. 

The  Bishop  just  took  the  stand  which  the  emergency  re- 
quired. He  assumed  that  bold  and  fearless  tone  wliicU 
best  suits  the  American  chai'acter.  and  his  Winged  wonls 
liad  an  almost  magical  elVect  on  the  poi)ul.ir  mind.  Never 
was  fi  document  more  eagerly  sought,  or  more  greedily  pe- 
rnsed.  It  is  estimated  that  in  New  York  city  alone,  ir)().()(i() 
persons  read  it  within  forty-eight  hours  after  its  iirst  jMihlica- 
iion.  The  effect  was  truly  vv-onderful.  Tln^  excitt^nunit,  uiiicli 
before  had  reached  a  maddening  neight,  all  at  once  subsided, 
nnd  New  York  was  saved  from  the  outrages  which  had  just 
disgraced  a  sister  city. 

In  this  memoi'able  letter,  Dr.  TTnghes  triumphantly  vindi- 
cates hims(df  frcmi  the  vil(»  charg(>s  made  against  him  by  ;in 
unprinci])led  ])ress.  He  boldly  (diallenges  James  (ioi'den 
liennett,'  Willam  L.  Stone,"  and  others,  to  establish  the  con- 
trary of  the  following  propositions  : 

"  1. — I  have  never  in  my  life  done  one  action,  or  uttered 
a  sentiment  tending  to  abridge  any  human  being  of  all 
or  any  of  the  I'ights  of  conscience  which  I  claim  to  enjoy 
myself  under  the  American  Constitution. 


'  Editor  of  the  Now  York  Herald. 


*  Editor  of  the  New  York  Comme-rciul  AUvertiaa'. 


THE  MOST  JIKV.  JOliX  JIUGIILS,  D.I). 


62o 


al  Advertiser. 


"L>. — 1  liave  never  r.skcd  or  wisiicd  tliat  any  tldiomina- 
tifdi  slunild  be  depriveil  of  tin'  l^iblc,  or  such  version  ol'  Use 
I'ible  as  tliat  denomination  conscientiously  a^ipioved,  in  oiw 
connnon  or  publi(;  schools, 

"o. — I  have  never  entered  into  intrigue  or  coUuj^ion 
M'itli  any  political  party  or  individual,  and  no  political  party 
(ji'  individual  ever  approached  me  with  so  insulting  a  lu'o- 
jiosilion. 

"4. — I  have  never  requested  or  authorized,  the  'bhicken- 
iiig  of  the  publi(,';  school  books'  in  the  city  of  ^'ew  york. 

"o. — In  all  my  public  lite  in  New  Yi.irk,  1  have  done  no 
action,  uttered  no  sentiuient  unworthy  of  a  Christian  Bishop, 
anl  an  Aniei'ican  citizen." 

Then,  after  x)utting  the  same  or  similar  propositions  in  an 
afihaiative  foini,  and  stating  them  as  well-known  public 
Jitrl.s\  -which  he  lield  liiuiself  prej-ared  to  jjrove,  he  thus 
boldly  addresses  his  malignant  revilers  : 

"Xow,  therefore,  James  (Gordon  Pxmnett,  AVilliam  L. 
Stone,  and  ye  other  deceiv(M's  of  the  public,  stand  forth,  and 
/i:ci't  Bishop  IIuglu;s.  ]jut  then,  cohie  forth  in  no  (piibbling 
capacity;  come  forth  as  honest  men,  as  ti'ue  American  citi- 
zens, with  truth  in  your  liearts,  and  candor  on  your  lips. 
[  know  you  can  write  well,  and  cimi  niuUi[)ly  words  and  mis- 
represent truth;  tliis  is  not  tlie  thing  that  will  sei've  you. 
Conie  forthwith  your  FAfT-^.  Bishop  Hughes  places  liiniself 
ill  the  simple  panoply  of  an  honest  man.  liefoie  the  Amer- 
ican people.  Il(i  asks  no  favor,  ))ut  lu^  simply  asks  wheilier 
the  opinion  f)f  Bishop  White  is  ti'ue,  that  with  the  American 
peo[)le  no  man  can  be  ]>ut  down  by  calumny."' 

.lames  (Jordonlnmnett  and  ^Villiam  L.  Stone  did  atrerai>t 
"to  stand  forth  ;"  but  we  think  all  will  allow  that  they  proved 
no  match  for  the  gifted  IMshop.  They  denlt  in  nnught  l)ut 
personal  abuse  and  idh^  declamation — in  "words,  v/ords, 
words."  J)v.  llugla^s,  howevcn*,  called  for  and  dealt  in  h(n(l 
fads,  those  "stubborn  things"  that  are  tlie  great  annoyance 
of  liars  and  scoundrels.  The  result  of  the  discussion  was 
most  happy.  It  contributed  in  a  great  measure  to  (deal"  away 
the  dark  clouds  of  calumnv  which  hadlieeu  for  vears  gather- 


iiif 


i-.    l:    kt 


itif 


l'fl_,_,. 


82G 


THE  MOST  IlEV.  JOHN  HUGHES,  D.B. 


inp;  about  the  Empire  City.     In  sliort,  it  left  the  Catholics  in 
ji  jii'oiul  position. 

It  is  tliis  fanioas  letter  which  contains  tlie  toucliin"-  ;ni(l 
beautiful  allusion  to  the  American  ilog.  ''I  can  even  now 
lemember,"  Avrites  the  Bishop,  "my  reflections  on  first  be- 
luvMiui;'  the  American  ilag.  It  never  crossed  my  iiiitid  tliat 
a  tinu!  miiiht  conui  when  tliatflag,  tlie  emblem  of  the  freedom 
just  alluded  to,  sliouldbe  divided  by  ai)p()rtioniug  lis  stars  to 
tlie  citizens  of  native  birth,  and  its  stripes  only  as  the  por- 
tion of  the  foreigner.  I  was,  of  course,  but  young  and  inex- 
perienced; and  yet  even  recent  events  have  not  diniiiiislied 
my  conlidence  in  that  ensign  of  civil  and  religious  lihertv. 
It  is  possible  I  was  mistaken,  but  I  still  cling  to  the  delu- 
sion, if  it  be  one,  and  as  I  trusted  to  that  Hag  on  a  nation^ s 
faith,  I  think  it  more  likely  tliat  its  strij)es  will  disappear 
altogether;  and  that  Ix^fore  it  shall  be  employed  as  an  in- 
strument of  bad  faith  towards  the  foreigners  of  every  land, 
the  white  portions  will  blush  into  crimson,  ami  then  tlio 
glorious  stars  ah-'o  will  remain." 

The  reader  must  not  imagine  that  battling  with  unruly 
trustees,  unprincipled  journalists,  and  "IS'ative  American"' 
ruflianism,  occui)ied  nioic  than  a  small  portion  of  IJishop 
Hughes'  time.  No  duty  v.-as  neglected.  Ills  vast  energy, 
and  a  kind  of  nuigical  activity,  made  liim  equal  to  every- 
thing. 

One  of  the  greatest  difficulties  which  he  had  to  enconnter 
was  the  immense  debt  that  hung  over  th(^  ch urchins  of  New 
York  city.'  It  retarded  the  progress  of  tlu^  (  hurcdi.  It  v/as 
a  source  of  deep  anxiety,  and  never-ceasing  annoyance. 
The  increase  in  the  number  of  Catholics  was  so  great,  rtnd, 
at  the  same  time,  they  were  so  |)oor,  that  in  order  to  pro- 
vide them  witli.  places  in  which  to  worship  God,  it  wns 
necessary  to  borrow  large  sums  of  money,  at  a  ruinous  inter- 
est. The  evil  Avas  increased  by  the  mismanagenumt  of  the 
lay-trustees,  so  that  at  the  time  Dr.  Hughes  began  to  nian- 


•  In  iSn  tlip  whoV  tndi'blndnoss  of  rho  ohnrclip!'  of  the  city  Hmonnfcd  to  nliont  ^;W.nO(l, iiml  It 
rc!|iiir('<l  aliniit  SOO.iTO  cncli  yciir  t<>  puy  (!u'  iiiten"'t.  St.  I'ctci-'i  Cliurcli  \<iis  i1m'  one  tluit  ciiiccd 
Um  the  grt'iUfiit  irouljiu  oiid  labor;  Us  nidt'bU'duosf.at  uuc  tiuu',  amounted  to  {1  lO.UCO.— Ci'ci/i* 


THE  MOST  REV.  JOIIX  irUGHES,  D.D. 


827 


.iiro  tliP  affairs  of  tlie  diocese,  it  was  found  tliat  every  cliiircli 
edifice  in  tlie  city  was  mortgaged,  or  encumbered  witli  debt, 
to  its  full  value.  It  took  many  a  long  year  of  toil,  struggle, 
nnd  skilful  management  on  tlie  part  of  tlie  Bishop  to  get; 
filings  on  anything  like  a  safe  linancial  basis.' 

In  February,  18-1:4, the  liev.  Dr.  McClokscy— nowonrvener- 
nble  Cardinal— was  consecrated  coadjutor  to  Bishop  Hughes; 
and  in  1845  the  latter  visited  Europe  iji  the  inteiests  of  his 
diocese.  He  was  especially  desirous  to  obtain  suitable 
teachers  for  his  Catholic  schools. 

He  returned  in  April,  184(5,  and  in  May  of  the  same  year 
attended  the  sixth  Council  of  J^altimore,  whose  deliberations 
resulted,  and  were  subsecpiently  confirmed  l)y  the  Holy  See,  in 
dividhig  the  diocese  of  New  York  by  the  establishment  of  the 
new  sees  of  Buffalo  and  Albany.  Dr.  Tinion  was  ai)pointed 
to  Buffalo,  and  Dr.  :^rcCloskey  was  translated  to  Albany. 

While  attending  the  Council,  Bishop  Hi-ghes  Avas  sum- 
moned to  Washington  by  Mr.  JJuchanan,  at  that  time  Secre- 
tary of  State  under  President  P(dk,  to  confer  with  the  Ad- 
ministration in  reference  to  the  appointment  of  Catholic 
cliaplains  in  the  army,  then  on  the  way  to  invade  JMexico. 
The  result  was  that  Father  John  McElroy.  S.J.,'  and  Father 
Anthony  lley,  S.J.,  received  the  ajtpointment. 

In  184G  and  1847,  the  Sisters  of  Charity  in  the  diocese  of 
New  York  were  organized  into  a  separate  society,  thus  sev- 
ering all  connection  with  the  parent  house  at  Einmitts- 
Inirg.  In  1817,  Bishop  Connolly,  of  Xew  Yoik,  applied  to 
tlie  Superior-General  of  the  Sisters  of  Charity,  at  Emmitts- 
biirg,  for  some  Sisters  to  take  charge  of  an  orphan  asylum  in 
Jiis  (>piscopal  city.  The  new  mission  was  confided  to  tlie 
])i(>us  and  zealous  Sister  TJ(/se  "White,  and  two  companions. 
On  the  13th  of  September,  they  took  charge  of  St.  Patiick's 
Asylum,  corner  of  Prince  and  Mott  Streets.     Tids  was  the 

'  On  tlip  debt  of  fho  rliiirdu's.  mid  .vlint  Dr.  IIiil'Ik  >^  <liil  to  Ikiiiidiitc  it.  poo  r>ayloyV  '"  History 
of  llio  l';illiolic  Cluirch  on  tlio  Isliiml  of  New  York,"  j))).  11.'!  T  :  ('lark(^'8  "Lives  of  Ihc 
Diccased  Bishops;"'  pp.  OO-Si.  Vol.  H.:  mid  Ililssard's  "Lifo  of  Arolibi-luip  lliiijlies.'' 

'•'  This  voncrablo  iiinii  diod  qulto  roconlly.  at  a  truly  pntrliirohial  n^ro.  At  the  dato  r,r  his  death 
?ie  was  the  oldest  Jesuit  Fatlier  in  tlio  world.  See  skctcU  of  him  in  "  A  I'opular  History  uf  the 
Cttholic  Cliurcli  in  the  United  States,"  p.  380. 


'iv:. 


:  li' 


■  •Mi. 


,  I 


1^^     I 


ktmX 


nJiSKSB^^ 


82S 


THE  MOST  REV.  JOHN  HUGHES,  h.D. 


huiublo  l)(\ii;inniiig  of  tliat  ll()Ill•i^s]lin!^  (•oiiui.iinii y,  wlioso  03. 
tablisliniciits  of  nifM'cy,  cliiirity,  Jind  ediiciitioii  now  covet 
tlio  Eirii)ir(f  State,  and  in  wliicli  alonn  the  rule  and  divss  of 
Motlnu"  Scion ai(!  i)rt>sei'ved  nnalteied. 

Sonu^  tiineal'tei'  liis  accession  to  the  see  of  X(^\v  York,  V\\ 
Unfiles  wislied  to  estal)li.sli  a  male  oi|)lian  aslyiiui.  Tlii-, 
with  oilier  wants  in  view,  induced  tlu?  /ealoiis  pu'latr  1,, 
make  a  foi'nial  petition  to  Kniinitlsburt;'  for  a  largo  oloiiy  of 
Sisters.  The  council  of  the  niotliei'-house  notilied  him  tluit 
Lis  requ'st  could  not.  b(i  granted,  and,  moreover,  that  tlio 
Sisters  would  no  longer  be  allowed  to  take  chaige  of  iiuile 
ori)hans. 

The  Bishop  then  corresponded  with  the  Snperior-Geneinl, 
reiu'csenting  the  nrgiMit  necessities  of  his  diocese;  and  the 
result  was  the  estal)lishm<'nt  of  a  sepai'alt!  mother-house  at 
New  York,  of  Avhich  Dr.  Hughes  may  be  considered  the 
founder.  The  members  who  did  not  desire  to  remain  under 
the  n(nv  order  of  things,  were  left  at  a  ])erfect  lilterty  to  go 
to  l'imniittsb!irg.  Of  the  tifty  Sisters  at  that  time  in  the 
diocese,  thirty-one  renmined;  and,  on  the  8th  of  I)(M'enil)er, 
18-10,  the  hVast  of  the* Immaculate  Conception  of  the  I^Iost 
Bhssed  Virgin,  Dr.  Ifuglies  constitnted  the  Sisters  of  Cluu- 
ity  in  his  diocese  a  separate  community,  nnd(>r  the  title  of 
the  "  -S7.s'/^:7%v  of  Vharlbj  of  m.  Yincnit  \uPanir  Pius  IX., 
by  a  brief  of  June,  1847,  approved  the  new  organizulioii, 
find  conferred  npon  it  all  the  rights  and  privileges  gianled 
to  the  Sisters  of  Charity  in  France  or  America.  The  ^'e^v 
York  Sisters  now  represent  the  Society  as  founded  by  the 
saintly  ^Mother  Seton,' 


'  Sci'  life  of  Mollicr  Si'toii  in  tli<'  jire^oiit  volume;  "A  I'opiiliir  History  of  llic  Calliolic  ('liiirtl'. 
In  the  I'liitfil  Status,"  pp.  -lOI-l. 

In  ISTI),  the  Sisters  of  Cliarity  of  St.  Vincent  do  Vu\,\  niinitu'nd  fiOO  monilicr?.  in  :!T  limiso<<  anil 
♦1  ll^'p(■n(l(•n<■io^'.  cliiony  in  tlif  Middle  and  New  Eiii;land  States.  They  foiulncl  Hi  female 
•eadcinies,  -Irt  .■^cliools,  l.T  orphan  iisyhinis,  and  'J  liospitals. 

The  .Xeaileniy  of  Mount  Sl.Viiieent,  on  the  Hndso!),  is  the  cldef  ednealioniil  institnlion  of  llii; 
Sister;*  of  C'liarily  of  St.  Vineent  de  I'aiil.  Tirst.  opened  in  1HI7,  it  is  iio'.v  permanently  c.-l.'ili- 
Ii>hed.  on  the  east  lianU  of  the  lliulson.  a  little  above  Uiverdale,  at  n  point  where  the  rlvir  ciiii- 
centrales  its  niovt  foreihie  claims  to  its  heanlifnl  appellation  -"  Tin'  liliine  of  .Amerira.''  Tliii 
Beadeiny  has  the  honor  of  having 'leen  founded  hy  .'Vrehhislioii  Hughes.  It  lakis  the  nanic  iif 
'■  Monnt  St.  Vineent'"  from  tin?  commanding  elevation  on  whieli  it  is  silnated.  The  ir.aiii 
buildin;;,  in  the  Byzantine  Ktyle,  possesses  great  architectural  beauty,  and  is  really  one  of  tha 


f  tlu,'  Catholio  Churtli 


THE  MOST  UEV.  JOIIX  IIUUIIKS,  J).]). 


83!) 


"ITp  wont  about  (loini^^  pood."'  'I'liosc  words  niiulit  justly 
))(•  applied  to  llio  Avlutlc  lile  dl"  Dr.  Unfiles.  Ju  is-li  lie  le- 
ccivcd  an  invitation  f'ni  .loliii  (^uincy  Adams,  .lolin  C-.  Cal- 
liiiim,  andotlierdistin.u.islK'd  jricii,  topivadi  before  Congress 
111  ilieCapitolatAVasliin.irfon.  I!e  took  as  bis  subject,  "(.'biiy 
liai.ily  the  only  Sou  fee  (if  Moi'ai,  Soeial.  and  J 'ol  ideal  IJe^cne- 
jation."     It  is  a  splendid  discouisc^ 

Nor,  with  pen  and  ton|u;ue,  thus  eiocpiently  laltoiin-j;  in  llin 
en  use  of  truth,  did  luM'ver  I'or  a  aidiuent  J'oi^ci  tlieiiniwr- 
tant  interests  of  (JatholicM'ducation,  At  tliisi)er:od  \V(;  iind 
that,  tlirou^di  liis  elVorts,  the  .lesuif  I-'athers,  Jjadies  of  tho 
Sacred  ''b'art,  Christian  Ibolheis,  Sisters  of  Clitii'ity,  and 
Sist'ers  of  ^fercy  wei-e  settled  down  to  tlui  almost  divino 
\vork  of  teaching  the  xonug  ''  the  way  in  which  they  should 

'I'hough  one  of  tlie  most  devot^ed  citizinis  of  the  ['niled 
State's,  Bishop  Hughes  never  forgot  his  native  land.  He  loved 
it  with  his  last  breath.  In  lH-17,  when  the  famine  was  raging 
in  Ireland,  lie  sent  tho  collecrions  just  tak(.n  up  for  his 
Tiieoldgical  Seniinaiy,  amounting  to  ^I4,(;(K,  to  relieve  liis 
unhai)i)y  counti'ynien.  lb;  was  a  nobh;  patriot,  and  was 
greatly  mortified  by  the  I'ailnic  of  the  '48  movt  nient, 

Inrfrcst  I'diualuir.nl  slriicdircs  in  Itip  Uniti'd  Stiili'.".  Tlic  lowrr  rises  200  fi'ct  iiliove  water  liivcl. 
Tills  cxcrllciil  iiiMlilulldii,  l).v  ils  cliMiliT.  enjoy."  nil  tlie  ri;:lilH  imd  |)i'ivileL;r«  of  any  ll'eriiry  col. 
lege  in  llie  Sliitc.  Tlic  stndics  lire  hiL'ti.  v.iricil.  iiiiil  )ini(li(iil.  I.iitin  (liters  into  tho  reLruliir 
eoiirse  of  the  lust  tliree  yeiirs;  wliile  itie  o|i|ji)i'liini[le- for  the  piirsnlt  of  seienee  lire  exeellent. 
One  of  tiie  iireliilecliuiil  eiiriosiiies  is  l-'oi:csi's  Cii'lle.  Of  ii-  looius,  the  luri,'et<t  is  oeeiiphd  umi 
Ciihinet;  while  iinoliier  is  devoted  to  ^peeinu'iis  in  i  oneliolof.'y  mid  iiiiliinii  history.  The  enlirf 
"Arnold  colleetion"  of  niiiienils,  don.'ited  to  the  iK'iideiny  liy  llr.  Arnold,  luis  {;ruitly  er.- 
hiiL'ed  mill  enriched  tlie  eahinet,  niiikiii:;  it  one  of  (he  most  eoniplele  in  the  rountry.  Theie  iir« 
nlio'.it  )J.i)Od  volnines  in  tl:..  iilirary.  Tliirty  Sisters  and  professors  eonslitute  the  teachiiiij  stnf 
the  students  luinilier  about  aKI.  Mother  M.  Ke.irina  Lawless,  the  neeonipli-heii  Siiperioiess.  is  4 
■nl.veof  Iieland,  and  was  eleeliil  to  her  present  position  ill  ISUi. -//i  ./wry  e/' iVit-  Cul/iuUL 
Clamh  in  llie  L'inleU  S'dUi',  p.  446. 


!l^ 


V     '     I 


m 


m  i 


.f       Er 


i«. 


I)i 


M 


m 


CHAPTER  IV. 


THE   FIK^^T    AliCirHISlloP   OF    XKW   YOUK. 

JS'eio  York  raised  io  the  rank  of  a  vittropolUaii  sfe—Tltt 
Immnj'nhifc.  (Uniception — Failintj  health— ^t.  Patrick's 
Vathedrat—The  Arehbishops  emrgij — 'Ihe  Archl)ii<h(ii) 
and  Pius  fX.  —  Tlie  civil  umr — Ifis  mission,  to  /'Ji/rope 
— A^ome  of  his  last  acts — 77ic  inoiirnful  end — His  great- 
ne^s  summed  up. 

The  brief  of  our  liite  illustrious  Holy  Father,  Pope  Pius 
IX.,  erectinu,'  Now  Yoik  into  an  ari'hie}>is('o]»al  see,  Avith  '^h; 
sees  (>i'  ]?<)ston,  Ilaitfoi'd,  All)auy,  and  J^ull'alo  as  .siill'i 
sees,  was  received  by  Dr.  IIui;lifs  in  the  fall  of  lS."iO 
sail(!d  for  Europe,  and  had  the  lionor  of  receiving  the 
l)allium  froMi  the  hands  of  the  Sovereign  Pontiff  himself. 
Tliis  was  a  disrinction  which  the  Archbishop  always  alluded 
to  with  [deasurc  and  gratitude. 

In  \'6;A  Archbishop  Hughes  was  one  of  the  American 
prelates  avIio  accei)ted  the  invitation  of  Pius  IX.  to  attetid 
the  assembly  of  bishoi)s  from  the  whole  Catholic  Avorkl, 
gathered  together  to  take  part  in  the  ceremonies  attendant 
ui)on  the  delinition  of  the  dogma,  of  the  Immaculate  Con- 
(;ei)tion.  He  was  a  member  of  that  august  assembly,  and  as 
a  d(!vout  cliild  of  the  Most  Holy  A'irgin,  lie  was  greatly 
attached  to  the  dogma. 

On  his  return  to  New  York,  lie  recounted  the  grandeur  of 
the  ]-)roceedings  at  which  he  had  the  j)leasure  of  assisting;. 
He  also  immediately  began  the  erection  of  a  clnirch  in 
honor  of  the  Immaculate  Conception,  which  he  solenmly 
consecrated  on  the  15th  of  May,  1858.  This  was  the  ninety- 
ninth  church  erected  and  dedicated  under  his  personal 
5upervisi(m. 
830 


I  Kee—The, 
Patrick's 

[ri'hhifihap 
til  Europe 

-His  (jrcat- 


Pope  Pius 

B,  \vitll  '^'ft 
3  .SUll'j 

[  ISilO 
•eiving  tlie 
.ft"  liiniself. 
ays  alluded 

I  American 
'.  to  nttend 
olic  world, 
s  attendant 
dilate  Con- 
bly,  and  as 
vas  greatly 

n;randeur  of 
if  assisting. 
chureli  in 
le  solemnly 
;  the  ninety- 
is  ]}ersonal 


'  liii' 


m 


li 


ST.  PATRICK'S  CATHEDRAL,  NEW  YORK. 


riiE  :dosr  rev.  joun  hughes,  d.d. 


831 


iHt 


Everytliiii;^  liurian  is  liinit'.-d.  Everytliing  liuman,  iiiiliap- 
pily,  i  ■;  subject.  lO  oli:in<i(\  Such  liad  been  rlio  active^  iuul 
lalxniois  lij!e  of  Archbishop  lliiglies,  and  such  the  exciliui'; 
Bcencs  iuid  contests  throuiih  \vhich  li"^  had  passed,  that  his 
heahh,  naturally  robust,  l)(>gan  to  fail  him  in  1848,  when  l.e 
was  about  lifty  years  of  age. 

]\rany  of  iiis  great  labors  and  most  brilliant  efforts  were 
pcii'iinned  in  the  midst  of  intense  suil'ering.  ILis  natural 
vigor  a.nd  marvellous  activity  of  character,  it  is  true,  re- 
sisted I'or  a  time  the  encroacliment  of  dis(>ase  ;  but  after  the 
year  lb'.")."),  lie  made  but  few  efforts  such  as  those  that 
marked  the  first  part  of  his  episcopal  cai-eer. 

But  though  the  energy  of  life  uas  on  the  decline,  Dr. 
Hughes  began  one  of  the  greatest  of  Lis  many  great  works 
—the  erection  of  the  new  aiid  luagniticent  Cathedral  of  St, 
Patrick.  The  co-uer-stone  of  this  grand  structure  was  laid 
on  August  loth,  ]8r)8,  in  the  presence  of  seven  bishops, 
on"  liiuxlred  and  thirty  ]iriests,  and  at  h^ast  KHUXiO  peojile. 
K<'  acciih'ut  occurred.  Everything  passed  oil  in  the  most 
pel  ft-ct  order. 

8oiiie  idea  of  the  Arclibislio[)'s  still  wonderful  enej-gy,  and 
of  his  intUience  "with  his  flock,  may  lie  foi'iiu-dfroni  the  single 
fact  tiiat  he  paid  visits  to  the  most  wealthy  Catholics  to 
solicit  contributions  to  the  new  Cathedral;  and  in  <>n<'.  lnt)i- 
(Ired  of  these  visits,  which  did  not  ccciiiiy  over  twenty-four 
hours,  he  found  one  hundred  persons  who  gave  him  s'l,()UO 
each,  l^efore  his  death  the  walls  of  this  nolile  structure 
reached  the  height  of  twelve  or  fourteen  feet.' 

In  IS.'iO  he  took  an  active  ]>ait  in  showing  his  sym))nthy 
for  llie  glorious  PiusIX.,  when  llie  stiw  of  e\  il  desliiiy 
shone  on  the  Eternal Citv.     Dr.   Hughes  issued  an  in^i/'riiig 


1  Satot  Patiuck'b  CATnEnn.vL,  Now  York  City,  is  the  liirKest,  most  costly,  and  most  boautiful 
Btructuro  of  tho  kiuil  iu  thia  Kiiiniblic.  Tho  stylu  of  ari'liitecturu  is  tlie  iloeoi'iiticl  GotUii'  svliiiU 
provallod  ill  EuroiJO  about  tli"  foartjouth  ceutury.  Xlio  fouuilatlou  is  of  imiueiiac  blocks  ok 
grauite,  and  all  abovo  tlio  base  coursu  oousista  of  lino  white  marble.  Tlio  extremo  leut;th  is  VH 
feet;  extreme  breadth,  174  feet.  To  tlio  lielglit  of  ^ao  I'cot,  the  two  massive  towers  will  oai'tt 
point  heavenward,  lieauty  and  majesty  murk  the  interior.  Tlio  altars  are  yrand,  aul  »h 
collection  of  painted  yluBS,  there  is  uothini^,  perhaps,  in  modern  times  to  comparo  with  tb« 
wlndowB.  Tho  dedication  ceremonies  took  piaco  ou  the  'I'Mi  of  May,  18"n,  on  which  memorable 
occasion  his  Kminence  CuOinol  UcUloBkey  was  lurrouudod  by  30  AicUblshops  and  BisUopa,  and 
ovei  iOO  prleati. 


I    IM 


^;'  t    ! 


>m- 


833 


THE  MOST  nEV.  JOHN  IWOnES,  D.D. 


pastoral  on  the  subject,  wliicli  was  so  gratefully  received  liy 
the  Ho'y  Father,  tliat  lie  ordered  it  to  l)i>  printed  at  the 
Propraganda  in  English  and  Italian — a  di^stinctiou  never 
before  conferred  on  any  other  jjastoi'al  at  lionie.' 

He  also  raised  a  collection  of  jsjIJjOuO^  in  aid  of  the  llulv 
Father' s  depleted  treasury.  On  receiving  this  present  and  the 
letter  of  sympathy  which  acconipained  it,  Pius  IX.  was 
moved  to  tears;  and  as  a  nun'k  of  his  grateful  appreciation 
he  sent  to  the  Archbishop  a  lirst-class  medal  fur  his  n^li- 
gious  zeal,  and  singular  and  devoted  attachment  to  the  chair 
of  Peter. 

At  the  beginning  of  tlie  late  civil  war.  Archbishop  Hughes 
was  I'recniently  consulted  by  SiH'retary  Sewartland  President 
Lincoln.  In  1801,  he  was  sent  by  the  Goveinnient.  on  a 
special  mission  to  Europe.  Of  the  object  of  this  joui'ney  he 
wrote  to  Cardinal  Barmibo:  "IMy  mission  is  a  mission  of 
peace  between  France  and  England  on  th(?  one  side,  and  tlie 
United  States  on  the  other.  I  made  knoAvn  to  the  Presidonc 
that  if  I  should  come  to  I'airope  it  would  not  )ie  as  a  ]uu'ti/.an 
of  the  North  more  thnn  of  the  8outh  ;  that  T  should  repre- 
sent the  interests  of  the  South  as  well  as  of  the  >^u'th  ;  ia 
short,  th<^  interests  of  the  I'liitcd  States,  just  the  same  as  if 
they  had  never  been  distracterl  by  the  present  civil  war. 
The  people  of  the  South  hnow  that  I  am  not  ojiposed  to. 
their  interests.  They  havc^  eveji  publish(>(l  that  in  Iheir 
ixipers,  and  some  say  that  my  coming  to  Europe  is  with  a 
view  to  lu'ing  about  a  reconciliation  betw(>entlie  two  section.-; 
of  the  country.  Ihit,  in  fact,  no  oiie  but  myself,  either  Xrrtli 
or  South,  knows  the  entire  object  of  my  visit  to  Eiii'opc," 

He  visited  Pome,  Irtdand.  and  Paris,  and  had  lor.g  and 
interesting  interviews  with  the  French  Emjieror  and  Empress. 
After  his  return  home  in  ISOi,  ;in  olllcial  intimalion  was 
couvej'ed  to  the  Holy  See  that  the  President  of  the  I'liilcd 
States  would  be  greatly  pl(>nsed  to  see  Archbishop  Hughes 
made  a  Cardinal ;  but  it  s^ems  th.at  Providence  re^Jerved 
this  dignity  for  his  venerable  su(!cessor. 


'  ArchliisltoD  Iliisrhns  pcrif  a  ropy  of  thlf>  innsti.T'.y  pastorul  to  all  the  crowned  heads  of  Europe, 
Exi'Ciit  (inwii  Aicloria  and  Victor  K;n:;iamu'l. 


THE  MOST  REV.  JOHN  HUGUES,  B.D. 


833 


^  at  thw 
oil  never 


]io  Holy 

iti'ii'lthe 

IX.   was 

'ivciiifioii 

his  ivli, 

file  chair 

Pi't-'-;id<>nt 
K'lit  on  a 

lissiou  of 

'.  and  the 

Pivsidonc 

a  i>arti/.an 

'lid  ivpiM'- 

iN'nrfli ;  iii 

same  an  if 

civil  war. 

[ipo-sed  to. 

in   Ihcir 

is  with  ii 

o  sections 

lev  North 

Kiirr.pc," 

Ion;;  and 
I'anpross. 
dion  was 
ic  l'lii!c(l 
[)  IIll<ih('S 

refjorvod 


x\<Xf.  of  Eiirc'ijc, 


The  last  institution  established  by  liioi  -was  St.  Joseph". s 
Theological  Seminary,  at  Troy.  lie  delivered  his  last  sermon 
ill  .Iiino,  1SC3,  at  the  dedication  of  a  church;  and  his  last 
attempt  at  public  speaking  was  during  the  draft  riot  in  Now 
York  city,  in  July,  1803,  when  he  made  a  discourse  to  the 
peoiile  at  the  request  of  Governor  Seymour,  to  dissuade  them 
from  violence.  He  spoke  from  the  balcony  of  his  residence 
in  ]\fadison  Avenue,  and  was  obliged  to  remain  seated,  in 
consequence  of  the  extremely  feeble  state  of  his  health. 

Years  o£unceasing  toil  had  shattered  that  once  active  and 
powerful  frame,  lie  had  spent  himself  for  God,  and  truth, 
and  religion.  He  had  lived  ad  mojorcm  Del  f/Ioriam.  IIo 
had  borne  the  heat  and  burden  of  the  day  He'  had  fought 
the  good  iiglit,and  now  he  was  about  to  receive  the  reward  of 
the  faithful  s(n'vant.  And  surrounded  by  loved  and  vener- 
ated friends,'  the  great  X)relate  departed  from  the  scenes  of 
his  earthly  toils,  and  trials,  and  tilumphs,  on  .lanuary  3d, 
180-1.  The  Legislature  and  the  Common  Council  passed 
I'esolutions  of  condolence,  and  ttkstimonials  of  respect  were 
ollVred  fiom  every  quaj'ter." 

Dr.  Hughes  was  a  niost  heroic,  venerable,  and  illustrious 
man.  "Whether  Ave  ront(>mplato  the  noble  boy  kneeling  by 
the  hay-ri(!k,  or  the  famous  Archbishop  building  up  the 
Catholic  Church  in  the  Empire  State,  reflecting  honor  on  his 
Faith  and  his  countrymen  by  the*  lustre  of  his  name,  or 
counselling  rulers  and  p)residents,  speaking  words  of  warning 
and  wisdom  to  kings  and  emperors,  or  carrying  in  his  hand 
the  destiny  of  nations,  there  is  still  to  bo  seen  the  same 
bright  life,  the  same  grandeur  of  soul.  It  is  the  sun  rising 
in  the  <\ist,  moving  on  its  sih^nt  course,  brilliantly  shining  in 
th(^  west,  and,  finally,  sinking  amid  the  sad  and  solemn 
splendor  of  its  evening  rays.  The  career  of  such  an  extraor- 
dinary man  is  a  light  for  after-ages.  He  is  one  of  the 
glorit>s  of  the  Catholic  Church  in  America. 

'  Amnng  those  prcpcnt  at  Hie  Archbishop's  last  hours  were  his  two  gisliTs,  and  Ciirdiiial 
llcClo.^lvfy. 

■*  Kit  tlie  CTi'iitcr  part  of  (liif  last  rhiipto.r  wo  nre  liiik'bti'n  to  Dr.  I!.  II.  rlrirkc  s  rxcollfiit  life 
r.f  Arrlihjshop  Iluyhc^,  in  UiM"l,ivea  of  \.\w  Deceasod  Disliops  of  thu  Catliolic  Church  in  ..lO 
L'liiti'd  Status." 


4 ill    I 


p.  T.  DE  SMET,  S.  J. 


FATHER  PETER  JOHN  DE  SMET,  S.J. 

THE  APOSTLE  OF  THE  ROCKY  MOUNTAINS.' 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  YOUNG  MlSSIONAllY. 

Birth  and  education — Goes  to  America  and  Joins  tJie  Societ>) 
of  Jesus — IR'Ij)s  to  buitd  a  unioersit// — Among  the 
Indians — The  Flathead  mission foiuided—Back  to  Ht. 
Louis — The  difficulties  of  the  Indian  missionari/ — A 
system  of  missions  planned — How  Father  I)e  ^:imet 
raised  money  to  help  on  the  work  of  God. 

The  greatest  Iiiilian  missionary  of  our  age  was  Father 
Peter  John  De  Smet,  8.  J.  His  name  is  famous  thronglioufc 
tlie  Avorld.  If  it  were  possible  to  I'econl  all  the  incidents 
;iii(l  iulventures  of  his  wonderful  (-areer,  a  volume  would  be 
produced,  the  interest  of  which  could  be  surpassed  by  no 
work  oi;  liction  or  romance. 

lie  was  born  at  Ternionde,  Il^lgiuni,  on  December  31sf, 
1801,  of  a  pious  and  nol)le  family.  When  of  the  proper 
age,  he  entered  the  episcopal  seminary  at  Mechlin.  While 
there,  he  and  a  few  others  felt  called  to  devote  themselves  to 
the  AnuM'ican  missions.  One  day  there  appeared  amongst 
them  a  venerable  priest,  a  fellow-counrrymnn,  worn  with  the 
labors  and  (>xposui'e  of  a  didicult  mission  in  Ivc'Utucky.  It 
was  the  saintly  Cliarles  Xeriuckx.     As  the  veteran  mission- 

'  Chief  nuthni'itio.s  iisoil:  "  A  Pnimlnr  ITUlory  of  rlie  Ouholic  rliiirrh  in  thr  T'nllcrt  StatoR  ;" 
I")i'  Siiict.  S.  if.  "  Xarviilivc  df  i\  Yi':ii'V'  !i''slili'iicc  AinoiiLr  tlii'Tiilii'snl'  tlii'  Kucliv  M()l;llI,■lill^;  "  Uo 
Srirt,  S.  J.,  "  Wi'stci'ii  Mi^'sions  anil  Mi-i^idnnrics;"  Mr  Sun  I,  S.  J..  "  .Ni'W  ln(ii;in  hketcUod;" 
L)>.  Siui't,  y.  J.,  "  Uro^uu  Misbiuud  uutl  Tiuvcis  uvcr  lUu  Ku€k>  ;\Iuuutuiut>." 

835 


.  I,  '■. 


830 


FATHER  PETEll  JOHN  DE  SMET,  S.  J. 


firydopicted  the  rich  lipld  for  hibor,  tlie  young  men  gatherprl 
ai'oiiiKl  liiui,  tuid  .six  olfered  to  aceonii)any  liim  to  AnuM'ica  1( 
enter  the  Society  of  Jesus.  Of  these,  Peter  Jolin  De  Siru't 
Avas  tlui  younge-'st.  But  great  caution  was  necessary  as  the 
(fuvernnient  gave  orders  to  stop  th(!m.  They  ehided  the 
oliicers— -De  Siuet  very  nari'ovv-ly— and  met  at  Anisterdajri 
Avhonce  tliey  saih^d  in  the  summer  of  1821.  ' 

The  apostolic  travellers  reached  Philadelphia  after  a  forty 
days'  voyage  ;  })Ut  young  Be  Smet  was  sadly  disappoiiUed. 
He  expected  to  see  wigwams— not  houses  like  those  in  Europe 
The  Indians  were  already  the  ohjects  of  his  zeal.  P(n-.  Mr" 
Kerinckx  took  his  young  candidates  to  the  Jesuit  novitiate 
at  Whitemarsh,  M.irylaud,  where  they  at  once  assumed  the 
habit.  Before  the  close  of  th(^  two  years'  probation,  how- 
ever, difficulties  in  tlie  di<jcese  made  it  necessary  to  brenk  up 
the  novitiate.  The  young  Belgian  novices  were  on  the  iioiiit 
of  returning  to  Eui'ope,  when  Bishop  Duliourg  heard  ol'  it 
aiul gladly  bore  tiiem  all  to  Missouri,"  and  there,  at  Floiissant, 
De  Smet  took  his  vows.  At  this  time  he  made  himself  con- 
spicuous by  his  manly  energy  in  chopping  down  trees  and 
building  logdiouses,  some  of  which  monuments  of  his 
strength  and  zeal  were  still  standing  not  many  years  a2;o. 
It  is  related  that  he  could  do  more  work  in  a  day  than 
any  one  of  his  comrades. 

In  1828  Patlier  De  Smet  came  to  St.  Louis,  and  aidtnl  in 
founding  the  St.  Louis  University,  on  "Washington  Avenue, 
assistiiig  with  his  own  hands  in  cpiarrying  the  stones  for 
the  foundation.  He  afterwards  became  professor  in  tliis 
seat  of  learning,  and  won  the  love  of  the  students  by  the  un- 
remitting Ivindness  and  patience  with  which  ho  discharged 
the  duties  of  his  office.'' 

'  At  tlii"--  early  tlato  (18'i'!'»  St.  Louis  waasitintoil  in  the  mirl'it  of  an  almost  pathless  Hildcniiss, 
and  liad  apo|iiilalioii  not  exceodiii'.;  3,0!K1  or  l,()(),)  soiiis.  Tlio  means  of  travel  were  Irulv  prini- 
itive.  The  parly,  of  wliieh  yoiini;  De  Smet  was  one,  rroi^sed  the  AlleL^liany  Moanlains  uitli  a 
train  of  two  or  tl;ree  hiitre  wasnns.aiul  on  reaching  rittsl)iirgh.  luMiu'lif.  a  conple  of  llnt-boals, 
in  whicli  they  descended  the  Ohio  as  far  as  Shawneetown.  There  they  solj  their  lioats  and  touk 
the  a";i:il  overland  rontc  to  St.  Louis. 

'  St.  L'liiis  University  is  the  oldest  Catliolir,  institntion  in  the  Mississippi  Valley  with  the  rank 
■nd  privileire-i  of  a  university.  It  was  foiinded  in  18-3!),  by  the  Father.s  of  the  Society  of  Jesua, 
•nii  three  year-  later  v^'us  incorporated  hy  an  act  of  the  State  Legislature.    Among  its  founacr* 


FATHER  PETER  J0U2f  DE  SMET,  fii.J. 


837 


Tlie  Bisliops  of  the  United  States,  assembled  at  tlie  Council 
of  Baltimore  in  lSol3,  conlided  the  Indian  missions  ol"  the 
I'liited  States  to  the  Fathers  of  the  Soeiely  of  Jesus;  and 
Father  De  Sniet,  to  liis  great  joy,  Avas  sent,  in  18:}0,  t(i 
found  a  mission  among  the  Pottawatomies  on  Sugar  Creek, 
lie  began  his  labors  with  two  companions.  A  little  chapel 
soon  arose  in  the  wilderness,  and  beside  it  stood  the  log-huts 
of  the  missionaries.  It  was  a  lield  of  t(jil,  crosses,  and  pri- 
vations. A  school  was  opened,  and  it  was  soon  crowded. 
Many  were  l)aptized,  and  even  the  sick  were  carried  for  miles 
to  be  enrolled  in  the  Hock  of  the  great  Ijlackgown. 

In  a  letter,  written  in  the  sununer  of  18:58,'  to  the  Lady 
Superioress  of  a  religious  insl:itntion  at  his  native  i)lace, 
Faiher  De  Sniet  says :  "  I  received  your  lettei'of  March  l-JtU 
All  your  communications  give  me  great  pleasure  and  much 
consolation,  I  do  not  forget  my  native  place.  Continue, 
tlitirefore,  to  send  me  very  frequently  the  most  minute  de- 

tiiils You,  no  doubt,  expect  a  little  recital  from  the 

depths  of  our  wilderness.  Well,  I  will  exhibit  you  the  light 
i\nd  the  shade. 

"  First,  I  luusl;  tell  you  the  great  loss  that  we  experienced 
towards  the  end  of  April.  Our  Superior  sent  us,  from  St. 
Louis,  goods  to  the  amount  of  $r)00,  in  ornaments  for  the 
church — a  tabernacle,  a  bell,  and  provisions  and  clothes  for 
a  year.  For  a  long  time  T  had  been  withou*'  shoes,  aiul  from 
Easter  we  were  destitute  of  supplies.  All  the  Pottawatomie 
]i:ition  were  sulfering  from  scarcity,  having  only  acorns  and 
a  few  wild  roots  for  their  whole  stock  of  food. 

"At  last,  about  the  20l;li  of  April,  they  announced  to  us  thn  t 
the  much-desired  boat  was  approaching.  Already  we  sa\v 
it  from  the  highest  of  our  hills.     I  procured,  without  delay, 

\v,i«  llio  cfloln'atccl  Indiiin  mUsioiiiirv,  faihor  I)«  Siuet,  who  hi'lped  to  build  it  with  his  own 
h:ind-i,  iind  wlio  was  it^  lir-it  trciisiircr.  It  possi'ssps  an  oxTplloiit  lil)rary  of  l'),.")l)i)  VDJumcs,  a 
coinplctu  philosophical  and  cluMiiical  apparatus,  and  a  valnable  iiimsimmii.  The  totnl  iininluT  of  tho 
S-'nidnati's  is  !,m;  i)ivs('iit  mimlMTof  sfiuloiits.  35:!;  and  professors,  IT.  Anion;;  its  iirofessors  is 
tlie  learned  and  aci-OMipllsliud  lU'v.  Walter  U.  Hill.  S.J.,  author  of  tlic  two  best  Catliolie  treatise.s, 
on  "  Lo^'le  and  Oeneral  .Metaphysics,"  and  "  Ethics,  or  Moral  I'hilosopliy,"  in  the  KnKlish  Ian- 
piiau'e.  We  warmly  connnenil  lhes(>  excellent  works  to  all  Catholic  siiidents.  Tlie  Uev.  J.  E. 
Keller,  S..).,   is   l're.-.ideiit  of  the  University.— //i,</o/'y  Of  the  Cat/ioUc  C/iiilx'/t  in  (he  Uniled 

'  It  is  dated,  "SuHon  of  Ike  roHud'ulomlcs,  Ht.  Jos«i>h,  July,  1838." 


838 


FATIfEIl  riCTER  JOIIX  1)E  SMET,  S.J. 


two  rnrls  to  t^-o  i*:i  s(>;ir('li  of  our  liaggn,i;-f'.     I  roarlu-d  tlicrn 
ill  timo  to  witness  a  very  sad  si,i,dit.     Tlie  vessel  Imd  stnic]- 
on  a  sawyer,'  -was  pierced,  and  rapidly  siukiiii^- in  the  waves 
No  lives  Avei'e  lost.   .  .   .     Of  our  elTeets,  four  articl.'s  were 
saved — a  i)lough,  a  saw,  a  jiair  of  boots,  and  some  wine. 

"  Providence  was  still  favorable  to  us.  With  the  help  (,f 
tlie  plough,  we  were  enabled  to  i)lant  a  lai-ge  Jield  of  coni 
It  Avas  the  season  for  furrowing,  AVe  ai-e  usitio-  tju*  s.-iw 
to  build  a  better  house  and  to  enlarge  our  chureli.  alreadv 
too  small.  With  nn^  boots,  I  can  walk  in  the  woods  anil 
prairies  without  f(\ar  of  being  bitten  by  the  serpents  I  hat 
throng  there.  And  the  wino  permits  us  to  olfer  to  God 
every  day  the  most  Holy  Sacrifice  of  the  Mass—a  privileo'e 
that  had  been  denied  us  during  a  long  time.  A\'e,  therefore 
returned  with  courage  and  resignation  to  the  acorns  and 
roots  until  the  iWth  of  May.  That  day  another  boat  ar- 
rived, ]?y  that  same  steamer  I  received  news  from  you.  as 
well  as  a  letter  from  my  family,  and  from  the  good  Carmelite 
Sux)erior. 

"Our  congregation  already  amounts  to  about  three  hun- 
dred. At  E'lster  we  had  fifty  candidates  for  First  (Jonunun- 
ion.  I  recoMHuend  to  your  prayers,  in  a  very  special  manner, 
these  {yrn-  Indians,  that  they  may  maintain  their  fervor. 
The  dingers  and  scandals  which  surround  them  aie  very 
gi'<\it.  I  riMn:ii-ked,  in  a  preceding  letter,  that  one  of  the 
princi))al  obstacles  to  the  conversion  of  the  savages  is  drink- 
ing.    The  last  boat  brought  them  a  quantity  of  liquors. 

"Already  fourteen  among  them  are  cut  to  ]>ieces  in  this 
barbarous  manner,  and  are  dead.  A  father  seized  his  own 
chihl  by  the  legs  and  crushed  it,  in  the  presence  of  its 
mother,  by  dashing  it  against  the  jiost  of  his  lodge,  'i'wo 
otluM's  most  cruelly  murdered  an  Indian  woman,  a  neighbor 
of  ours,  and  the  mother  of  four  children. 

"  We   live  in  tlie  midst  of  the  most  disgusting  scenes. 


1  Sdii'i/T  is  till'  iiiiiiic  fiivi'ii  to  a  troo  which,  liciiii:  mulormiiicd  by  ii  oiirront  i)f  xvaliT,  and  f,il- 
liiis  into  Ihi"  stivaiii,  lies  fast  by  tlic  roots,  with  its  liraiiclii's  rockint;  ahovo  and  liclow  tlic  siirfaca 
of  till:  wr.tiT.  witli  tliL'  tliictuutious  of  the  current  of  the  etrcain,  from  whicli  motion  llio  nami;  in 


FATIIER  PETER  JOILY  DE  SMET,  S.J. 


839 


Tir'  pa:^.si()ii  oC  the  siivncjos  for  strong  drink  is  inconccivahlo. 
Tiii'V  give  liorses,  blaii]-;ots,  nil,  in  a  word,  to  have  a  littlo 
of  tiiis  briitdi/iiig  liijuid.  Their  driitiktMiiicss  only  ceases 
wh'Mi  they  have  nothing  more  to  drink.  Sonic;  of  onr  noo- 
])liytes  have  not  been  abhi  to  resist  this  terrible  torrent,  and 
iiiive  allowed  themselves  to  Ix;  drawn  into  it.  I  wrote  an 
eiiM'getic  letter  to  th?  governtn^nt  agiinst  these  abominable 
trallickers.  Join  your  prayers  toour  ell'orts  to  obtain  from 
heaven  the  cessation  of  this  fi-ightftd  commerce,  Avhich  is  in 
every  way  the  cui'se  of  the  savages. 

'•I  visit  the  Indians  in  their  Avigwams,  either  as  mission- 
ary, if  they  are  disposed  to  listen  to  me,  or  as  physician,  to 
^ioo  their  sick.  When  I  lind  a  little  child  in  great  danger, 
and  I  perceive  that  the  parents  have  no  desire  to  hear  the 
"Word  of  God,  I  spread  out  my  vials.  I  recommend  my 
medicines  strongly.  I  first  bathe  the  child  with  a  littlo 
camphor  ;  then,  taking  some  baptismal  water,  I  baptize  it, 
witliont  their  suspecting  it — and  thus  I  have  opened  the 
g;ite  of  Heaven  to  agreat  number,  notwithstanding  the  wiles 
of  hell  to  hinder  them  from  entering. 

Two  years  after  this  a  still  wider  iield  was  opened.  The 
Flatheadsof  the  Eocky  ^Mountains,  gaining  a  knowledge  of 
the  Faith  from  some  Catholic  Irocpiois,  who  had  wandered  to 
the  country,  sent  three  successi\'eend)assies  to  the  liishop  of 
St.  Louis  to  beg  for  a  blackgown.  The  Biohoji  referred 
them  to  the  Provincial  of  the  Jesuits  at  the  University;  but 
so  unexpected  was  the  visit  that  the  Father  Provincial  lelt 
embarrassed. 

Father  Be  Smet,  however,  begged  to  be  pen-mitted  to  la- 
bor for  the  salvation  of  these  poor  creatures.  When  the  ex- 
penses were  mentioned  as  somewhat  of  an  obstacle,  the 
great-hearted  missionary  destroyed  the  objection  by  exclaim- 
ing: "I  will  get  means  froin  my  home — my  friends.  Only 
let  me  go  to  the  rescue  of  these  poor  Indians,  and  assuredly 
Kufhcieut  means  will  soon  come  from  Europe  !" 

His  wish  was  granted,  and  on  the  3()th  of  April,  1840,  De 
Smet  started  on  his  sublime  mission,  in  company  Avith  the 
annual  caravan  of  the  American  Fur  Company.    He  reached 


I  n  i  ill 

it 


11  i 


840 


FA  TIIER  I'ETICR  JOHN  DE  .MKf,  S.J. 


his  (lc'stina(i(in,  iind  .it  tlio  closo  of  the  lirst  Uay  2,()(.()  In- 
(liiiHs  jisscmblcd  beloio  hi.s  tfiit  to  recite  then- i)ni\(is  in 
coinmon.'  'I'lio  Lftid.s  iJi-aycr,"  tlie  Ci'«(tl,  and  ilic  Com. 
]iKiii(liii(M!ts,\vere  ti'tiiislatcd  with  tlie  aid  of  an  iutoi'iireler. 
Two  weeks  passed,  and  the  Fiatheads  knew  tlieirpijiyers. 

I:i  Aii,<>'iist,  Fathci-  De  Sniet  set  out  for  Bt.  Louis  to  )(>. 
port  tlie  .state  of  all'airs.  AA'iiiie  jonnieylni;^  along  tli(>track- 
h)ss  route,  hiuiself  and  his  C()ni]-»auions  were  siiirouiidcd  by 
uwar-]iarty  of  IMackfeet.  "  Who  are  you '{"  ih'Uiaiided  the 
chief  of  tlie  band,  as  he  '-»yed  T)e  Hniet's  ciissoolc  and  glitter- 
ing crueilix.  "  lie  is  <'i  bhu'kgown,"  said  one  of  tlu^  tiavcl- 
](>rs  ;  "  lie  is  a  man  who  p^^'aks  to  the  (ireat  Spirit.''  And 
those  savages,  tlie  terror  of  the  ^s•ilderness,  showed  him 
everj^  kindness.  The  great  missionary  pursued  las  way  in 
peace,  and  a  warm  welcome  greeted  his  arrival  at  St.  Louis. 

In  the  spring  of  1811,  Father  De  Sniet,  accompanied 
by  a  l)and  of  Jesuit  Fathers,  again  set  out  for  his  IJocky 
^Tonntain  Flatlieads.  His  lurival  made  every  heart  wild 
^vith  joy.  Tlui  tribe  was  now  to  select  a  permanent  resi- 
dence, and  Bitter-root  Kiver  was  the  site  chosen.  Lere  a 
C.'iiristian  village  Avas  founded,  the  cross  jilanted.  and  tlie 
mission  of  St.  .Miiry's  begun  on  Rosary  Sunday.  Xever  was 
there  a  more  willing  people. 

Fatlier  T>e  Smet  had  now  fairly  established  that  personal 
nsccmdeney  over  the  dusky  reamers  of  the  West,  which,  as 
the  Great  Jjlackgown,  he  retained  throughout  his  long  life. 

And  yet,  let  no  one  imagine  that  his  pathway  -was  so 
smooth  and  successful  that  he  met  with  no  difhculties.  It 
was  all  hard,  up-hill  work.  There  were  superstitions  to  era- 
dicate, medicine-men  to  encounter,  barbarous  languages  to 
learn,  thousandsof  miles  to  travel,  unheard-of  fatigie- ;o  i 


'  F;it'i"r  no  Smot.  ho'vevor,  was  Tint  Uio  first  missionary  in  Orcp;n  lut,  now  tlin 

ViMi(".-.'il>li'  .\rr!il)l-'liop  of  On'u'Dn  City.  l)P'.:'in  lo  liihor  in  lliat  wild  re.  i  ly  "s    IHW.    S;'l' 

'■  I'opiilar  Hist,  of  tlie  Catliolic  Cluirfli  in  tlio  U.  S.,"  p.  .VJ:.',  ami  Shea  !iuUc  .Mi.-'ious.,"  p. 

4:0. 
'  Tlio  Lcinl's  Prayer,  ooeonllns  to  Fallipr  T)c  Snict.  is  as  follow-  in  Ihc  Flalticnd  '  ^v.'tiage: 
"Kylo-o-on   Itcliitrlicinask    nslavost   kowak.-li.anu'nslR'ni,   ye-.  Istylont,'.      Entzi^    ,.    lelletzil 
Bpooopz.  AssinlaiW  yp-elstoloot;  ptza<:;eel  Itcliitclieninsk,  Kooc;witzolt  yetlilt;wa  loU-aitsiai)etziiiera 
Ko-.vaekswenniilleni  klotaiye  kloisti^kwen  otzagoel  kait.skol'jwelom  klotaayo  kloist^kweni  klieis 
kyloog  koayaloksliilom  tukatkskwvnteni  klotayu  kowaeksgwceltem  klotaye.    liomicctzcgiiil." 


^fl 


^^ 


FATHER  PETER  JOHN  DE  8MET,  S.  J. 


841 


(lerco,  (lanf^^TH  fiom  wild  beasts  and  from  wandcrinu;  f-av- 
;ij,rcs  scarcely  less  wild. 

The  task  of  U'ariiiii<;'  even  onfi  rude  dialect  waH  in  itself  a 
work  that  required  aina/.in<j;  jjatienco  and  no  coninion  talent. 
Oa  this  ]ioiiif,  Father  Joset,  S..I,,  an  experienced  missionary 
in  tliesairie  lield,  wrote,  in  IS.")!)  :  "  'rhe]an,miai;eiH  tlie^reat- 
fst  dilliciilty.  One  must  k'arn  it  as  best  he  can.  There  i» 
no  written  lan<;uage,  there  are  no  interpreters,  there  is  very 
little  aiudogy  with  other  tong'ues.  Tlu;  pronunciation  is  very 
luii'sh,  the  turn  ol'  thoufi'ht  is  entiiely  dill'ereiit  from  oui's. 
Tii'-y  have  lu)  abstract  ideas,  every tlnng  is  concrete.  And 
with  these  elements  it  is  necessary  to  create  a  reliuious,  and 
even  spiritual,  pliraseology ;  f(jr  tlie  savages  know  nothing 
that  is  not  tiuiterial. 

"  I  have  been  here  nearly  fifteen  years.  I  am  not  vet  mas- 
tcr  of  the  laagiii'^e,  and  am  far  IVom  llattering  myself  with 
the  hope  of  becoming  so.  My  catechist  renmrked  to  me  the 
other  day,  '  Vou  pronounce  like  a  child  lea'-ning  to  talk. 
When  you  speak  of  religion,  we  understand  you  well ;  but 
when  you  change  the  sid)ject,  it  is  another  thing.'  That  is 
all  I  want.  T  have,  at  last,  succeeded  in  translating  the  cate- 
chism. I  think  it  is  nearly  correct.  You  can  hardly  im- 
agine what  it  cost  me  to  do  it.  I  have  been  constantly  at 
work  at  it  since  my  arrival  here." 

Ibit  the  noble  De  Saiet  always  I'ose  superior  to  the  perils 
and  difhculties  of  his  position.  On  again  reaching  the  city 
of  St.  Louis,  he,  in  council  with  his  superiors,  jilanned  a  sys- 
tem of  missions,  and  devoted  his  life  to  the  work  of  carrying 
ir  out.  To  ell'ect  this  grand  object  he  was  in  continual  move- 
ment. One  vear  he  would  set  out  for  the  liocky  iMountains, 
visit  new  tribes,  ])repare  the  Avay  for  a  mission  ;  and  when  the 
Jesuit  Fathers  began  permanent  labors,  he  would  pass  to  oth- 
ei's,  already  established,  where  he  would  see  many  a  familiar 
face,  and  receive  many  a  warm  greeting.  Then  he  would  plod 
his  way  liack  to  St.  Louis,  over  trackless  vrilds,  rough  rocks, 
rushing  livers,  and  often  through  tribes  of  hostile  savages  with 
braudish(>d  tomahawks,  whom  he  would  disarm  by  the  majesty 
0    .lis  presence,  and  by  \\ords  of  peace  and  gentleness. 


•iia    1 


H 


842 


FArilEU  PETER  JOIIX  DE  SMET,  S.  J. 


At  St  Louis  tlu-re  would  be  little  rest.  Resources  M(>rp 
needed  for  the  uiissions.  But,  uufortuuiitely,  tlie  CiUlidiw..- 
of  the  Uuited  States  have  always  showu  little  interest  in  the 
Indian  missions,  and  done  little  to  cheer  and  supjxn-t  the 
devoted  prie,s*ts  laborin,^•  on  them.  To  Europe,  and  espe- 
cially to  his  native  Bel,i>1um,  Father  l)e  Smet  was  oblitre.i  to 
look  for  the  necessary  means.  He  even  visited  Ireland,  wluiv 
his  fame  had  preceded  him,  and  took  part  in  one  of  tie 
Kepeal  meeting's,  riding  in  the  same  cania-iv  with  Danid 
O'Connell  and  J-5ishop  Hughes.  Thus,  by  his  own  personal 
exertions,  he  raised  thousands  of  dolhtrs  to  cany  m  his 
great  woi-lv.  In  JH,");?,  liis  united  jourm^ys  repi'esented  an 
extent  of  land  and  water  surpassing /i^iie  i/'mcs  Ike  circum- 
ference of  the  (jlohe  ! 

Di<l  space  pei'uiit,  how'many  pleasing  incidents  mitrht  bo 
related  !  His  beautiful  letters  are  full  of  them.  At  one 
time  it  is  a  vivid  description  of  a  mosquito  attack  au-ainst 
the  combined  force  of  branches,  handkerchiefs,  and  smoke 
of  his  party.  On  another,  it  is  the  roaring  of  bears  and 
wild  beasts  at  tiie  sight  of  the  camp-tires  at  night.  Then 
it  is  a  learned  disquisition  on  the  geological  peculiarities  of  a 
country — on  it»<  flowers,  birds,  or  miiuM'als.  Or,  still  aizain, 
it  is  some  Indian  scenes  of  liori'oi',  novelty,  oi'  ediiicalion. 

On  one  occ;ision  he  was  giving  instruction  on  the  TenCom- 
mandments  in  the  cam])  of  a  Sioux  tribe.  "When  I  ar- 
rived," he  writes,  "  at  the  Sixth  and  Si'ventli  CommandnK'nts, 
a  g(Mieral  whispering  and  embr.rrasscMl  laugh  took  ])lace 
among  my  barbarous  auditory.  I  inrpiii'i>d  t^'eivasonof  riiis 
conduct,  and  explained  t-.*  them  that  tlie  law  I  came  to  an- 
nounce was  not  mine,  but  God's,  and  that  it  was  oblignlory 
onail  thechildrenof  men.  .  .  .  The  great  chief  at  onci^  arose, 
and  replied:  '  Fathei-,  we  hear  thee.  AVe  know  not  the 
words  of  the  orreafc  Spirit,  and  we  acknowledge  our  ignn  - 
ance.  We  are  great  liars  and  thieves:  we  have  kille  I,  we 
have  done  evil  that  the  (ireat  Spirit  forbids  us  to  e  ■.  Ihit 
we  (lid  nou  know  those  be.iutifiU  words.  In  futui'e,  we  will 
trv  to  live  better,  if  thou  wilt  but  stay  with  us  and  teach 
us.'  " 


m 


CHAPTER  IL 

THE  OREAT  BLACK-riOWX   AS   ClfAPLATX   OF  THE   UXITED 
STATES   AKMV   SKXT    AGAIXST    THE    MOJIMONS. 

Our  Government  recofiniiinfj  Father  De  Smefs  great  in* 

Jiuence  over  the  Iiidtaiis--Letter  of  De  Smet — T^/e  JIur- 

7)/ons—Apj)o/ut''rl  ehaplaui  in  United   i<tates  Army — • 

Fcn-pictures — The  ttaJfalo—Sfcencs  of  death — A  earacan 

on  the  plains — Sub/nis-s/on  of  the  Mcrnions. 

Tlie  Goveniment  of  th(»  Ignited  Staters,  which  in  its  Indian 
policy  lias  never  favored  Catholic  missions,  recognized  tlu; 
great  ability  and  inllnence  of  Father  De  Smet,  and  often 
called  for  his  aid,  conscious  that,  Avhere  Indian  agents  had 
only  made  matters  worse,  the  illnstrions  black-gown  conhl 
restore  peace  and  ins|)ire  confidence.  Tims  he  was  called  to 
put  an  end  to  the  Sioux  war,  and  in  ()r(\gon  to  biiug  (he 
Yaka?nas  and  othtu*  tubes  to  cease  hostilities.  He  was  also 
cha]ilain  in  the  exjiedition  to  Utali,  and  opened  a  new  held 
of  missions  among  tho  tribes  in  that  section. 

The  following  letter  of  Father  De  Snn^t,  i-ecounting  the 
scenes  and  incidents  ol;  the  expedition  against  the  Mormons, 
is  full  ol  deep  interest. 

"St.  Louis,  Xov.  1,  1851). 

* 

"  Revekexd  axoDear  FATiTEi:.—Tn  accordance  with  your 
request,  I  proceed  with  great  pleasure  to  give  you  some  de- 
tails of  my  r(Mn3nt  journey  : 

"On  the  i20th  of  :\ray.1R.';8.  T  set  out  from  St.  Louis  forth(^ 
western  portion  of  North  America,  and  after  an  absence^  of 
about  sixteen  months,  I  returned  to  the  ponit  from  whence 
I  set  out.  During  this  interval.  T  had  accompanied,  as  chap- 
lain, an  army  sent  out   by  the   United   States  agninst    tha 

843 


814 


THE  MOST  REV.  JOIIX  IIUOnES,  D.D. 


Mormons  and  tlie  savages.     I  propose  to  give  you  some  de- 
tails of  tins  double  expedition. 

"  Not  t(.)  fatigue  you,  I  will  endeavor  to  be  brief.  At  best 
liovv'fver,  my  narrative  will  fill  some  pages,  as  my  recent 
voyage  liiis  been  very  long.  It  exceeded  fifteen  riioiisiuid 
English  miles,  or  live  thousand  leagues.  I  prov)ose,  tlien,  to 
give  you  some  details  in  regard  to  the  different  eonnti'ies  I 
have  traversed,  and  the  seas  I  have  crossed,  and  of  niv  visit 
to  the  savage  tribes,my  dear  spiritual  children  of  the  Kocky 
Mountains,  the  Camr-d'Alenes,  Kalispels.  Pends-d'Oreilles 
Flatheads,  and  Koetenays  ;  of  my  stay  among  the  dilf^'l■('^t 
triV)es  of  the  (.ireat  Plains  of  the  Upper  Missouri,  and  of  tlie 
manner  in  which  my  time  was  spent  in  the  army  of  the  Tnitod 
!>tates,  incptality  of  chaplain,  and  envoy  extraordinary  of  tlmt 
(rovernment.  Tliese  details,!  venture  to  hope, will  not  be  with- 
out interest  for  you,  and  they  will  form  the  subject  of  my 
little  sketcli. 

"Several  years  have  passed,  since  the  Mormons,  that  ter- 
rible sect  of  nuKlern  fanatics,  Hying  I'rcmi  civilization,  set- 
th'd  iu  the  midst  of  an  uninhabited  wilderness.  With 
liearts  full  of  hate  and  bitterness,  they  never  ceased,  on 
every  occasion  whicli  presented  itself,  to  agitate  the  coun- 
try, provoke  the  inhabitants,  and  commit  acts  of  robbery 
a tid  murder  against  many  travt-llers  and  adventurers  from 
th(>rnited  States. 

'•  Tn  Septend)er.  IS.")?,  one  hundred  and  twenty  emigrants 
from  Arkansas,  men.  woni-u,  and  childnni,  are  said  to  have 
been  horribly  massacred  by  tlie  Mormons,  in  a  place  calhnl 
the  Mountain  "Mi^adows.  These  fanatics  never  ceased  to  del'y 
the  (}overnnient,  and  announced  that  tlie  day  had  arrived 
to  av(>nge  the  death  of  their  prophet,  Josei>h,  and  iiia 
br(4h(>r.  and  to  retaliate  the  wrongs  and  acts  of-  injustice 
and  cruelty  of  whidi  they  ])retended  to  have  b(H'n  the  victims 
in  the  States  of  ]\rissouri  and  Illinois,  whence  they  had 
been  forcibly  expelled  l)y  the  inhabitants. 

"  On  two  ditlerent  occasions,  the  (lovernor  and  snbaltern 
officers,  sc^nt  l)y  the  President  of  the  United  States,  had  met 
with  such  str(mg opposition  from  the  .Mormons  in  the  a(  tempt 


iji 


iili 


FATHER  PETER  JOUX  BE  S.VET,  S.  J. 


845 


to  arromyilish  their  resppctive  duties,  tliat  tliey  were  forced 
to  quit  the  Territory  of  Utah,  and  to  return  to  lay  theit 
complaints  before  tlie  President.  Congress  resolved  to  send 
a  tliird  governor,  accompanied,  this  time,  by  two  thousand 
soldiers,  wlio  were  to  be  followed  by  from  two  to  four  thou- 
sand others  in  the  following  spring  of  1858.  I  accompanied 
the  last-named  expedition.  On  the  15th  of  May,  1858,  the 
Minister  of  War  wrote  to  me  as  follows  : — 

"  '  The  Pi-esident  is  desirous  to  engage  you  to  attend  the 
army  for  Utali,  to  officiate  as  chaplain.  In  his  opinion 
your  services  wM)uld  oe  impcrtant,  in  many  respects,  vo  the 
])iil)lic  interest,  particularly  in  the  present  condition  of  our 
affairs  in  Utah,  Having  s  ught  information  as  to  the 
proper  person  to  be  thus  employed,  his  attention  has  been  di- 
rected to  you,  and  ho  has  instructed  me  to  address  you  on 
the  subject,  in  the  hojie  that  you may  consider  it  not  incom- 
patible wiih  your  clerical  dn^ies  or  your  personal  feelings  t*) 
yield  to  his  recpiest,'  etc. 

"  The  Keverend  Father  Provincial,  and  all  the  other  con- 
suitors,  considering  the  circumstances,  expressed  themselves 
in  favor  of  my  accepting.  I  inunediately  set  out  for  I'^irt  Lea- 
venworth, Kansas  Territory,  to  join  the  army  at  that  point. 
On  the  vei'y  day  of  my  arrival,!  took  juyijlace  in  tlu^  Seventh 
Kegiment,  composed  of  eight  hundred  men,  under  th<'  com- 
niand  of  lluM'xcelleut  (,'olonel  I^forriscm,  wlir.se  staff  was 
composed  oL'  a  nuinei'ous  l)ody  of  superior  olRcers  of  the  lino 
auil  engineers,  (feneral  Uarney,  the  commander-in-chief, 
and  <>n<>  of  the  most  di  tinguished  and  most  valiant  generals 
of  tli(>  I'nlted  States,  whh  great  courtesy,  installed  me  him- 
self in  my  post. 

"The  l)rave  colonel,  though  a  Protestant,  thr.nk'vl  him 
very  heartily.  'G(Mieral.''  said  he.  'I  thought  myself 
highly  honored  when  intnisf(>d  with  the  command  of  the  en- 
gineers ;  to  have  attached  to  my  conmiand  a  reiiresentative 
of  the  anei(>nt  and  ven<'rable  Cliurch.  I  hold  as  an  additional 
favoi'.' 

''General  llai'ney  tlnm  shook  hands  with  me,  with  gi-eat 
kindness,  bade  me  welcome  to  the   army,  and  assured  ma 


, 


§ 


846 


FATHER  rETEIi  JOIJX  DK  SMET.  S.J. 


that  I  should  be  left  perfectly  free  in  the  exercise  of  ir.v  liolv 
ministry  aniono-  tlie  soldiers,  lie  Ivept:  liis  word  nio.st  loy. 
ally,  and  in  this  he  was  seconded  by  all  the  officers.  Dur- 
ing the  whole  time  that  I  was  among  them,  I  never  met 
with  the  slightest  obstacle  in  the  discharge  of  my  duties 
The  soldiers  had  always  free  access  to  my  tent  for  confession 
and  instruction.  I  had  freiiuently  the  consolation  of  cele- 
bi'aiing  the  Holy  Saciitice  of  the  iMass  early  in  the  mornino: 
and  on  each  occasion  a  lai'ge  number  of  soldiers  devoutly 
ap])r(iached  the  holy  table. 

"  A  woi'dortwoinregaid  totli(>  chnrncterof  the  countries 
through  which  we  passed,  will. p(>rha])s,lte  agr(>pable  to  you.  I 
left  Fort  Leavenworth  on  the  1st  (jf  June,  j8r;8,  in  the  Seventh 
llegiment.  comnumded  by  the  A\ori.iiy  Colonel  ^Torrison.  1 
had  an  opportunity  of  observing,  v.itli  admiration,  the  ex- 
ti'aordinary  rapidity  of  the  progress  of  civilization  in  Kansas. 
A  space  of  r270  miles  was  already  in  great  part  occupied  by 
white  settlei's.  No  further  back  than  l^oJ.  at  <he  time  of 
my  return  fi'om  the  great  council,  held  on  the  borders  of  the 
Platte  ()r  JNebraska  river,  the  plains  of  Kansas  were  almost 
entirely  without  inhabitants,  containing  only  a  few  scattered 
villages  of  Indians,  living,  for  tlie  most  l)art,  by  the  chase,  by 
lishing.  and  on  wild  fruits  and  roots. 

"But  eight  years  have  made  an  entire  change.  i\hniy 
towns  and  villages  have  sprung  np,  as  it  were,  by  enchant- 
ment ;  forges  and  mills  of  every  hind  are  already  v?ry  nu- 
merous ;  extensive  and  beautiful  farms  hav(^been  estalilisluwl, 
in  all  diiHM'tions,  with  extraordinary  rapidity  and  industry. 
The  face  of  the  country  is  entirely  changed,  in  ]i-C)l.  llie 
antelope,  the  wild  deer,  and  the  wild  goat  bounded  ;h 
liberty  ovtu'  these  extensive  plains,  nor  is  it  much  longer  sigo 
that  th(\se  fields  wiu'e  the  pasture  of  enormous  herds  of 
buifalo(>s:  to-day  they  are  in  the  possession  of  numerous 
droves  of  horned  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs,  horses  and  nudes. 
The  fertilesoil  rowardsa  hundred-fold,  the  labors  of  the  lias- 
bandnum.  Wheat,  corn,  barley,  oats,  flax.  Innnp,  ail  soits 
of  garden  stuiT,  and  all  the  fi'idts  of  lh(^  t'>mperate  zoUe,  iue 
I)roduced  there  in  abundance.     Emigration  tends  thither, 


FATHER  PETER  JOHN  DE  SMET,  S.  J. 


8-17 


and  commerce  follows  in  its  tracks,  and  acquires  new  impor- 
tance every  day. 

''Leavenworth  is  tlie  principal  town  of  Kansas  Territory. 
It  contains  already  about  ten  thousand  souls,  though  it  lias 
sprung  into  existence  within  tiie  last  six  years.  It  is  beau- 
tii'idly  and  advantageously  situated  on  tlui  Missouri  river. 
It  has  a  Bishop,  two  Catholic  churches,  a  (;()nvent  witli  a 
))oarding-school  and  a  day-s(;hool.  There  are  already  Jiftecin 
churches,  twenty-three  stations,  sixteen  priests,  live  I'elig- 
ious  communities,  and  four  manual  lalior  schools  for  the 
Osage  and  Pottawatomie  Indians,  ^vhich  are  under  the  cure 
of  our  Fathers  and  Religious  Ladies  of  tiiife'TMit  ortlers. 

"  The  greater  i)ortion  of  the  Territory  is  not  thickly  wooded. 
The  surface  of  the  country,  as  a  general  thing,  is  rolling  and 
well  adtipted  to  agriculture  ;  it  is  not  unlike  the  billows  of  a 
vast  ocean,  suddenly  arrested  in  its  How  and  converted  into 
solid  land.  The  air  is  fresh  and  wholesome.  As  one  rises 
with  tke  elevations  of  the  soil,  the  graceful  undulation  of  the 
alternating  vale  and  hill  contrast  admirably  with  the  waving 
lines  of  walnut  trees,  oaks,  and  p(M)lars,  wliicli  mnrk  the 
course  of  each  litth^  river.  The  banks  of  each  slrenm  are 
generally  moi-c  or  less  thickly  wooded.  We  ascended  the 
valley  of  the  Li  rile  Blue  for  three  days,  making  a  distance 
of  fifty-three  miles. 

''Tlnniamcs  of  the  principtd  jdants  which  attract  the  atten- 
tion of  the  botani-^t  in  the  plains  of  Kansas,  are:  the  e/i- 
o/J/era,  with  its  brilliant  yellow  flowers,  the  amorplin  and 
artcmi.sld,  the  (•()j////h//im,  the  blue  and  ])uriile  //////;/.  dif- 
fei-ent  foiMus  and  species  of  rar/i/s,  the  piyn/ctra/i/it/,  tin; 
mi/nosa,  and  the  white  mijnulxs. 

"The  waters  of  the  Litth^  I^lue  are  left  at  n  disbsnce  of  27.") 
miles  from  Fort  Leavenworth.  Continuing  the  route  from 
that  point,  you  ci-oss  elevated  prairies  of  a  distance  of 
twenty-six  miles,  and  enter  the  arcat  vall(>y  of  the  Nelu'aska 
or  Platte  river,  at  the  distance  of  iifteen  mih^s  fioin  Fort 
Kearney.  This  river,  up  to  its  two  forks,  is  about  thre.( 
thcmsan<l  yards  wid(>;  its  waters  are  y(>llowi-:h  and  muddy  in 
the  spring  freshets,  and  resemble  those  of  the  Missouri  and 


848 


FATHER  PETER  JOHN  BE  SMET,  8.  J, 


\ 


tliel^rississlppi;  it  is  not  so  deep  as  those  streams;  Us  currenl; 
is  very  i^ajjid. 

'•  i'\)rt  Kearney  is  ratiier  insignilicant.  It  consists  of  three 
or  lour  i'rauie  liouses  and  several  made  of  adobes,  a  kijuj  (f 
foarse  brick  baked  in  tlie  sun.  The  Government  luis  ;i  iniij 
tiiry  post  there,  for  the  tranquility  of  tlie  countrv,  imd  (c 
provide  for  tlie  safely  of  travellers  crossino-  the  des'ei't  to  <■ 
to  California,  Oregon,  and  the  Territories  of  Ltah  and 
Washington. 

"A  gr-.-at  number  of  Pawnee  Indinns  w(^re  encamjxv]  ;;t  a 
little  disrance  from  the  Fort.  I  come  near  witr.essiiigii  battle 
between  them  and  a  war-party  of  AKipahoes,  who,  favored 
by  the  night,  had  succeeded  in  j)X)i)ro.u'hing  the  camp  unseen 
utmost  I'orly  strong.  The  Pawnees  had  Jnst  let  tlieii'  hoists 
loose  at  break  of  day,  when  the  enemy,  with  loud  ciies. 
rushed  into  the  drove,  andcarriedaway  many  hundreds  wiUi 
theui  at  fullga]h>p  The  ahum  immediately  sjii^ead  throndi- 
out  the  camp.  The  Pawnees,  inditlei'ently  arme<,l  and  .'i]. 
liiost  ]iaked,  rushed  to  the  X)ursuit  of  the  Arapahoes.  caught 
np  v.iih  tliem,  and  a  cond)at  more  noisy  than  bloody  took 
place.  A  young  I^awnee  chief,  the  mosr  impetuous  oi  his 
band,  was  kilh^l,  and  three  of  his  companion  wounded.  The 
Arapahoes  lost  one  killed  and  numy  wounded. 

"T)esi!'ons  to  stop  the  combat,  I  hurried  to  the  scene  of 
battle  with  an  aid-de-camp  of  the  general,  l)uf  all  was  ovei' 
Miien  w(^  ai-rived;  the  Pawnees  were  returning  with  W\v\v 
dead  and  wounded  and  all  the  stolen  hf)rses.  On  their  re- 
turn to  camp,  nothing  was  heard  but  clicks  of  soiiow,  lage, 
and  (h-sjiair,  Avitli  threats  and  vociferations  against  IhtMr 
enemies.  It  was  a  harrowing  scene.  The  deceased  wai'iioi' 
was  dcH'orated  and  painted  with  all  the  marks  of  distinction 
of  a  great  bi-ave.  and  l()ad(Ml  with  his  finest  ornaments.  They 
j)lac(  d  him  in  tln^  grave,  amid  the  acclamations  :ind  laminla- 
tionsof  the  wliole  tribe, 

"  The  next  day  the  Pawnee-Loups  invited  me  to  their  camp. 
I  found  there  two  French  Creoles,  old  accpiaintances  of 
mine,  of  the  Pocky  Mountains.  They  received  me  with  the 
greatest  kindness,  and  desired  to  act  as  my  inter])reters.  I  h:;d 


FArilER  PETER  JOIIX  DE  SMET,  S.  J. 


840 


a  long  ronftu'cnce  on  religion  Avith  these  poor,  iinlmppy  sav- 
ages Tliey  listened  -with  the  most  earnest  attention.  After 
the  instruction,  they  presented  to  me  208  little  children,  and 
very  earnestly  begged  me  to  regenerate  them  in  the'  holy 
waters  of  liaiitism.  These  savages  have  been  the  terror  of 
travellers  cbligeil  to  pass  through  their  territory  ;  for  many 
years  tlnnr  character  has  been  that  of  thieves,  drunkai'ds, 
aiul  ruflians,  and  they  arc  brutalized  by  drinh,  which  they 
readily  obtain,  owing  to  their  proximity  to  the  frontiers 
of  (tivilizfition.  This  accursed  trallic  has  always  an<l  (.'very- 
whi're  been  the  ruin  of  the  Indian  tribes,  and  it  leads  to 
their  rapid  extinction. 

'"'i'uo  days'  nuirch  above  Fort  Kearney,  at  a  place  called 
Cottonwood  Springs,  I  found  thirty  lodges  of  Ogallallas,  a 
Sioux  or  l)a(;otah  tribe.  At  their  request  I  ba])ti/.(Hl  all 
their  cliil^lren.  In  ISjI,  at  the  Great  Council  on  the  I'latte, 
I  liad  biought  them  tlie  same  blessing.  They  told  me  that 
a  gicat  number  of  their  children  had  died  since,  carried  ol? 
by  ('ijiuemics,  which  had  raged  among  the  nomadic  t lilies  of 
tile  plains.  They  are  much  consoled  at  Ihe  thought  of  the 
lia])|>iiiess  which  childi'en  ol)tain  bj'  holy  Bai)tism.  They 
know  its  high  importance,  and  appreciate  it  as  the  greatest 
favor  which  they  can  receive. 

"Genei'al  Ibinu^v  had  many  friendly  conft-rences  Avith  tlu3 
Pawnees,  the  Ogallallas,  and  Sheyennes,  in  which  he  strongly 
advised  them  to  cease  nu^lesting  the  whites  who  might  ])as3 
thi'oiigh  their  borders,  adding  that  on  tins  coiulition  alone 
could  they  rcmuiin  at  peace  with  the  I'nited  States. 

'•I  have  so  often  spoke  of  the  buffalo  in  my  letlei's.  that, 
this  time  I  might  pass  him  b}'  in  silence.  However,  1  will 
mention  it  for  the  purpose  of  saying  that  the  race  is  not  ex- 
tinct in  these  parts,  though  it  is  becoming  more  raio  to  lind 
bulfaloes  on  the  highway  across  the  plains,  which  its  in- 
stinct ]uust  have  taught  it  to  avoid.  AVe  nu't  our  iii-st  herds 
of  this  noble  animal  in  the  neighborhood  of  Fort  K(-ainey. 
The  sight  created  great  excitement  among  those  soldiers  who 
had  iu)t  visited  the  phuns  before,  and  they  burned  to  luing 
down  one  or  two. 


f.J() 


FATHER  PETER  JOHN  DE  SJfET.  S.  J. 


"  Armed,  ns  tliey  wei-e,  with  tlie  fainoiis  Muuv  liihs.  tliey 
iTii.dit  li;iv(^  iiKule  a  good  hunt,  had  tliey  not  hrcn  (,n  i'oo'i 
while  the  buiridoes  were  at  full  gallop;  it  was,  tliciclviiV 
inipoysible  to  get  near  theni.  They  iii'ed,  however,  at  a  dis.' 
tanee  of  two  hundred  oi'  three  hundred  yards.  A  sinulc  ],ul'' 
falo  was  Avounded  in  the  leg.  Its  wound  conipelicd  Jt  to  l;i" 
beliirul,  and  he  hecanie  the  target  of  all  our  men.  A  cdn^- 
fused  sound  of  cries  and  rifle-shots  arose,  as  if  the  hist  hour 
had  come  for  the  last  IniU'alo.  ]{iddled  willi  luill.s,  ],i^ 
tongue  lolling  out,  the  blood  streaming  fj-oni  his  throat  and 
iiosti'ils,  the  poor  brute  fell  at  last.  To  cut  liini  nj)  and  dis- 
tribute the  meat  was  the  work  of  a  luoment.  jNevc]' was 
buffalo  more  rapidly  transformed  into  steak  and  soup  — 
every  one  would  have  liis  piece. 

"  ^Vllile  these  things  were- going  on.raptain  P ,monnted 

on  a  fine  horse,  approached  a  bull,  already  t(>rriJicd  hv  the 
rifle-shots  and  the  terrilile  noise  of  our  soldiers,  who  weie 
novices  to  the  clmse,  and  fired  at  him  twice  almost  ]H)int- 
biank.  The  buffalo  and  the  horse  stojjped  at  tire  same  in- 
stant.    In  spite  of  all  his  ell'orts,  Cai)tain  V could  not 

make  his  hoi'se,  imaccuslonied  to  the  hunt,  advance  a  siuiiio 
.step,  and  the  furious  buffalo  plunged  both  honis  in  his  flank 
and  thr(  v>'  him  down,  dead. 

'*  In  this  ciiiical  moment  the  conrngeoiis  rider  did  not  lose 
liis  presence  of  nund.  He  leaped  li'om  his  hoise  over  Ihe 
buffalo's  back,  ga\e  him  two  more  bullets  fnmi  his  si.N- 
shooter,  ami  com])letely  baflled  liim.  The  ra])taiu  then  fled 
to  a  gully,  which  was  luckily  both  d<H'p  and  neai'  at  liniid. 
Tlie  buffalo,  unable  to  follow  him,  abandoned  his  ixMsecu- 
tor,  who  returned  to  camp  v.-ith  liis  horse's  saddle  on  his 
back.  A  horse  must  be  well  trained  to  liunt  the  buffalo, 
and  must  be  trained  specially  for  buffalo  hunting;  other- 
wise, the  danger  is  very  great,  and  the  consequence  niav  be 
fatal. 

"Puling  the  montlis  of  June  ar.d  July,  t(^m]iests  and  falls 
of  I'aiii  and  hail  are  veiy  frequent,  and  almost  of  daily  oc- 
curr<'iice,  towards  evening,  in  the  valley  of  the  Platte,  which 
is    the  country  of  storms  and  whirlwinds  pa?'  ca'celUmcc. 


FATHKR  PF/lKn  JOUX  DK  SMf:7\  S.  J. 


S.')! 


I''S  tlipy 
<'li  !'(((, t, 
;<'icl'()re, 
If  .•!  (lis 
i,^l<'l.iir. 
il  1.,  liii- 
A  (■(111- 

i^r  lloii;- 

";ii  and 
I  Jul  (li,s- 
i-'vci'  was 
soup,-, 

iiioiiutcd 
I  hy  11,0 
Jio  We  1(3 

>fc  ])C)iiit- 
saiiic  iii- 
'iiJd  not 
'  <"i  M'ligle 
Jisilanlv, 

not  ]o,se 
f>ver  (lie 
liis  six- 
Iien  }](.d 
t  liaiid. 
perseru- 
'  on  his 
I'lifFalo, 
;  oilier- 
niay  ]jo 

11(1  falls 
iiily  oc- 
,  Avhich 
ellence. 


The  gatlioriiiir  of  those  storms  can  be  noticed  at  a  great  dis. 
taiice,  as  a  sea.  At  iirst,  light  s])<)ts  ot  clouds  are  observed 
on  the  horizon,  whicli  a^'o  l'(jll()\ved  by  dark  masses  of  elond, 
v'hich  move  ahmgln  succession,  crowding  one  upon  another, 
ami  spreading  over  the  shy  witli  extraordinary  rajiidity, 
th(  y  appr()a<di  and  cross  eacli  othei;  they  burst  and  poiii! 
fcrth  toi'rents  of  Avater,  which  di'encli  the  valleys,  or  volh'ys 
of  hail,  which  crush  the  lierbs  and  ilowers  ;  the  storm  clouils 
then  disappear  as  ra])idly  as  they  liave  come. 

'• '  Kvervevil  lias  its  reniedv,'  savs  tlie  iiroverb,  and  these 
hun'icanes,  stoi'nis,  and  heavy  rains,  servcj  the  purpose  of 
cooling  and  purifying  the  atmosphere,  wliich,  at  this  seasf)n, 
wouhl  become  insupportable  l>ut  for  this  ciicumstance.  The 
mercury  often  rises  to  one  huiidred  degrees  of  Fahrenlieit  in 
the  shade  TIk^  water  does  not  rest  hnig  on  the  suiface  of 
the  soil  It  is  absorbed  almost  as  it  falls,  on  account  of  the 
very  porous  cliaracter  of  the  earth  of  -the  valley  and  its 
sancty  fxitioni.  Travellers,  in  camps  a  little  removed  fiom 
the  river,  always  dig  wells;  the  water  is  everywhere  found 
at  a  depth  of  two  or  tlu'ce  feet  This  water,  though  cold 
and  clear,  must  be  unwholesome,  and  frequently  causes 
severe  sickness.  . 

Gra\-os  abound  in  these  regions,  and  the  mortal  remains  of 
avast  nu'.nber  of  emigrants  repose  th(M(\  AVifh  these  emi- 
grants have  also  sunk  beneath  the  vallcN'  of  the  Platte  that 
ar<lent  thirst  for  gold,  those  desires  and  ambitious  projocls 
for  wealth,  greatness.,  and  pleasures,  which  devour  tliem, 
and  drove  them  towards  the  distant  regions  of  California, 
I'ike's  Peak,  and  Frazer.  Death  met  them  far  fi'oni  their 
renati\s,  and  they  are  buried  in  these  desert  sliands.  How 
uncertain  are  the  affairs  of  thisAvorldl  iMan  makes  his 
plans;  he  builds  his  castl<^s  in  Ihc  air;  h<' counts  u]Hin  a 
future  which  does  not  ])elong  to  him;  he  projioses,  but  God 
disposes,  v.nd  cuts  the  thread  of  life  in  the  midst  of  these 
v:'in  hopes 

"The  mosL  remarkable  thing  that!  met  on  this  occasion  on 
the  highway  v^f  the  ])i'airies.  ordinarily  so  lonely,  were  the 
J'-ng  wagon  trains  engaged  in  transporting  to  Utah  provisions 


sr>2 


FATUER  PETER  JOHN  BK  SMET,  S.  J. 


\\ 


nnd  sforos  of  war.  If  tlio  jminmls  of  tlie  day  may  be  be- 
lievtd,  these  cost  flie  (.loveniment  iifteen  nifllions.  VavA\ 
train  consisted  of  twenty-six  wagons,  each  wagon  drawn' ),y 
six  yoke  of  oxen,  and  containing  near  live  thonsand  pounds. 
The  Qnarter-niasttr-general  made  the  calcnlation,  ai:d  t(,:,i 
me  tliat  the  whole;  tiain  wonld  nialu' a  line  of  ahont  liltv 
milcs.  We  iiassed  every  day  some  wagons  of  this  iinnieiijt, 
train,  I'i'.ch  wagon  markt^d  with  a  name  as  in  tlie  case  of  ships 
and  these  luinies  s<'rved  to  furnish  amnsement  lo  the  ]  asser- 
by;  the  caprices  of  the  cajftains  in  this  respect  havjm  im- 
pos(>d  npon  the  wagons  snch  names  as  the  CoukIK ndnii.  the 
rrc-sldrnl,  the  (>'/•( a/  JlijJttbllc,  i\\v,  Kinr/  of  Juiniria.  LoJa 
MonlcN,  L(>i(is  JScqjohoit,  Dan.  CConmU,  (Jhl  Kmlhwh; 
etc.,  etc.  These  were  daubed  in  great  let icis  on  (ad;  side 
of  the  carriage.  On  the  plains,  the  wag(jner  a.ssnnics  \\w 
style  of  c(ij)l((in,  being  phuedin  c(immand  c  I"  his  wagon  and 
twelv(>  oxen.  The  master-wagoner  is  admiral  of  this  little 
land-fleet.  lIi;  has  control  of  i'G  captains  and  312  oxen.  At 
a  distance,  the  v,hit<'  awnings  of  the  wagons  have  the  cU'ecfc 
of  a  lleet  of  vessels  with  all  canvas  spread. 

"•On  leaving  Lea venwoi  I h  the  drivers  look  wc  11  eiiouah, 
being  all  in  new  clothes,  but  ns  they  advance  into  tla^jihiiiis, 
theii'  good  clothes  become  traAcl-staintd  and  tdiii.  and  at 
last  are  converted  into  rags.  Thee«^?t«/;/.s'  have  haidly  jno- 
reeded  two  hundred  miles,  before  tlieir  tiail  is  maikcil  with 
lags,  scattered  and  Hying  along  the  lonte.  Yon  ma\-  oi'ten 
remark  also  on  the  variotis  (ami)ing-gronnds,  cwv.  :;s  far  as 
the  liocky  ^fountains,  and  beyond,  the  wie('l;s  of  v.agons 
and  the  s!;eletons  of  oxen,  bnt  especially  the  umains  of  the 
wardfiilie  of  the  Iravcdler — legs  of  ]  antaloons  and  drawers,  a 
shirt-l)osom,  the  back  or  the  arm  of  a  i.'annel  vest,  stockings 
out  at  toe  and  heel,  crownless  hats,  and  allocs  worn  thixnigli 
feoles  or  n])])ers,  are  st:ewfd  along  the  route. 

"These  deserted  camps  a.re  alsouiarked  by  packs  of  (aids 
strewn  around  among  broken  jars  and  bottles:  Iiere  you 
seen  gridiron,  a  colTee-pot,  or  a  tin  bowl;  thei'e  a  cooking- 
stove  and  tlie  fragments  of  a  shaving-dish,  all  worn  out  and 
cast  aside.     The  poor  Indians  regard  these  signs  of  encroach- 


I' 


FATUFAl  r>'jrKU  JOHN  BK  S.}JKT.  S.J. 


803 


Jng  civilization  Avith  an  unquu't  eye,  as  tlu>y  pn.s.s  tliriii  on 
their  way.  Tliese  rags  and  refuse  ai'e  to  them  the  hai'))in- 
(rei's  of  the  approacli  of  a  dismal  i'utnre  for  themseives ;.  they 
announce  to  them  that  the  plahis  and  forests  over  whicti 
tlit'V  roam  in  tlie  rh:is'\  their  heatitiful  lakes  and  rivers 
swiuniinL!:  with  iish,  and  the  repair  of  numerous  acpiatlj 
birds;  the  hearth  which  witnessed  their  birth,  nnd  the  soil 
which  covers  the  ashes  of  their  fathers,— all,  in  line,  that  is 
most  dear  to  them, — are  about  to  pass  into  the  hands  of  the 
nipacious  white  man.  xVnd  they,  j)oor  nioi'tals,  accustomed 
to  roam  at  large,  and  over  a  vast  spsuc,  fi.e  lilie  the  birds 
of  the  air,  will  be  inclosed  in  narrow  reserves,  far  from  their 
cherished  hunting-grounds  and  line  tisheries,  farfrom  tlieir 
iields  of  roots  and  fruits;  or  driven  back  into  the  mountains 
or  to  un'iiiown  shores.  It  is  not  surprising,  then,  that  tlie 
savage  seeks  sometimes  to  revenge  himself  on  the  white 
man;  it  is  rareh'",  however,  that  he  is  the  aggressor:  siu'(>]y, 
not  once  out  of  ten  provoking  cases. 

"  The  wagons  are  formed  every  evening  into  a  conn?.  That 
is,  the  wliole  twentj''-six  are  ranged  in  a  circle,  and  chaint>d 
one  to  the  other,  so  as  to  leave  only  one  opeiung,  to  give 
passage  to  the  beasts,  which  past  the  night  in  the  c(Mi!}'i\ 
nnd  are  guiirded  there  by  several  sentinels  under  aims. 
Under  the  protection  of  a  small  number  of  deternuned  men, 
the  wagons  and  animals  are  secuie  from  any  nttnck  of  un- 
disciplined Indians,  in  however  great  nundiers.  When  the 
travellers  neglect  this  precaution,  and  camp  at  random,  not 
nnfrequently  a  hostile  band  of  Indians  will  provoke  what  is 
called  !i  stampcflr.,  or  ])anic  among  the  cattle,  and  carry 
them  all  off  at  once.  The  travellers  go  into  camp  eaiiy. 
and  at  break  of  day  the  beasts  are  let  loose  in  tiie  prairie, 
that  they  may  have  plenty  of  time  to  graze.  Grass  is  vei  y 
abundant  in  the  valley  of  the  Platte,  and  on  the  neighboring 
acclivities. 

"Between  Fort  Kearney  and  the  crossing  of  the  South 
Fork  of  the  Platte,  we  met  over  a  hundred  families  of  Mor- 
mons, on  their  way  to  Kansas  and  Missouri,  with  the  inten- 
tion of  settling  there.     They  appeared  delighted  at  being 


804 


FA'UIh'Ii  I'JJTh-I!  jojiy  1)1-:  sMHT,  s.  J. 


fortiuKit.'   ciou-h    to   Iciivc,    N.fe    nii.l   sound,   tl,o   f.„non, 
proim.scd  laiul  of  Utah  ;  tluiuks  to  ti„>  iuJlut'iice  of  il,',.  „,.' 


governor,  find    the   presence   of   t]if    Inifed  Stairs  ii,„,,,s 
They  tt.ld  lis  that  a  gTeat  number  of  other  friniilirs  woiihi 
folh.u-  (li.Mii,  so  soon  as  tlicy  siioiihl  be  cai,;,!,!,.  (,r,loin„.  ^„ 
ol  i.rociinn;^'  th.f  Jiecessaiy  means  for  ilic  jonim.v 

''They  confessed  thai  they  would  have  escaiK-d  long  before' 
had  I  hey  not  been  af  rah  I  of  falJin,^•  into  the  hands  of  the 
Danites,  or  Destroying  Angels.  TJiese  coni|)(,.se  th<"  bodv^ 
guard  of  tht;  Proi)h(!t ;  they  are  said  to  be  entirely  and 
blindly  at  liis  (lisi)osa],  to  carry  out  all  his  i)laiis.  meet  all 
Ids  wislies,  and  execute  all  his  measures,  wiiicji  oft^n  in- 
volv(>  I'obbery  and  mu]der.  Eefoi'e  the  arrival  oi  tli"  (nited 
IStates  sohliers,  woe  to  any  one  who  manifested  a  de.^ire  to 
leave  I'lah,  or  abandon  the  s(H't ;  woe  to  him  wlio  dared  to 
raise  a  voict;  against  I  lie  actions  of  the  I'j'ophet— he  raiely 
escaped  the  poniards  of  these  Destroying  Angels,  or  ratlier 
incarnate  demons. 

"  The  highway  of  the  plains,  during  the  beautifnl  season  of 
IS.IS.  appeared,  as  it  were,  invaded  by  an  nniisnal  and  jovoiis 
nniinarion.  To  complete  the  id(>a  which  I  havejii.st  given, 
I  will  add  that  couriers  and  express  messengers,  coming  and 
returi  inr,  constantly  crossed  each  other  on  the  road.  The' 
different  ('()nii)anies  of  the  army  left  a  space  of  t\vc>  or  three 
days'  journey  between  tliem. 

"Each  company  was  followed  by  ambulances  for  the  nseoE 
the  superior  officers,  a  body  of  .trtillei'y  and  engineers,  and 
a  train  of  wagcms,  with  six  mules  each,  transjjorting  jjrovis- 
ions  and  Iviggage.  Eiich  comjKmy  v/as  followed  also  by  an 
immense  drove  of  six  or  sevt-n  hundred  horned  cattle,  to 
furnish  tlndr  daily  food.  Uncle  Sam,  as  the  Government  of 
the  rnited  States  is  called,  has  a  truly  paternal  heart ;  lie 
I)rovides  abundantly  for  the  wants  of  the  defenders  of  the 
country,  and  will  not  suffer  them  to  want  their  comforts. 

"Every  thing  was  going  on  admirably  and  in  good  o](h'r. 
The  commanding  general  and  staff  were  already  at  the 
crossing  of  the  south  branch  of  the  Platte,  480  miles  from 
Fort  Leavenworth,  when  he  received  the  news  that  the  Mor- 


FATHER  PETER  JOHN  DE  SMET,  S.  J. 


8:.') 


mons  had  submitted,  or  laid  down  their  iiniis,  nnd  iit  llio 
Siiiin^  tiinc,  nil  oidt'i-  to  distribiitt?  Iiis  troops  to  oIIht  [loiiits, 
and  i'<  tiii'ii  to  tJK!  Tnitcfl  States.  Tliisjilso  cliaiinvd  my  dcs- 
liuiition;  tlie  conclusion  of  )ii'act»  put  an  end  to  my  littio 
(li(»Iomatic  mission  to  tlie  Indian  tribes  of  I'tali.  I  c(»n- 
siiired  witli  tli(!  general,  and  accompanied  him  on  his  return 
lo  Leavenwortli. 

'•'i'iieSontli  lA)rkof  tln^  Platte,  at  thecrossiii<r,  is2,(M.")  feet 
wide.  In  llie  nioiitli  of  -hily,  its  deptli  is  generally  about 
three  feet:  after  the  pinctioii  "of  the  two  forks,  the  width  is 
ahoui  ;{.o:i()  yards,  'riie  bottom,  throughout  the  wholo 
length,  is  sandy. 

'•  I  ciidd  say  much,  de;ir  Father,  about  the  countiy  be- 
tween Lpavenwortii  and  tli(^  South  Pass  oi  the  IMatte,  its 
botanical  and  other  pro])erti<i.s  and  in'odiictions,  but  I  have 
spoken  ot  these  on  many  occasions  in  my  letters  describing 
other  journeys  a(!ross  this  region.  The  little  incidents  men- 
tioned in  this  letter  are  all  conniM'ted  with  my  last  trip. 

"Before  leaving  Fort  Leavenworth  for  St.  Louis,  I  made 
a  little  ^'xcursion  of  seventy  ndles  to  visit  our  dear  Fathers 
and  ]}rothers  oi  the  Mission  of  St.  Mary  among  the  P.otta- 
watonnes.  I  at  last  reached  St.  Louis  in  the  beginning  of 
Sejjtember,  after  a  first  absc^ice  of  about  three  nionlhs,  and 
after  a  journey,  to  and  fro,  of  1,970  nules,  ]\Iy  s:ay  in  St. 
Louis  was  short,.  I  will,  in  my  next  letter,  give  yon  details, 
which  will  inform  you  as  to  to  the  particulars  of  the  long 
expiHlition  of  which  T  speak  in  the  first  part  of  this  letter. 

"Receive,  reverend  and  dear  Father,  the  exjjression  of 
those  sentiments  of  respect  and  affection  which  you  know  I 
entertain  for  yon,  and  let  me  recommend  myself  very  spe- 
cially to  your  holy  sacrifices  and  good  prayers. 

*'  Your  Reverence's  servant  in  Christ, 

"P.  J.  DeSmet,  S.J." 


■ 

i 

CHAPTER  in. 


-1-^1 ' 

■    n 

I      i      ■ 

'1! 

» 

<f     111    ■ 

-■il 
Ml 

■  i 

-T-    —  vr-     ti 

•m 

NEW  SIGHTS   AND   SCENES. 

At  ilie  Isthmus  of  Panama— 8an  Frdiiciscn  -Fort  Van. 
couter — The  great  hlm-hgoiot.  avioiifi  th,'  fii<l!aiisi~-  Ui>. 
■aewing  a  treaty  of  peace— F.. rest  i^-cenes— Father  To  hi  C  i^ 
crosses — Listening  to  hears  and  wotces  at  nigt/t. 

Wo  now  give,  as  a  chapter  in  itself,  anotlier  letter  h'rm 
the  gifted  pen  of  the  great  blackgown.  it  is  a  continu.'ition 
of  the  foregoing  narrative: 

"St.  Lotis,  ^■ov.  10,  WM 

*'Reverexd  andBeatiFatvieii,— Tnaccordcinco  wiili  my 
promise.  I  resume  the  little  story  of  my  long  voynge.  On 
rr.y  return  to  St.  Louis,  I  tendered  to  the  Minister  (jf  War  my 
resignation  of  the  post  of  chaplain.  It  was  not  accepted, 
because  a  new  war  had  just  broken  out  against  th(^  (!uvern- 
ment.  among  the  tribes  of  the  l-Jocky  Mnuntnins.  I  was 
notified  by  telegraph  to  proceed  to  New  Yoi'k,  and  to  em- 
bark there  with  General  Harney  and  liis  stalf. 

"On  th(^  2(ith  of  September,  ISoS,  w(a  left  the  port  of  Xew 
York  for  Aspinwall ;  it  was  the  season  of  the  equinox,  r,o 
that  we  experienced  some  rough  weather  on  the  voyage,  and 
a  heavy  wind  among  the  Bahamas.  We  (•oast(^'i  for  some 
time  along  the  eastern  shore  of  Cuba,  in  siglit  (-f  the  prom- 
ontories of  St.  Domingo  and  Jamaica.  On  the  2!)th  I 
crossed  the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  on  a  good  railroad,  forty- 
seven  miles  long.' 

"The  next  day  I  had  theliappiness  toofTer  (helloly  Saci'i- 
iice  of  i]w  ^lass  in  the  Cathedral  of  Panama,  'ilie  l^isliop 
very  earnestly  entreated  me  to  use  my  influence  with  the 


'  Tho  rcndpr  will  recall  in  what  maiinur  the  heroic  Balboa  crosai'd  tho  e;'.:uc  Istlunu:?,  throe  cca 
turioe  and  n  half  before. 

856 


f^'*-^\A.: 


FATHER  PETER  JOIIX  BE  SJfET,  S.  J. 


8."37 


Very  Itcverend  Father  Genoi'sd  at  Eomc,  to  obtain  for  liiiii 
a  colony  of  Jesuits.  His  Lordshi})  esjjeciall}'  expi'esscd  liis 
earnest  desire  to  intrust  liis  ecclesiastjcal  seminary  to  I  he 
care  oC  tlie  Society  of  Jesus.  New  Granada,  as  well  as 
many  other  ivgions  of  Spanish  Soutli  Aniei'ica,  offers, 
doubth^ss,  a  vast  held  to  the  zeal  v,i  a  large  number  of  our 
Fathei's. 

'•  'I'lie  distance  from  Panama  to  San  Francisco  is  more  than 
three  thousaiul  miles.  The  steamer  ])rought  to  in  tlie  superb 
b:iy  of  Acapulco  to  receive  th(>  mails,  and  to  coal  and 
water.  Tliis  is  a  little,  port  of  Mexico.  On  the  evening  ot 
the  l(5lh  of  October,  I  arrived  at  San  Francisco,  ha])py  to 
iind  mysi^ir  in  a  liouse  of  the  Society,  and  in  the  coni})any 
of  many  of  my  brethr(Mi  in  Jesus  Christ,  who  loaded  me 
with  kindness,  and  all  the  attention  of  the  most  cordial 
charity. 

''The  '  qN/u/>  homim.  ctjvcundiiin  liahitarefratreshiuii- 
viii'  is  es})ecia]ly  appreciated,  when  one  leaves  a  California 
steamer  in  which  one  lias  been  imprisoned,  scmietimes  with 
loiiiteHii  or  hfteiMi  hundred  individuals.all  laboring un«h'r  the 
gold  fcvci',  and  who  think  and  s[)eal;  of  nothingbut  minesof 
giild.  and  all  rhe  terrestrial  delights  whicli  this  gold  is 
slioi'tly  to  procure  tlieni.  However,  the 'shortly"  is  long 
enougli  to  allow  of  the  destruction  or  disappearance  of 
many  an  illusion.   'All  tliat  glitters  is  not  gold.' 

'■  We  left  San  Francisco  on  the  2()th.  an('!  in  a  few  days 
n;ade  more  than  one  thousand  miles  to  Foi't  \  ancouvm'.  on 
till'  ('olniid)ia  I'iver.  The  news  of  the  cessation  of  hostilities, 
and  of  the  submission  of  the  tribes,  had  been  receiv<'d  at 
A'ancouver,  '^^rh*^  task  remained  of  renu)ving  the  Indian  ])ie- 
judices.  soothing  their  inquietude  and  alarm,  and  correcting, 
(U-  rather  refuting,  the  false  rumors  which  are  generally 
spi-ead  after  a  wai',  and  which,  otherwise,  might  1h>  the  cause 
of  its  rtMiewal. 

"I'lider  th(>  orders  of  the  general  commanding-in-chief,  I  left 
Fort  \'ancnuv(n' on  the  ^iltli  of  October,  to  go  among  tluj 
tribes  of  the  niounlains.  at  a  distanceof  about  eight  hundred 
miles.     I  visited  the   Catholic  soldiers  of  Forts   Dalle  City 


h 


sna 


FATHER  PETER  JOHN  BE  SMET,  8.  J. 


and  \Valla-AViilln  on  my  way  At  llie  last-named  fort,  I  luul 
ilie  c(ms()lati<ni  of  iiicHtin^i,^  Kev.  P.  Coiiniato,  on  '],{«  ra- 
turn  lioni  Jiis  visit  to  tlie  mi.ssions,  and  of  receivino- veiy 
cheerin.i,^  news  from  liim  as  to  tf.e  disposition  of  th(,  Jn. 
dians. 

"  At  niy  request,  tlie  execlJent  commandant  of  the  fort  li;id 
llie  veiy  o'reat  kindness  to  set  at  liberty  all  the  piisoneis  and 
hostages,  botli  CoMir-d'Alenesand  S])okans,  and  he  iniru^icd 
to  my  caarge  lo  bring-  them  on  their  nay.  aiid  ivliiiu  H  ■  ni 
to  their  respective  nations.  Tliese  good  Indians,  particiih.rlv 
the  CuMir-d"  Alenes,  liad  given  the  greatest  edilicaliim  to  the 
soldiers  during  their  <'uptivity  These  men  Oi  ten  apjn'oached 
them  ^vi!hadmi)•alion.  in  witnessing  tlu;  perfornianc(M>f  their 
pious  exerciser,  morning  and  evening,  and  in  listening  to 
their  prayers  and  hymns.  During  the  vviiole  journey,  these 
good  Indians  testilied  the  utmost  gr.'ititude  to  n\v,  ;ind  their 
])unctua]  p<']'iormance  of  their  religious  duties  was  a  sounie 
of  great  consolation  and  hap))iness  tome. 

'"On  ihe  21st  of  JNovember  I  aiiived  at  the  Mission  of  the 
Sacred  Heart,  among  the  (J.inir-d"Alenes.  I  was  detained 
at  the  mission  by  the  snow  until  the  18th  of  Febuiai'v, 
IVu}'.).  Duri'ig  this  interv;d  snow  fell,  with  nmre  or  h'ss 
al)u;i(hince,  for  forty-three  days  and  nights,  on  seven  days 
it  raiiK'd,  wd  liad  twenty-one  cloudy  (hiys,  ami  sixteen 
days  of  cl(>ar  and  cold  weather.  1  left  the  mission  on 
tlie  18th  of  Feburaiy,  with  the  Row  Father  .Toset.  wlio 
accompanied  me  until  we  nu4  Father  llnecl^cn,  who 
liad  promised  to  m(>et  us  on  Clarke's  l^iver. 

"The  ice,  snow,  rain,  and  winds  imix'ded  viuy  n\uch  our 
course,  in  our  frail  canoes  of  bark,  on  the  rivers  ami  great 
lakes.  \Ve  often  ran  considerable  risk  in  ciossing  rapids  and 
falls,  oC  whiidi  Clarke's  lliver  is  full.  I  counted  tiiirty-roiir 
of  tln'se  in  seventy-live  nules.  AVc^  met  Avith  several  campsof 
Indians  in  winter-cpiarters  on  every  side.  On  the  approach 
of  the  winlei'  season,  they  ai'e  obligv'd  to  scatter  in  iho 
forests,  and  along  ihe  l;ds.es  and  rivers,  where  they  live  by 
tlie  chase  and  lishing.  They  received  us  every wlieiv  with  tlie 
greatest  kindness,  and,  notwithstanding  their  extreme  ]n.y- 


aPEi 


i^.i%i^,f 


FATHER  PKTKU  JOHX  I)E  SMKT,  S.J. 


S;j9 


ert.y,  willingly  shared  with  ns  their  small  rations  and  inengra 
provisions.  Tliej' eagerly  embraced  the  occasion  to  attend, 
to  their  religious  duties  and  other  exercises  oi:  jiiety;  attend- 
ing at  tlie  instructions  with  great  attention,  and  with  much 
zeal  and  favor  at  Mass,  and  at  morning  and  evening 
prayers.  On  the  lltli  of  ]\[arch  we  arrived  at  the  ]\!issionol 
St.  Ignatius,  among  the  Pends-d'Oreilles  of  the  mountains. 

"Tlieivo<'t(>nays,aneighl)oringtribe  tothePends-d'Oreilles, 
having  lieaj'd  of  my  ariival,  had  travelled  many  days'  jour- 
ney tiirongh  the  snov/  to  shake  hiriids  with  me,  to  bid  me 
Mi'Iconie,  and  niani^vst  their  filial  afTection.  In  184.")  I  had 
made  some  stay  with  them.  I  wns  the  lii'st  prie.--r  v.ho  had 
announci'd  to  them  tlie  glad  ti'lings  of  salvation,  and  I  had 
haptised  all  their  little  childien  and  a  large  numbpr  of 
adults.  They  cnme  on  tiiis  occasion,  witii  a  prinutive  sim  • 
})licify,  to  assnic  nu^  tlinl  (hey  had  remained  faithful  to 
jnriyeJ",  that  is,  to  religion,  and  all  the  good  advice  that 
they  had  received. 

''  All  (he  Fathers  spoke  to  m(^  of  these  good  Ko(4ennys  ra 
the  highest  terms.  Fraternal  union,  evangelic  simplicity, 
innocenci',  and  pence,  still  reign  anumg  them  in  full  viuor. 
Their  hon<>sty  is  so  great  and  so  welbknown,  that  the  trader 
7eaves  his  store-house^  entirely,  the  door  i-cmnining  nnlocked 
often,  during  his  absence,  for  weeks.  The  Indians  go  in 
and  out.  and  lieh)  themselves  to  Avhat  they  n<M^d,  and  settl«^ 
with  the  trader  on  his  i-eturn.  Tie  assured  me  himself,  thot 
in  doing  business  with  them  in  this  style  ho  never  lost  the 
value  of  a  pin, 

"Cmi  tile  18th  of  ^larch  T  crossed  deep  snow  a  distance  of 
se\-enty  miles,  to  St.  Mai'v's  valley,  to  levisit  my  lirst  and 
aiu'ient  spiritual  children  of  (he  mountains,  the  poor  and 
abandoned  l'''latheads.  They  Avcre  greatly  consoled  on 
leanung  tliat  A'ery  l?(>v.  Father  (Jeneral  had  \ho  intentionof 
causing  the  mission  to  be  undertaken  na'ain.  The  p;  ,'iicipal 
ctuefs  nssui'eil  iu'>  that  since  th.e  depa)'tui'e  of  the  Fathers, 
they  had  continued  to  assen'.ble  morning  and  ev-'uiu'r  for 
prayers,  to  ring  the  Anf/dua  at  tin  accustomed  in)ur,  ami  to 
rest  on  Sunday,  to  glorify  the  iioly  daj'  ol  our  Ijovd.     1  will 


800 


FATUKU  PETER  JOILX  BE  S.VET,  ,^-. ,/. 


not  cute'-  into  nnv^  <k^r;nls  here   ns  to  the  presf^it  disposi- 
tions of  tliis  little  tribe,  I'or  fear  of  bein<i'  too  lontr. 

"Doubtless,  in  the  absence  of  the  missionaries,  tlieen.'iny 
of  souls  has  connnitted  some  ravages  anion,2:  the)ii.  but, 
])y  the  [iTace  of  God,  the  evil  is  not  ij'r(>i>nrable.  Their 
(hiily  i»iacri('es  of  piety,  and  the  confej'enees  I  held  with 
tliein  during  several  days,  have  given  nie  the  cDHsoling 
conviction  that  the  faith  is  still  maintained  among  ili'e 
Flntlieads,  and  still  l)rings  ioi'ih  fruit-,  o['  salvation  among 
them,— their  greatest  chieftains,  Michael,  Adolpiie.  Am- 
bi'ose,  :Moses,  and  others,  are  true  and  zealous  Ciuisiiaii?, 
and  real  piety  in  religion  and  true  valor  at  war  are  united 
in  th(>m. 

"  In  my  several  visits  to  the  stidions  in  the  llocky  Moun- 
tains, I  was  received  by  the  Indians  virh  eveiy  (h'mons- 
tiation  of  sincere  ami  filial  joy.  I  think  1  may  say,  that 
my  presen':'e  annmg  them  litis  lieen  of  s<ime  advantage  to 
them,  both  in  a  religious  and  secular  i)()int  of  view.  I 
dill  my  best  to  encourage  them  to  pei'severe  in  piety,  and 
maintain  the  conditions  of  tin*  tj'eaty  of  peace  with  the 
Govei'nment.  In  these  visits  I  liad  the  happiness  to  bap- 
tize over  a  hundred  infants,  and  a  large  nundjer  of 
adults. 

"  On  till'  10th  of  April. in  accordance  with  the  orders  of  the 
comman(h'r-in-chief  of  the  arniy,  I  went  to  Fort  \'ancouv(>r, 
and  left  the  Missicm  of  St.  Ignatius.  At  my  request,  all 
the  chiefs  of  the  diiferent  mounlain  tribes  accompanied  me 
to  rentnv  the  treaty  of  peace  with  the  general  and  wiili 
8up(n-int(Mident  of  Indian  alTairs.  I  give  their  names,  ;ind 
the  nati(ms  to  v.hicJi  th(>y  belong:  Alexander  T<  m- 
/77r^.77.yV.-/;?,  or  theMan-without-a-horse,  great  chief  of  the 
Pends-d'Oivilles  ;  Yictor  Alau/ilrn,  or  tiie  Ilappy-maii  (lie 
deserves  his  name,  for  he  is  a  saintly  man\  great  chief  of 
the  Kalispels  ;  Adolphus  K/r/Z/nrcsr/iape,  or  Ked-feather, 
<  hief  of  liie  Flatheads  ;  Francis  S(///a,  or  the  Iroquois,  aii- 
otlier  Flathead  chief:  Dennis  Ze)i(')iitidz(r,  or  the  Thuml.rs- 
}(ibe,  chief  of  the  Schuyelpi  or  (Tiaudleres:  Andnnv  and 
Bonaventure,  chiefs  and  biaves  among  (he  Canir-d'Aleius, 


■'^•v-***^*..^ 


•!pOSl- 


•s*. 


■ncmy 

\ 

.   liiit. 

Tiicii.' 

^'      lll<3 

^^H^'iA 

FATUER  PETER  JOim  BE  SMET,  S.J. 


8C1 


or  Skizouniisli ;  7ra/;//V^7i'/;?,  grciit  chit'i"  of  the  Yacomiius  ^ 
iiiid  ijeny,  g-i.eat  cliler  oi  the  Spokaiis.  '  The  last  two  are 
still  pag-ans,  tlmiJu'li  thcif  clilldivti  have  been  baptized. 

"  We  suffered  imicli,  and  ran  many  dangers  on  the  route,  on 
iicf'onnt  of  tlin  high  si. (to  of  tin'  fivers  and  the  heavy  snow, 
l-'or  three  days  we  had  to  clear  a  way  tlirough  thick  forests, 
where  thousands  of  trees,  thrown  down  by  storms,  lay 
aci'oss  v)n  Mino'ht  r,  ':nd  were  covered^  four,  six,  and  eight; 
feet,  with  snow;  several  horses  perished  in  this  cUingev- 
ous  passage.  ^\y  horse  stund)Ied  navny  a  time,  and  procured 
nie  many  a  fall;  but  asidi^  from  some  serious  bruises  and 
scratches,  a.  hat  battered  to  pieces,  a  torn  i)air  of  trowsers, 
and  a  soiUaiic- ov  blackgown  in  rags,  I  came  oui  of  it  sufe 
iiad  sound.  I  measured  white  cedars  in  the  wood,  whieh 
were  as  much  as  six  or  seven  persons  could  clasj)  at  the 
base,  and  of  proportionate  height.  After  a  month's  j'jurney, 
Ave  ai'ri\  ed  at  Fort  A'au'-ouver. 

"  On  tlie  J 8th  of  ^NFay  the  interview  took  place  Avith  ilu) 
genei'al,  the  superintend(Mit,  !ind  the  Indian  clilers.  It; 
l)i'oduced  most  ha])py  results  on  ]i(tth  sides.  About  thr.v'i 
weeks'  time  was  accorded  to  the  chiefs  to  visit,  at  the  cost 
of  (Jovei'ument,  tli<-  ]irincipnl  cities  and  towns  of  the  State 
(>f  Oi-egoii  and  Wasiiiimion  Territory,  with  everything  re- 
markable 'n  tli(^  way  of  industrial  establishments  steam- 
engines,  forges,  manufactories,  and  pi'inting  (establishments, 
—of  all  which  the  pnor  Indians  can  make  nothing  or  very 
little.  TIk^  visit  which  aj^peared  the  mo.st  to  inteivst  the 
chiefs  was  that  whieh  they  made  to  the  ])rison  at  Portland, 
and  its  wretched  inmates,  whom  they  found  chained  within 
its  cells.  They  were  particularly  interested  in  the  causes, 
motives,  a!i(l  dun tion  of  their  im])r!snnment ;  Chief  Alex- 
au(h'r  kept  it  in  his  mind.  Immediately  on  his  relui'U  tohis 
caniji  at  St.  Ignatius  Mission,  he  assembh^d  his  iicoplc.  and 
related  to  them  all  the  wonders  of  the  whites,  and  especially 
the  histcny  of  the  prison.  'AVe,''  said  he,  'have  n-'ither 
chains  nor  prisons:  and  for  want  of  them,  no  doubt,  a  u'lvat 
numbi'r  of  us  are  wick<'d  and  have  deaf  ears.  As  chiel,  T 
am  determined  to  do  my  duty.   I  shall  take  a  whip  to  punish 


80:3 


FA  TIlHli  PKITAI  .]{)U.\  DE  i^Mh'l,  S.  J. 


tliewickefl;  let  all  those  avIio  luivo  been  guilry  of  any  mis. 
demeanor  pivsent  tlieniselves,  I  am  ready."  '  The  known 
guilty  parties  A\ere  called  opon  by  name,  many  pivsenr.-d 
tiiemselves  of  their  own  apcord,  and  all  rec-eived  a  p](jpor. 
tionate  eorj'eetion  ! 

''  I'et'ore  leaving-  the  parts  of  civilization,  all  the  chiefs  re- 
ceivcil  presents  from  tlie  general  and  snpei'inttmdent,  and 
returned  to  their  own  country,  contented  and  happy,  and 
Well  deti-i'mined  to  keep  at  peaoMvith  the  whites.  As  for 
me,  I  had  accomplished  among  the  Indians  the  task  which 
the  (vovernment  had  imposed  upon  nn^  I  exiilained  to  tlui 
general  my  motives  i'or  desiring  to  I'eturn  to  St.  Louis  by 
way  of  tlio  interior.  lie  acceded  to  my  desire  wiili  iho 
greatest  all'ahility,  and  in  the  answer  Avhii'h  he  addressed  to 
mi:*  on  uds  matter,  lie  bore  most  honorable  testimony  to  my 
services. 

"  About  tlie  ir)th  of  June,  I  again  left  A'anconver.  with  the 
chiefs,  to  return  to  the  monntains.  I  passed  tlu'  7th,  btli, 
and  nth  of  July  at  the  Mission  of  the  Sao'ed  Jle:ni,  amom; 
the  OjMir-d'Alencs.  Tlience.  I  continued  my  route  fur  l:^t. 
Ignatius,  with  Father  Congiato,  and  completed  the  tri])  in  a 
week  ;  noi.  liowever,  without  nuuiy  inivations,  which  de- 
serve a  short  menticm  hei"e. 

''Imagine  thi(dv,  untrodden  forests,  stroAvn  with  thonsands 
of  tr.>es,  tiirown  down  by  age  and  srorms,  in  every  direction  ; 
wdu've  the  patli  is  scarcely  visibh\  and  is  ol)slructed  by  bar- 
ncad(^s,  Av]n<'h  the  hoVses  are  constantly  compelled  to  leap, 
and  whieh  always  endang<M'  the  riders.  Two  line  rivers,  or 
rathei',  great  torrents.— the  Camr-d'Aleue  and  St.  Francis 
liora-i it,  -traverse  these  forests  in  a  most  winding  course: 
their  beds  are  formed  of  enorni'/Us  detaclu-d  nnisses  of 
rock,  and  lanre  slippery  stones,  rounded  by  the  action  of 
the  water.  The  llrst  of  these  torrents  is  crossed  tiiirty-nin;^ 
times,  and  the  second  tlnrty-t>vo  times,  by  the  only  \n\:h\ 
the  watei' (>ften  comes  to  the  hoi'se's  Ixdly,  and  soinetim(\s 
a.bove  the  saddle.  It  is  (uqisidered  good  luck  to  escape  with 
only  the  legs  wet. 

"The  two  .vlvev's  are  separated  by  a  high  mountain,  o? 


FA  TIIER  rETEU  JOHN  DE  S.VEf,  S.  J. 


8c;i 


rnllier  n  clmin  of  inoiintiiins,  calK'd  the  ]>itt('i'-roo'.  chiii'i. 
The  sides  (if  tlioso  niountaiiis,  covcrt.^d  Avifli  tliicl-:  (■(mIui* 
forests,  iiiid  an  iinmeiise  variefy  ul  iirs  and  piiii^'^,  pi'ci^iMit- 
fxivnt  dilficulties  lo  the  tnivnller,  on  a(M'()iii>l  of  tlu^  v.ivar 
]Uimb(>r  of  trees  ■wiiicli  lie  ])r()ken  and  fallen  acioss  the  ijalli, 
and  coriipletely  cover  tli(^  s(*il.  To  these  obstacles  must  bo 
added  innnense  fields  of  snow   winch  have  to  be  crossed. 


nid  which  are   at  times   from   eiiiht   to 


.\V( 


■Ive   feet 


'I' 


After  eight  hours'  painful  march,  we  arrived  at  a  beautiful 
]»lain,  (Miamelled  with  llowers,  which  formed  the  summit  of 
Mount  ('alvai'v.  whew>  a  cross  was  raised  on  my  lirst  pas- 
sa,!]jo,  sixteen  years  a,<:;'o. 

^' In  lliis  l.)eantiful  situaticm,  after  so  long  and  rudi^  ;i 
coni'se,  I  desired  to  encainj);  l)nt  Fath(>r  Congiato,  per- 
suaded that  in  two  lion.rs  more  we  sliould  reach  th(>  foot  of 
the  mcnintain,  induced  ns  to  continue  the  march.      When 


we 


ha<l  made  tlie  six  mil  s  which  we  sui)posed  we  had  1 


le- 


foi'c  us,  and  twelve  mil 


es  more,  (iari\iiess  onc 


•tool 


c  us  m  {\\o, 


midst  of  diihcnltii 


On  the  eastern  side  of  the  nvountaiji 


we  found  other  hills  of  snow  to  cross,  other  barricades  of 
fallen  ti'ces  to  scram])le  over;  scmietimes  wo  were  f)n  tl)o 
edge  of  sheer  jirecipices  of  rock,  sometimes  on  a  slope  al- 
most lun'pendicadar.  The  least  false  step  might  i)!'ecii)itate 
ns  into  the  abyss.  "Witliont  guide,  without  ]»ath,  in  the 
most  prifound  darkness,  separared  one  from  the  olliei'.  each 
calling  for  help  without  l)eing  able  either  to  give  or  to  o))- 
tain  the  least  assistanc(%  we  fell  again  and  again,  we  walked, 
leeling  our  way  with  our  liands,  or  ci'awled  on  ;\1'  foui's, 
siipp>ing  or  sliding  down  as  l)est  we  conld. 

"At  last  n  gleam  of  hope  arose;  we  heard  the  hoarse 
mnrmur  of  water  in  the  distance.  It  was  the  sound  of  tho 
waleii'alls  of  ih(>  great  streai\i  uliichwe  wej'e seeking.  Each 
one  then  directed  his  coui'se  toward.s  that  ])oint.  V\'e  all 
h'.id  the  good  fortune  to  arrive  at  the  stream  at  last,  but 
ou(>  after  another,  between  twelve  and  one  o'clock  in  thei 
niiiiit.  after  a    march   of  sixteen   hours,  fatigued   ami   ex- 


haiisti 


onr  dresses  toi'n  to  laus,  and  covered  with  scratches 


and  bruises,  bid  without  serious  injuries.    "While  eating  our 


i       (i 


it 


804 


FATHER  PETER  JOHN  DK  SMET,  S.  J. 


..^'■\ 


■^4ff*'*-*:h 


siippor,  oiicli.  one  amused  ]ii.s  coiiipaiiions  witli  tlm  history 
oi:  Ills  iiiishaiis.  Good  Fatlicr  ('(jii.uialo  admitk'd  Unit  lit) 
liad  iriado  a.  iiiislaki' ill  liis  calciilatioii,  and  was  the  iiist  to 
laii.u'h  lieartily  at  liis  blunder.  Uiir  poor  liorscs  found  njth- 
hv^  to  eat  all  ni,i;lit  in  this  miserable  mountain  ^ap. 

"I  cannot  omit  lieiv  testifying-  my  indebtedness  to  all  the 
Fathers  and  Brothers  of  the  Missions  of  tlie  Sacred  ileatt 
and  of  St.  Ig'natius.  for  their  truly  fratemial  charity  towards 
me,  and  the  efficacious  aid  wldch  they  rendered  me  towaids 
I'ullilling  the  special  mission  whivh  had  been  intrustrd  to 
me. 

"  As  Fatlier  Congiato  keeps  the  Very  Reverend  Father  (Jen- 
eral  inl'ormed  of  th','  actual  sttite  of  tlie  nnssi(;ns  of  the 
mountains,  it  is  unnecessaiy  for  me  to  etiter  into  all  its 
details.  I  recommend,  es])ecially,  tlu^se  iioor  childicn  of 
tlu>  d(^s(n't  to  his  ])aternal  attention  and  chaiity,  and  t(j  our 
immediate  si![)(Mioi's  in  tiiis  conntry. 

'•  l)ivin(>  Providence  will  not,  I  hope,  abandon  tliem.  Tliey 
have  ali'eady  a  great  number  of  intei'cessors  in  lieaven,  in 
th{>  thousands  of  tlieir  childieii,  dead  shortly  after  batjtism, 
in  the  number  of  good  Christian  adults  among  tlKMii.  who, 
Jiaving  led  good  lives,  have  (putted  this  world  in  the  most 
pious  dis])ositions  ;  they  can  especially  count  npon  the  pro- 
tection of  Louise,  of  the  tribe  of  C(eur-d' Aleiies,  and  of 
Jjoyola,  chief  of  the  Kalispels,  whose  lives  were  an  nninter- 
rn])ted  series  of  acts  of  heroic  virtue,  and  wlio  died  almost, 
in  rhe  odor  of  sanctity. 

'"On  the  22d  of  July,  T  left  tlie  Mission  of  St.  Ignatius,  ac- 
companied by  I'^'a.ther  Congiato,  with  some  guides  and  Indian 
hunters,  'i'tie  distance  to  J'oi't  Jienton  is  about  two  hund- 
red miles.  The  conntry,  for  the  tirst  four  days,  is  ])ictu- 
resque,  and  prtNsents  no  obstacle  to  travelling.  It  is  a  suc- 
cession of  forests  easily  travei'sed,  of  beautiful  prairies,  im- 
iietuous  toi'i'eats,  pretty  rivulets  ;  here  and  there  ai'e  lakes, 
from  three  to  six  miles  in  circumference,  whose  waters  are 
clear  as  crystal,  well  stored  with  iish  of  various  kinds  ; 
nothinu'  can  be  more  charming  than  the  prospect.  AVe  called 
one  of  the  largest  of  these  hikes,  St.  Mary. 


FATHER  PETEli  JOHN  BE  SMET,  S.  J. 


86/:; 


"On  tlio  Sfitliof  .fiilywe  crossed tlie mountain wliichsc'i )ar- 
iit('.s  Uio  .sources  of  tlie  Clarke  lliver  I'runi  tliuse  oi'  the  J\lii- 
soiin,  at  the  48tli  dt\uTee  of  nortli  latitiuh'  and  th(.'  llHth  )f 
l()iigitud<?.  The  crossing  dt)e:s  iioLtaive  metre  iIkiu  a  hall  a-i 
liDiir,  and  is  very  easy,  even  for  wagons  and  carts.  At  the 
eastern  base  of  the  Kocky  Mountains  llie  pltuns  ai'c  moun- 
tainous, and  almost  destitute  of  timber  ;  we  crossed  several 
small  streams  before  we  reached  the  Sun  liiver,  uvd  followed 
down  its  valh^y  almost  to  its  mouth.  AVe  visited  the  great 
falls  of  the  Missouri  on  our  way.  The  luincipal  fall  is 
ninety-three  feet  high. 

••FatUerHoecken  and  Brother  Magri  met  us  in  this  vicinity. 
On  the  2dth  w(i  arrived  at  Fort  teuton,  a  post  of  the  8t.  Louis 
Fur  Com|)any,  where  we  received  the  greatest  attention 
from  all  its  inmates;  we  fetl  particularly  ol^ligcd  to  Mr. 
Dorson,  the  superintendent  of  t\u^  foi-t,  for  his  continued 
kindness  and  charity  to  all  our  missionaries.  ]\lay  the  Lord 
protect  and  reward  hini !  Tho  Blackfect  occupy  an  immense 
territory  in  this  neighborhood:  tlun'  reckon  from  ten  to 
twelve  thousand  souls  in  We  six  tribes  whicii  compose  this 
nation.  They  have  been  asking  for  blackgowns  (priests) 
for  many  years,  and  their  desin;  appears  universal.  In  my 
visit  to  them  in  1S4G,  thev  begged  me  to  sen(i  a  Father  to 
instruct  them. 

"Father  Iloecken  is  now  in  these  parts,  and  I  have  just 
read  %vitli  the  greatest  pleasui-e,  in  the  'Annals  of  the  Pro- 
pagation of  the  l-'aith,'  that  the  work  of  the  c(mversif)n  of 
the  Blackfeet  has  been  commenced,  wirh  the  entire  approl)a- 
tion  of  the  Y(^r\  lleverend  Father  General. 

"  On  our  arrival  in  the  neigliborhood,we  found  a  large  nuTu- 
ber  of  Indians  encamped  around  and  near  the  fort.  It  was 
fh(3  period  for  the  annual  distribution  of  pres(Mits.  They 
manitVsted  their  joy  at  the  presence  of  a  missionary  in 
tlieir  country,  and  hoped  that  'all  would  open  to  him 
their  ears  and  heart.'  The  clii(>f  of  a  large  cani]^  in  one 
of  our  visits,  related  to  us  a  remarkable  circumstance,  which 
I  think  worthy  of  mention. 

"  \Vh(>n  Father  Foiiit  was  among  (he  Blackfeet,  lie  pre- 


600 


IWrUKU  VETKll  JollX  DK  syjuj^  ^  j 


benfrd  soino  crosses  to  nuiny  (•li:..fs  as  niai-ks  .,f  aisrincliun 
i;n.h.x].limi.Ml  to  tJuM.i  tla-h-  .si-uilicutioi,,  rxhorriuo-  ti,,.,,/ 
Avhrii  111  daiiovr,  to  iiivoko  tlm  Sdu  of  (;,h1,  whose  Uvv^l, 
they  boiv,  and  to  placu  all  lli.'ir  coiilldeiice  in  hi,,,  '-'in;,, 
riiinf  wl,„  related  these  details  was  one  ..f  a  band  of  "il,i,iv 
Indians  wlio  went  to  war  a.uainst  the  Cj'ous. 

"The  Crows  liavin-.-  got  upon  their  trail,  uatliered  too>.|l,..,. 
inluisteand  in  great  niidritiides  to  light  and  destroy  "them 
They  soon  eamo  iq.  with  tli.'ni  in  a  position  of  th."- lor-si" 
where  tliey  had  made  ii  barricade  of  iallm  nvcs  :.ii<l 
l)]'ancl)es,  and  surronnded  them,  shouting  f.-iocionslv  th.> 
dreach'd  war-cry.  Tlu?  lilackfeet,  consich-ring  the  snperiov 
numbers  of  the  enemy  who  th'us  snrpris(>d  them,  were  lirmlv 
persuaded  that  they  should  perlsli  at  tli.'ir  hands.  On.'  <Ic 
them  bore  on  his  breast  the  .sign  of  Palva.tion.  Jle  remem- 
bered tin?  words  of  the  Mackgown  (I'^ither  Point),  and  re- 
mind<'d  his  comiiaiuons  of  them:  all  shouted,  'It  is  our 
«>idy  chance  of  safety.'  They  then  invoked  the  Son  ol  (iod, 
iind  rusiied  from  the  barricade. 

''Tliel)ear(n-()f  the  cross,  holdingitnp  in  his  hand,  led  fho 
way,  followed  l)y  all  the  rest.  The  (Jrows  discharged  a 
sliower  of  arrows  p.iid  bnlleis  at  them,  but  no  one  was  seii- 
ously  injured  ;  they  all  hai)])ily  escap(>d.  On  conchiding 
Jiis  .statement,  th<^  chi(^f  Jidded.  with  enei'gy  and  feeling: 
'Yes,  the  jw.iyci- (religion')  of  the  Son  of  Ood  is  the  only 
good  and  jjowerfid  one  ;  we  all  desire  to  become  woitliy  of 
it,  and  to  adopt  it.' 

"My  intention,  when  T  left  Oeneral  ITarney.  Avas,  with 
his  ccmsent,  to  go  all  the  way  to  St,  Louis  on  hoi'scback,  in 
the  ho])e  of  meeting  a  large  number  of  Indian  trilies,  espe- 
cially the  large  and  poweiful  tribe  of  Comnnches.  1  was 
obliged  to  renounce  this  project,  for  my  six  horses  weic  en- 
tirely worn  out,  and  unlit  for  making  so  long  a  jouiney; 
they  were  all  more  or  less  saddle  galled,  and,  not  being 
fihod,  their  hoofs  were  worn  in  crossing  the  rocky  bottoms 
of  the  rivers,  and  the  rough,  rockv,  mountain  roads. 


"  In  this  difhcult} 
Fort  Benton  ,    ' 


I  oi'dered  a  little  skill"  to  be  made  at 


thy  Mr.  Dorson,  superintendent  of   11 


,  ■^jX*^^^ 


FAT/ff'n  PKTIUl  JOIIX  DE  SMET,  S.  J. 


8fi7 


Fur  Conipniiy,  liad  tln^  V(>ry  jriu^at  IxiiidiiPSM  to  procuvo  iiu) 
llnvi'  oiii'snitMi  and  a  iiilot.  ,Oii  tlict")!!!  oC  .\ii,uiist  J  bndo 
ipiii'ii  (()  Fiitlicrs  C()ii,i^i:it()  and  Ilot'ckcn,  and  drar  .nt'otlicr 
Miiu'i'i,  and  cniliarki'd  on  tlin  Missoni'i,  wliicli  is  cclcljiiiti'd. 
forihin.^'ci's  of  iki\  igalion — snags  and  nipids  bt'ing  nuniuruus 
in  tliH  ui)})!'!'  y'lvi'v. 

"We  descended  llic  siicam  about  2,400  7nlle.s  in  our 
crrkld-slu'll,  making  lit'ty,  sixty,  and  sonictinirs,  ulicii  flio 
wind  favored  us,  eighty  Tnil<'s  a  day.  We  took  the  lirst 
ste;ind)oat  we  met,  at  Omaiia  City.  Tlie  steamer  madtj 
about  700  niih's  in  six  days,  ;ind  on  the  2;?d  oL'  Septend)er, 
vigil  ol'  Our  Lady  ol'  .M"rcy,  we  entered  the  port  oi  St.  Louis. 

"  Duiing  tJiis  long  ti'i])on  t]w  river  we  passed  tliem'gdits  ia 
tin.' open  air,  or  under  a  little  ttuit,  ol'teu  on  sandbanks,  to 
j'void  tlie  troubl(>soTne  nioscpiitoes,  or  on  the  skirts  of  a 
plain,  or  in  an  untrodden,  thick  ft)rest.  A\'e  often  lieard  tlie 
I'ow  lings  of  the  wolves;  and  the  grunting  of  the  gri/.zly 
'■eai'.  the  king  of  animals  in  these  jiarts.  disturbed  our 
i>[(M>p.  but  witli.out  alarming  us.  In  tlie  desert  one  jierceives 
cnat  God  has  imi)lanted  in  tlie  breast  of  the  wild  bt^asts  the 
i'^ar  of  man.  .  In  the  desert,  also,  we  ;u'(!  enabled,  in  a  par- 
ticular way,  to  admire  and  to  thank  that  T>ivine  Piovidence 
which  watciies  with  so  much  solicitude  over  his  childivn. 

"Tlu.'re,  is  admirably  verilied  the  text  of  St.  Matthew: 
'Consider  the  birds  of  the  air,  they  sow  not,  but  your 
Heavenlv  l'"'ath('*r  feeds  them;  are  ve  not  of  much  more 
valu(-  lliau  tliey  f  JDuiing  the  whole  route,  our  wants  were 
constantly  sui)pli(Hl  ;  yes,  we  lived  in  the  midst  of  the 
gi'eat(>st  abundanci>.  TIk*  rivers  furnished  ns  excellent  fisli, 
watei'-fowl.  ducks,  geese,  and  swans;  the  forests  and  plains 
gave  us  fi'uils  and  roots.  W(>  never  wanted  for  game.  ^,Ve 
found  fn'ervwdieri!  either  immense  herds  of  bnfTalo(\s,  or  deer, 
antelo})e,  mountain  sheep,  or  big-liorns,  pheasants,  wild  tur- 
keys, and  parti'idges. 

"On  the  way.  along  th(^  ]\[issouri,  I  met  thousands  of 
Indians  of  diilvi'ent  ti'ib.^s— Crows,  Assiniboins,  ^Minataries, 
]\ran(lans,  l^ickarie-;,  Sioux,  ete.  I  ahvays  sto))ped  a  day  or 
two  with  them.     I  received  the  greatest  marks  of  respect 


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1 


808 


FATHER  PETER  JOHN  BE  SMET,  S.  J. 


and  nlTection  from  tliese  hitherto  untutored  children  of  xn^ 
phiins  iind  mountiiins,  and  tliey  listened  to  my  words  \vifii 
the  utmost  attention.  For  many  years  these  poor  tribes 
have  desired  to  have  missionaries,  and  to  be  instructed. 

"^ly  greatest,  I  may  say,  almost  my  only  consolation,  is  ro 
have  been  the  instrument,  in  the  hand  of  Divine  Providence, 
of  the  eternal  salvation  of  a  great  number  of  little  children  ; 
of  about  nine  hundred  I  baptized,  many  wert^  sickly,  aiui 
seemed  only  to  wait  for  this  happiness,  to  lly  to  God  to 
jii'j'ise  Ilim  for  all  eternity. 

"  To  Uod  alone  be  all  the  glory  ;  and  to  the  Blessed  VirgiA 
Mary,  uur  most  humble  and  most  profound  thanks  for  the 
protection  and  benefits  received  during  tins  long  journe}'. 
Afff-r  having  travelled,  by  land  and  river,  over  8,;}14  miles, 
anl  0,r)r)()  on  sea,  ■without  any  serious  accident.  I  arrived 
safe  and  sound  at  St.  Louis,  am:)ng  my  dear  brethren  iu 
Jesus  Christ.     I  am,  witli  the  uKJst  sincere  respect, 

••  four  servant  in  Christ, 

•'i'.  J.Di  Sji-t.  SJ." 


CHAPTER   IV. 


THE  SUXSET  OF    LIFE. 

The  Cafliolic  Faith  and  the  Indian— The  i^lmhi  tr^bp.— 
Their  r^lrtues — Their  countrt/ — Tie  tobacco  plain— The 
Ji'Ia/boto  rlrer — Agrlcnlture — ITones^t/ — Anecdote  of  an 
old  chief — A  yotniff  ^carrlor  and  7ils  bride — A  Utile  In- 
dian church — T'he  missionary  and  ilie  Indians — Old 
Chief  Michael — ITmors  to  Father  Be  Snict  on  his  last 
visit  to  Karopc — A  sad,  accident — Death  of  Father  De 
^met — Tlie  nuKjnUitde  of  his  loor/c  ^' ad  majorcni  Dei 
(jlorlam.^ 

The  mnp:i('  inflnence  of  tho  Catholic  religion  in  trimsform- 
fng  tlie  Indian  is  as  reniarkablo  in  our  own  time  as  it  was  in 
the  (lays  of  Ihvbeiif  and  !Marqnette.  Many  of  the  tribes  con- 
verted by  Father  De  Smet  and  his  apostolic  conipanions  l)e- 
caine  model  Christians,  We  have  room  to  recount  but  one 
instance — tlie  Skalzi  Indians. 

Speaking  of  tins  tribe,  tho  illustrious  blackgownwiites.  in 
38(51:  "I  visited  these  good  savages,  for  the  first  tim<',  in 
the  summer  of  1845,  on  which  occasion  I  had  the  ha]>]>iness 
to  regenerate  all  their  little  chilcjren  in  the  holy  wateis  of 
Baptism,  as  well  as  a  large  number  of  adults.  I  saw  flu'se 
d(;ar  cliildr<Mi  again  in  18.")!)  ;  and  the  visit  lilled  mc^  with  iu- 
exjn-essible  joy,  because  they  had  remained  fiiithful,  true  to 
the  Faith,  and  fervent  and  zealous  Christians. 

''Tliey  Avere  the  consolation  of  the  missionaries,  and  shone 
conspicnous  In^  their  virtues  anumg  the  tribes  of  the  Kochy 
Mountains.  They  were  especially  distinguished  liy  an  ad- 
mirable simplicity,  a  great  charity,  and  a  rare  honesty  in  all 
their  dealings  with  their  neighbors,  :',;id  an  innocence  of 
manner  worthy  of  the  primitive  Christians." 

869 


870 


FATJIKR  PETEIt  JOHN  DK  SMET  S.J. 


Fiitlior  I)e  Sniet  followf!  this  by  a  sliort  arroiint  of  the 
tiilic  iiiid  cdinitry.  "  TJic  two  iiilu's  of  the  Koct(>iiays  nud 
F!:!:h()-,vs,"  he  ssays,  "number  over  a  tliousand  .soiil.s.*  Tliey 
are  I  riiieipally  divided  into  two  eiuiips,  and  are  knewn  in 
Ihi'ir  country  under  the  name  of  Skal/i.  One  of  these  camps, 
iiuailu'iing  about  three  liundred,  iidiubits  sometimes  the 
neighborhood  of  the  great  ]''];it]iead  Lake,  and  ^onielimes 
Ih  •  great  Tobacco  Plain,  which  is  watered  by  the  K<»etenay 
Kivei' — the  distance  is  about  seventy  miles. 

"Tlie  Tobacco  Phiin  is  a  remarkable  spot,  situated  bet'veon 
the  forry-niutii  and  iiitieth  degrees  ot  north  latitude,  and  is 
the  oidy  great  plain  possessed  by  tliis  camp.  It  is  about 
iifty  or  sixty  miles  long,  by  llfteen  or  twenty  miles  m  width. 
It  resembles  a  lai'gt!  basin,  surround<'d  by  lofty  nuiuntains, 
•\\lii(  li  i'orni  avast  and  beautiful  amijhiliieatre,  and  presents 
a  pictuiesque  siglit.  Tje  plain  has  all  the  appearance  of 
tluMlry  bed  of  a  vast  lake.  Towards  the  sf.utii  the  valley 
is  gravelly,  undulating,  and  covered  v.ilh  little  hilloclcs.  and 
patches  liere  and  there  are  susceptible  of  cultivatio!i  ;  the 
northern  portion,  on  the  contrary,  has  a  uniform  surface  and 
a  coiisi(ler;d)le  extent  of  excellent  arable  land. 

"Though  the  laud  is  vei'y  elcvatefl,  and  far  towards  tlie 
north,  the  tem]»eratureis  remaikably  mild,  seveivcoid  being 
a  rare  occuncnce,  and.  the  snow  is  seldom  decj);  it  falls  fre- 
rpiently  dui'ing  the  seascm,  but  di^aji])eai's  almost  as  it  falls, 
absorbed.  ]i('rhaps,  by  the  rarefaction  of  the  atmosphere  at 
this  elevation,  or.  jierhaps,  driven  off  by  the  vouthern  Ineeze. 
which  blows  almost  uniuN^i'i'Hptedly  in  the  valley,  aiid 
drives  the  snow  off  as  it  falls.  Horses  and  horned  cattle 
lind  abundant  pasture  during  (lie  whole  y(-ar. 

"The  lai'ge  river,  called  iudidVrently  the  Kne((>nay.  the 
^rcdilvray,  and  the  Flatbow  Kiver,  ilov.s  through  the  entire 
valley,  it  rises  to  the  noithwest  of  this  region,  and  its 
course  is  towards  the  southeast  foi' a  considerable  distance. 
The  waters  of  this  great  river  are  increased  l>y  a  large 
rinv.ber  of  brooks  and  beautiful  rivulets,  which  have  tlieir 
source,  for  the  most  ])art,  in  th(>  lovely  lakes  or  numerous 
ba>  ins  of  these  beautiful  mountains.     iJany  of  these  streams 


FATHER  PETER  JOIIX  BE  S^fET.  S.  J. 


871 


prosont  to  tlio  oyo  tlio  most  cliariivitic;  scenes  in  tlicir  roiirsi', 
Tiu)  noise  of  their  waters  iind  tlio  sweet  niurniur  of  theii* 
falls  are  heard  at  some  distance,  and  the  eye  is  charmed  hy 
t'u^ir  descent  from  hei<2,ht  .>fter  height,  and  tlieir  succession 
of  cascades,  from  wliich  they  escape  to  the  i)]ain,  covered 
witli  foam,  and,  as  it  won\  exhausted  by  the  struggles  of 
the  way.  These  mountain  torrents  wilisome  day  be  the  sites 
of  mills  of  every  description. 

"Coal  exists  in  many  portions  of  the  conntry,  lead  is 
found  in  abundance,  and  I  ventur(!  to  say  that  mf)repr(N-  ions 
)ninerals  reixise  in  the  bosom  of  the  mountains,  and  will  one 
day  be  brought  to  light  there. 

"  Tlie  Indians  have  devoted  themselves  to  agriculture  for 
some  years  jiast.  They  cultivate  little  fields  of  maize,  barley, 
oats,  and  potatoes,  all  of  which  lipen.  It  is  rare  that  the 
fiost  injurt's  the  cr(;-[)S  befoie  llie  season  of  harvest.  Their 
smtdl  ii<'lds  cannot  be  extended,  owing  to  the  Avant  of  in- 
struments of  agriculture.  They  are  compelled  to  turn  the 
earth  with  instruments  of  tlie  niosr  primitive  construction, 
such  as  Adam  may  have  used  in  his  d;iy.  The  pointed  stick, 
made  of  a  very  haid  wood,  is  what  they  have  used  fioni 
ages  iiumoinorial  to  dig  up  the  cnmaali,  the  bitter-root,  the 
icappalon  {safiitta  folia),  the  "aious,  or  biscuit-root,  and 
other  vegetables  of  the  same  description. 

"These  Indians  are  vei'V  iudustiJous.  They  are  i-arely  un- 
employed. Theii-  time  is  fidly  occui)ied  in  making  bows 
and  arrows,  lines  or  }iooks,  or  in  hunting  and  ilshing,  or 
seeking  roots  or  wild  fi'uits  for  their  numerous  families. 
Tliey  extend  their  hunt  often  to  the  great  plains  of  the 
]')lackfeet  and  the  Crows,  to  the  c^ist  of  th(>  Kocky  ]\roun- 
tains,  on  the  u]tper  watiM's  of  the  ^Missouri  and  the  Saska- 
3]!iawin.  Dejtrived  as  they  are  of  agricultural  implemi-nts 
nnd  iirearms,  thev  are  alwavs  in  v.ant,  and  tlun'  niay  be 
'said  to  keep  a  per[)etual  T^ent. 

"Tli(^  missionaries  furnished  them  wjth  a  few  plows 
and  spades.  Last  year  I  forwarded  to  thmn,  by  tho 
;':teamer  of  the  !^[issonri  Fur  Company  at  St.  Louis,  soma 
accessary   ap;ricultural    implements,    such  as  plows,   etc.; 


873 


FATHER  PETER  JOHN  DE  SMET,  S.  J. 


but  tl)o  l)()nt  was  burned,  with  all  lier  cargo,  above  the  Yel- 
lowstone IJivcr 

"  It  is  iniicli  to  be  n^gretted  that  no  wn-Q  ran  bo  done  for 
these  good  Indians,  for,  of  all  the  mountain  tribes,  they  are 
at  once  the  best-disposed  and  the  most  necessitous.  The 
hc.an-'Kh'al  :A  the  Indian  character,  nncontaminated  by  con- 
tact with  the  whites,  is  found  among  tliem.  What  is  mor.t 
I'lea.'^ing  to  the  stranger,  is  to  see  their  simplicity,  united 
with  sw(>etness  and  innocence,  kec])  stej)  with  th(^  most  per- 
fect dignity  and  modesty  of  dei)ortnient.  'J'he  gross  vices 
which  dishonor  the  red  man  on  the  fn.ntieis  aie  utterly  un- 
known among  them.     They  arti  honest  to  scru])nlosity. 

"The  Hudson's  l^ay  Compnny.  during  the  forty  years  that 
it  has  been  trading  in  furs  with  them,  has  never  lieen  able  to 
perceive  that  the  smallest  object  had  been  stolen  from  them. 
Tile  agent  oi  the  c^mjiany  takes  liis  furs  down  to  Colville 
every  spring,  and  does  not  return  before  autumn.  During 
liisa])sence,  the  store  is  coniided  to  the  care  of  an  Indian, 
who  trades  in  th<»  name  of  th(^  company,  and  on  the  return 
of  the  agent,  renders  him  a  most  exact  account  of  his  trust 
1  rfjteat  here,  what  I  stated  in  a  preceding  lett'T,  that  the 
;  tore  often  remains  wiihout  anv  one  to  watch  it.  the  door 
iinloclvcii  and  uni)olted,  and  the  goods  are  luner  stolen. 
The  Indians  go  in  and  our,  help  themselves  to  Avhat  they 
want,  and  always  scru])nlouslv  leave  in  i)lace  of  whatever 
article  they  take  its  exact  value. 

"The  following  anecdote  will  serve  to  give  an  idea  of  the 
delicacy  of  conscience  of  these  good  Indians. 

"An  old  chief,  ]ioor  and  blind,  came  from  a  great  dis- 
tance. guidtMl  by  his  son,  to  consult  the  priest ;  his  only  ob- 
ject being  to  receive  Baptism,  if  he  should  b(^  considered 
worthy  of  the  pi'ivileg(».  lie  stated  to  the  missionary,  th.it, 
in  spite  of  his  ardent  desire  to  be  baptized,  he  had  not  daied 
to  ^ipproach  the  ])riest  for  tliat  purpose,  owing  to  a  small 
debt  of  two  beaver  skins  (say  ten  dollars)  which  lieliad  con- 
tracted. 

"' My  poverty,'  said  he,  'has  always  jirevented  me  from 
fulfiling  this  obligation  ;  and  until  I  had  done  so,  I  dared 


<'  Yel- 

flic  for 
f'.v  urn 
The 
|y  cori- 

lIlONt 

vices 
Jly  un- 


FATHER  PETER  JOUS  DE  8MST,  B.J. 


87S 


the 


not  giutify  the  dearest  wish  of  my  heart.  At  last  I  had  a 
thought.  I  begged  my  friends  to  be  charitable  to  me.  1  am 
now  in  possession  of  a  fine  buffalo  robe ;  I  wish  to  make 
myself  worthy  of  Baptism,'  The  missionary,  a('oomi)anied 
by  the  old  man,  went  to  the  clerk  of  the  compnny  to  learn 
the  particulars  of  the  debt.  The  clerk  examined  the  books, 
but  said  that  no  such  debt  existed. 

"The  chief  still  insisted  on  i)aying,  but  the  clerk  refiwed 
to  take  the  robe.  '  Have  pity  on  me,'  at  last  exclaimed  tl)e 
worthy  old  man,  '  this  debt  has  rendered  me  wretched  long 
enough ;  for  years  it  has  weighed  on  my  conscience.  I  wish 
to  belong  to  the  blameless  and  pure  prayer  (religion),  and  to 
make  myself  worthy  of  the  name  of  a  child  of  Clod.  This 
buiTalo-robe  comrs  my  debt,'  and  he  spread  it  on  the  ground 
at  the  feet  of  the  clerk,  lie  received  Baptism,  and  returned 
home  (!ontenfed  and  happy. 

"A  yoi.ng  Koetenay,  Avho  had  been  baptized  in  infancy, 
during  mylirst  visit  in  184i),  had  emigrated,  with  his  parents, 
to  the  youshwai)s,  in  the  mountainous  regions  near  Fraser 
lliver.  'A\H  parents  desired  to  marry  him  to  a  young 
woman  h'io  was  as  yet  unbaptized;  he  had  a  sister  in  the 
same  condiiiou.  It  was  resolved  that  the  three  should  make 
the  long  journey  of  many  weeks'  travel,  to  reach  the  mis- 
sion, in  order  that  both  Sacraments  might  be  received. 

"On  their  arrival,  their  ardent  faith,  and  praiseworthy 
(earnestness,  were  the  admiration  of  the  whole  village.  The 
fervent  missionary,  Father  Menetry,  instructed  these  zealous 
ueophytes,  and  prepared  them  for  holy  Bajitism.  Tbo 
young  man,  who  had  not  seen  a  priest  since  1845,  had 
pr«!pared  himself  to  approach  the  tribunal  of  penance,  for 
the  first  time,  in  order  to  make  his  first  Comnumion,  and 
to  receive  the  nuptial  -benediction  with  the  j)roper  disposi- 
tions. 

"On  the  day  ayxpointed  for  the  administration  of  all  these 
Sacraments,  the  young  Koetenay  presented  iiimself,  with  an 
humble  and  modest  air,  at  the  confessional.  He  held  in  liif, 
hands  some  bundles  of  cedar  chips,  about  the  size  of  ordi- 
nary matches,  and  divided  into  small  bunches  of  different 


674 


FATHER  PETSR  JOHN  DE  8MET,  8.  J. 


sizes.  After  kneeling  in  the  confessional,  and  saying  th« 
Confitcor,  Le  handed  the  little  bundles  to  the  priest.  '  These, 
my  father,'  said  he,  'are  the  result  of  my  examination  of 
conscience.  This  bundle  is  such  a  sin.  Count  the  chips, 
and  you  will  know  how  many  times  I  have  committed  it ; 
the  second  bundle  is  such  a  sin,'  and  eo  he  continued  his 
confession. 

*'  His  confession  was  accompanied  with  such  sincere  signs 
of  grief,  that  his  confessor  was  affected  to  tears.  It  is  im- 
possible not  to  be  struck  with  admiration  for  the  simplicity 
of  heart  which  led  our  young  savage,  in  his  desire  to  perform 
this  duty  with  the  utmost  exactitude,  to  this  new  method  of 
making  a  confession;  but  still  more  admirable  is  the  adorable 
grace  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  who  thus  sheds  His  gifts  upon 
these.  His  poor  children  of  the  desert,  and,  if  I  may  dare  to 
say  so,  adapts  himself  to  their  capacity. 

"  In  their  zeal  and  fervor,  the  Koetenays  have  built  a  littTa 
church  of  round  logs  on  the  great  Tobacco  Prairie.  They 
carried  the  logs, — which  averaged  from  twenty  to  twenty- 
five  feet  in  length, — in  their  arms  a  distance  of  more  than  a 
quarter  of  a  mile,  and  raised  the  walls  of  the  new  church,  as 
it  were,  by  main  force.  The  exterior  is  covered  with  straw 
and  sods. 

"  In  this  humble  house  of  the  Lord  they  meet  morning 
and  evening,  to  offer  to  the  Great  Spirit  their  fervent 
prayers,— the  first-fruits  of  the  day.  How  striking  is  the 
contrast  between  this  little  church  of  the  desert,  and  the 
magnificent  temples  of  civilization,  especially  in  Europe. 
The  majesty  of  these  churches,  their  fine  pictures,  the  sculp- 
ture which  adorns  their  walls,  and  their  imposing  proper- 
tions,  inspire  the  beholder  with  admiration  and  awe;  yet,  on 
entering  this  little  cabin  consecrated  to  the  Great  Spirit,  in 
the  desert,  erected  by  poor  Indians,— on  contemplating  the 
profound  recollection,  the  sincere  piety  depicted  on  their 
features,— on  hearing  them  recite  their  prayers,  which  seem 
to  rise  from  the  bottom  of  their  hearts, it  is  difficult  to  refrain 
n-om  tears,  and  the  spectator  exclaims  :  '  Indeed,  this  poor 
and  humble  church  is  the  abode  of  the  Lord,  and  the  house 


FATHER  PETER  JOHN  LE  SMET,  8.  J. 


875 


th« 

lese, 

\n  of 

hips, 

it; 
bis 


of  prayer  ;  its  whole  beauty  lies  in  the  piety,  zeal,  and  fer- 
vor, of  those  who  enter  there  !' 

"In  this  humble  church  are  now  performed  all  the  relig- 
ious ceremonies  of  Baptism  and  marriage.  The  Indians 
defer  them  until  the  appointed  season  for  the  arrival  of  the 
missionaries  ;  they  then  come  in  from  all  X)arts  of  the  coun- 
try. *  How  beautiiul  are  the  feet  of  tliose  who  announce 
the  Gospel  of  peace.'  "Th«^  priest  of  this  mission  finds  the 
truth  of  the  woi-ds,  '^  Juffuvi  meum  svdve—my  yoke  is 
sweet.'  No  sooner  has  he  arrived  than  all  crowd  round 
him,  as  beloved  childrt'n,  to  greet,  after  a  long  absence,  a 
father  v,  hom  they  tenderly  venerate.  Even  the  hands  of 
infants  are  placed  in  those  of  the  missionary  by  their 
mothers. 

"  A  long  conference  then  followi.  The  priest  gives  and 
receives  all  news  o[  important  events  which  have  hajipened 
since  the  last  meeting,  lind  regulates  with  the  chiefs  the 
exercises  to  be  followed  during  his  present  visit,  lie  gives 
two  instructions  a  day  to  adalts,  and  catechises  the  children; 
he  helps  them  to  examine  well  their  con'^ciences,  and  to 
make  a  good  confession ;  he  prepares  them  to  ajiproach 
worthily  the  holy  table,  instructs  the  catechumens  and  ad- 
mits them  to  Baptism,  together  with  the  children  born  dur- 
ing his  absence  ;  he  renews  and  blesses  all  new  marriages ; 
and,  like  a  father,  settles  any  difficulties  which  may  have 
arisen.  Some  he  encourages  and  strengthens  in  the  Faith, 
and  removes  the  doubts  and  soothes  the  inquietudes  of  others. 
In  a  word,  he  encourages  all  these  good  neophytes  to  know 
the  Lord,  to  serve  Him  faithfully,  and  love  Him  with  al 
their  hearts. 

"If  the  dnys  of  the  missionary  are  thus  filled  with  labor 
and  fatigue,  he  has  his  full  recompense  of  merit  and  conso- 
lation. He  counts  them  among  the  happiest  days  of  hi.s  life. 
The  Ilev.  Father  Menetrv,  their  missionary,  duiing  his  visit 
in  18r)8,  baptized  fifty  children  and  thirfy  adults,  blessed 
forty  marriages,  and  heard  over  live  hundred  confessions. 

"The  great  chief  of  the  Koetenays,  named  Michael,  recalls 
in  the  midst  of  his  tribe  the  life  and  virtues  of  the  ancient 


876 


FATIlEli  PRTBR  JOHN  DE  SMET,  S.J. 


pafriarchs.  Uh  life  is  tliat  of  a  good  and  tender  father, 
surrounded  by  a  numerous  family  of  docile  and  affectionate 
children.  Hi.,  cumi)  numbers  four  hundred  souls.  They 
are  all  bai)tized,  and  they  walk  in  the  footsteps  of  their 
vvortliy  clucf.  It  is  truly  a  delightful  spectacle  to  fihd,  in 
the  bosom  of  these  isolated  mountains  of  tlie  Columbia 
River,  a  tribe  ol  jjoor  Indians  living  in  thegreutest  purity 
of  manners,  and  leading  a  life  of  evangelic  simplicity.  They 
are  aluKst  deprived  of  the  succors  of  religion,  and  receive 
the  visit  of  a  priest  but  once  or  twice  in  the  course  of  a 
year." 

In  1871  Father  De  Smet  sailed  for  Europe.  While  on  the 
voyage,  he  met  witli  an  unlini)py  accident  that  was  serious 
in  its  consequences.  On  one  occasion,  a  few  days  before 
reaching  the  shores  of  the  Old  World,  as  he  was  descending 
the  stairway  to  the  cabin,  a  huge  wave  struck  the  vessel,  and 
the  sho(;k  was  such  that  the  hardy  and  venerable  missionary 
was  thrown  to  the  deck  below,  thus  breaking  one  of  his  ribs. 

Shortly  after  arriving  in  his  native  Belgium,  an  attack  of 
kidney  disease  added  to  the  injuries  from  which  he  was  al- 
ready suh'ering;  and,  at  one  time,  his  friends  even  de- 
spaired of  his  recovery.  But  he  grew  better.  He  v.  s 
made  a  Xnight  of  the  Order  of  Leopold,  an  honor  Avhich 
few  attain,  and  one  which  he  held  in  common  with  Marshal 
MacMahon,  now  the  ex-President  of  France. 

Father  De  Smet  returned  to  the  United  States,  reaching 
St.  Louis  on  April  iJoth,  1872.  But  years  of  exposure, 
together  with  recent  injuries,  had  shattered  his  iron  consti- 
tution, and  lie  never  regained  his  general  good  health.  It 
was  felt  that  the  days  of  the  great  Jesuit  were  numbered, 
when  the  physicians  decided  that  he  was  afflicted  with 
Bright' s  disease  of  the  kidney.  After  much  suffering,  he 
calmly  breathed  his  soul  to  God,  surrounded  by  his  brother 
•Fesuits,  in  his  seventy-second  year,  on  the  morning  of  the 
23d  of  May,  1873.'     lie  died  in  his    own  room  at   the   St. 


<  For  the  detnll?  plven  in  relation  to  the  last  days  of  Father  I)e  Smet.  we  are  indebted  to  tl» 
cnctlnu'iii-hed  Father  Walter  H.  nill.  s.  ,1.,  of  St,  I.ouls  TTnlversIty ,  'vho  kindly  furnished  us  wit» 
auteii  written  from  hia  owa  pcifonal  rcmembriiucu. 


FATHER  PKTKli  JOHN  DK  HMKT.  S. ,/. 


877 


Louis  University,'  where  he  had  of  fen  been  visited  in  liis 
last  illness  by  his  countless  friends  of  all  religious  creeds 
and  ranks  of  society.  His  honored  remains  were  borne  to 
Florissant,  and  there,  where  lie  first  began  his  religious  ca- 
leer  in  Missouri,  rests  all  that  is  earthly  of  the  saintly  and 
he.oic  Father  Peter  John  I)e  Smet.' 

Whether  in  health  or  sickness,  this  illustrious  man  was 
as  simple  as  a  child  in  his  manners.  To  the  last  he  was 
cheerful  in  his  conversations,  and  was  ever  ready  to  answer 
questions  relating  to  his  travels,  missions,  and  adventures 
among  the  Indians.  His  narratives  were  recounted  in  such 
clear,  sim])le  language,  and  were  so  graphic,  graceful,  and 
full  of  striking  incidents,  that  even  children,  no  less  than 
older  persons,  were  charmed  with  his  conversation. 

"I  never  knew  any  one,"  writes  Rev.  Walter  H.  Hill,  S.J., 
"who  could  relate  an  anecdote,  or  a  little  trait,  in  so  pleasing 
a  style  as  Father  Be  Smet.  There  was  a  peculiar  charm  in  his 
words,  and  even  in  his  voice  and  countenance,  when  telling 
fhose  little  narratives,  sometimes  humorous,  oftentimes  edi- 
fying, and  always  interesting." 

The  great  missionary  loved  the  company  of  children.  Hh 
would  sometimes  spend  an  hour  or  more,  telling  them 
stories  about  his  travels  anumg  the  Indian  tribes  of  the 
Rocky  ^Mountains ;  and  often,  when  walking  the  streets  of 
St.  Louis,  groups  of  little  ones  would  crowd  around  him, 
begging  him  to  appoint  a  time  and  place  for  them  to  hear 


'  His  room,  whicli  wn»  small,  contiiiiicfl  a  fi-w  cxtni  chairM  for  vtBitors;  In  It  thorp  wore  writlnjt- 
dcPks,  liitilos,  i.rpssec,  all  of  wliicli  were  well  flllcd  with  varloiig  bookK,  pamphliMs.  piipcr^,  orrt 
•>vjU>i..  .i.-i..„„i.|its,  beiiring  on  Indiiiii  history  and  Inillnii  interests.— /;«!.  1»'.  //.  mil,  .f../. 

•  Ha  was  bnried  on  n  \\n\fs  monnn  at  St.  Stanfslans  Novitiate,  whioh  is  near  Florissant,  slxtepn 
miles  norlhwest  of  St.  Loui.^.  This  spot  is  ahont  one  mile  from  the  MissonriKlver,  up  which 
K:itli(T  I)e  Smet  had  so  often  Journeyed  three  thousand  miles  to  Its  first  fountains  that  (..i-h  frotn 
tlie  lil^'liest  riil^'i)  of  the  Uoeky  Mountains.  Ifls  remains  re^^t  near  those  of  F:ither  Meiirin,  wha 
died  at  IValrie  l)u  Hoi'her,  Illinois.  Feb.  i^d,  1777;  those  of  bis  eompantons  from  Eurojje  in  1821, 
■lohn  A.  Kiel.  ,t.  B.  Smedts,  P.  J.  Verhteceii.  ,7.  .Tudoeus,  Van  Assehe,  and  those  of  Rev.  rharlcs 
Van  (iuickeMborno,  who  led  tho.si!  younp:  mls.sionarlfs  from  White  Mar«h,  Maryland,  to  Missouri 
in  18>:i. 

A  plain  freestono  slab,  four  feel  by  eighteen  inches,  marks  the  last  rcstlnpr  plare  of  Father  T)c 
Oniet:  and  it  bason  it  this  brief  inscription:  ••  Xnt'ix  IK /V«.,  1W1.'  /nr/rtmi.i  K  Nm:.  18.17;  olAit 
Si  .V««.  187;i."  He  first  entered  the  Society  of  .lesiis  in  ISJI.but  snbsennently  returned  to  hia 
native  land  on  account  of  111  UcaltU;  rc-cnterud  the  Jesuit  Mission  of  MisBOuri  in   1837.— iJw. 

wutttr  If.  mu,  S.  J 


^wmmssm^ 


878 


FATHER  PETUR  JOHN  DE  BMBT,  8.  J. 


hini  relating  wliat  lie  saw  when  journeying  among  the  red 
men  in  the  wildernesH  of  the  far  West. 

Such  is  but  a  glimpse  at  the  manly  figure,  kind  \^"ayH,  and 
lofty,  beautiful  career  of  Father  de  Sniet.  Most  of  the 
Indian  missions  of  this  century  wouhl  have  been  nearly  im- 
possible were  it  not  for  his  grand  zeal,  great  prudence,  and 
hardy  energy,  lioldly  penetrating  the  unknown  solitudes 
if  the  West,  he  conquered  the  almost  insnrmountable 
obstacles  that  beset  him  at  every  step.  With  undaunted 
heart  he  faced  hostile  and  savage  tribes  whose  language  and 
rery  name  were  a  mystery  to  the  civilized  enrtli.  He  came, 
he  saw,  lie  conquered ;  but  not  like  the  pagan  Cu'sar.  He 
opened  Heaven  to  the  vanquished.  He  converted,  bap- 
tized, and  Christianized  the  wild  clans  of  the  West ;  and 
his  holy  and  tireless  apostolate  was  continued,  year  after 
year,  almost  to  the  very  day  of  his  departure  from  this 
World.' 

>  The  mcmortul  f  tniiio  to  Father  de  Smc  t  was  iinvollrd  nt  his  Wrthplar*!  on  the  24th  of  Septcm- 
her,  IH7S.  IfwaKamoi<t  iniprefcive  hociic.  Many  distiii(;iii>liv(;  lucn  were  preBv:iit.  A  cuiital*, 
toinpoHed  for  tlie  oieafion,  wan  suns  ''y  "f'y  voire»;  and  a  noble  eulogy  of  the  great  diIsbIoiuu; 
i#M  i»lU  cred.    Tho  gUttoc,  it  U  laid,  ia  a  magniflceut  work  of  art 


A.  ic  D.  a. 


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